Geoffd

Okay, I have a feeling I basically killed this thread by having to post the details of the camera instead of a link but I really could use some help here. I wasn't aware you couldn't post links to camera products. I'm pretty sure i'm going to try the camera mentioned above. If its not what I want i'll eat the cost. Having learned a ton over the past week, it seems that I now need to know everything there is to know about security camera lenses and the differences between them. With no experience I also don't want to spend a thousand dollars buying each kind and trying them out. I haven't ruled that out but considering it coming out of my pocket, I'd prefer another option first. Is there a single source of info that can teach me the differences between the lenses. If you read my earlier posts, i'll need the camera to be as close to the person as possible and offer the widest viewing area. I'm aware of the limitations on how close it can be but I need to know the best lens for this job. 2.8 - 12mm lens really means nothing to me and it needs to. Rapid, your earlier response was invaluable. You even included pictures. Once I saw it and realized modulated vs unmodulated it all made sense. I feel like a dolt for not figuring that one out myself. Anyway... thanks again for the help thus far. I'm in PA (bucks county) so if anyone is local please let me know. If all goes well, I'll need an installer by January. In the meantime, any tutorial or links (if allowed) to lens info would be awesome. Please help. Cheers Geoff

So far I found these: [links removed by mod] The DX-8850 looks pretty sweet to me but i'm a complete newbie. What do you think? Pros - Cons Basically, it's this: Manufacturer: Matrix CCD Type: Color CCD Manufacturer: Sony Image Sensor: 1/3" CCD Minimum Illumination: 0.15 LUX Resolution: 470TVL Lens Mount Option: C & CS-Mount Lens Focal Length: Signal to Noise Ratio: 60db Output Type Video Level: 1 Vpp Composite @ 75 Ohm (I don't know what 1 Vpp Composite is) Audio Connector: Audio Not Supported Video Camera Connector: BNC Auto Iris Type: DC Electronic Shutter: 1/60~1/120,000 sec. Power Requirements: 12V DC Power Consumption: 120 mA Power Supply Included: No Dimensions in inches (LxWxH): 4.5 X 1.9 X 1.9 he DX-8850 Series Camera is the most advanced CCD camera available. Using double exposure technology and two 16 MB memory modules, the camera can first take an image with slow shutter speed such as 1/100 sec. to get a clear image of the dark zone, and store it in one memory module. Next, it uses a higher shutter speed such as 1/4000 sec. to get a good picture of bright zone of the image and store it in the second memory module. The two images are then analyzed by DSP to create a perfect picture. This process is then repeated 25/30 times a second to create NTSC/PAL motion picture with super wide dynamic image. Legacy CCD or silver film cameras have only 3:1 of linear dynamic range and are far inferior to the human eye, hence it cannot deal with 1000:1 contrast, as the human eye will do. For example, if a camera is indoors, and a bright window is in the viewing area, the image will be almost unusable. Not so with the DX-8850, which has a 280:1 dynamic range and is far better equipped to deal with this situation. Configuration and controls are handled via a convenient onscreen display (OSD). Some OSD functions that are available to the user include: * Name and Title -- To nominate the name of the camera and display on any location on the screen. * Sensitivity Up -- To increase sensitivity for 2x to 128X by frame integration technology. * ALC / ELC -- To choose from auto Iris exposure control or electronics shutter control. * Wide Dynamic -- To choose full auto, manual or shut off of double exposure wide dynamic function. * Super Smear -- To deactivate super smear feature for demo purpose ( kick back as legacy camera ). * Manual Shutter -- To choose shutter peed from 1/100, 1/200, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000 1/5000, .....1/100,000. * AGC -- To turn on/off automatic gain control feature. * Smart BLC -- To program the location and level of compensation of each of the 48 BLC zones. * White Balance -- To choose from ATW auto tracking AWC on push lock or full manual R-Y B-Y setup. * Masking -- To program the size and location of each of the 4 making zone for privacy control. * Mirror -- To activate or deactivate horizontal reverse feature. * Up/Down -- To activate or deactivate Vertical reverse feature. * Digital Zoom -- To adjust the zoom range from 1X to 2X in 32 steps or 2X to 256X in special setup. [/b]

I did some searching and found a camera or two that have a mirror function. It's a really important fuction for what i'm doing but I imagine they have that function for mounting options. Does anyone have any experience with this? Know of any cameras or brands they can recommend that have this feature? Color, 480 res... Thanks!

Great, it worked. The picture isn't as good as I like but I rushed the splice job and lighting was low. I should be able to improve that. Since i'll be using this like a mirror for golf, it didn't occur to me until I saw it that i'll need to bounce it off a mirror to get that mirror effect. If you have a camera facing you, everything is actually backwards from what you're used to seeing in a mirror. I'm looking now to see if there's a device that'll reverse or mirror the video signal, i'm doubtful, but if not, bouncing it off a mirror should do the job. I also need to tweak how close the camera can be to the person. I want it as close as possible and still cover a good area. I did get a 2-8 variable lens so I'll see how that works out. Suggestions anyone on the mirror image issue?

I can pick up that adapter at radio shack tomorrow. As for TVs, I tried it on my 50" HD and my vintage 20" crt but as you explained, no way that'll work using the Ftype cable input jack. So, just to confirm what you're saying, if I use the video in, in the back of the tv (RCA) this should work. If it does I will be forever grateful. Once it works, i'll show you what i've done. I think it's pretty cool. Just need it to actually work. lol Thanks I'll post my results some time tomorrow. Cheers -Geoff

I'm using CCTV for a golf project I wanted to try out. Everything seemed straightforward enough but when I set everything up, best I can get is a scrambled picture on the tv. Calling it a picture is being gentle. The only reason I know the scrambled picture has anything to do with the video from the camera is if I cover the lense I can see the screen go dark. Not once do I ever see it resemble anything recognizable. Once it didn't work, I kept it simple. 1 camera, 1 RG6 coax cable (BNC camera end, F-type TV end) and power which was sent with the camera but I had to run my own wires. Camera: Panasonic WV-cp244EX Lens: WV-LZA61/2S Cable: tried crimping BNC on one end and F-type on other. Once I got the scrambed picture, I used proven Ftype cable from a regular TV but added BNC adapter to 1 end. Same result. Suggestions? I also tried 2 different monitors. It looks like its on the wrong channel, 1 channel away or something. I just ran it to the regular Ftype input on the tv and tried channels 2,3, etc... Before today, my only TV experience was watching it. Please, any suggestions anyone might have would be a great help. A friend helped who wired the power for his own system at his business and he swears to me the power set up is fine. Its just 1 24 volt adapter and we ran the ground to the screw in the wall plate. I saw this in a different, unrelated post: "You should also consider a modulator if you will be using analog cable TV." Please explain. It was my understanding I could just plug this into a TV and watch it go. lol. Be nice please. I don't know a thing about CCTV other than what I learned today. Thank you in advance. Geoff