Quantum

Sanyo's literature says specifically that it has no more than "Effective 16:9 1920 (H) x 1080 (V) 4:3 2288(H) x 1712(V)", which is about half of 4MP. I don't understand this.

Maybe these upper-end cameras aren't worth it. I don't understand why it says for a sanyo 3300, on the one hand, "Effective 16:9 1920 (H) x 1080 (V) 4:3 2288(H) x 1712(V)", and on the other hand 4MP? 1920 x 1080 is about 2MP. Where is the rest of that resolution going? Would a DLink or Panasonic serve decently for alot less money?

True, that would be optimal, but I'm living in a rent-house. Not worth it, so I just ran the wire. Can't find a suitable camera though. I wonder how much the Avigilon 2.0MP-HD-DOME-DN would be.

I didn't realize they can be waterproof. As long as I can mount it on a vertical post (partially obscured by bushes), and it is rainproof (lots of rain - Seattle) sure it'd be fine. Of course I'll paint the housing for camouflage. I want it to be very inconspicuous, so a housing camera wouldn't work. I like the Sanyo 3300, but can't find one for $500 or less. Axis and Mobotix are all over $1,000, and Avigilon is coy about their prices as is everyone in this thread who's hinted about them, so screw that. Here's (yet another) question: I've run Honeywell cat5e down the 100' or so of driveway, but how do you plug that into the camera waterproof? I saw a hint of a special RJ45 connector, but no idea where to get them nor whether they'd secure to regular cat5e.

Any suggestions for $500 or less?

Dome just won't work, but thanks. And Sanyo's others would require a housing, blowing the budget and making it conspicuous.

OK, maybe I could do 2-3MP. Sharpness of image is paramount. Focus in depth of field is a worry. Ya 1080 lines was the best way I could get across what I am hoping for. Haven't seen the new pricing on Avigilon cameras, in fact I can't find -any- pricing on them. They all seem to be indoor cameras though, which I guess would require a bulky housing. (Hm, I'll have to figure out what this varifocal is...) I'd also like to know how to do a door camera that would be able to see visitors' faces, yet not be up in their face?

Well what about these calculations? For 1080p I'm getting about 1.5MP. Can that be right? Any perspective on resolution?