Camera Upgrade?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 3,312
I’ve wondered about the poor camera quality myself. When I got my C7 my first thought was that the previous owner never got around to removing the film over the lens. I’ve never read about anyone else sharing that thought.
Last edited by Bird67; Apr 5, 2021 at 07:40 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,037
Likes: 9,801
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
As there isn't much need for a high resolution camera I seriously doubt you will find an easy upgrade. All you need to see is if there is something in the field of view.
Bill
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 3,312
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 491
Likes: 10
From: Atlanta Ga
Cameras
I ask as while the dealer had my car in for the triple flush, I was given a new Blazer to drive. The cameras were fantastic. Even the inside rear view mirror used a camera!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,234
Likes: 415
From: San Diego
yeah, way to be a killjoy, bill. cant we at least dream? im sure all agree, the cameras on the C7 for whatever reason are utter crap. i myself was never able to find a suitable alternative. i was entirely willing to take stuff apart and replace components and this and that but it just seemed to require building rome..
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,004
Likes: 2,705
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
My wife's Honda has a better rear camera than our C7, and it does make a difference.
If you're backing out of a parking spot and looking for cross traffic behind you, the better camera makes it easier to spot other cars in some lighting or against some backgrounds.
Not a deal killer for me, but annoying.
If you're backing out of a parking spot and looking for cross traffic behind you, the better camera makes it easier to spot other cars in some lighting or against some backgrounds.
Not a deal killer for me, but annoying.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 13,587
Likes: 1,352
From: Home of the VOLS ! Knoxville, TN. Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15, '16-'17-'18-'19
I bought a HD camera from Amazon and upgraded my old QX56 rear camera by rewiring the harness under the hatch cover. Much better quality camera for around $35.
I have not given it a thought to do that to the C7. I placed the new camera next to the OEM camera in the QX. Looked odd but was practical and it was not an issue for me to do to a 2010 QX56 with 180k miles. Not sure I want to have 2 cameras side by side in the rear of the Vette.
It's probably worth researching for maybe a better quality camera that GM produces that may fit the current Vette camera placement with a bit of harness rewiring to make it work.
There is not much to rewiring a camera. Most camera wiring should be similar with maybe different harnesses or pinouts, but the basics are the same.
I have not given it a thought to do that to the C7. I placed the new camera next to the OEM camera in the QX. Looked odd but was practical and it was not an issue for me to do to a 2010 QX56 with 180k miles. Not sure I want to have 2 cameras side by side in the rear of the Vette.
It's probably worth researching for maybe a better quality camera that GM produces that may fit the current Vette camera placement with a bit of harness rewiring to make it work.
There is not much to rewiring a camera. Most camera wiring should be similar with maybe different harnesses or pinouts, but the basics are the same.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 3,312
I was out enjoying a first top-down ride of the season. With the poor RVC resolution it washes out in the sun, making it far less useful and effective.
Go ahead, tell me again how I need to learn to drive so I don’t need an RVC. I don’t need a radio either, but if I’m going to have one I’d like it to be a good one (note: it is).
Go ahead, tell me again how I need to learn to drive so I don’t need an RVC. I don’t need a radio either, but if I’m going to have one I’d like it to be a good one (note: it is).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 3,312
Could be. I did a quick good search across GM makes for similar questions, and it seems that GM had high-quality imagery on their RVCs in 2014 or so and then the imagery was notably worse in 2016-17 before rebounding in 2019. No one seems to have taken the plunge to find out if swapping cameras makes a difference. Which makes sense - the imagery on the C7 is “fine”, just not excellent like most everything else on the car.
Moderator
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 15,232
Likes: 4,195
From: Northern Illinois
2023 Corvette of the Year Winner - Modified
2022 C7 of the Year Winner - Modified
St. Jude Donor '18 thru '25
I guess some must be bad my C7 Z06 cameras are excellent, maybe 3LZ has better cameras? .. and PDR camera great as well. The cameras are for backing up and seeing what's in front of you pulling in somewhere.. I don't use them to produce YouTube videos or anything like that, they don't need to be 8k video
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 3,312
I guess some must be bad my C7 Z06 cameras are excellent, maybe 3LZ has better cameras? .. and PDR camera great as well. The cameras are for backing up and seeing what's in front of you pulling in somewhere.. I don't use them to produce YouTube videos or anything like that, they don't need to be 8k video
As for how much it matters, the answer is not much, that’s true.