Good or Bad Camera? X-MAS GIFT IDEA

[Bmonaweck02 0]

I am looking at a LTS security camera with a vari-focal lense for a gift for my father.

Here is the link : http://www.directron.com/dvccmr823hb.html

 

Is this a good camera? I want some range with my night vision, I have lights up around his building so I know the night vision will increase with that. Is the night vision good on this camera? The vari-focal lense on the camera, it says external zoom and focus adjustmnets. Can I zoom in and out from my DVR with this camera? The description says 3-axis pan/tilt rotation bracket. Can I tilt and rotate this camera from my DVR, or does this just mean that I can tilt and rotate it manually?

 

Thanks

-Bmonaweck02

[Soundy 1]

I am looking at a LTS security camera with a vari-focal lense for a gift for my father.

Here is the link : http://www.directron.com/dvccmr823hb.html

 

Is this a good camera?

Doesn't look like anything special.

 

I want some range with my night vision, I have lights up around his building so I know the night vision will increase with that. Is the night vision good on this camera?

Depends on how you define "good". I doubt it will realistically be anywhere near 150'. "Night vision" is a misnomer, BTW - essentially all an IR camera is doing is shining a flashlight on your subject, albeit an IR one instead of visible light. Keep in mind that unless the camera uses some form of "smart" IR control, the longer the range, the brighter it will be, and the more washed-out foreground objects will be.

 

The vari-focal lense on the camera, it says external zoom and focus adjustmnets. Can I zoom in and out from my DVR with this camera?

No.

 

The description says 3-axis pan/tilt rotation bracket. Can I tilt and rotate this camera from my DVR,

No.

 

or does this just mean that I can tilt and rotate it manually?

Yup.

 

Really, if there's existing lighting, especially if it's fairly good lighting, look into a GOOD true-day/night camera WITHOUT IR. Built-in IR, 95% of the time, is a cheap workaround for poor low-light performance.

 

Take a look at CNB's "Mona Lisa" line of cameras - they're well-respected around this site for excellent low-light response and a great price point for the quality.

 

 

Thanks

-Bmonaweck02

[Bmonaweck02 0]

I would like to get a camera that has a vari-focal lense on it. I would also like to be able to zoom from the DVR. I would also not like to spend a lot(like $150 at most). I also want something with decent night vision. Right now we have Q-See CMOS camera with 40' night vision (****ty cameras).

[rory 0]

Thats better than the CMOS Qsee camera but still its a really cheap camera, no True Day Night (ICR/IR Cut Filter) so colors in the day will be off. Basically no matter the brand or cost there is no way for us to say without having actually used it or seen a demo video from it.

 

That said, going by your latest post you want a PTZ with Infrared, the PTZ alone will be $600-$2000 depending on the quality and brand you get .. infrared extra or some chinese ones come with it built in .. either way it is way out of your budget in this case. You budget allows for a Color IR bullet as even the TDN IR Bullets cost well over $200. You could however look at some of the non IR cameras like the domes from CNB but then still it will not see much under extreme low lighting, hence the need for IR or other lighting, but at least they have a good day image and colors are rich ... and will switch to BW under extreme low light so you could add IR separate later on.

 

I want a porch but I can only spend $1000

So if I really want a porch for $1000 then I guess my best bet is to look for a really old 2nd hand one.

[Soundy 1]

I would like to get a camera that has a vari-focal lense on it.

That's not difficult to find, or overly expensive - most of the Mona Lisa line have them. If you want the "bullet" design, take a look at the WFM-24VF (http://www.cnbtec.com/en/html/product/product.php?seqx_prod=1272). Should be able to find them for under $200. The VCM-24VF (flush-mountable vandal-resistant dome model) can be found for around $160; the VBM-24VF (surface-mount only - http://www.cnbusa.com/en/html/product/product.php?seqx_prod=1077) usually goes for a fair bit less than that.

 

I would also like to be able to zoom from the DVR.

