Transom Video Camera

L

LuBell

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Joined
Aug 1, 2008
RO Number
30482
Messages
65
I've got a Garmin 4208 Chartplotter and want to connect, to it, a video camera on the transom (or radar arch?). Garmin has a camera for $500.00. Can anyone say if that's the best to go with or are there others less expensive, compatible, and just as good.
 
I used 2 Raymarine cameras(about $470.00 each) on my last boat. However just go to Radio Shack for less than $100.00 you get an almost identical camera.
I am using the Radio Shack camera on my new project boat with a Garmin 741s.
Bill
 
I have two 4208s as well each have two inputs I have two cameras on one of the units and one on the other. There is no need to spent that much money on a camera however if you are using the camera as a back up camera you may want a camera with a reverse view. I'm in the business so I just used whatever used cameras I had on hand at the time.
 
I sell a lot of Speco cmaeras and had very good luck. My backup camera is a Speco as well.
 
Off topic, but I saw a big sportfish captain at Marina Jack in Sarasota flying a drone equipped with a Go Pro Hero camera. He said they used it to follow along behind the boat while Marlin fishing to film the action.

Lots of new technology these days.
 
My boat came with 2 transom cameras. One for back up and other for cockpit viewing. The cockpit one is a raymarine branded camera. The backup is just some white off brand one. Both work good and I prefer the cockpit one because I can see when dog or someone goes down from bridge if they make it inside with no issues. The backup one I used once to dock that side to dock but for backing up I still prefer my eye se down the bridge stairs.

My issue with both cameras is they are not reverse image. In other words they show as reversed from what the are actually looking at. Not a big deal but I wonder if they are just not installed right.

Thoughts?
 
The critical factor with these cameras is lens angle, it needs to be wide enough to cover the whole beam plus a little more on each side.
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

The critical factor with these cameras is lens angle, it needs to be wide enough to cover the whole beam plus a little more on each side.

Click to expand...


Seeing the entire beam is nice. I can see everything but what I find important is being able to see the dock side and being able to see my wife stepping off the platform onto the dock. As long as I can see how close I am to the dock I know I'm good on my other side.
What is important is the placement of the camera in order to see what you need to see!

Dave I Don't believe there is anything wrong with your install a reverse view camera is what you want. My camera is not but I'm very used to it so it doesn't bother me.
 
No I meant it's not reverse view. It shows the reverse of what it sees so on screen it's on wrong side.

So camera shows port side on right side of screen and starboard on left.
 
Correct, if you want it to look the way you see it you need a reverse view camera and this will correct the issue.
 
Right. But I would think the one from Raymarine would do that.
But it doesn't. Was wondering if there is a switch.
 
Some high end cameras have setup mode programing a few of them even have reverse view option however this is not common. If you want a reverse view camera you need to order a reverse view camera. Just because it is expensive doesn't mean it has any more features just means you over paid:) What they are charging for the raymarine or Garmin cameras is crazy there are plenty of inexpensive cameras out there that work just as well.
 
Some chart plotters will reverse the image for you. My Northstar does not so I had to by the Speco Reverse Image model, which happens to be more expensive than the regular one.
 
I don't really use the cameras, so don't really care.
I use the cockpit one when under way to check on wife or dog going down.
To backup, I still use my head turned.
I just can't get used to looking at a video screen.
I can see the corner of boat fine and other corner follows suit.
It comes in handy if I am going that side to the dock, then it's helpful.

Funny how I always wanted one, then I got 2 and don't use them!
Boaters always want what they don't have, but rarely need them!
 
Sorry I'm on pain killers I didn't mean anything by that!!!!
 
I've had a "security" camera on my houseboat for years, it's wired in to my TV which I can see from the conn. Good way to keep an eye on the dink, too.

Works so well that I've put "backup cams" on all my trailers, so I can see that compact that's tailgating me. Camera AND monitor are about $52 on Ebay. Camera alone under $20. Hardwire is better than "wireless" IMO.

The small rear-view monitors have a feature where you can reverse the view even if the camera doesn't.
 
I m looking at one right now that's hooker up to a sharp tv which has the capability of reversing the image and I can't figure out why anyone would want to do that

Very Confusing in reverse mode much easier to use in normal mode
 
I think everyone is confused on reverse image.
This is what my cockpit camera sees and shows in my mfd:

imagejpg1_zpsb7d1d4b8.jpg


This is what my cockpit looks like, sorry but I can't get same angle as camera, but you get the idea:

imagejpg2_zpsb2a1feea.jpg


So my camera reverses the image but I was always told that is normal that you need a reverse image camera to reverse it back to normal!
 
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