Help me choose a driveway cam

[alpine0000 0]

I have exacqvision VMS all set up and running, but still have mostly analog cameras running through an encoder. I am slowly upgrading to IP megapixel as budget allows.

 

First order of business is to upgrade this driveway camera. It is currently a Panasonic 484 dome, and it seems like I have to keep re-focusing it every couple of months (as you can see from the images below, it needs re-focusing again).

 

Specifically, the camera will monitor my driveway, and I am mainly looking for a good, low-light performer.

 

Here are my non-negotiable requirements:

 

- IP

- at least 2 megapixel, but am 'considering' some 1.3mp cameras at the moment

- POE

- lens capable of wide-view. at least as wide as 2 or 3mm would be perfect. anything that cant do less than 4mm is out of the question

- must be a weatherproof dome (replacing my current dome cameras under the eave)

- no smaller than 1/3" sensor

- h.264, cropping, and wide dynamic range are strong pluses, and preferred, but I would consider cameras without these features if they perform well

- do not want built-in IR

- budget around $1,000, maybe a little higher if need be

- MUST work with exacq VMS

- MUST perform well in low light, as the sole job of this camera is to monitor my driveway at night time

 

I started a thread about this 8 months or so ago, but it got way off topic. The two cameras I am strongly considering are the Panasonic WV-NW502S and the AXIS P3346-VE 6mm. When comparing the two, here are some important highlights

 

The Panasonic has:

-1/3" CCD

-3MP

-2.8-10mm

-WDR

-no remote focus/zoom

 

The AXIS has:

-1/3" CMOS

-3MP

-2.5-6mm

-no WDR

-remote focus/zoom

 

What I am wondering is, for those of you who have experience with either or both of these cameras, which would you choose and why? I guess I am just looking for opinions on these two. Screenshots are always welcome too

 

The two other cameras on the short list are the Sanyo VCC-HD3300 and ACTi TCM-7411.

 

Comments?

 

Just to give you an idea of what the scene looks like, here are 3 different screen shots of the camera it will be replacing (again, I know it is way out of focus again ). I also need to move that light and add some light behind the camera, because it seems to really blind the camera

 

Morning:

 

Afternoon:

 

Night time: