Moveable feast

Moveable cameras, with a few exceptions, fall into the categories of pan, tilt and zoom or dome cameras. Making the right choice can sometimes be difficult for the installer. So here we reproduce a useful PTZ/Dome "Pros and Cons" as published in the new CCTV Guide to Good Practice published by the Security Institute* … and on the following pages is a selection of some of the very latest cameras to catch the eye of Security Installer.

PTZ Cameras

PTZ cameras consist of custom assembled combinations of CCTV camera, lens, housing, pan & tilt unit and (generally) lighting units.

Various combinations of components are assembled to meet specific requirements, be it resolution, sensitivity, night time capability, distance to target object/area, local lighting levels, response time (speed of pan/tilt and lens motorisation).

The combination of components should be carefully selected by an installing company for compatibility and will be custom built to meet the requirements and prevailing conditions.

Pros

• Can be tailored to meet a variety of performance requirements
• Generally camera/lens combinations are more sensitive in low light conditions than domes.
• Can be fitted with wash/wipe devices for use in arduous locations such as roadsides, coastal locations etc
• Can be installed in explosion proof housings for use in petrochemical facilities
• The assembly can be fitted with co-located infrared (or less commonly white) lights.
• Physically robust
• Camera views through optically flat glass

• Generally about two to three times the cost of equivalent dome camera
• Obvious which way they are pointing
• Need substantial mounting (heavy)
• Relatively slow to react to positioning by preset

Dome cameras consist of complete factory built camera, lens, pan & tilt and telemetry receiver assembled into a dome enclosure. Early versions used 'full size' camera/lens combinations but more commonly the units now use small camcorder modules. The quality in terms of resolution, sensitivity and mechanics has improved significantly over the last few years making them increasingly popular for applications in non arduous conditions.

Pros

• Unobtrusive appearance (latest generation, small)
• Relatively inexpensive - half to one third the cost of conventional PTZ unit
• Fast response to preset position
• Smoked domes can obscure direction camera is viewing

• Cannot be used with co-located lights
• Camera views through a polycarbonate dome - optically not as good as flat glass
• Dome can be prone to scratching during cleaning
• Camera performance restricted to a limited range of standard modules
• Dome can be obscured in wet conditions

... And , in conclusion, let's leave the last word to John Ruskin, one of the greatest figures of the Victorian age, writing about "The Lowest Tenderer" ...

"It is unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much you lose a little money - that's all. When you pay too little you sometimes lose everything because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought for. The common law of business prohibits paying a little and getting a lot - it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest tenderer it is as well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better."

John Ruskin (1819-1900)

An Essential Guide to the Acquiring, Deployment and Use of CCTV is published by the Security Institute priced £25. The Institute is dedicated to raising professionalism and standards in the security field and producing Best Practice guides is a part of the work. Visit www.security-institute.org for information. Copies of the guide can be purchased from PO Box 4247, Nuneaton CV11 9BJ. Tel 08453 707 717.

We look at some of the latest cameras on the market, as well as some that we have tested recently...

Dome easy to maintain

Videcon has launched a new static dome camera from Concept Pro. Featuring a tri-axis mechanism for free lens rotation, the VBP range is said to be ideal for ceiling and wall mount applications.

Available within the series is a 550-line day/night and WDR option offering solutions for a range of applications. All cameras are enclosed in a dome housing and feature a service video output function to make testing and maintenance easier. They come with five years warranty.

Reader Service No 111

Little and large LEDs

Pecan has launched a day/night camera said to have enhanced performance through a combination of small and large diameter infrared LEDs.

Pecan says thirty mixed diameter LEDs provide the optimum trade-off between distance and infra-red spectrum and deliver illumination for viewing up to 80 meters in night time conditions.

The PC96HLT uses a Sony third inch Exview HAD CCD chip and is fitted with a varifocal, DC-controlled auto-iris lens with a focal range of between 5 and 50mm.

Resolution is 550TVL at a sensitivity of 1.0 Lux during daylight. It has a solenoid operated device to switch the optical filter, said to be more reliable than a plastic cog and wheel device employed by other manufacturers.

