2025 Tower Camera on Linc Display

[morrow]

Used our 2025 G21 for the first time today. Upgraded from a 2020 G21. The rear facing tower camera seems to be terrible compared to the one on our 2020 model. On the 2020 it was basically a 4k feed, you could see everyone easily and even facial expressions. On this 2025 the camera seems super low quality. Looks like an old school camcorder video feed. Images are basically pixilated, you can see basic shapes and objects enough to know what's going on, but it is exponentially worse quality than our 2020 model. Not sure if that's because of the resolution on the new touch screen, a new camera, or if my boat has an issue.

How does everyone elses rear facing tower camera looking on the 2025 models?

[Scooter G]

IMO you should have a clear image here. Just random, but did you check the lens of the camera to make sure there is not a protective cover on it (factory).
I have a backup camera on an enclosed trailer that was initially fuzzy, turned out to be a poor connection (wiring) problem, fixed.
My '22 G is sharp, love that feature. I would be having a conversation with the Dealer on that one, something is up...

[morrow]

Thanks, will check with the dealer Monday. Did confirm no film on lens.

[morrow]

Talked to my dealer, who reached out to the Nautique rep. Was told that all G's are that way due to the larger screen. (Presumably resolution...if that's really the case, that's a pretty disappointing answer.) I'm hoping there's a solution to this.

2025 G owners - how does your tower camera look? Especially if you're comparing it to an earlier model year?

[Scooter G]

It would be good to hear from others, but I don't know man.
I found some snaps online, 2 are from a '24 Linc, and one is from the Nautique website, presumably a '25. They look decent crispy to me. 'Bout what our G looks like. Now that I look at those, maybe they are from the same boat on the same lake? Not 1080P but still decent. Does that resemble what your Linc screen looks like or completely different?

[jpwhit]

Talked to my dealer, who reached out to the Nautique rep. Was told that all G's are that way due to the larger screen. (Presumably resolution...if that's really the case, that's a pretty disappointing answer.) I'm hoping there's a solution to this.

2025 G owners - how does your tower camera look? Especially if you're comparing it to an earlier model year?

Sounds like a video resolution scaling issue. If they are displaying the video on a section of the screen that's a different number of pixels x,y than the native resolution of the camera, then you need to pretty sophisticated scaling algorithm to keep the clarity of the video. They are probably using a very simplistic algorithm. The good news is it should be able to be fixed via a software update. If they don't have the software skill or the cpu power to scale the video better, they would be better off displaying it smaller on the screen but keeping it at the same resolution as the native resolution of the camera.

[morrow]

I managed to get an image from a dealership from a different 2025 G series. Seems to have the same issue, so I'm definitely leaning towards a scaling issue. Also another image from my G. Looks significantly more distorted than your '24. Notice my son looks like a minecraft character. Face is completely blocky. Huge decrease in quality from my 2020 screen.

[BasaltRMK]

Oh wow - that is disappointingly bad. If you don't have an issue and that's what you get with the new Linc, that's pretty disappointing.

The resolution is great on my '24, but that's the smaller Linc. I still have a bone to pick with mine, though - when you go from the 'full' camera view (great) to the 'reduced-size' view, the view they selected is terrible. 1/2 the view is the rear of the boat and swim deck, with only 1/2 or less actually behind the boat. I wish it was adjustable, as the top 1/4 being the rear of the boat and the other 3/4 being the area behind the boat would be a lot more functional.

- bob

[Scooter G]

What does the reduced view look like on your G morrow?
I usually run the screen reduced so I have access to the lower screen, same picture as full screen, just reduced in size. Not sure why yours would change field of view Bob?
Grab some pics next time you are out just for curiosity sakes.

[BasaltRMK]

Scooter G - now that is interesting. It's definitely a different crop on the reduced view on mine. A smaller version of the full view would be perfect. I'll snap some pics this weekend. Seems like an easy software fix, if Nautique was so inclined. I did notice that the software versions are model-year specific (mine has 'MY2024' in the software version file name), so maybe that explains the difference from your '22? I similarly like to run the reduced view to have access to the lower screen.

- bob

[morrow]

Nautiques response is that this is by design, no software update can fix it. Pound sand. I can’t believe more people who have upgraded aren’t experiencing the same issues.

[BasaltRMK]

Wow - that is such a disappointing response. Really sorry to hear that that is how they responded to a valued, repeat customer. *sigh*

Scooter G - to reply to your question about the cropping on my camera between the 'Full' and 'Reduced' view, see the following. Sorry about the picture quality / glare, but you can see that the surfer is barely visible on the reduced view. But a great shot of the rear sundeck and walk-through...?





- bob

[Scooter G]

Hmm, let me pay more attention next time we are out...
I am usually on the mirror by the time the surfer is up and the wave is formed.

[morrow]

Hmm, let me pay more attention next time we are out...
I am usually on the mirror by the time the surfer is up and the wave is formed.

I typically am also, unless I'm teaching kids how to surf. In my 2020 I could watch their face, body positioning, and board alignment. When they were in the right position I'd go. Saved a ton of failed attempts. Often times they think they're ready, when they're clearly not. Now they're basically just a blob and non functiona. I have to turn around to watch now.

BasaltRMK looks like your resolution is poor also. So if you have a 2024 this isn't a new issue to 2025. Maybe more people aren't noticing because they haven't upgraded from a model that had the better camera/resolution.

[BasaltRMK]

I think part of what you're seeing in my screenshots is due to a lot of glare and the fact that I was taking the pictures while driving. The resolution isn't that bad - although maybe my expectations are just low. I did not notice much of a loss of resolution between my previous G21s (2018 and 2020) and my 2024 G23, and usually I'm pretty picky about those types of issues - I use the camera a LOT.

- bob