I Think I Found A Possible OEM Rear Camera Upgrade.

[RadzShadow]

I don't have and won't sign up for FB. Is it posted anywhere else?

 

[bwatford141]

Yep.

Surprised no one posted this. Here is a proved fix. This is a post from The New Nissan Z page on Facebook by Brian Watford.

Ok… I’ll have the upgraded cameras ready to ship on or before 12/20! I setup a Google Form for those that might be interested. I will only have 20 cameras ready for this first round. We will plan on making more dependent on interest.

$250 each

Upgraded Camera
• Resolution: 1280x960 (=1.2 million pixels)
• FOV: 140° (H) / 80° (V)
• Sensor: 1/3-inch HD CMOS
• Low Light: 0.001 |x

OEM Camera
• Resolution: 632×480 (=300k pixels)
• FOV: 140.5° (H) / 95.5° (V)
• Sensor: 1/4-inch CMOS
• Low Light: 1 Ix

https://forms.gle/SVCS6BSmRPfiMmWS7

Link to installation instructions:

Thanks for the shout out!!!

 

[bwatford141]

Hey guys! I've seen a few posts about my camera upgrade that I offer, and that I have been selling on one of the FB groups.

I’ve been working with someone in Japan who’s developed an upgraded reverse camera for the RZ34. I have had this camera installed in my Z for about 6 months. It's a massive improvement over the OEM camera.

This isn’t the same camera that’s been posted before — it’s also made by KTN-san, but it’s been improved and redesigned. The older version had a little lag when shifting into reverse, but this one fixes that and seriously improves the image quality. It also had a fisheye type display new one (actually version 4) that we are offering is nearly identical to the OEM camera in angle and view.
Install is pretty simple, howeer you do need to run a 12V power supply to the camera.

Here’s a quick spec comparison between the Upgraded camera and the OEM Camera

Upgraded Camera
• Resolution: 1280x960 (≈1.2 million pixels)
• FOV: 140° (H) / 80° (V)
• Sensor: 1/3-inch HD CMOS
• Low Light: 0.001 lx

OEM Camera
• Resolution: 632x480 (≈300k pixels)
• FOV: 140.5° (H) / 95.5° (V)
• Sensor: 1/4-inch CMOS
• Low Light: 1 lx

Basically, 4x the pixel count and way better low-light performance.

I just had 20 cameras delivered to the US today, and still have a few available. I currently do not have plans on making more until possible April/May. Fill out the Google Form below if you are interested. These are ready to ship NOW! $250ea shipped within the US.

https://forms.gle/D8XeyL1u4QaDu8916

Below is a link to an install video that another FB group member did for me. He took a bit of a dipper ant approach with the wiring, but it seems to be working and stable!

 

[bwatford141]

I don't have and won't sign up for FB. Is it posted anywhere else?

Reach out!

https://forms.gle/D8XeyL1u4QaDu8916

 

[ShearMe]

Reach out!

https://forms.gle/D8XeyL1u4QaDu8916

I'm definitely interested, and submitted the form. The camera is like my only gripe with the technology in this car.

 

[bwatford141]

I'm definitely interested, and submitted the form. The camera is like my only gripe with the technology in this car.

yes sir...got it! I just sent you an email.

 

[Thefunk]

This is cool but $250 is a little steep for a non-direct fit, non-PnP install. The zip ties cracked me up.

 

[bwatford141]

This is cool but $250 is a little steep for a non-direct fit, non-PnP install. The zip ties cracked me up.

it’s definitely a direct fit. No issues there. It’s as Plug & Play as you’re going to get. This camera needs more than the 6v that the factory camera runs off of. We’re just hobbyists making a product that people are asking for. Most responses that I get from buyers and people interested, are “thank you for making this available”. Btw… the OEM camera is almost $500.

 

[wsuZ]

I bought one and decided not to install it. DM if you'd like to purchase at a discounted price.

