Rear Vision Cameras

I recently had Sound In Motion fit rear vision cameras to both our van and the rear of our F250 along with an overhead consule so that a fold down type screen could be used in front of the rear vision mirror. I have a switch on the dash to switch between cameras. I must say that I am impressed with the extra visibility, especially when on a divided road or when overtaking as you can see the entire front of the car being overtaken when you are between 1 and 2 metres in front of them and you know that you can safely change lanes. It is so much easier than trying to judge the distance with the mirrors. The only problem with the camera view is that it is such a wide angle that vehicles behind appear further away than they actually are, and you get a much clearer picture of vehicles any distance behind you, using the external mirrors. I believe that these cameras should only be used as an additional aide and that they should not be relied on to take the place of good external rear vision mirrors. The convex nature of the camera lens gives a false impression of distance, and unless things have changed the law always used to say that on the drivers side the rear vision mirror had to been a plain surface, not convex for the same reason. In the tail gate of the F250 Sound In Motion fitted a key hole camera beside the latch and this gives good visibility behind the vehicle. When I want to back up to the caravan I have put a piece of chain on one side of the tail gate to lower the tail gate to the correct angle so that the rear of the tow coupling is just visible. This now allows me to back exactly up to the caravan coupling, and makes connecting up a breeze. For those people who are prone to having heated moments with your partner when they are directing you back to either hook up the van or into a parking bay, the fitment of 2 cameras may keep your marriage in tact. Sound In Motion have had a problem with the key hole cameras that their supplier has sent as when the camera had been turned on for about 10 to 15 minutes, the heat generated by the camera operating has caused condensation to form in the sealed lens area and hence the picture on the screen is blurred. I had mine replaced last Friday and the replacement is just as bad so now we are waiting for their supplier to obtain a new batch so that a 3rd camera can be fitted. Brian