Need some brand help

[mercdv 0]

I have an old analog system and I'm trying to replace it with some megapixel cameras. I've had several run-ins with a crazy neighbor who is facing kidnapping charges so I need some higher quality equipment. I’ve come across several brands that are mentioned here and I think I’m figuring out the brands. I’m in the US and plan on doing my own install. I’m in the computer industry and have extensive knowledge of networks so I’m not worried about that aspect. I’m worried about knowing the brand and image quality. Am I correct in thinking the following?

 

Avigilon – good quality, good images, expensive, require purchase from dealer, good support

Axis - good quality, good images, moderate pricing, purchase from retailers, good support

Dahua – decent quality, decent images, cheap, rebranding in the US at retailers, bad support

Arecont – good quality, decent images (better than some at night), expensive, decent support

ACTi - good quality, good images, moderate pricing, purchase from retailers, good support

Mobotix – good quality, good images, expensive, available at retailers

 

Can you give me your thoughts on those brands?

 

Thanks!!

[buellwinkle 0]

Different brands have different value propositions. Also, the cost of an individual cameras may be just a small percentage of the overall costs of wiring, NVR, installation and configuration.

 

For example, I use Mobotix in our community because we don't need an NVR, the camera does all the NVR functions so we don't need as complex of a network and I know they are long term reliable. During a recent project, it was decided we should find cheaper cameras, so OpenEye was chosen. After OpenEye failed to deliver the quality we expected, we returned everything and the cost of Mobotix was really only 10% higher even though the individual cameras were half the price. Why? No NVR is one reason, but the other is installation costs were more than half the project.

 

At home, I don't need the feature Mobotix offers and wiring and installation are easier, so I use ACTi because they provide a better value for my use case than Mobotix and the free NVR software is a big plus.

 

At my weekend home, I use Axis and AVTech because of their notification features that make sense at that location and being a condo, does not have outdoor cameras.

 

So to say one brand is better than another depends on your use case. To say one is cheaper than another depends on your use case.

 

There's two brands that have cameras that can record to a NAS or SD card are Axis and Mobotix. You don't need an NVR or NVR PC saving money on the acquisition costs and long term maintenance and electric costs.

 

The brand that provide very good free NVR software is ACTi, so you may want to take that into consideration.

 

Dahua offers a very good low cost solution at the expense of support and customer service. Also, not many NVR software works with Dahua.

 

Avigilon specializes in very high MP cameras for specific use cases and sells through dealers. Since they don't sell through distributors, I don't know much about them.

[mercdv 0]

Thanks Buellwinkle.

 

Okay, I have thought a little about all that stuff so maybe I should give a rundown of my situation and ask for some input. Here are the facts of my situation.

1. Wiring not an issue

2. Computer not an issue

3. Willing to go wired or wireless

4. LAN not an issue because I’m willing to add anything needed and have the space to do it

5. Upload outside of the house is an issue due to bandwidth so must have local solution for recording

6. Going to have a hybrid system for now but moving to an all IP system in the future

7. Need great images in the day and good at night (by great I mean just be able to identify someone a maximum 50ft away)

8. Have IR illuminators already up and motion detection spot lights where needed

9. The ambient light is pretty bad because there is only one street light about 80ft away

10. Need to be able to read license plates 50ft away

11. Needs to support at least 5 cameras

12. Can’t break my bank because I don’t make much

13. Main reason is to protect my family from the psycho and the teenage vandals

 

Thoughts?

[buellwinkle 0]

Those are tough demands. To ID someone 50' away at night would be nice. Check out a good lens calculator where you can plug in camera resolution and lens choice and such. It will give you viewing angles so you can see how wide an area a particular lens would cover. Then assume you need the subjects head has to be at least 80 pixels tall to be identifiable so you may need say have at least a 5MP camera to cover an area the width of the front of you home. But you can also use a 1MP camera if you only want to cover a small area. http://cctvlenscalculator.com

 

Once you figure out your resolution vs. lens compromise, that will help figure out where to start. At 50', you'll need external illuminators despite camera specs that say it will work.

[mercdv 0]

Sorry, I should have said one camera needs to identify people 50ft away and the rest just need standard home protection distance. I could setup an extra camera closer to the street to get around the 50ft requirement. So let's just put that 50ft thing on the back burner, what would you guys recommend with all the other requirements? I can work on the 50ft requirement once I see how the other cameras cover the yard.