Reader Service No 112

Upping the frame rate

The latest Mobotix megapixel camera from Mayflex is said to deliver three times the frame rate of the previous Mobotix camera models.

The camera features the M22M, the new PXA270 Intel processor which runs up to 520 MHz and includes a new Multi Media Extension unit. It is this processor which allows the higher frame rate and generates a VGA video stream with up to 30 frames per second from an image with 1.3 megapixels.

Designed for outdoor applications, the platform also withstands extreme weather conditions. The new technology also has low power consumption with only three watts and a guaranteed temperature tolerance rating from -30 to +60 deg C.

This new platform will be integrated into Mobotix's other cameras during the coming year. The company says that the Mobotix software integrated into the cameras, image processing and coding is purely digital "whereas other manufacturers use standardised hardwire digitizers and compressors to do the same job".

Reader Service No 113

Secret is in the chips

Pixim patented technology is used in a new range of box and dome cameras for the retail market from General Solutions.

The company is introducing two Pixim enabled NTSC/PAL Orca chipset cameras in the DigiOp True Pix Camera series - the GSDCT- VDNPS620XT Vandal Dome and the PS620XT Box

Pixim's Digital Picture System is said to provide true wide dynamic range video capture in retail environments which, typically, have challenging lighting such as glare, extreme lighting and strong backlight.

The company says DPS chipsets are compact, easy to configure and deliver excellent image quality and colour accuracy in both normal and wide dynamic range scenes in any lighting conditions.

Reader Service No 114

From a high Altitude

DVTel has launched the Altitude "no compromise" suite of professional grade network IP cameras.

Dual stream encoding technology in the Altitude is said to provide superior quality and performance with efficient network bandwidth and storage management.

Says the company: "End users can now specify IP cameras over analogue and be assured of the same feature, functionality and reliability, while gaining all the benefits of a true network based solution." Cameras provide dual stream MPEG-4 video at up to 4CIF resolution at 30 frames per second NTSC/25 fps PAL.

By using existing network infrastructure, installation costs are reduced, less bandwidth and storage is needed and maintenance and upgrades can be carried out remotely.

Altitude also uses DVTel's Adaptive Visualization Technology for advanced, intelligent visual analytics.

Reader Service No 115

Easy to network

JVC has introduced a new fixed IP network surveillance camera with Power over Internet (PoE) and Easy Day/Night operation.

The "high performance and easy to use" VN-C2OU is said to ideal for a wide range of security and monitoring applications over a computer network.

It can be connected using a single LAN cable or AC240V power supply to an Ethernet network.

Installation is said to be quick and easy and the additional expense of positioning a separate power supply and cabling is avoided.

It reproduces detailed colour images using a Motion-JPEG format (640 x 480 pixels) compression.

VGA/QVGA switchable, it records at a maximum frame rate of 30 frames per second in VGA mode.

Easy Day/Night function gives high sensitivity in low light and a built-in viewer enables monitoring and capturing of images on a PC.

Reader Service No 116

Feature laden series

DeView has launched a high resolution fixed colour camera series "loaded with features" to suit a variety of environments and applications requiring a fixed camera view.

The third inch CCD fixed cameras have optional day/night modes at 0.6 Lux that auto change from daytime colour to "ultra sensitive" night time mono.

The CFH22 series is said to be easy to operate and has 480 TVL with auto white balance, turbo gain control, selectability of back light compensation and a choice of 12VDC/24VAC or 230V.

Reader Service No 117

Security on a plate

The new REG-L1 number plate capture camera from Derwent Systems is said to represent the next generation of ANPR systems.

REG-L1 features DHC-Imaging technology for high contrast number plate capture,.

It also includes high efficiency Metaphase-LED array delivering infra-red illumination for 24/7 capture.

The camera can capture to 25m (82ft) and vehicles travelling at high speed up to 100 mph.

