panasonic WV-CW484S vs. WV-CP484

[alpine0000 0]

hello, i did a search and found a thread on this from october, but things got off topic and turned sour real quick, so i decided to post a new thread on it.

 

i am interested in purchasing a few cameras for my home. they will be mounted outside. one will cover the driveway, another will cover the front door, and another the back door. the lighting around my house isnt super bright at night, but i do have some. i have landscape lights installed and motion sensing lights on the front porch and back door. i currently have some entry-level IR cameras, and im VERY impressed with the IR and quality of video at night considering what i paid for the cameras. however, im looking to add a few more cameras and step up to some nicer ones. i figured id go with the panasonics and see how they look at night with the light i have outside, and if needed, id add more lighting out there, and/or an IR illuminator.

 

i was considering the two panasonic cameras in the thread title, but had a few questions first.

 

1- am i correct in assuming the cameras are exactly the same except that the dome version comes with a lens and is (obviously) in a dome? are there any other differences?

 

2- if it were your choice with the same application, which would you choose and why? the box cam and then buy the lens/housing/mount seperately? or would you just buy the dome version? (im mounting the cameras outside under the eve/gutter)

 

3- if i decided to add an IR illuminator later, would it work well with these cams, and would i need a special IR lens? (and if so, and i bought the dome version, does it have room for other (longer or larger) lenses inside the dome? or is space very tight in there?). these are both "true day/night cameras", right?

 

4- would i need a heater on these? (i live in the DC area, and sometimes, rarely, it can get in the single digits during jan/feb) if so, i guess the dome version wouldnt work? or is there a heater option for it?

 

5- any additional thoughts or suggestions?

 

links to cameras on panasonics site:

 

http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=88337&catGroupId=14458&surfModel=WV-CP484&displayTab=O

 

http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=100037&catGroupId=14459&surfModel=WV-CW484S&displayTab=O

 

thank you!

 

any forum dealers who have these for a good price, feel free to PM me [/url]

Edited April 13, 2009 by Guest

[Sawbones 0]

The surface-mount-dome Panos are great cameras, and you'll save money over buying the regular camera + enclosure. The Panos are tough, and have a built-in dehumidifier element. They also have an optional heater, though that requires 24V to the camera instead of the conventional 12V.

 

The domes are true day-night cameras, with an IR-cut filter. They're also Wide Dynamic Range, and provide excellent images. They have no built-in IR (this is a good thing), and you'll need some external illuminators or regular ambient light to give the best pictures. Increasing your ambient light is the best route, since you'll get better images. IR will give you pictures, but only in B&W, and they'll be granier than daytime.

 

I have several of the WV-CW484S cameras mounted, and I have a couple of example images for you to compare. The first is with an IR-integrated armored dome, and the second is a WV-CW484S with an external illuminator:

 

 

 

Not only does the Pano give you a better picture, but separating the IR from the camera keeps the camera covert at night (no visible LEDs to draw your eye), and prevents IR-attracted bugs from tripping your motion detection. It only takes a couple of persistent moths to fill up your hard drive with garbage images.

[CCTV_Suppliers 0]

Excellent choice on the cameras...

 

Basically both have the same camera technology but differ in packaging.

 

It is cheaper to go with the minidome version as recommended by Sawbones... as it also comes with vandal and weather proof housing and also IR corrected lens.

 

Too many features to mention here, but all in all, minidome will be your more cost effective option.

 

As for the picture quality at night? Well, you have to provide some source of light and do not expect it to shine in a pitch dark. However, with availability of marginal light, the picture quality (in black and white of course) is a target that most manufacturer cameras try to achieve. Also, any major light condition changes within your area view during the day or night (dark on one of the side and shiny on another), this is the only camera that will give you very uniform picture instead of washing the picture quality as most focus on bright area.

 

As I said, way too many feature with this product. Pricing should be around $500.00 range and with three years warranty, you will not be shortchanged in the performance nor with the picture quality...

 

Great choices... Keep us in the loop on your final selection...

[alpine0000 0]

Thank you for the information!

 

Will I need a special lens for the "day/night" functionality (that will be IR sensitive)? Or will any lens work that? I only ask because I notice that some lenses on Panasonic's site say "day/night", and some do not.

 

For example... this one specifically claims that it's a day/night lens:

http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?displayTab=O&storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=72040&catGroupId=14687&surfModel=PLZ5/10

 

and this lens does not:

http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?displayTab=O&storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=89323&catGroupId=14687&surfModel=WV-LZA61/2S

 

and, if so, would I be correct in assuming that the Dome version comes with a lens that is IR sensitive, and also an Auto Iris lens?

 

Also, would the clear dome optional cover help me noticeably more for low-light situations? I'm thinking about adding the clear dome and heater.

 

I think I'm about to pull the trigger here on one of these cameras, and just wanted to get a few more questions out of the way first

 

Thank you. [/url]

[Sawbones 0]

The lens itself needs to be day/night, but it's the imager itself that's IR-sensitive. Unfortunately, I don't recall the exact lenses I have on my pano domes.

[alpine0000 0]

thank you. so i know this camera is day/night, but is the lens that comes with it also a day/night lens, or will i have to upgrade it? i cant seem to find it in the specs on panasonics site...

 

http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=100037&surfModel=WV-CW484S

 

thank you again.

 

on a sidenote sawbones, i appreciate the image you posted. would you happen to have other images from the panasonic 484 dome in various lighting conditions, including daylight?

[Sawbones 0]

I have the standard lens that came with the dome... works just fine day or night.

[alpine0000 0]

sawbones, would you happen to have other images from the panasonic 484 dome in various lighting conditions? maybe bright sunlight, some shadow shots, and various other shots?

 

thanks!

 

does anybody else have any opinions on these two cameras, or preference on which one they would choose for outdoor application under the eaves?

[Sawbones 0]

Don't know what else I have in my photobucket account... let me look.

 

EDIT:

 

I don't have any handy... I'll have to grab a few screen shots and post them up. I should have them tomorrow or the next day. All I have is night shots, which you already have.

 

EDIT2:

 

Here are a couple of screen-shots from tonight... These are both from Pano domes of the exact model you're looking for, and both are illuminated with IR (both scenes are absolutely pitch-black to the naked eye). I'll see if I can grab you a few daytime pics when I get the chance:

 

 

 

EDIT3:

 

Here are some daytime images:

 

 

 

Note: All of these images are screen grabs from Axis 241Q video servers.

[alpine0000 0]

thank you sawbones