That's another matter, and you won't do it within your budget. You don't NEED a full-on PTZ, there are fixed cameras with remote-controllable zoom lenses... but they're not really that useful, because you'll only be able to zoom in on the center of the frame. AND either way, you'd need to run another pair of wires to the camera to control the zoom... AND your DVR would have to support PTZ output.

 

I also want something with decent night vision. Right now we have Q-See CMOS camera with 40' night vision (****ty cameras).

Like I said, you already have existing lighting... skip the cheezy IR hack and get something with good low-light performance, that will simply make better use of the existing lighting.

 

The Mona Lisa series of cameras work really well with almost no ambient light - case in point, the picture below has little more than a street light a couple hundred feet away (to the left) and a little dining room light coming through the closed blinds (to the right)... it's dark enough that I would have probably tripped over anything left laying on the patio:

 

 

The light bulbs in this version are 60W... not a lot of light required (yes, that's me, carrying a piece of 2x8):

 

 

Remember, NO IR on these cameras.

[Fiona 0]

Does anyone have any experience with the Mona Lisa 600TVL Ultra High Resolution CNB-CCM-20VF/CCM-21VF with built-in lens (comes in 24 VAC) or the Mona Lisa 600TVL Ultra High Resolution BBM-20F/BBM-21F lens optional (also avail in 24 VAC)?

 

http://www.cnbtec.com/en/html/down/data_down.php

 

On Page 13 of the BBM-20F/BBM-21F User Manual it talks about soldering a lens cable to the auto-iris connector plug ????

 

Wouldn't it have been simpler if CNB did the soldering?

 

Anyway, I've got a couple of new enclosures just waiting for the box cameras.

[Soundy 1]

Seeing as the BBM line are box cameras and don't ship with lenses, I don't get where that's CNB's problem?

 

In fact, it says right there at the top of Page 12, very first entry in the Connection section: "THE LENS IS NOT SUPPLIED WITH THIS CAMERA"

[Fiona 0]

I had assumed that the connector/plug and socket would have been standardised. (Industry standard.)

 

Also check this out. I've heard of trial and error but CNB lists 79 discontinued cameras.

 

http://www.cnbtec.com/en/html/product/product_list.php?maxx=10

 

Does this auger well for the future?

[Soundy 1]

I had assumed that the connector/plug and socket would have been standardised. (Industry standard.)

It is... and frankly, I've never seen an auto-iris lens that DIDN'T already have the connector on it. I think the point here is, don't worry about - CNB is ahead of almost everyone else by including this information "just in case" (just search the threads here for people looking for those pinouts - they're almost impossible to find published anywhere on the 'net).

 

Also check this out. I've heard of trial and error but CNB lists 79 discontinued cameras.

 

http://www.cnbtec.com/en/html/product/product_list.php?maxx=10

 

Does this auger well for the future?

Doesn't mean anything... everyone discontinues older models as newer designs, styles, and technologies come out. If anything, it shows they're keeping up with technology rather than sitting back on a few older models.

[rory 0]

Well I have to be honest, not too happy with a current batch of VCM-24VF Domes ...

I dont know if it was a bad batch or not yet, going to play with the settings a bit more tomorrow and default them also .. though its pretty much defaults anyway .. appart from the bad quality compared to the VBMs I used in the past, they wont switch to BW due to there being a very little bit of light and hence they are pixelised like mad .. then ofcourse it rains so cant open them up for a couple days to adjust them .. time to move back bullets.... BTW the DFL-20s at almost 1/3 the price gives a better image even under low light! And yes I focused these VCMs, same way I have done the others in the past, just didnt have time to do any major testing outdoors or anything.

 

BTW ive used 2 of the CNB IR bullets in the past, their entry level True Day Night IR bullet and their more expensive model .. both sucked. Now I stay clear of their bullets. Seems the DFL dome is the best thing they have, never let me down yet!

[rory 0]

If you see $50 then thats wholesale .. dealer pricing .. even $70 would be dealer pricing .. so that would vary if you are seeing it at so called retailers.