rickgto

Not much input to this thread and I do understand those of you that can't really comment because of job or brand loyalty. So I'll just relay what I tried and the results of. I finally had the Nuvico NVDV2-8000n delivered about 2 weeks ago and started experimenting. It in itself is a very large forward jump over the DVR I had before but going back to my original question on what's a good camera let me say this. I initially bought a couple cheap IR cams that are just that and a couple more expensive advertised as "Sony" that are a joke. So, I started looking at brand names but in the used category and picked up a couple Samsung, a Sony or 2, a JVC, a Panasonic and 1 Pelco. Using their specs for comparison I found a few online vendors and figured I'd upgrade to better cameras. Not so. Although some of the cameras that are advertised with Sony chips and "extremely high resolution" do a very good job, the cheaper, used, 10 year old junk did a better job. So, I ordered a high end Nuvico/Sony CCD Super Had etc etc and a Sony Dynaview to ease curiosity. The "VizionCam-RX's I have are very impressive as they see very well with absolutely no lighting or IR at night. On 8x they will identify even a dark colored vehicle at midnight with just the light reflection of a white 40' trailer 100' feet away. The Nuvico (NVCC-SPDIN-A) cam with a Fujinon FVL298AI-DN lense is absolutely awesome. It sees racoons at 2am in total darkness and a car driving through renders occupants identifiable as window glare is totally eliminated. The Sony is aimed at the exit and if I DO NOT turn lights on and leave the front motion light OFF it gives me readable license plates at 60'. Even in the dark. I guess the reflective is moot at less than a 30 degree angle in natural light, or, no light. I appreciate whatever help I was given but I guess in the long run hands on is the best teacher as usual. Actually I'm kinda surprised that absolutely no recommendatios were given as to camera specs to guide by.

Oh I'm not a parts yard. I own/run an independent Harley parts/repair/service shop since about 1988 (and tired of it) and let a freind of mine talk me into stocking and selling used cars about 3 years ago. The GTO stuff is a personal 30+ year collection. A hobby. I've bought and sold musclecars and parts since I was 16. Stocking vehicles is when my trouble began really. Hubcaps, toolboxes and covers from pickup's, gascaps, and even people backing into/hitting cars (unseen by me) but nonetheless costing me. What exactly are these beams? And not to sound as security system ignorant as I really am, but what are the "alarm in/alarm out" on the DVR? The wonderful manual that came with the Clover shows them but the only mention of them is setting alarm time. Nothing about what they do or how they do it. The Nuvico isn't here yet but I know it has the same function too. As far as narrowing an identification point, I plan to aim a strong lensed (good) camera at the entrance along with a strong motion light. It's about a 25' shot and I can position vehicles here to narrow the entrance/exit to a single lane. If I can pick up a plate number that's great but I'm counting more on the fact of a distinguishable trait of the vehicle. Should be pretty easy to put 2 and 2 together with what the rear cams will see along with close ups from the entrance. And yes, I have lots of deer, turkey, and whatever else back there just about every night. Funny thing too. I never seem to have a problem during hunting season. I wonder if me or my boy's sitting back there with a 12ga slug gun has something to do with it................

Please don't take this as an advertisement but rather for me to show you what I'm trying to cover. If you go to suburbanautosales.com and scroll down you'll see how my place is laid out. That is the only entrance and the lot goes behind the building to the right. It's fenced lengthwise on the left and other than walking in, cannot be gotten into from the right or far end. The drive is 55' wide between building and fence so with cars on either side the entrance itself past the building is only 20 or so feet wide and 20' from the building/camera.

I pretty much figured that and I'm not real concerned with covering the whole lot and it's contents per se. As far as the front/side of the building and cars across from it I believe a single camera will do. My thinking is any vehicle entering or exiting has to use the driveway (no choice there unless it flies) and would pass that particular camera once in and once out at about 25'. And, staying anywhere in the front lot is easily picked out from passersby (cops) simply because cars line both sides of the lot the length of the building. Only place to park would be in the middle of the entrance driveway.Out back however, a vehicle or people cannot be seen (even in daytime) from anywhere except overhead. The cameras I have now I know are extremely low quality (I think) but even with the garbage picture they produce I can make out brand, color, and "approximate" year from the recording the DVR I have now produces. What I mean is if my existing front camera records a green whatever pickup come in the driveway and the rear existing cameras record that same green pickup park and 2 things that resemble human beings get out and do whatever, that's the most I'll get out of these cameras. The green pickup. I'm looking for camera/lens combo's with high enough quality to see a green 96 Silverado with Z71 on the side and no rear bumper with 2 males getting out of it. Any vehicle that pulls into the rear lot has no choice but to get within 30-40 feet of the cameras turning around to get out of the rear lot. I'm pretty confident I can position cameras to get what I'm after. I'm just after advice on what cameras and lenses to look into quality wise. I do know the difference in focal length vs distance and field of view but that's where it ends. I have'nt a clue what difference an f.095 would have over an f1.2 or if ebay lenses are (that) much different clarity wise than a Computar or whatever. Cameras too. They all seem to have a fairly close spec in the one's I've been looking at but I can tell you first hand I'm an avid believer in cost vs quality. For instance, here's a link to what I thought would be a good clear camera http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5876366279&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT It's not. I also picked up a Sony model SSC-M183 for $29 (used)and it blows the doors off the more powerful camera for clarity. So I guess my quest is to know what brand of cameras you guys recommend as well as lenses for good, clear video. Thanks, Rick

