Megapixel IP camera, PIXC Focus – the clear picture!

Megapixel IP cameras – crystal clear pictures with excellent post zoom capabilities.

But, how much attention is paid to the quality of lens used?

And, back to basics, how many are focused correctly?

I saw a great camera recently, the picture was pin sharp, the colours vibrant, the focus absolutely spot on……………but was it? Night fell, the TDN (True Day Night) IR Cut filter kicked in and the picture was less than great! fuzzy around the edges, and the previous pin sharp objects were, well, not pin sharp anymore………….

Back in the day (around the times of horse, cart, gas lighting and CCD cameras) an experienced engineer would have a ‘night glass’ to help set up cameras……….now don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating that engineers should start working all hours through the night, but a simple piece of welding glass or similar near dark glass device would help the engineer align both focus and iris (if electronic) during daylight hours………….if the picture is good at night, it will be good during the day

But it doesn’t stop there…………what lenses are being used with these new high quality cameras?

We’ve seen really cheap, entry level lenses being used on these cameras…………now, that’s kind of like watching normal resolution television on a HD TV……it works, but you don’t get the same experience!!

SO, make sure you select the right lens for the camera………..treat it to a purpose built Megapixel lens…………or at the very least, a good quality well made aspherical lens…………

Don’t think saving a few quid on the lenses will deliver the same results!

Aspherical Lenses
Aspherical lenses

IP cameras v Analogue cameras

So there must be some reasons why IP cameras are going to provide the next generation of CCTV systems. Below we list some of the benefits to help you decide if you are about to buy CCTV if IP is the way for you to go.

Analogue vs IP cameras.

IP cameras are inherently networkable so no need to rely on the DVR to enable remote connection

IP cameras are run over CAT 5 cable and this has reliability benefits over coaxial cable

Cat 5 cable is cheaper

The resolution achievable from HD and megapixel cameras is far superior to analogue

IP streaming means that viewing and reviewing is much more flexible.

IP cameras can be be powered over the Ethernet so no need for mains to be supplied adjacent to the camera position.

Much larger systems are possible and this helps keep the total cost of ownership lower than an equivalent sized analogue system.

Recording and viewing is achieved through using software so no DVR is required.

Remote storage with all the associated benefits

Multiple viewers can view different video streams at the same time

The ability for both video and audio at each camera point.

On board storage with each camera by using an SD card

Cameras have built in intelligence ie audio alarms for noise levels and video motion detection.

As we can see IP cameras have lots of benefits over analogue. If you would like you IP camera solution reviewed we will be happy to help.

Hybrid CCTV, Analogue CCTV or IP CCTV?

Decisions , decisions

If you are the  MD of a company who is about to upgrade or install a new CCTV surveillance system, you are probably going to be faced with some pretty tricky decisions on how you are going to approach the subject. The three main questions you will need to ask yourself are:

1)      Will I just upgrade my analogue cameras for new analogue cameras?

2)      Will I use a mixture of my existing equipment with new IP camera technology .i.e. a hybrid CCTV system?

3)      Will I go for the latest IP Megapixel camera solutions with a VMS recording platform?

CCTV solution? Too many choices?

The problem is there is no clear answer on this. Option 1 will almost certainly work out the cheapest at the point of installation and the results you will be able to achieve will mirror those of any previous analogue system you have used. The cameras and DVR may well have more features but overall system performance is going to be the same.

Hybrid CCTV.

Option 2 will give you a half way house solution. Hybrid systems combine analogue and IP cameras with the potential to record on either a DVR or an NVR but you will have to convert the cameras to either analogue or IP at the point of recording. Having said that some companies advocate the use of a Hybrid DVR that can handle both, but long term support for these products is distinctly questionable. However for the time being they provide a convenient bridge between the two technologies.

IP CCTV.

Finally option 3. This will mean a commitment to the future, but one that is still evolving. With megapixel cameras you really need to consider your companies network capabilities to ensure the frame rate and picture quality are maximised. It is inevitable that IP products will be the dominant force in the CCTV market place over the next 5 years. Analogue solutions have reached their ultimate performance levels and have become as cheap as they ever will do. The price of analogue will rise in time, which is why option 1 may not be the cheapest route in the long run. Conversely IP products will fall in price sharply and the options and ranges of the camera and recording products will be wide ranging.

