megapixel man

You will need to have the whole parking lot covered with effective "pixels on target" to read license plates to meet your spec detailed above. Doing some quick calculations and a very rough mud map (converting feet to metres etc...), you will need 6x 5MP Cameras to do the job properly and have 100% coverage. Lenses will vary depending on the cameras selected (sensor formats) but will typically be in the range of 2.8-12mm, they will ned to be of the IR corrected type. Have a look at the Raylux IR illuminators, these will also have to give the parking lot 100% coverage. In regard to housings, if you use a "full body" / "box" style camera then the typical analog camera housings with heater blower may suit. try to get some camera / lens resolution estimation tools from the camera manufactures you work with to do the sums for yourself.

Wireguys, can you please PM me how much you pay for them in the states?, interested to compare. Thanks in advance.

Your welcome. Configured the right way, and if your software allows, you can almost just use the Joystick and buttons without the need for the Keyboard and mouse...

These Guys: http://www.chproducts.com/oem/finger_usb_desktop.html They make excellent joysticks and are used by a number of IP surveillance manufactures.

Linksys SRW2024P, would be suitable.

Ha, nice one. At least it will have unlimited on board storage, as it will never forget anything....

Here is a few: 2MP CCD - Croc Underwater Housing 5MP CMOS Intersection - Day 5MP CMOS Intersection - Night (no IR) 5MP - Traffic @ 100 km/hr 16MP CCD Telstra Dome 16MP CCD HK Traffic Night

Are we still talking about CCTV use here, or have we shifted to SLRs? I have the EF-50 f/1.8 for my 40D, that's a nice little lens. I've had a few instances where the 1.2 would be even better (for the extra stop of light) although the razor-thin DOF would start getting kinda tricky. Wondering how useful IS would be in a CCTV application like this... I know on an SLR/DSLR body, it's generally recommended to turn IS off when you're using a tripod. I suppose if you camera was on a particularly shaky mount... Talking CCTV applications still, however I use the F/1.2's mainly for taking portrait stills on my SLR and where DOF is not an issue. I use the f/1.2 sometimes in CCTV where there is very low light, example in a gaming room enviro, however due to cost use the f/1.4-f/2.0 most of the time. I understand for main stream CCTV the use of cameras that have large CCD megapixel sensors and an EF mount for lenses is cost prohibitive, but you just got to love the quality of images that these cameras have. The larger sensors and increased sensor "well capacity" really do make a difference. Due to fixed mounting in CCTV applications the IS is not required.

Good Gig switch, Has high thru put, max power POE on each port, and is managed. Also has 2x Ports on back for Fibre SFP's, although when you use the fibre ports they are shared with ports 7 and 8 copper ports. I have used these extensivley, especially on MPx Cameras with IR or Heater / blowers. Depends on the cameras power requirements if you really need the Max power verson, the non max power is the SRW2008P, also use the SRW2024P alot and the SGE2000P. The SGE2000P is a great 24 port GIG switch, managed, stackable, redundant power supply option, and has 4x fibre ports. For a mid size IP camera deployment I use the SRW's at the node locations (dependant on ports required) and the SGE's at the head end, connected by fibre. Only down fall as mentioned in previous post. these switches are a bit noisy due to the fans. Have not had any fail yet.

Found lense here, not that expensive http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&Q=&IC=CA6004LISEF&A=RetrieveSku There is even 800m version: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&A=RetrieveSku&IC=CA80056LISEF&Q= Nice stuff That's not the same lens... looks like it has focus AND zoom rings. Canon doesn't show anything even similar to that on their site... in fact, if I didn't know better, I'd say that looks like a Nikon lens (which can be used on an EF mount with an adapter, although you lose AF capability). Hmm, bingo! This looks like the one: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/381605-REG/Sigma_595101_Zoom_Super_Telephoto_300_800mm.html Looks like a tele-extender on it as well, probably this 2X model: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/390169-USA/Sigma_876101_2x_EX_DG_APO.html So that's got an effective zoom of 600-1600mm at f/11. Veeeeery tasty! (BTW, was at an airshow on the weekend, got to play with a buddy's EF 400 f/2.8L IS USM, on my 40D... now THAT is a nice toy!) Spot on Soundy, that's the set up used. Yea, the L series 400 IS f/2.8 is a really nice lens, Lucky I dont need the IS and just use the standard USM lenses, they are a bit cheaper than the IS. My fav's are the 50mm and 85mm @ f/1.2, but dont get many customers buying them due to price, they just go the f/1.4 and f/1.8's

Got a link for these?? Canon L-series lenses are among the best in pro photography... also priced accordingly. Hi Soundy, http://www.theiatech.com/ Great lenses, some are IR corrected also.