 

[chadgigachad]

it’s definitely a direct fit. No issues there. It’s as Plug & Play as you’re going to get. This camera needs more than the 6v that the factory camera runs off of. We’re just hobbyists making a product that people are asking for. Most responses that I get from buyers and people interested, are “thank you for making this available”. Btw… the OEM camera is almost $500.

The shocker is that Nissan is charging $500 for a camera with the image quality of a backup camera from 2016

 

[bwatford141]

The shocker is that Nissan is charging $500 for a camera with the image quality of a backup camera from 2016

True story…

 

[Panini]

Surprised no one posted this. Here is a proved fix. This is a post from The New Nissan Z page on Facebook by Brian Watford.

Ok… I’ll have the upgraded cameras ready to ship on or before 12/20! I setup a Google Form for those that might be interested. I will only have 20 cameras ready for this first round. We will plan on making more dependent on interest.

$250 each

Upgraded Camera
• Resolution: 1280x960 (=1.2 million pixels)
• FOV: 140° (H) / 80° (V)
• Sensor: 1/3-inch HD CMOS
• Low Light: 0.001 |x

OEM Camera
• Resolution: 632×480 (=300k pixels)
• FOV: 140.5° (H) / 95.5° (V)
• Sensor: 1/4-inch CMOS
• Low Light: 1 Ix

https://forms.gle/SVCS6BSmRPfiMmWS7

Link to installation instructions:

These links are no longer valid. Where to find this camera?

 

[Howdog70]

These links are no longer valid. Where to find this camera?

This link is from bwatford141

https://forms.gle/D8XeyL1u4QaDu8916

 

[ShearMe]

Very easy install. Maybe some of my video can help make it easier:

I just happened to have the right kind of crimper tool from my escapades in low voltage. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005SUHPSW 2.9 works for the copper end doubled over, 3.5 seemed good for the insulation. Still ended up not using the included splice since only two are included (I stupidly put one on the wrong wire). Would recommend most people doing this should just get their own splice option they are familiar with.

Video quality is more clear and smooth. The fish eye doesn't quite match OEM and I catch some of the car in the corners. Overall definitely an improvement.

 

[Mustafa]

Hi everyone!

I have some information about the rear-view camera on the Fairlady that I’d like to share.

A little background
I recently became the owner of a beautiful Fairlady as well, but like many of us, I was very disappointed with the quality of the rear-view camera. To put it mildly, the image quality is terrible.

Since I never had this problem with my previous cars, I started looking for a solution. I found this forum and learned quite a lot. One of the most interesting things I discovered was that a Japanese seller was offering upgraded replacement cameras.

That immediately caught my attention.

I started researching the topic, but there isn’t much information available online. Everything I found seemed to suggest that the original camera was digital, and if that were true, replacing it would not be very easy.

Eventually, I almost accepted that I would have to buy the upgraded camera from the Japanese seller. However, $270 seemed unreasonably expensive to me.

So I started looking for the same seller or product on Japanese auction sites, and I eventually found it. The price there was around $120, which looked much more attractive, even after considering shipping costs.
https://jp.mercari.com/user/profile/927145937

I was almost ready to buy it, but then I found an article on a Japanese website where someone had successfully replaced the original camera using a relatively cheap aftermarket copy.
https://cartune.co.jp/notes/5SkA4NkaT4
https://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/2047203/car/3685424/8389809/note.aspx

At that point, I realized that my assumption about the camera being digital was probably wrong.

It appears to be a standard analog camera that can potentially be replaced with an aftermarket unit. Ideally, it should be a CCD camera, and it would be even better if it supports a 6V power supply, like the one mentioned in the article.
https://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/2047203/car/3685424/8389809/11/note.aspx#title

As for the camera being sold on this forum, I suspect that the additional component is simply a voltage step-up converter wrapped in heat shrink tubing. Of course, this is just my assumption.

I have already ordered a camera myself, and I’ll keep you updated on the results once it arrives and I have a chance to test it.

My next goal is to figure out how to add a front camera using a splitter.

I hope this information will be useful to someone!