CNB mona lisa review (sort of)

[bike_rider 0]

Intrigued by the claims that the new CNBs vandal domes rock, and trying to not always buy the most expensive thing, I ordered a VBM-24VF to compare it to my existing flock of cameras.

 

On paper the series looks great "low light", WDR, hi-res, back light compensation, etc.

 

Around page 4 of the manual there is this one little line "Do not expose to rain."

 

*&^% I know there are indoor places that need good cameras, but this non-weather proof feature does me no good since I want to mount it outside.

 

The camera might be OK under a sheltered eave, but it might not. I'm not risking my money to find out.

 

Oh well. Back it goes.

[rory 0]

Most Vandal Domes are like that. Unless it has a rubber ring around the dome cover and even the rubber base does not always stop rain coming in. Unfortunately the design of vandal domes do not allow for a complete water tight seal, as with bullet cameras or box enclosures. Most will end up calking it to try and seal it up good, but think about maintenance. Ive used alot of various models or come across others that installed them, and really the typical design of a vandal dome is not that waterproof. Ofcourse occasionally you will find one or two that hold up good, but its just pure luck in most cases.

 

Which model BTW?

[bike_rider 0]

the CNB is VBM-24VF

 

I guess I'll be sticking with Pany for domes. Maybe I'll try a Sanyo next.

[rory 0]

The CNB might still be okay out there in the rain though, does it have any rubber at all, anything that looks like it might seal it up a little?

 

EDIT: They claim that dome is IP66

The VFL20S is IP65. I think the VCM model is what you want.

http://www.cnbtec.com/en/html/product/product.php?seqx_prod=1143

[rory 0]

Whoops maybe not .. i dont understand if they mean the interior of the camera or the housing .. the VCM's manual says the same thing about not exposing to rain LOL.! The VCM does have a rubber back and a rubber rim around the dome cover though. Maybe it is a language barrier

[Sawbones 0]

IP66 but you can't expose it to rain?

 

What the hell?

[rory 0]

IP66 but you can't expose it to rain?

 

What the hell?

 

It has to be a typo or something .. has to!

[bike_rider 0]

I could not figure out the difference between the VCM and the VBM and the vendor's customer service could not either. Maybe IP66 is the only difference.

 

On the VBM there are gaskets around the dome and there is the rubber gasket that it mounts to. Maybe it would work. I'll sleep on it and decide what to do.

 

 

Ah, the leaflets say the VBM is TDN and the VCM does not say anything.

Edited February 28, 2010 by Guest

[Soundy 1]

Pretty sure they're talking about not exposing the camera's guts to rain - I've mounted a couple dozen CNB domes right out in the weather with no problem. There IS an O-ring around the dome, and the wires are tightly sealed by a grommet going into the housing.

[bike_rider 0]

Man, it has been a long day. I've been fighting with regular expressions and PHP for hours. After re-reading the fliers, the VBM is IP66 and TDN. I think I do have what I was looking for.

[rory 0]

VCM is TDN with ICR also .. just bigger dome? Dual Mount option.

yeah must be the guts .. has to be .. its probably a cloned spec for all their cameras.

In fact I didnt realise the mona lisa WAS True Day Night with ICR until now

[rory 0]

Also just checked .. here is where I have issues with these cameras without even using them..

ICR(AGC Type)

 

We have problems with that type down here .. AGC typically MUST be disabled here or daytime is too washed out from glare (i dont know, is our sun different from theirs?!), lots of sunshine here, like all the time. Now, unless AGC is enabled the DN feature will not work, which sucks. I stay far away from cameras like this, used some before and bit my tongue that I did. As a low light color only camera though I guess that is where they may shine? Perhaps they have improved on that feature since I used the other brands, so that AGC is disabled during the day?

[emholic 0]

KT&C is dope.

 

the owner walks up to our booth, because he's known the boss for about 16 years, walks up to the boss and hugs him and says "this is my boyfriend", and they both laugh. it's funny to see how people with money REALLY act! GAY!!