I realize 1 camera can't cover the area. Or even 2 for that matter. I have 2 back there now and they do cover it but the distance (8mm lenses) are such that it's too far for recognition. My plan is to put 3 to cover the 100' wide parking lot with more powerful (or wide angle?) lenses. I have no idea how to draw a sketch with the computer so picture this if it makes sense. The lot is a rectangle 100' wide by 250' deep. the 100' wide is North/South and 250 East/West. The building (40x80) sits in the NW corner with 40 being the width (60' left for lot) and 80 deep so the lot is basically a backwards L. The building is 12' high at the eaves with a 30' wide deck on the rear that is as high as the eaves and surrounded by a 4' tall fence like enclosure. That's where I have the rear cams installed. On the fence top plate. They're approx 16' up looking down on the rear lot/cars/trailers. The farthest point from them to what they watch is just over 100'. the rear lot is also a turn around for vehicles that come in here. Behind the lot and either side if it is wide open conservation/woods property. "Walk in's" can do just that from behind my property so pretty much any and all the discouraging I've tried with lights and more lights didn't help much. And, believe it or not alot of things like gas caps and such disappear during the day when people are "browsing" the lot. Already caught a few of them. But just by luck. I physically saw them. Biggest problem for the lighting being a deterrent is there's nothing (population wise) within 1/2 mile and someone simply parking within a row of cars at night would never be noticed from the main road. I have thought about the PTZ's and think they would work great watching the entrance. It's not like I have alot of stuff walk away but when I do it's things like a tonneau cover from a pickup or transmissions and such from the bottom rear deck. No idea who but I do know it's between 10p when I leave and 7a when I get here. My guess is they're coming in from behind.

I'm sure you guys hear this alot but I need some expert advice on a CCTV system before I waste anymore money. Due to car parts disappearing here at my shop I've decided to install a camera system and the farther I get into it the more unhappy I am with the results. My shop is a 40x80 building in the upper left corner of a 100' x 250' lot (if this helps). The entrance off the main road (between rows of cars and past the building) is approx 30' wide x 120' long and goes into the large lot behind the building. The rear lot is approx 100' wide x 110' deep and cars line the entire perimeter. the farthest point/car from the building is approx 120' and the cameras would have to be mounted on the building. I made the very big mistake of listening to a salesman and purchaced a Clover 4015 4 channel DVR, a Clover 2100 monitor, and 4 "Ebay" cameras "listed" as Sony CCD 1/3 480 TVL color day/night box cameras with 2.8-8 varifocal auto-iris lenses. This system could'nt identify a 747 at 60 feet!!! And that's live display. Recordings are worse. I know I got burned on the $136 each camera/lens/power supply packages and after some reading of your forums found the Clover equipment to be....well.........less than desirable. So, I went and bought a Nuvico NVDV2-8000. I don't have it here yet and don't even want to install it until I have cameras/lenses good enough to do what I need. I'm looking for extremely clear images from the cameras obviously for recognition should I need too. I know field of view/clarity at distance is going to be a major problem for me and that's why I went to an 8 camera DVR figuring 4 "good" cameras covering the back lot rather than 2 Ebay camera look-alikes as it is now. I do have high pressure sodium lighting in the rear but right now they degrade (these) cameras clarity tremendously. Kind of a colorful underwater shot. I hope I ordered a DVR that will work for me but I could really use some help on the cameras and lense combo's. 2 or 3 would only need to see out to approx 50' x 50' or so wide but the rear 3 would need to see clearly out to just over 100' and be able to cover the same width collectively. Any suggestions?? And I apologize for the long post but figured as much info as possible would help. Thanks!!