Dashcam and heated front screen

306chris

I have recently bought a rear view mirror that has a dash cam built in.

When in use it seems to be focusing on the heating elements within the screen. As such the picture that I want is all out of focus and you cant read a number plate for example.

Has anybody had the same issue and how did you solve it?

AdrianC

Is there a clear part of the screen, probably behind the mirror?

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

306chris wrote: »

I have recently bought a rear view mirror that has a dash cam built in.

When in use it seems to be focusing on the heating elements within the screen. As such the picture that I want is all out of focus and you cant read a number plate for example.

Has anybody had the same issue and how did you solve it?

Quite a few of these cameras don't bother with focusing mechanisms - a wide angle lens has a very deep field of view so doesn't really need it, especially as they are interested in things a couple of metres away or more. However, low light may need a bit of help.

I would think all you could try is moving the camera nearer the windscreen so it is less able to focus on the lines and will chose the next best thing. The other thing to try is seeing if you can persuade it to focus further away with something attractive line some bold lines on paper and then hope once it has got a focus set further away the focusing mechanism isn't reset on start up. Other than that, take it back as unfit for purpose and get one that has a fixed focus.

missile

Some cheap dash cams have poor quality lens, low resolution image and useless in low light conditions.

hollie.weimeraner

I have a Nextbase fitted to a Ford Fiesta with a heated screen and have had no problems at all.

DavidFx

Is there a focus adjustment - a knurled ring around the lens assembly?

Car_54

I may be wrong, but I'd imagine a dashcam would have a fixed-focus lens rather than an autofocus mechanism. If that's the case, it's simply faulty.

OP - have you checked what it focusses on when it's not facing through the screen<

Jackmydad

Can't see a dashcam having autofocus. It'd "hunt" I'd have thought. I've taken some shots with a normal camera through a wet windscreen, and used manual focus as the camera will focus on the water drops, so that would happen in the rain with a dashcam with AF I'd have thought.

missile

If OP says what dash cam he has we will be able to confirm technical details e.g. the focal length.