Help in choosing the right cam (descriptive image attached)

[rashe 0]

Hello

 

I am looking for a security camera which will be placed at the same point where this attached image was captured.

 

Area length 50m

Area width 20m

 

At night there is no light it is a total dark.

 

Currently i have a 32 led infra cam and it is a waste of money i can't see further than 2 meters at night.

 

Can you help me choose the right camera ?

 

Thanks

 

[SEANHAWG 1]

Can you install a flood light to light up the area? You will get better results that way than using an IR camera. This is really what you need to do for this large of an area IMO. You could get some extra infrared illuminators but it would cheaper for you to just install some good outdoor lighting. Just get a camera that has good low light capabilties. If lighting up the area at night is not an option, then you need to look into getting a camera with some strong LED's and/or getting some seperate IR illuminators.

 

If you want a camera that is as clear and crisp as the picture that you took, then you will need to get a megapixel IP camera. In that case, you will definetely need to get a nice floodlight of some sort to illuminate the area as megapixel cams need alot of light to see from what I understand.

 

If you are looking to get just a traditional analog camera, as I said, get one with good lowlight capabilties. For this large of an area, you will just be getting a camera to get a "general view" of the area, and depending on how you have the camera focused, you will have some lost detail in certain areas of the picture, for example, near the back, you will be able to see a guy walking around, but you wont get a clear facial recognition. To combat this, you could consider installing multiple cameras to view in on particular areas of the square which would help you pick up more detail. Or like I mentioned before, you can get a megapixel camera which would allow you to digitally zoom in on areas of the square. If this is what you would rather do, then there are plently of Megapixel experts on here that can help you pick out a setup.

[rashe 0]

Hello SEANHAWG

 

I appreciate your help.

 

In fact it is difficult to illuminate the whole area. i can add some flood lights behind the stairs but not more.

 

I am confused now between Led camera and megapixel camera. Which kind of camera is more appropriate in my situation ?

 

Thanks

[SEANHAWG 1]

I doubt that one LED Infrared camera would illuminate that whole area, even the ones with tons of LED's on them. If you do want to go the infrared route, you will need to get some seperate IR illuminators to illuminate that whole area. In my opinion, this is not the best way to go. Some IR cameras may claim to be able to shine that far but the fact is the specs that are given for these IR cameras are not always true and using IR cameras for that large of an area is not ideal, especially for outdoors.

 

Getting one or more strong floodlights to light up that area will give you better results and will probably be cheaper than using a camera with seperate high powered infrared illuminators. You said that you can install some floodlights by the stairs? As long as you get some that are powerful enough to shine to the back of the area then that should be good enough. Multiple lights would be good and the more light the better. Of course you dont want to tick off your neighbors with a lot that looks like a lit up football field but as long as you can get it lit up enough to shine to the back of the lot then that should suffice. I would assume that you probably have some nearby ambient light from other neighbors as well that would help out the situation.

 

As I said before you, can use a traditional analog camera then you can take my tips from my previous post by either just using one camera to get a general view to capture the whole are or use multiple cameras viewed in on particular areas of the lot to capture detail. Just get some cameras with good lowlight capabilties. If you want a direct recommendation, you can use the critically acclaimed CNB VBM-24VF camera and mount it to the side of your building or under an eave. This would be a good one if you choose to go the single camera route. But please note that this camera alone by itself will not capture alot of detail at the back of the lot as it has a 10.5mm maximum viewing capacity. If you are wanting to capture detail in all areas using multiple cameras, then you may need to use a box camera such as the CNB BBM-24F and screw on a nice vari-focal lens with atleast 50mm capacity, a 70mm would be even better.

 

1 good megapixel camera would be good for this area but note that Megapixel cameras are IP cameras and are a completely different animal and require a different set up than you are used to. From what I understand, they will need alot of light to see at night. I am no IP camera expert, but there are several guys on here that are that could probably help you.

[rashe 0]

Hello SEANHAWG

 

Thanks for your great cooperation.

 

I will try to add some floodlights.

 

I hope to get additional advices from other members here.

 

Thanks

[rory 0]

if you want to spend some money you could illuminate it with IR, with some Extreme CCTV Infrared (now Bosch) .. but its ALOT of $$$$$ .. ive used for example the UF500's in the past and they could blast that area well, there are even the UF600's. But along with the price tag the bulbs go every couple years which is additional maintenance. But be warned, not every camera is made alike, not all cameras will react as well with Infrared, some are better than others and it has nothing to do with the price tag.

 

eg. approx 200' from camera to gate using the UF500 (you can use multiple ones), ignore garden lights as they are useless, it is otherwise pitch dark. Ive tried this exact location recently with some $300 IR bullets and they dont even come close, even $700 Raytec White light cant touch this:

[rashe 0]

Hello rory,

 

but its ALOT of $$$$$

 

How much lot it could be ?

 

I understand the best thing to do is to have a good camera plus 2 IR illuminators ?

[rory 0]

Hello rory,

 

but its ALOT of $$$$$

 

How much lot it could be ?

 

I understand the best thing to do is to have a good camera plus 2 IR illuminators ?

 

its been a few years, but probably about $1000 msrp.

[cglaeser 0]

This is an empty lot. What is it that you want to see? If someone enters that area at night, you want to see if they are there? Although megapixel cameras provide more detail in the day, night performance is generally not as good as CCTV. So, if you want good low-light performance, I would probably opt for CCTV.

 

Do you own the empty lot? Or, just the property next to the empty lot? If you own the empty lot, then it would be easy to add an IR beam perimeter. If you don't own the empty lot, then it would be easy to add a long range PIR. Check out the Optex site for both. The output of IR beam and/or PIR could trigger the camera record and/or send you an email notification, etc.

 

Best,

Christopher

[rashe 0]

Do you own the empty lot?

 

Yes i am the owner.

 

then it would be easy to add an IR beam perimeter

 

What do you mean IR beam perimeter ?

Can you give me a link ? i did a search but i am not sure i find the right thing.

[cglaeser 0]

What do you mean IR beam perimeter ?

Can you give me a link ? i did a search but i am not sure i find the right thing.

 

Optex makes both wired and wireless versions. Given that it is an empty lot, you should be able to use the wired version.

 

See http://www.optexamerica.com/default.aspx

 

Best,

Christopher