vmgtlexi

Anyone have any experience with Vitek or Mace IR cameras? They seem expensive and I don't know why. What might justify their high prices?

Hi Folks, I know the location of my camera makes this a challenge. But, due to the bright light out in the yard, people on my porch appear as mostly black silhouettes. The camera is adjusting to the distant bright light and, accordingly, people on the porch are effectively underexposed, sometimes faces totally blacked out. I turned on the SSDR (Samsung's version of "wide dynamic range") and it helps only a little bit. Given the porch photo attached herein, I am asking for suggestion on how to best see people's faces, clothing, etc. in the brightness of daytime. I am open to all suggestions - camera relocation, new camera in this spot (maybe a pinhole/door camera, etc.). I'd hate to take this current camera and simply point it at the door b/c it's got longer-range capability. I can always move this camera somewhere else where it can serve a purpose; perhaps that will allow me to install a camera that will do a better job of seeing faces in the daytime. The floor is yours -- please advise at will.

I hear ya! If past experience is any guide, one burglar who we caught on camera a few years ago was caught with a camera that was also pointed at a door (ie, at his back). Luckily, he turned around, tried opening other doors at other angles, etc.! So, we got enough "face time" and good enough detail of his clothing for a conviction. Anyway, I have other "tricks" up my sleeve out in the yard. Let's just say that I know if someone is prowling around well before they even reach the doors/windows. Forewarned is forearmed!

I moved the camera. Now, I have eliminated the over exposed front yard. Next, I am going to add a separate camera for the yard/driveway. I tested this camera away from the porch and looking at the yard/driveway. It handles the yard great when it is not being "confused" by the darker porch. So, that will be the solution: 1) this camera watching the porch unhindered by the bright sun out in the yard and 2) a new camera to handle the driveway/yard placed away from the dark porch. Thanks again to everyone for helping me think & work through this. Much appreciated.

If you could pick ONE camera for this location with a budget up to $500, what would you choose (must be 12VDC powered)?

I agree. But, they have to turn around to go back off the porch & down the steps. Then, they could smile for the camera they noticed too late.

Even if I move this Samsung to the very outer edge of the porch looking out, it is still going to be blinded by the sunlight. This camera just SUCKS!

So, yes, the BLC does help see faces and coloration of clothing, etc. on the porch. However, for the life of me, I cannot get the camera to find a happy middle ground (ie, see faces reasonably well on the porch and see the driveway at all clearly). I have tried every setting multiple times. The camera I replaced (a Nuvico) was far and away better in this location than this Samsung (that is, until the Nuvico died). This Samsung is DISAPPOINTING!

Thanks Rory. Do you mean moving the bullet Samsung out towards the edge of the overhang so that it serves the "yard/driveway" area. And, then use a dome facing in to watch the door area? This is tricky b/c I also want to be able to see the windows along the front porch wall. I guess with a wide angle dome, I could face it inward (ie, facing the wall area as opposed to facing out into the lawn/sun). That would presumably eliminate the problem of too much backlight, giving me good facial and the ability to see my windows. I turn on the BLC and am testing today to see if it helps. As expected, it seems to help a bit but of course makes the distant outdoor area more whitewashed. Anyway, that "distant" area is not of real concern. As long as I can clearly see cars in driveway and faces on the porch during daylight bright hours, I'll be happy.

Thanks a million everyone. I may end up leaving the existing Samsung camera as is for driveway work. Then, add a new camera at the far end of the porch zoomed in to the door area for facial/clothing ID purposes; it won't have the sunlight issue. That solution would keep all wires hidden up in the attic as opposed to the Seco-larm which would force me to have conduit on our front porch (wife will NOT approve). And, since I will now be going over 4 cameras, I'll just have to get a new DVR (don't tell my wife).

Like this...? http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-R04-42777-00W-Single-Gang-Surface-Wiring/dp/B000VTRMD8

Wow, that is sweet!! But, I can't fish wires behind these walls. I have to get something that can be ceiling mounted or surface mounted with wires going up the wall.

Thanks. That's an idea too. What kind of camera does one buy for outdoor color closeups of faces? Something like this (not necessarily Samsung, but along the lines of this size/design)? http://www.samsung-security.com/products/security-cameras/analog-cameras/box-cameras/SCB-3020.aspx

I think I may move this camera to the other end of the porch (above the rocking chairs). I will point it back at the front door (the area where this camera is currently mounted). That way, I will still have a clean image of the front windows, as well as solve the "blacked out" problem of people's faces. Then, I'll add another camera looking at the driveway. Thoughts? Criticisms? Suggestions?

I am selling my used and malfunctioning camera on EBay. The auction is linked below. Thanks! http://www.ebay.com/itm/120774554743?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Some people tinker with used parts. Obviously, you're not one of those people. Good luck.

Here is an image and a link to a SHORT video of my new Samsung SCO-2080R. Just slapped these together as it's dinner time. Also, I have not yet made any adjustments to the factory settings in these images. QUESTION: Why is the front lawn area so WHITE? Is it just b/c these cameras have trouble handling bright light when they are installed in a completely shaded area? Image is attached. Video link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZVreV5GhrE

Does anyone know if there's a way to get more consistent focus across the near/far distances involved here? On my old Nuvico (3.8-9 mm zoom), I think I had the focus set at "infinity" and it looked more consistent near and far.

Here is a morning image and a short video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15DLRnHoRvs

Here is a review wherein the reviewer concludes that, "The illumination angle of IR beam is a little too narrow at wide view angle of camera. " I AGREE!!! http://shop.delta.poznan.pl/camera-sco-2080r-icr-600tvl-2.8-10mm-osd-samsung_c220_p4610.html?ps_session=8f87747d20bf1f3e35510e727cdc42d2

I currently have 1 CCTV DVR (4-channel). I also have a static IP at my house. So, I can remotely access my DVR to view my cameras from anywhere I can get a hold of the internet. I am thinking of adding a 2nd DVR in order to allow for more than 4 cameras. Question - If I have two separate DVR's installed, is it possible to remotely access BOTH of them via the internet? Since I only have one static IP, I am just not familiar with how that would work. If I open my Internet Explorer browser and input my static IP as the URL, it takes me to the login page for my current CCTV DVR. If I do add the 2nd DVR, will I be able to access both DVR's remotely with a single static IP? For example, if my current static IP were 11.11.11.111, how (if at all possible) would I remotely access one DVR over the other and vice versa? Maybe it has to do with the extension AFTER the static IP address, such as: DVR 1: 11.11.11.111/DVR1 DVR 2: 11.11.11.111/DVR2 Is that generally the idea? Thus, I assume that once I get the 2nd DVR set up internally to be "visible" on my home network and remotely accessible that it will all work AOK???

You are probably correct.

Here is night video with: 720x480 IR on "high" Notice the IR "tunnel effect". Too narrow. Maybe they had to make it that narrow in order to achieve the claimed 164' of IR night vision, while giving up wide angle IR?? Notice that I have a 2nd set of white windows on the left (farther away than the ones you can see) as well as two bright white rocking chairs. They are all but LOST in this narrow IR field. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgQAyS-Dsfg

OK, I have changed resolution to 720x480. Here is a night version with IR on high and my landscape lights all off (except the gas light out in the yard). By comparison, my old Nuvico which had been in this spot had MUCH BETTER IR night vision. I am VERY disappointed in the Samsung IR night vision; too much of a "tunnel effect". The Nuvico had very widespread IR. But, maybe there are settings I can tweak.

Here is a night image with IR on "high". I swear these images and videos look better on my DVR monitor.