[mochalatte]

I've been busy creating and refining a design for a hood to shield the backup camera from the light that can cause a dark backup display at night. Creating this product has been surprisingly educational as my testers helped me sort through all the important issues of adding a hood to the rear camera, but nothing was insurmountable and the current design seems to do the job well, really well. I sent test units to @Huey52 , @Spin , @Nai3t , and @Pfrancis24 and I want to thank them for their invaluable feedback, suggestions, and expertise.

What this accessory does is block stray light from getting into the backup camera causing dim nighttime images. The trick was to do that without blocking any of the field of view or getting in the way of the washer nozzle next to the camera. (Did you know there's a washer nozzle next to the rear camera on US models? Yeah, me neither. ) Please check it out along with before/after photos and a video on the listing to see it in action.

VW ID.4 Backup Camera Hood, at Etsy

Anyone who has a Model Year 2022 ID.4, please direct message me about getting one of these to you for making sure it fits.

 

[rth121]

Nice, saw it an Etsy a few days ago when browsing and was wondering about it since I didn't see much on the forum Good job!

 

[VW TECHNICIAN]

I've been busy creating and refining a design for a hood to shield the backup camera from the light that can cause a dark backup display at night. Creating this product has been surprisingly educational as my testers helped me sort through all the important issues of adding a hood to the rear camera, but nothing was insurmountable and the current design seems to do the job well really well. I sent test units to @Huey52 , @Spin , @Nai3t , and @Pfrancis24 and I want to thank them for their valuable feedback, suggestions, and expertise.

What this accessory does is block stray light from getting into the backup camera causing dim nighttime images. The trick was to do that without blocking any of the field of view or getting in the way of the washer nozzle next to the camera. (Did you know there's a washer nozzle next to the rear camera on US models? Yeah, me neither. ) Please check it out along with before/after photos and a video on the listing to see it in action.

VW ID.4 Backup Camera Hood, at Etsy

View attachment 5733

Anyone who has a Model Year 2022 ID.4, please direct message me about getting one of these to you for making sure it fits.

Let me know when is ready for purchase....8 need one.

 

[Unik42]

Could you do a test with and without it? And post photos here?

 

[Spin]

I tested some early prototypes and I can say it makes a big difference. Photos do not do it justice.

 

[JimmyVW]

Could you do a test with and without it? And post photos here?

check out his Etsy account. Lots of photos and even a video

 

[Pfrancis24]

I agree with @Spin the photos don’t capture the reality. Nice improvement for the backup camera!

 

[mochalatte]

Let me know when is ready for purchase....8 need one.

It's ready--just use this Etsy link.

 

[mochalatte]

Could you do a test with and without it? And post photos here?

Here is one of the photos from the listing. The issue is that bright license plate getting into the camera affecting the exposure. The hood is designed to block most of the plate if not all.

 

[mochalatte]

I agree with @Spin the photos don’t capture the reality.

Does anyone know if there's a way to do a screenshot of the infotainment display and get a file out? I think that would give a better representation of the improvement than taking a photo of it.

 

[Don]

Do all of them look like they've been carved on with a knife like the one in your Etsy photo, or does the 'finished version' look a little more refined?

Don

 

[mochalatte]

Do all of them look like they've been carved on with a knife like the one in your Etsy photo, or does the 'finished version' look a little more refined?

Don

The parts are small, so by the time I zoom in and crop them to fill the image every wart sticks out. Nothing hides from a iPhone 12 Pro Max. These are 3D printed with a 0.4mm nozzle and 0.16mm layer height--typical 3D printed items with all the normal traits of the extrusion FDM process. To stand behind the car and look at it, I'm not sure any of that would be noticeable.

 

[JimmyVW]

The parts are small, so by the time I zoom in and crop them to fill the image every wart sticks out. Nothing hides from a iPhone 12 Pro Max. These are 3D printed with a 0.4mm nozzle and 0.16mm layer height--typical 3D printed items with all the normal traits of the extrusion FDM process. To stand behind the car and look at it, I'm not sure any of that would be noticeable.

the buyer can always sand and polish them to get them a bit smoother I’d assume?

 

[Nai3t]

I've tested four of @mochalatte 's prototypes but not the final version.

In the dark, the image quality definitely improves. By blocking out reflected light from the license plate, it has the effect of "opening the aperture a stop" except of course the camera is adjusting electronically.

When parallel parking on the street at night, the vehicle I'm parking in front of becomes brighter, more detailed, and brings out its color a bit. I can make out details at a greater distance. The shadowy tunnel effect is diminished, making the camera feel more usable.

My wife, who has also been testing it, is a bit contrarian, saying it doesn't help her see the curb any better, and therefore doesn't do anything to help her park, but she agrees the overall image is enhanced. I concur that the concrete curb is already well defined on the stock display, and with the hood installed, I don't notice any change close up, where it counts for preserving unrashed wheels.

In the camera's wide angle mode, the shadow of the hood "rings" the image slightly, but doesn't functionally obstruct the field of vision. The final version looks to have removed material from the sides that I expect reduces the ring to more of a top and bottom shadowing.

As for its physical appearance, the hood blends right in. It looks like every other 3D printed part, but is only as large at the camera module, and sits low underneath the lift gate, going mostly unnoticed.

So don't expect the world from this product — it won't suddenly transform the ID.4 backup camera into an HD-quality image. It will block out a major source of directly-reflected light, as claimed, and makes a modest yet noticable improvement to the car's lackluster nighttime camera performance.

 

[mochalatte]

Here's a quick YouTube video I just took to give another perspective of what it looks like installed.

 

[mochalatte]

the buyer can always sand and polish them to get them a bit smoother I’d assume?

Well, yes, PETG 3D prints can be sanded. Rather than polishing, on occasion it can be beneficial to mildly reflow the plastic with a heat gun. However, I think the best remedy would simply be for me to issue you a refund if you don't like it the way it looks installed in place.

 

[gcrone-wayback]

This is awesome! I just ordered one and can't wait to get it installed. I take my son to a lot of his sporting events, which most are at night and the backup camera is a pain when the area is not already well lit.

 

[Ray Noneya]

Ok I am an old man can't think well anymore but why can't the license plate light be truned off when reverse is slected? All you bight young men figure it out. Seems VW needs to incorporate it.

 

[mochalatte]

Ok I am an old man can't think well anymore but why can't the license plate light be truned off when reverse is slected? All you bight young men figure it out. Seems VW needs to incorporate it.

I have no idea if VW can come up with a remedy for this via OTA that works well and fits within regulations for plate illumination. Honestly, it would be great if they did, but this does the trick in the mean time.

 

[Spin]

Ok I am an old man can't think well anymore but why can't the license plate light be truned off when reverse is slected? All you bight young men figure it out. Seems VW needs to incorporate it.

That would not be legal. The license plate must be illuminated if the running lights are on.