Throughout this article, we offer details on cameras which use some of the hottest video technologies available. These manufacturers have surveyed the market and have come up with a recipe of features for their products which provide eloquent solutions for a variety of installation requirements. Here are some factors you should take into consideration when selecting the right camera for your installation.
Regardless of the type of camera or your special operation (application), the most critical phase of video is to start by obtaining the best image possible. Factors which affect image quality include:
Ambient lighting: Big and/or sudden changes in light levels in the viewing area may pose a problem for your installation, especially if you do not anticipate them prior to setting up your system. What would seem to be a simple task, such as putting a camera in an ATM, can turn into a major engineering challenge if there are headlights glaring into the camera or the camera faces direct sunlight at certain times of day. Positioning of the camera can mitigate these issues to a certain extent, after which it will be a matter of tinting the glass in the kiosk, or selecting a camera designed specifically to automatically compensate for sudden changes in light level. Besides external, uncontrollable light sources, the video system designer (you) can take measures to control the lighting in the area you are photographing. Traditional area lighting and specialized IR night lighting can put the issue of ambient lighting under your control and provide your client with the required image quality.
Environmental Issues: Those other site conditions, of which locksmiths are well aware, include whether the camera will be installed indoors or outdoors, or whether wind, rain, corrosives or vandalism are issues. With a little effort and the appropriate degree of creativity, you should be able to find a product and a method of deployment which will suit your application.
For example, if vandalism is anticipated, you select a housing designed to resist attack, or select a lens which allows you to place the camera out of harm’s way. Most cameras require that the temperature be somewhat stable, and condensation and rain drops on the lens must be controlled. If your camera will be exposed to vibration, then protect the camera from the possible resultant physical damage and the diminished image quality that would result if the camera is shaking while grabbing images.
Project Budget: This should only be a problem while you are in the video installation learning curve, while you are either too hungry for projects or lack the self-confidence or knowledge to make the right decisions. Some folks feel it is the right of passage to operate in the red on new technology projects they undertake, and perhaps writing off a few projects as tuition may be the right way to handle it. Fact is, you don’t need to be a novice to occasionally get yourself between a rock and a hard place. However it usually takes professionalism and perspiration to get back out again.
If the client is designing the system for you and using his checkbook as a guide, either be sure you’ll be properly compensated for your time or be sure you’re indemnified against the inevitable disappointment the client will experience when he realizes that bargain video does not deliver the value and performance he was expecting. In some cases, blow off the bargain hunters and move on to the next project. If the project is for an existing client, then take the time to educate the client as to what you think is the best approach, and he ‘ll probably listen to you. That’s why he was an ‘existing’ client; you showed him your stuff already, and he liked it enough to come back for more.
Connectivity: This term refers to how the camera connects to the rest of the system. The big industry buzz these days is network IP; that product group of cameras which hook up to an Ethernet network, and place the images, the processing and the viewing into the digital domain via the Internet. Other types of connectivity include: Coaxial cable, UTP (unshielded twisted pair wire) and wireless. Wireless telemetry includes Radio Frequency as well as point-to-point telemetry technologies.
Once the image data is converted to digital (or if it originates as digital), it then become fair game for DSP (digital signal processing) which includes, besides network/IP/Internet connectivity, digital video recording and data storage and manipulation techniques.
IQeye501
The IQeye501 delivers high-speed IP video and great day/night performance in an attractive, low-profile package. Users can select the resolution they want, when they want it, from CCTV to HDTV to megapixel.
The IQeye501 is easy to install and easy to support. Its industrial-duty design ensures reliable operation in even the most demanding installation and network environments.
Every IQeye is flexible and can be custom-tailored to the application. From small systems using IQrecorder™ on-camera NVR software to enterprise-wide NVR/DVR systems, the IQeye501 lets you capture all the details.
- Camera weight (without lens) 6oz
- Camera dimensions (without lens) approx. 2.9”H x 3.5”W x 1.7”D
- Up to 1.3 megapixel resolution
- 30+ ips @ D1 / 20 ips @ HDTV
- LIGHTGRABBER™ low light technology delivers 0.3 lux low-light performance
- Digital PTZ with no moving parts
- IEEE 802.3af - Power-Over-Ethernet or low power operation (Less than 3 watts)
- Motion detection
- Image cropping
- Privacy zones
- Advanced bandwidth management tools
- User-selectable exposure window
For more information, visit www.iqeye.com.
