Keeping an Eye Out for the Bottom Line With Fisheye
Filed under: CCTV Articles, General Technology, GeoVision, IP Cameras, Security Camera
In my years of experience with CCTV cameras, it seems as if pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) cameras are still highly in demand. PTZ cameras work really well for remote applications. For instance, if you have an area that you are trying to view that is 100-200 feet away from the nearest power source, a PTZ camera is the way to go. They also work really well for large, open properties.
Although PTZs provide a lot of functionality, they tend to be rather large and bulky. They also use a lot of moving mechanical parts, which means that they can be noisy, and they can be rather pricey to boot. They also require extra cabling for the PTZ controller.
Fortunately, there is an alternative. Geovision has developed what’s known as a fisheye camera. There are four reasons why one should choose a fisheye camera over a PTZ:
The first reason is that the fisheye camera is a whole lot smaller in size compared to a standard PTZ camera. The smaller size means that there are no moving mechanical parts. No moving parts means low maintenance and no noise!
The second reason is that the Geovision fisheye offers some of the same PTZ features. The Geovision software provides a feature known as electronic pan, tilt and zoom (ePTZ). Simply put, pan, tilt and zoom with this feature is performed through the software instead of mechanical moving parts. The software allows for multiple PTZ views of the same image. You can auto track an object in one view and watch the same image in normal view mode simultaneously.
The third reason is that it is an IP camera. Being that it is an IP camera, this camera will require Cat 5e cable, which is way more cost effective than the standard coax cable that is used for PTZ cameras. Also, you don’t have to worry about running an extra cable to connect the PTZ controller. Everything is controlled through a single Cat-5e cable.
Since the fisheye camera is an IP camera, a DVR capture card is not required. Therefore, the cost of the PC that the fisheye will record to will be drastically less than a PC-based DVR. Overall, fisheye is the way to go – hook, line, and sinker!
Some Things to Consider When Comparing Analog Cameras
Filed under: Beginning CCTV, CCTV Articles, General Technology, Guides
Purchasing an analog camera can be intimidating, especially when there’s such a wide variety of features to consider. And the smallest difference in specs can sometimes make a huge difference for the end-user. Following are a few helpful pointers to keep in mind while researching what works best for you.
TVL: Check out the Resolution and TVL (TV Lines) on the camera. Basically, the higher the TVL, the higher the resolution and clearer the picture. The current highest resolution you can have on a analog camera is 700 TVL. You may also find them available in 600 or 540 TVL resolution. Some sensors, like many Sony Effio models, have extremely clear picture even at sub-600 TVL range.
Fixed / Varifocal: Is the Lens on the camera fixed or a varifocal (meaning the lens can be adjusted)? The data sheet may state that the camera has a 3.6mm lens; if this is so, then it has a fixed lens, and will only and always have a 3.6mm lens. But if the lens is a something like a 2.8- 12mm lens, then this has a variable lens from 2.8 up to 12mm, meaning you can set it anywhere within this range. Basically, the lower the “mm” number, the wider the view of angle will be, while the higher the number the closer the view appear to be (zoomed in).
IR: Some cameras come with IR technology, meaning they have night vision ability whether indoors or outdoors. The important thing to keep in mind is that different camera can have a different amount of IR lights installed, and can range in different sizes. The more powerful the IR, the further the camera can see at night. If you camera has a 150ft IR distance and you are placing the camera in a small 20x20ft room, the IR will be too strong and cause the image to have a glare. On the other hand, if you set a 50ft IR camera outside looking at a parking lot 300ft out, unfortunately you will not receive much of an image at all.
3 Simple & Money-Saving Points to Remember When Purchasing a CCTV System
Filed under: Beginning CCTV, CCTV Articles, General Technology, Guides, Security Camera System
Most businesses and individuals do not realize some key components that get overlooked when purchasing a new or replacement system. Small decisions could end up saving a new user up to thousands of dollars. Here are a few basic but important factors to always consider when setting up a new surveillance system:
1) When implementing a new system, look at the cable choices. All IP based cameras must be run via Cat5 or Cat6; this is standard. However, if you are considering using an analog camera, you can either run Cat5 or RG59 coax. Cat5 is generally less expensive, weighs less, and most importantly, if you decide to replace the new camera 5-10 years down the road with an IP camera, you will not have to restructure the cabling of your home or facility.
2) Keep in mind that when you purchase a DVR, they typically come in a variety of sizes depicted by channel or camera inputs, for example 4,8,16 and 32. If you will require 8 cameras for you business, and thus choose an 8-channel DVR, it’s important to realize that your ability to expand your system down the road will be limited due to the fact that you system is already at its full capacity. Think ahead – do you expect you business to grow? If so, expect your surveillance system to do the same at some point.
3) Power supplies have come a long way since the last system you may have had installed; never purchase a new system and keep older components to cut cost. In general, cable is ok in most cases to be used again, but definitely not power cable. Different cameras often run at slightly different power ratings, so you highly risk the chance of burning a camera up by using older power supplies. Older power sources output a specified amount no matter what the camera might need, so it will be feeding the same amount 24/7. The newer units are smarter, as they can regulate the amount of power that is distributed to one camera or twenty. A $50.00 purchase is much better than replacing a $500.00 camera.
Keep Up With Us
