Any Tips on Surveillance Cameras?
Dec 17th 2005, 2:51 am
#16
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Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 3,338
Re: Any Tips on Surveillance Cameras?
Originally Posted by Angry White Pyjamas
For night time you will need IR or light enhancing. IR will present you with basically a gray scale image with low detail resolution but is good for tracking objects such as vehicles, people, etc. The big problem with IR is that it needs an IR source and so generally has a set of IR LEDS on it to "illuminate" the target field. This means it has a short range - typical 20-25 feet. On top of this most IR cams are fixed focus. A good IR cam will set you back about $500 - $1000 and isnt much use for on the person due to bulk and power requirements. PIPS, sony etc make them.
I good light enhancing cam is less bulky, doesnt require an IR source and wont be fixed focus so is useful for covert ops. These are expensive.
Really need more detail on your requirements to pinpoint the proper equipment. Do you need it to be mobile or fixed site? Can it be mains powered or does it need to be battery operated? Wireless signal trasnmission or wired or to local media for playback later? Do you need it to be passive or active? Weather proof or indoor? What about sound? What is the captured images to be used for? If its for legal use then digital media could present you with as problem. Will there be some light source (even if its a moon or street light) or will it in darkness in which case IR is really your only option)
I good light enhancing cam is less bulky, doesnt require an IR source and wont be fixed focus so is useful for covert ops. These are expensive.
Really need more detail on your requirements to pinpoint the proper equipment. Do you need it to be mobile or fixed site? Can it be mains powered or does it need to be battery operated? Wireless signal trasnmission or wired or to local media for playback later? Do you need it to be passive or active? Weather proof or indoor? What about sound? What is the captured images to be used for? If its for legal use then digital media could present you with as problem. Will there be some light source (even if its a moon or street light) or will it in darkness in which case IR is really your only option)
The very small light enhancing ones vary dramatically with price. What you are looking for here is the Lux rating as to how effective they will be at night. Here is a good example of different cameras in a pitch black room.
http://www.surveillance-spy-cameras....pictures.htm#4
Quite a dramatic difference between the .7 Lux (cheap) and .0003 lux (more pricey). Other factors to watch for are auto colour/Black and white switching, and whether its a CMOS type or CCD (CMOS cheaper, CCD generally better quality), and lines of resolution.
As stated above, you've then got to power the camera, and hook it up to a recording device of some sort (wired/wireless/solid state/tape etc). These things are bloody fragile as well, and prone to overheating especially if hidden in something (which also sometimes makes them a pain to aim). If you want to hide the camera, be prepared for some trial and error.
Prices are dropping on these things all the time, same as any other electronic wizardry you can get.
Last edited by Dan725; Dec 17th 2005 at 2:59 am.
Dec 17th 2005, 5:07 am
#17
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,220
Re: Any Tips on Surveillance Cameras?
Originally Posted by Chorlton
Straight for the jugular! I need to warm up for that kind of comment to flow 