MDI Security V20-2030 Camera
This little camera delivers a lot of bang for the buck. Features include dual voltage operation, integral zoom lens, day/night operation and field selectable coax or RS485 connectivity.
The MDI Security VIEWpoint line was developed to resolve the challenges faced by the installer. By surveying and interviewing dealers across the country, MDI determined the most essential requirements.
For over 25 years the MDI engineering staff has developed military-grade solutions for some of the most demanding high-security installations in the nation and abroad. The research provided three primary design goals and one opportunity: Reduce Installation Time.
Complications at install time are the chief cause of lost locksmith / installer revenue. MDI calls this “Time on the Ladder” and the VIEWpoint CCTV line is primarily targeted at reducing or eliminating this challenge with features that include:
- Dual Voltage (12VDC & 24VAC) Cameras
- On Screen Display Settings at the Camera
- Built in Vari – Focal Lenses
- UTP connectivity
Maintenance calls, faulty equipment and customer support further undermine profits. The entire VIEWpoint line is backed by a 5 year limited warranty. Physical dimensions are 58(W) x 58(H) x 103.4(D) mm.
For more information, visit www.mdisecure.com.
REG-L1 License Plate Capture Camera
I’ve long regarded Extreme CCTV as the Special Forces branch of the video industry. They specialize in solutions for those worst case, seemingly impossible projects that humble the beginner and challenge the professional. Over several years they’ve earned a reputation as a global leader in active-infrared night vision surveillance equipment and advanced performance license plate capture cameras, even while the market is being flooded with offshore knock-off video technology.
The new REG-L1 - featuring DHC-Imaging™ - which represents the third generation of license plate capture solutions from Extreme CCTV, delivers advanced performance license plate capture for technical surveillance. Based on award-winning technology currently in use in large-scale projects in London, Stockholm and the U.S., REG-L1 incorporates innovations in active-infrared, optics and Extreme’s Ambient Rejection technology to deliver high-contrast license plate images. The DHC-Imaging engine also results in clear, high-contrast images of new Digital License Plates (DLP), widely regarded to be the future standard format of license plates.
REG-L1 captures license plates from vehicles moving at speeds up to 100 miles per hour, allowing full operation for highway and other high-speed applications. Extreme’s Metaphase-LEDs and specialized lenses provide 12 to 75 feet of precision engineered performance for the most comprehensive distance coverage available in plate capture.
The demand for effective, reliable license plate capture grows each year as more and more end users in security, intelligent transport systems (ITS) and law enforcement realize the importance of the benefits. Law enforcement authorities have used license plate data as key evidence in several high-profile convictions while transportation authorities use license plate data for traffic management in ITS applications.
Security end users store, match and reference license plate data on digital video recorders and digital video management systems for proactive security and post-event analysis.
TREG-L1 cameras operate under any ambient lighting condition, ranging from total darkness to direct glare from sunlight and high-beam headlights. Additionally, a new power management module allows high-efficiency 12 VDC / 24 VAC operation, making long-distance, low-voltage license plate capture available for the first time.
For more information, visit www.extremecctv.com.
AXIS 210 Network Camera
The AXIS 210 Network Camera offers a cost-effective, IP-based solution for professional indoor security surveillance and remote monitoring. It delivers superior image quality using progressive scan and provides built-in motion detection and support for advanced event management.
In literally minutes, we were able to get ours up and running and pumping out video viewable over the Internet. Besides being easy to commission, we were impressed at the wide range of lighting conditions the camera produces good video. AXIS has some of the most mature network video technology, and also a large product line.
The AXIS 210 can deliver simultaneous Motion JPEG and MPEG-4 video streams, allowing for optimization in image quality and bandwidth. The MPEG-4 compression mode is ideal for applications where available bandwidth is restricted and higher frame rates are required.
The AXIS 210 connects directly to an IP network. With a built-in Web server, the AXIS 210 enables remote monitoring over a local area network or the Internet using a standard Web browser. Backed by the industry’s largest base of video management software for video and alarm management, the AXIS 210 is an ideal choice for securing offices, shops and other facilities.
A wide range of compatible products and accessories are available.
For more information, visit www.axis.com.
Tim O'Leary
Tim O'Leary is a security consultant, trainer and technician who has also been writing articles on all areas of locksmithing & physical security for many years.
