This is our guide to you about surround view camera system.
In this all-new post you’ll learn:
-
What is a surround view camera system
-
How does it work
-
Tips for choosing aftermarket 360 car camera system
So if you are considering adding one to your car or would like to know more about such high tech camera system, you’ll love today’s guide.

A bird’s eye view of your car, while it’s reversing, is one of the more impressive in-car technologies these days.
Many firms now sell so-called surround-view camera systems or car overhead view systems which can cover the entire area surrounding a vehicle with a 360 video at the top down.

With this configuration, it is more like your own personal drone flies right above your car and transmits live imagery directly to your in-car monitor to help removes blind spots.
Let’s dig a bit deeper to find out how do they work.
How Does A 360 Degree Car Camera Work?
The system usually has 4 wide-angle cameras integrated into the car body panels.
One camera is in the middle of the front grille. Two more ultra-wide-angle cameras look down from the side view/wing mirrors along the flanks on the car. A fourth is just above the license plate.

While the minimum number of four cameras can form a 360° vision, there are cars that can have eight or nine cameras for such application.
Cameras must have the ability to view a vast area, so most of the cameras in such system would have a wide-angle lens up to 180 degree.

360 Degree Panoramic View Car Cameras Placement
The four wide-angle cameras create images from all measurements of the car.
And these pictures are concurrently sent to ECU of the surround view system host in which they’re processed for correction, and stitched together to generate real-time perspective of the environment of the vehicle as if from above.

The 360-degree image can be shown on a split screen in conjunction with forward, rear or side views, like shown above.
As you maneuver into a parking space, the 360-degree camera system shows nearby obstacles, helping you avoid impacts.
What Types Of Surround View Camera Systems Are Available?
Typically, there’re two types of 360 surround view systems available – 2D & 3D.
With the 2D system, you can choose to display image from one of those 4 cameras. In order to prevent scratching on a curb, for example, the passenger side camera will show a better view of the wheels.
Or you can see the image from the front camera of what is ahead, like off-street barriers.
Newer cars with 360 degrees camera system or some aftermarket 360 car camera kits carry it further.
They can now show not only a Top View mode but also a 3D View mode, showing side traffic in the areas in front of and behind the vehicle.
The 3D View mode shows the vehicle and its environment from various perspectives to aid safe maneuvering in confined, low-visibility situations.
It’s like you have a camera on a drone, floating outside your car and flipping to your desired angle.
Display Hardware
The video from the panoramic image processing software is shown on an HMI (Human Machine Interface), which is often the screen of the infotainment system in your car or stand-alone in-car LCD monitor that comes with a windshield mounting suction cup, or dash mount stand.
In the surround view 360 camera system, feedback systems like audio warnings are also employed to alert the driver of surrounding objects.
Cars With 360-Degree Camera Systems(Incomplete List)
Many of us would have seen this technology in action in the latest models of cars.
-
Audi: Top view camera system with Virtual 360 View
-
Jaguar: 360 Surround Camera
-
BMW: Surround View With 3D View
-
Chevrolet: Surround Vision
-
Ford: 360-Degree Camera
-
Hyundai: Surround View Monitor
-
Infiniti: Around View Monitor
-
Kia: Surround View Monitor
-
Land Rover: 360-Degree Parking Aid; ClearView
-
Mazda: 360-Degree View Monitor
-
Mercedes-Benz: Surround View System
-
Nissan: Around View Monitor
-
Toyota: Bird’s Eye View Camera
-
Volkswagen: Overhead View Camera (Area View)
-
Volvo: 360-Degree Surround View
Many of us would have seen this technology in action in the latest models of cars.
-
Audi: Top view camera system with Virtual 360 View
-
Jaguar: 360 Surround Camera
-
BMW: Surround View With 3D View
-
Chevrolet: Surround Vision
-
Ford: 360-Degree Camera
-
Hyundai: Surround View Monitor
-
Infiniti: Around View Monitor
-
Kia: Surround View Monitor
-
Land Rover: 360-Degree Parking Aid; ClearView
-
Mazda: 360-Degree View Monitor
-
Mercedes-Benz: Surround View System
-
Nissan: Around View Monitor
-
Toyota: Bird’s Eye View Camera
-
Volkswagen: Overhead View Camera (Area View)
-
Volvo: 360-Degree Surround View
Is A 360-Degree Car Camera System Worth It?
While some drivers are better than others at parking, we all feel pain when our wheels are curbed and bumpers are scuffed. A 2D or 3D 360-degree camera system is well worth the investment if you want to stop such damages.
Especially when you’re driving an RV, trailer, or long truck, sliding into confined parking spots, turning, and other maneuvers can be quite tricky, particularly when you don’t have a regular backup vehicle camera system or parking sensors installed.