Here are some megapixel Lenses that I have used with success: Fujinon - Fantastic Lenses, priced accordingly, mainly manual iris Tamron - Good range, well priced Theia - great wide angle lenses Samyang - good pricing, good IR corrected general purpose lens Rainbow - good IR corrected long range lens 8-80mm and in EF mount Canon (best) and Sigma (well priced)

Just had a dealer do the sums for me. M12 Dual Day/Nights Snap Server (NAS) POE Switch Workstation for Viewing Vs Avigilon 3MP Domes Day/Night + IR Corrected 4-12mm Lenses Avigilon 8 Channel 3TB Storage NVRWS POE Switch Avigilon Solution 20% Cheaper Sure for a larger system that you would need the Avigilon Dedicated Server + additional Storage + a Workstation, They would be more comparable in price, Avigilon maybe a bit more. But they are not miles apart. You may be surprised.

I dont think Avigilon is a "protected line" however you don't see pricing spread all over the web. Within the Avigilon client there is control of the dynamic range both for pre, and post recording (prior to exporting), also in the player you can control the Dynamic Range on not just the still images but the whole recording, simply right click on the image and click on "display adjustments". this is a very useful tool, especially on scenes with backlight issues. I have installed the 2Mpx and 5Mpx cameras in shopping malls where even Hi Res WDR cameras did not peform well, the Avigilon MPx cameras were exceptional. Yes, the dome profile of the Avigilon is taller than the mobotix, however they now have many different dome mounting options including a recess kit. Agreed, the image quality of JPEG 2000 is better than MXPEG but MXPEG uses less bandwidth. JPEG 2000 has additional benifits in terms of variable bandwidth for slower connections from server to client and speed of reviewing recorded footage. Also with JPEG2000 you dont have to send the whole data packets for viewing, only the required data packets for what is being viewed. ie if your only viewing the overall scene then only the front layer of the image data is sent. Also if you digitally zoom into the image only the required data packets for viewing that area of the scene are sent. Also nice with JPEG2000 is the ability to data age recordings over time to save on storage. The Avigilon SDK is a .NET XML API so very useful for integration to many third party systems. Documentation comes with the SDK. I do like the bi directional audio feature of Mobotix, certainly has a niche market with that feature. Avigilon is due to release Audio in V4, however I understand that it will be single directional for recording.

Camera pricing is very close, even after factoring in Avigilon License cost and a housing. Same for Avigilon Dome Camera + Software License cost. People believe that if they are not paying a cost for software then it's free, this is rarely the case as most will have the software cost factored into the per camera cost.

Fujinon it is then, an excellent lens, not cheap though compared to Tamron

Hi Soundy, 2.8 fixed NO . 2.8- vari focal yes Tamron do a 2.8-6mm, f/1.2 auto iris megapixel lens Fujinon do a 2.8-8mm, f/1.2 manual iris megpixel lens The Tamron is not IR Corrected, no sure on the Fujinon. both are good lenses. Spec shhets for both are available on line from the munufacturers web site I think. hope this helps

Not very low really: 720p = 39ips full res 1080p = 18ips full res 3MP = 12 ips full res 5MP = 12ips full res or 30ips at 1920x1080 2MP in PRO range with CCD Sensor and EF mount lens= 30ips full res 4.2MP PRO = 15ips Other than Casino's, Traffic apps, Cash counting etc, where frame by frame may be examined post incident, who really needs 30ips? the 11MP and 16MP PRO's are 5ips and 3ips respectivley, slow ips but for cams that can cover such a large area and high MPx's, not high ips needed.