 

It's comedy

 

The owner is like a Korean movie star. I look forward every year to chat with him. he walks up like he owns the tradeshow, stunner shades, big cuff links, suit with shirt popped open, gold chain. Kinda like a porn movie with class? lol

 

I'm going to take a picture with him this year.

[bantham1 0]

I just got 4 CNB Mona Lisa cameras in. I have one installed. Low light seems to be pretty impressive without IR. Compared to my other cameras, picture quality seems to be the same to slightly better, but low light is a lot better. Overall, I would say they rival the Panasonic 484s and even beat it in low light. I will post a screenshot once I get it focused properly and set up.

[rory 0]

Overall, I would say they rival the Panasonic 484s and even beat it in low light. I will post a screenshot once I get it focused properly and set up.

The 484's are Wide Dynamic Cameras .. are you sure the CNB is that?

Also, the 484's work in true Day Night Mode without AGC?

What are your other cameras?

[bantham1 0]

These seem to handle the bright light/shadows fairly well even though they are not classified as WDR I had the 484s for a short period of time and was not impressed with them for the price. The AGC is adjustable on these cameras.

[rory 0]

Accoridng to the specs the CNB only work in Day Night mode if the AGC is turned on, for example, we cant use AGC in this country. The Panos work as a real True Day Night mode camera does, does not need AGC to function. The Panos are meant for a specific application though, that is where they shine, eg, looking at an entrance to a store so one can see inside and outside in bright sunlight or low light, or looking at gas pumps so that when the headlights hit it does not blind or blur the image. things like that.

[Soundy 1]

Accoridng to the specs the CNB only work in Day Night mode if the AGC is turned on, for example, we cant use AGC in this country.

 

Maybe you just haven't found a really GOOD AGC yet?

[rory 0]

Accoridng to the specs the CNB only work in Day Night mode if the AGC is turned on, for example, we cant use AGC in this country.

 

Maybe you just haven't found a really GOOD AGC yet?

 

No its not that, unless you are going to tell me Bosch, Panasonic, GE, Extreme CCTV, Sanyo, among hundreds of other small name brands, all suck? The point is that Day Night cameras which use AGC for its Day Night switchover function, are typically cheap crap as far as I am concerned. There is no reason why one would need to enable AGC for a camera to switch to True Day night mode, if the camera was any good. the first camera I saw that came like that, I was like WTF?? I could not believe it, that it was that crappy that it would not switch without AGC on, i threw that in the garbage and bought a REAL True Day Night camera, something that also gave a good picture in the full sunlight. I believe they must have been drunk when they came up with that idea, or living under a rain cloud. Now could CNB have improved on it since the last one I tested, sure .. but why would I continue to spend alot of my money to "try" it when I could buy something i "know" will work? CNB ALSO has models that DONT use AGC for Day Night mode.

[bantham1 0]

AGC can be adjusted from 0-20. You CAN adjust the AGC on this camera

[rory 0]

AGC can be adjusted from 0-20. You CAN adjust the AGC on this camera

 

Question is will it work with AGC at 0?

Its good it can be adjusted though.

let us know how it works out.

[Soundy 1]

Have you tried the AGC with compression connectors instead of twist-on?

 

 

 

 

 

(running away...)

[rory 0]

Have you tried the AGC with compression connectors instead of twist-on?

 

 

 

 

 

(running away...)

 

Yes, I also tried it welded together, same result.

[hardwired 0]

Have you tried the AGC with compression connectors instead of twist-on?

 

 

 

 

 

(running away...)

 

Yes, I also tried it welded together, same result.

 

Try encasing the whole thing, connector and all, in clear two-part epoxy! That will make sure of an IP66 rating, at least!

 

(also running away)

[bantham1 0]

I have AGC set at 1. I live in Mississippi and it is very sunny/hot here. No problems at all so far. I like them better than the 484s so far.