Buy IP CCTV solution.

So as an MD the decision is defiantly not easy, proper advice should be sort to ensure that a supplier with an installation preference does not force you down the wrong route. So thought and consideration is now crucial as to the decision……… “Buy IP Camera solution”? probably …yes!

Arecont AV10005,the low light solution.

AV 10005 megapixel H.264 IP camera from Arecont.

The Arecont AV 10005, 10 megapixel network server camera has been designed to address the biggest problem that megapixel cameras suffer from, this is poor pictures at night. The camera has a reputation as the first PIXC to actually address low light issues. It can deliver 6 frames per second @ 3648 x 2752 or 30 frames per second @ 1920 x 1080.

Crisp clear images.

Having viewed the picture quality it certainly delivers crisp clear images but what about at night? Well clever design means that as light conditions deteriorate the camera groups pixels together allowing more light onto the chip. Admittedly it effectively becomes a 2 mexapixel camera at this point but at night the clarity can be reduced and still achieve acceptable images. The camera itself performs 80 billion operations per second that helps it achieve forensic zooming for regions of interest and has full motion detection to generate alarm events.

Two versions.

The camera comes in two versions. The AV10005 colour and the the AV10005DN, the day/night version. To compliment the camera, Arecont make available 4 different housings for a variety of applications.

Camera housings.

They have a 4” internal vandal proof, an external version of this, a recessed housing for false ceiling applications and finally the traditional shaped external IP 67 rated vandal proof model.

Multi streaming.

The AV10005 offers multi streaming, real time steaming and in addition, all units can be powered via POE, vital to speed in installations.

The two main benefits of this PIXC is that the extreme level of detail it is able to take in means that it can do the work of many traditional analogue cameras. Add to this its nigh-time performance and we start to see a complete solution.

Arecont. HOW TO BUY the AV10005.  please mention integrated cctv on Arecont contact form

Arecont are well known within the industry for innovation and here we see they have stepped up to the mark and produced a fine product that will sell, especially where an installer has external night time applications he needs to address.

CCTV sales squeezed by government cuts.

CCTV Sales take a hit.

Government spending across all areas of its budgets are soon to be cut. This will be like no other cuts we have ever seen before. Some say it is an inevitable consequence of over spending by the previous regime, some say it is not necessary. Whatever you think it is going to happen and this will filter through to effect new CCTV sales.

State spending cuts.

Speaking to many in the industry, one of the biggest concerns is the cut in spending on state funded new builds, especially schools and government buildings. The previous government had many spending plans and this was seen by many in the security industry as the catalyst that was going to kick start the IP camera revolution. New builds are of course the IP CCTV natural market place. Although more expensive than analogue, the big selling point has always been that they are cheaper to install so cost savings would have meant more sales amounting to millions of pounds. This now has all gone, at least in the foreseeable future. So is the new network IP camera revolution about to grind to a rather painful halt?

Hope.

Well looking at the facts it would seem that way but there is some hope on the horizon. Megapixel and HD cameras have undoubtedly brought better quality images to the market and this on its own will encourage people to buy. Remember however always to demonstrate this quality to the end user, talking alone can never sell anything. In addition to this is a rather contentious subject. Historically in times of recession crime rises. It is inevitable, so more crime will be seen across the country industry will have to invest in security. Will it be IP CCTV though?

CCTV, Making do? A bad decision!.

The last two years have been a barren period for new sales of both IP and analogue security equipment especially in the UK. Customers are quite simply just making do, or worse they are letting their systems deteriorate as they either wont or cant afford to keep the systems properly maintained. We know however that once the criminal fraternity are aware that there is limited or faulty security equipment on a site ,that site will get hit time and time again. This leaves the customer with little choice but to take action and often the best action is to spend money on new security.

Olympics 2012.

So what positives can take out of this? Well IP CCTV will become cheaper  and this will help sales. The Olympics is round the corner and this will be a big boost to our industry, and finally and most importantly this recession cannot go on forever, can it??