Newbie PTZ camera advice required - All help appreciated

[DrPhoto 0]

Hi & I apologies in advance for what is a typical newbie numskull question but I would appreciate some advice anyway.

 

I want to set up a PTZ camera for viewing the birds in my back garden from the front of the house. I would want full D1 res and 25fps - Live viewing and recording when required.

 

I have an ILDVR card which I will use for recording along with a couple of static cams already set up though I may control the PTZ manually with a joystick yet I don't know.

 

I have scanned around the web and come across several cameras & whilst I am not too flush I can't buy twice so I have to get it right first time. I am also worried about the large amount of 'Chinese offerings' out there on ebay and do not know which of them are any good. I am looking at a 1/3rd" chip and would like a nominally 25 - 30x zoom.

 

Could any one advise on a suitable camera that they know is OK?

 

I have come across a system from Inesun on ebay - big worry

 

CCTV 7 inch 650TVL 36X Optical Zoom 3.2~115.2mm Auto Tracking High Speed Dome PTZ IR Camera - Current ebay listed example is 160952801565 Item number:

 

Is this any good or would I just be buying rubbish I would later regret?

 

Any one out there have any experience with such a beast?? or know anythiing similar & more suitable?? I do want this to last but it probably won't won't be running as hard or as often as in usual installations

 

All info greatly received & pointers appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance - DrPhoto & the Birdie Cam

[shockwave199 0]

Frequently enough there is a birdwatcher who asks about a ptz. I don't see how a ptz would be helpful. In my experience they just can't keep up with them. Birds are fast and fidgety creatures- more than any ptz would help you appreciate them. Maybe you could zoom in on one at a feeder, but you could have a fixed camera for that. If birdwatchers think they'll gain the ability to have an appreciable view of birds because the camera can move, I think they would be disappointed in the outcome for all the money spent.

 

I would not buy the inesun camera you mention. Interestingly enough however, I am an inesun ptz owner and user- probably the only person you'll find here that is! LOL! I rolled the dice and I bought this one last year-

 

http://www.inesun.com/650TVL-SONY-EFFIO-CCD-27x-Outdoor-CCTV-PTZ-IR-Camera-Auto-Tracking--17165.html

 

If you look through my vids you'll find a number of them covering this camera. I do like it a lot. It has worked perfectly thus far, even through our extended artic cold this past week when at night the temps fell to 2 degrees. I wouldn't use it or any ptz for bird watching, but I do like the camera a lot. But I wouldn't recommend you buy a hong kong camera, frankly. If the camera comes broken or if it breaks, there really isn't any support to fix it. You're not gonna spend 100 dollars or more sending a defective camera back. I took a risk- I wouldn't recommend others do unless you're in a position to do so. For a quality ptz that can be had here in the states, I would suggest this one-

 

http://www.dahuasecurity.com/products/sd6923-6930-6936-6970-h--86.html

 

I use this one as well and it's excellent. I still wouldn't recommend it for bird watching, but if you really want a ptz, this one at least can be bought in the states by a reputable dealer.

 

Good luck!

[DrPhoto 0]

Thanks for getting back & your input. The reason I am after a PTZ is that my current cameras give a general wild field shots of the feeders etc but i would like then to zoom in to particular feeders and get close up shots when applicable.

 

Get your drift re support and it was a concern but I also wonder how many others out there are just badged versions of the same items.

 

I will take a look at the vids & thanks for taking the time to reply.

 

Cheers & beers DrPhoto

[Kawboy12R 0]

For my money I think I'd rather have cameras with zoom lenses trained on each feeder. Then you'd get every feeder all the time and not miss any closeups.