Have a look at Avigilon, it can handle multiple megapixel cameras at once, has a great range of Megapixel Cameras, and handles the WAN environment very well with JPEG2000 progressive compression and HDSM (High Definition Stream Management). Certainly a Ferrari of CCTV Systems.

Survtech, What do you see as the solution for large casio systems in terms of latency on PTZ controls within IP systems and availablity of Matrix Switcher compontents and CRT / analog monitors? Many CCTV consultants that I meet with that are involved with casinos are trying to put a time frame on the life of matrix based analog systems. The big megapixel cameras I was thinking about in my last post are not fixed cameras but rather PTZ. The main issue facing most of us dealing in big megapixels at the moment is "auto focus", most available technology in auto focus for us is 720p and 1080p and even in this small class we are not that happy with the current results, more development to be done here. It will be interesting to see the end HDcctv product being developed by the forum and the market acceptance / adpotion of it. We are doing a small-medium sized hybrid project, due to start very soon. There are 60+ existing analog cameras, 10 of which are PTZ, all analog cameras will be running at 25ips 4CIF PAL. we will be adding approx 20 megapixel cameras ranging in res from 720p, 1080p, 5MP and 16MP on a dedicated GIG network with a fibre backbone, recording for 1 month. There will be 3 operator work stations, one with a surveillace Joystick. 2 remote sites recording local and viewing back at the main site workstations over the client network (5Mbit/5Mbit) available bandwidth for each remote site. I will be very inerested to see what latency we will have, especially on the PTZ controls.

What are you using for NVR software? I've seen a casino set up with IQEye cameras and Vigil DVRs, they haven't had any issues that I've ever heard of. Obviously survtech's experience isn't universal. We have a much modified Honeywell Enterprise NVR system. But that is not the point. The dropouts occurred while watching the cameras "live", not post-record. Regarding the casino using IQEye/Vigil - I'll bet they have at least 150ms of latency. And yes, some people (especially manufacturers) will tell you that users become accustomed to the latency and learn to compensate for it. From experience, I can tell you that it depends on how the PTZ is being used. If, for instance, you use one to zoom in on a table game or a slot machine, the latency is not any more than a minor annoyance. On the other hand, it is nearly impossible to follow a running suspect or a moving vehicle with anything more than 100ms latency; and difficult even at that. For instance, a vehicle traveling at 25mph will go 5.5 feet in 150ms. If the PTZ operator is trying to identify who is driving, when they aim for the driver's seat they'll actually be seeing the trunk lid. Yes, you can "lead" the object like you would shooting skeet, but that assumes the object travels in a straight horizontal or vertical line that doesn't require simultaneous pan and tilt. Angular and zigzag motion would be the most difficult to compensate for. As hybrid Analog / IP systems are deployed, would it be to difficult to keep the analog matrix in a casino environment for the 0 latency PTZ control where required and simply use the looping inputs of the matrix to convert the Analog feeds to IP via an encoder after the analog matrix switcher? Maybe a best of both worlds could be achieved. Anyhoo, as big IP megapixel cameras develop the need for traditional analog PTZ will diminish.

Looking at the night image and the refective light from the tree leaves and car refective surfaces it appears there is a long exposure setting. Is it set to auto or have you set a manual exposure time? Also interested to know if the DN camera has a DC auto iris option.

I wish Arecont had bandwidth controls like AXIS and ACTI cameras do. I dont understand how low light bandwidth is higher then daytime that strange to me image quality control by Arecont soft will give some control over bandwidth At night the "noise" in the image is being seen as motion, with some I and P frame compressions at 80% or more motion within the scene it goes to full images, hence the higher bandwidths at night

Forget ANPR, it is a different science with OCR "optical character recognition" Facial rec and lic plate rec is often refered to in CCTV standards in EU and AUST and I am assuming this is what Robert is refering to. The following chart gives a guide to pixels on target.

The average to get both lic plates and faces is 50pix/ft or 164pix/m. You can start getting facial rec from around 125pix/m and lic plates from 130pix/m if you have a lossless compression. Compression levels really do matter for what or looking at, you may be able to use a higher compression level for faces (Soft edges) whereas you would want low compression on lic plates (hard edges).