allinav

From what I've been reading on these forums and the web, it looks like the best way to get good advice is to include specifics on the application of the system, so I've included below what I'm looking to monitor with the camera system. I thought picking out a camera system would be relatively easy...read a few reviews, done. It's not however...it seems there are way more variables included than I ever could have imagined, so I'm really looking for some good advice on what system & cameras to go with. I thought because of the widespread use of Lorex/Q-See/Night Owl/Swann systems, they were the leaders, but threads like this (about how those are ALL bottom of the barrel) scare me: http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=30127&start=15 Anyway, here is what I'm looking for: An 8 camera system to monitor a the exterior of a building in a city. The building is roughly 80 feet long, 35 feet wide. I'd be placing the cameras at a height of roughly 11 feet. The cameras will all be placed on the outside of the building. I live in the northeast, so in the winter the temps can be as low as -10F, and the summer can be 90F+. I'd be setting up the cameras to record when detecting motion. There is not consistent light source (like streetlights) on the outside of the building (at least not in all areas) so the light levels are constantly changing throughout the day/night. Given the height of the cameras and the area I'm looking to monitor, the video quality & the number of cameras I planned on installing, I would need to be able to pickup good video quality (make out facial details) during both the day & night at a distance of roughly 25+ feet. Can anybody with experience with a number of systems, or even just personal experience with a similar application, give me some recommendations on a good system for this type of application?