Motorhome and RV 360 Degree Camera System
Quick Tips: Some aftermarket 360-degree camera systems can record video feed from each of the four cameras as a separate channel on a micro SD card or a USB drive in loop mode, allowing the device to be used as a standard car DVR.
When the shock sensor (G-sensor) is tripped during CCTV recording in a parked vehicle, the device goes into standby mode and begins recording 2-3 minutes long video clips. After that, it goes back to standby mode.

Kocchi’s SurroundView™ System Video Footage
Can I Install Aftermarket 360° Camera System For My Car?
Many newer cars have the option of a 360 surround view system.
But definitely you can install an aftermarket 360 car camera system if your car doesn’t have one.
There are many aftermarket 360 degree car camera systems you can buy to install for your car.
This can be harder to mount and install than a standard front and backup camera, since you have to install the 4 cameras to the vehicle, thus taking on more time to route all cables.

In the meantime you have to do camera calibration with provided tapes and mat which could be thought of one of the most difficult jobs while deploying a surround view system in a car or truck.
Camera calibration ensures proper performance of the surround view system as improper camera calibration might cause non-aligned picture stitching, ghosting and faulty color correction.

360 Car Camera Calibration(Tapes or Mats)
Most people would have the 360 car camera system installed by a car shop.
Have it professionally installed would normally take 1 to 2 hours and the installation process is much more complex for longer vehicles, like RVs, and definitely would increase total installation time and costs.

Hello!!! My 1st car (Nissan Rogue 16′) came with the 360 camera already built in. Being in NYC, it has literally saved me from so many different scenarios where if it wasn’t there I wouldn’t find parking for another 2 hrs, among other things. I’m about to trade her in and I can’t find one I can afford with the 360 cam. I read that drilling the additional holse for the mirrors and front bumper can devalue the car about 6k. I’m settling on the jeep cherokee 2017. I just really want the opinion of someone who knows exactly what they’re talking about before I devalue anything. THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!!
Hi Ari, it really depends. The only value it affects is that to the enthusiast. The public doesn’t notice or care.
If I’m flipping a car, holes aren’t changing what I’m paying and what I’m selling it for. I’m sure not reducing the price because a potential buyer doesn’t care for it.
I purchased 2020 Acura MDX with only reverse camera. I would like to install 360 bird view camera. Is it possible to get Acura upgrade or Can you recommend any good after market?
You can choose the 2020 Acura MDX – Advance 360 package. The original infotainment system displays all four camera feeds spliced together to give you 360 effects. And of course, the aftermarket 360 bird view camera system can make such an upgrade much easier and less costly.
Kocchi’s SurroundView™ 3D 360 car camera system is the one you might like to try. Link: https://www.kocchis.com/products/360-hd-surround-view-system/
I want to retrofit into a Jetta Mk6 but I also want traffic recording and recording when I’m parked for security
Hi Ken, you can retrofit our 360 camera system into a Jetta Mk6. Our system has a parking recording mode which will start to record for about 3 minutes if the built-in G-sensor detects your car is struck while parked.
I have a 2017 Nissann Pathfinder with a back-up camera. Is it possible to add more cameras in order to eliminate blind spots?
Certainly, a 360 surround view camera system should be a good option to eliminate blind spots, with total 4 cameras installed in your car, one at the front, one rear view, and two side cameras installed in your side mirrors. The four wide-angle cameras create images from all measurements of the car.
And these pictures are concurrently sent to ECU of the surround view system host in which they’re processed for correction and stitched together to generate real-time perspective of the environment of your car as if from above.
Hi there
I want to install such system on a bus. I know there are systems available online for large vehicles. But in what way do they differ from, for example, the 360 setup by T’EYES? Different cameras? Stronger CPU? Software?
Any input is appreciated.
Thnx.
Hello,
Thanks for your message here. Different systems do differ in many ways. With different wide-angle cameras configuration, the image quality and waterproof level would be quite different. And with a better CPU built into the MCU, the calibration of the image would be faster with less latency to output for safer driving.
And regards the software part, which is the core of such a system, the calibration algorithm would finally determine the quality of stitched images from those 4 cameras, which would lead to a good image that looks quite natural rather than distorted.
how much is it to add a bird eye view on a 2022 lexus is350 f sport
Hi there! Please send an email to sales@kocchis.com, you’ll receive feedback or advice from one of our experts soon, thank you.
Hi. What camera should I install on my 2014 Camaro. Im having hard time parking because of its very tight interior view. Thanks
Hi! For 2014 Camaro, smaller cameras are recommended. Consider our SurroundView™ 3D 360 Car Camera System or Live streaming camera system that includes 3pcs small cameras for easy installation.