I have been reading lately that a lot of people really like the backup camera feature on many cars like the Infiniti, etc. Personally, I don't understand this. I have seen back up camera images before and think they are difficult to decipher. I greatly prefer PDC which, in my experience, works way better at warning of obstacles when backing up. Am I missing something here??

 

It tugs at the heart strings of parents who have nightmares about backing over one of their children! While I've never tested this in any real way, I can see how the PDC might not pick up on a small child, particularly one sitting low on the ground. Just an added saftey feature, which of course they make a profit on...

 

Exactly. A guy that worked for the same company as me backed over his daughter about 5 years ago, and painfully regretted not having a backup camera on his car. PDC is great for large barriers, but not sure it would be as good as a camera with smaller objects.

 

The wide angle also helps when backing out of a driveway. Have you ever tried backing up from your driveway with a big truck parked in a space? The camera can acutually help you see around the corner. At night, the low lux camera highlights obsticles as well. Regardless, any assistance device to help avoid an accident of any is good.

 

I had the backup camera in my Lexus and yes you are right PDC is much more predictable... the backup camera was not as useful... but like others have said... the camera is good for making sure theres no one behind you. Having Both is ideal... if its one or the other I will take PDC over the camera.

 

They really are two different things. PDC helps keep you from scraping your front or rear bumper while the camera helps make sure you aren't backing over anything. PDC is what I prefer, but as the other poster said having both would be great.

I'm so used to PDC that I become a danger to everything around me when I'm in a rental car and don't have it.

 

When you are going backwards in a street (typically off a parking space) the rear camera also helps you monitor incoming traffic thanks to it wide angle. This is very useful, and something the PDC won't do.

 

people are getting so damned lazy... I witnessed a backup camera whilst on holiday in Tokyo, it's grainy and a preverbial pain in the rectum, what happened to understanding the outer dimensions of your vehice of choice, you know some people shouldn't be entrusted with driving cars of any description because they are simply not up to it.

On the other hand generally it's not a good idea to be walking infront of or behind a moving vehicle, but as your probably on your mobile/cell phone you probably did not notice the artic unit backing over your brain matter.

Driving - Pay Attention
Walking - Pay attention

Do both and my world will be a better place.

 

Point taken. Drivers need to be more attentive and get off their damn cell phones. Another problem is little children don't know when a car is backing out or moving foward so a camera, no matter how grainy would help prevent an unfortunate situatiion.

 

Did she make it through ok?