Derwent says its advanced electronic design allows for energy efficient operation at 12V-14V AC/DC

Reader Service No 118

Dome gets the detail

Panasonic's newest colour dome camera is said to deliver outstanding performance for outdoor security applications.

Featuring Super Dynamic III technology, the WV-CW960 integrates weatherproof housing, a 360 degree high-speed pan and tilt base and a 30x optical zoom lens.

The pixel based 160x Dynamic Range, ensures the WV-CW960 achieves "unprecedented image realism", says the company. Intelligent functions include Auto Image Stabiliser, Scene Change Detection and Auto tracking.

Panasonic says the one-time problem of conflicting and contrasting lighting conditions has been overcome by the new dome which incorporates a pixel based 160x dynamic range (with both 1/8,000 sec and 1/50 sec shutter speeds). Accurate reproduction is ensured, regardless of the subject or location.

Optimised filtering and broadband digital signal processing are also incorporated, enabling close observation in the finest detail. There are 540 TV lines of horizontal resolution in colour (typical) and 570 TV lines in B/W. Rain resistant, it can be installed under eaves, on external walls or rooftops, and in other outdoor locations. A built-in sun shield is also featured.

Reader Service No 119

Super high resolution

Merit Li-Lin's new 81 Series is a range of Super High Resolution (540TVL) colour cameras using Sony 1/3 inch Super-HAD or Ex-View CCD technology for low light performance.

An IR Cut Filter mechanism automatically switches between daytime colour and night time mono, making it suitable for 24hr surveillance.

Designed to meet the latest data protection and security requirements, it has eight privacy masking zones allowing the user to avoid inadvertent invasion of privacy.

With the option to programme settings and functions on screen using the OSD menu setup, the 81 Series Day/Night cameras are said to be simple to use. Pictures are enhanced by Digital Signal Processing that provides additional benefits such as Dynamic Edge Enhancement and Back Light Compensation.

The company says that combined with the Merit Li-Lin IR Housing and Cable Managed Bracket, the series provides a "powerful but neat solution".

Reader Service No 120

Feature-packed and versatile

In February, Security Installer Bench Tested the Samsung Techwin SDC-415PD day/night colour camera, which our testers described as "unusually versatile and feature-packed".

"It is difficult not to be impressed by the camera's low light performance, but it's the extras that set it apart from most of its rivals," we said.

"The range of exposure options means that it can cope with extreme lighting conditions and features like camera ID and 'mirror' image mode should prove useful.

"The privacy mask is another welcome bonus and motion detection is virtually unheard of on a camera of this type. Although it is fairly basic - it's crying out for an alarm output or some sort of event log - but it could still prove very useful in installations where the image is constantly monitored or recorded.

"In summary, the SDC-415 is unusually versatile and bristling with an assortment of genuinely worthwhile features that can only enhance its role as a well-appointed day and night camera"

Reader Service No 121

Goes like a bullet

DeView has launched its new Varifocal Day/ Night IR Bullet camera to meet the demand for high performance compact cameras.

The varifocal Sony 1/3-inch CCD compact camera features built in infra-red LED with automatic backlight compensation. The 480 TV line colour camera is equipped to operate in various light conditions, automatically switching from colour images to high sensitivity monochrome-mode in low light environments.

Designed for discreet surveillance and easy installation, the bullet camera has an attractive aluminium weatherproof housing together with slide-on sun shield and optional adjustable mounting bracket. It can be installed internally and externally. DeView says it is ideal for industrial and domestic property, commercial buildings and public buildings such as hospitals, schools, airports, ports etc.

Reader Service No 122

New life for domes

In January this year we tested the WV-CS950 colour dome camera from Panasonic. This is what we had to say about it:

"Panasonic has managed to breathe new life into dome camera design with the CS950. It doesn't offer any significant new features or performance enhancements, but it does show that there is still room for improvement when it comes to drive mechanisms and cosmetics.

"The combination of a high-performance day/night camera, advanced video processing, flexible operation and that eye-catching housing has set a new standard for compact dome cameras and hopefully started a trend that other manufacturers will seek to emulate."

Reader Service No 123