Dome Help With Pictures

[jxk716 0]

I am the security manager for a small non profit social work agency in a gritty, high crime area; footage is turned over to the police regularly and was used recently in a trial. Currently we have a 16 cam system, all BNC connected and they cover the entire perimeter and interior public locations. I was given $2000 to upgrade the current cameras and need help with getting the best for the money. The upgrade is at my discretion and I do not need to buy all new cams, just a few in key areas. Here is a link to the cams currently installed: http://www.ablcorp.com/VPD-411VADN.htm and here is a link with pictures showing the actual views http://picasaweb.google.com/jxk716/Cams# or see below.

 

Cams 3 and 16 are PTZ and do not need an upgrade. Also, all interior lights are out so lighting is not as well if they were on. However cam 6 looks at the door and on bright days there is a lot of darkness, even with lights on, in the lobby. What would be a better cam for this area so that subjects are clearly seen in this area during the day? I looked at some of those Samsung A1 cams but not sure.

 

Take a look at the night cams; this is where I need to cut down on the digital noise so subjects are more clear. Any suggestions? I would like to stay with a dome style but I am not sold on that. By the way, cam 3 PTZ is usually in focus but I forgot to change it from Auto focus and car lights tend to throw it off (not going to replace this one)

 

Cam 9 and 15 are wide angle, usually shadows at day and no lights at night. There are not the same as the others, have a lens of maybe a 1.7 or something like that, but not great quality, especially at night. They need to remain wide angle; any suggestions for those?

 

Again I am not looking to replace all the cams with the $2000, just enough in key areas like out front and/or in the alley (cams 13/14) or side (cams 9-10) at night. Maybe next year I will get another allowance to buy more. But for now, what do you think?

Edited March 21, 2010 by Guest

[Soundy 1]

I'll go through your post more in a bit, but just off the top of my head, for your front door and hard lighting situations like that, you'll find the advice here pretty much unanimous: Panasonic WV-CP484 or WV-CW484 (box or dome style, respectively). The box model will probably be a bit cheaper than the dome, but you may need the extra ruggedness of the vandal-resistant dome in your situation. They tend to go for around $600 at online stores (according to a quick google search), which I realize is a big chunk of your budget, but there's little else on the market today that will handle bad backlighting like Panny's SuperDynamic III cameras.

 

For low-light areas, check the other threads here on the "CNB Mona Lisa" cameras - they're a nicely designed dome with good quality for the price and outstanding low-light response.

 

The Picasaweb link doesn't seem to work, BTW... tells me it's a broken link.

[jxk716 0]

The Picasaweb link doesn't seem to work, BTW... tells me it's a broken link.

 

 

Try this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/jxk716/Cams#

[jxk716 0]

here are more pics

[tsd 0]

As Matt recommended CNB Monalisa is the good one I would recommend for outdoor vandal proof VBM-24VF its 600 TVL Day & Night ICR with verifocal

 

For indoor Cam 6 WDR Camera should take care of the lighting condition and balance the image better than what you would get from non WDR camera

[hardwired 0]

I'd suggest WDR for camera 8, as well. Camera 3 is just out of focus, refocus it at night, or use a welding filter (#4-6) in front of the lens to simulate night while you focus it (good practice for setting up any cam with an auto iris lens)

[jxk716 0]

Thanks for your suggestions, I will use them. The price of the CNB Monalisa is not high; I will get it but want to be sure it is worth the purchase. Can anyone share an example?