tome9999

Buellwinkle, I've been meaning to ask you....I am waffling now between the Axis P3367-VE and the Acti E83. Have you looked at (or will you be) the E83 at all? I certainly like the price of the Acti over the Axis (almost half as much) but I don't want to regret it later...

While this is strictly true, it is NOT the case that smaller sensor elements (aka, higher resolution) mean worse low light performance. This was the case 5-10 years ago. Today, there are numerous examples where sensors with smaller pixels thoroughly outperform larger pixel size. For example the Nikon D800 has 4.7um pixel size and is the one of the current top performers in low light capability. It trounces cameras with much larger pixel sizes. The true winners today are the larger sensors, and not always larger pixel sizes. I would love to see a camera based on a full frame (24x35.9mm) image sensor!! Tom ps: this is an interesting read with regards to signal to noise vs pixel density. http://theory.uchicago.edu/%7Eejm/pix/20d/tests/noise/noise-p3.html#pixelsize

Is this the Lorex bullet that comes with the system from Costco? http://www.lorextechnology.com/security-cameras/High-definition-IP-security-camera/prod330044.p I wonder because the Lorex spec sheet on this says it is only good to 14 degF. If that is the case then I can stop even considering this system for my use as I need something that can go to -10 degF or better.

The problem with these is they work until they become saturated. If the camera isn't sealed and heated in a cold climate that will happen very quickly and the desiccant becomes useless. Tom

Actually, it IS an exact science. JEDEC JESD22-A104 (and MIL-STD-883 for military and aerospace) specify testing procedures to determine the operating temperature range specification for electronics. Some manufacturers test according to these standards before posting specifications. Whether or not these manufacturers follow the standards is another issue. Tom

The ratings already take into consideration the heat generated by the camera. If it isn't rated for temps below its actual environment what will happen is that the unit won't be kept warm enough and condensation will form inside the housing. This may cause fogging, or it may not be immediately apparent, but over time it will cause problems.

The current generation, last several years, of sensors used in dslrs and P&S cameras are fabulous at video and are not that expensive (hence price decreases and higher and higher resolutions). They have better specs for video (and still) as any of the best dedicated video sensors of years back. Current dslrs low light performance, still and video, is astounding. I would take a sensor from a Canon or Nikon dslr or even P&S for one of these video cameras any day!!! These sensors ARE slowly trickling into these cameras as we have seen with Sony Exmor sensors showing up.

This is not at all surprising, especially with the cheaper cameras from asian manufacturers. Back in the earlier days of DSLRs, camera manufacturers res'd up images off of smaller sensors and marketed them (aka, lied) as higher res cameras than they really were. Not until people started analyzing them on camera review sites and calling them out on it did this stop happening. Now the reverse is true, manufacturers are often using slightly over sized sensors and downsampling or selective sampling to get advertised resolutions that are slightly lower than the sensor capability. Good job on posting this info and keep it up! Perhaps the camera manufacturers (even the Chinese ones) will stop lying about their actual resolution.

Is that true? If I get a Lorex system with nvr the Acti and Axis cameras can record to it? I don't need to see anything on a TV generally, unless I was scrutinizing something. Generally, I will be using the ipad/iphone app, so that has to be useable. Tom

I am (still) trying to decide on a system for my residence and am waffling between being cheap, getting a Lorex, or going with an Axix P3367-ve at the front door and an Acti bullet or two (E43) at a couple other locations. I want highest res possible especially at my front door as I want to be able to have some vision from the door down the driveway which is fairly long. If I use the Axis and Acti together can I use the Axis ACC software to view the videos on the Acti cameras, or it is Axis only? I like the idea of having local storage on the cameras, but I also like having a backup via streaming, ftp, etc. I guess I could do a dedicated pc in the basement running BI or something as well, I assume both Axis and Acti will work with that, but if I could avoid the additional cost for that all the better... Thanks Tom

Thanks for the replies!

What is the point of PTZ on a fixed lens camera? Z is digital which is I can do myself if there is something I need to see, (and I can control how much I Z so the image isn't pixelated). I am trying to figure out why people care about PTZ in software in the Lorex vs Swann choice? Tom

Does anyone know of a vendor independent matrix that compares various cameras on a feature by feature basis? How does a Mobotix compare to a Lorex system, for example? A feature matrix would be great for this kind of thing...

I am considering installing this Lorex system to give it a try. Two questions, anyone see the low temp rating on this camera anywhere? I need something that can work below 0 in winter. Also, up to considering this I thought it would be better to have live recording on motion to offsite ftp (or other protocol) server, and also send email/sms snapshots on motion detection as well as recording to sd card in camera. Does anyone worry that a thief may off with the nvr taking the evidence with them? Can this system send video off the local network? Can it send snapshots? And does it have any motion sensing functionality?