New to CCTV... looking for a "good" camera. :)

[Dave18 0]

Hello there! I'm new.

 

I'm looking for some fixed video cameras, and analog CCTV seems to be the way to go for my application. I'll describe my setup at the end of this message in case anyone is interested. Anyhow, I have a fairly strong background in computers, OK background in photography, and no background in video. As I'm looking at CCTV cameras, I'm realizing that I have a lot to learn. So, maybe I should start with the basics.

 

In order to buy a "good" CCTV camera, I need to know what a CCTV camera is made of. Let's see if I'm even in the ballpark on this: there is a camera body and a camera lens. I've got lenses down pretty good, although it sounds like if the optics are not good enough, some lenses might not allow the camera to resolve 480TVL, for instance. Is this true? If so, any resources out there for CCTV lens reviews? I own a Tamron lens for my DSLR and many Canon lenses, and they are all great. Other than those two brands, I have no other experience.

 

As for the camera body, it sounds like the DSP is pretty important. If a camera has a S/N ratio of 50dB, does that mean it has a good DSP? Or would I still have to look at the DSP itself? Also, is direct drive important? Will that make my lenses cheaper or better or worse? I'll be using NTSC cameras... so the camera is going to scan interlaced at a rate of 60 fps, 30 "odd numbered" frames and 30 "even numbered" frames every second, i.e. no "progressive scan" options with analog NTSC CCTV cameras, correct? It seems that 480TVL is good resolution, although I read on this board that the number of "effective elements" (H x V) is important. It should have something like 768H x 494V. What's this all about? It's not a spec I've seen camera vendors mention very often.

 

Sorry there's so many questions, but these cameras are complicated... CS mount will accept CS and C mount lenses... oh, the CCD. Do any of the analog cameras use 3 CCDs? I know that some of the nicer miniDV cameras do. How do you rate a CCD? By its maker? Any numbers that you have to look for? I'm hearing that some of the "newer" 1/3" CCDs are performing as good as some "older" 1/2" CCDs. How can you verify such a claim? Oh, and lux ratings. It seems like 0.5 is fine for day and "normal" indoor lighting. I've noticed some are rated for night, but they don't have IR lights on them and some are sold with lenses without IR lights on them. Do some people use "night" cameras without IR lights? Or do you have to add your own IR lighting?

 

OK, I think that's it. Once again, sorry for so many questions, but there are a lot of things in these cameras. Quality is going to be important to me, so things like high color contrast and rich color are important. I know that lighting can help a lot, so I plan to light most of my scenes with as much light as possible whenever possible.

 

OK, a description of my setup follows. If you're not interested, then just don't read about it. Thanks for any help, and if you don't know the answer to something, but know where I might find it, I would love to know about that too!

 

Thanks again, this looks like a great forum!

dave

 

OK, about my setup. My setup is still in the planning stages, but I have recently been approved to purchase one computer and one camera in order to start playing around. The plan is to build a system that can produce live entertainment broadcasts from either a low budget "studio", a sporting arena, a dance club, or anywhere else that someone wants to make a live production viewable over the Internet. Ultimately, live broadcasts may be seen by 10,000 viewers -- one day, I hope! -- so to support such large scale distribution, I will be using Windows Media Services. We plan on making DVDs from the productions as well. Internet viewers will be viewing at a resolution of 320x240 and a data rate of approximately 230 kbps, although these numbers may be improved if funding allows. When 320x240 is viewed on a 640x480 TV, it can look pretty good *if* the source is high enough quality. That's why things like color quality in the camera are important. This will look terrible if the video looks "washed out" or grainy. I originally considered miniDV cameras, but their cables max out at about 10 feet, and it gets expensive to repeat that signal 5 times to get it to a computer.

 

Phew! If I left anything out, just ask! Thanks again!

dave

[kg6mti 0]

What are you going to be viewing? It will make a difference in what type of camera you need. Will the camera's be outside or inside? Do they need to be hidden or seen? Do they need to be able to see in the dark, low light or lights on only?

 

You will want to decide what frame rate you are looking for. Do you only need still images or do you need real time video (30+ fps). How many camera's total will you have or begin with?

[kg6mti 0]

Where is Sacramento are you. I am also in Sacramento.

[Metal Shaper Man 0]

I'm confused? Are you looking for small security cameras used for survaillance? Or, are you looking for a video camera used for creating live or filmed closed cicurit tv productions like a local High School foot ball game.play or something like that?

[Dave18 0]

Hello, and thanks for the reply!

 

It depends on the application, but some cameras will be viewing a whole bunch of people dancing or playing sports, and others will be viewing people reading a poem or the news. All (so far) will be indoor cameras. Some angles will be wide, of a whole room, and others will be fixed on the upper body and face of a person who isn't moving, just talking. No, the cameras do not need to be hidden. Some will have lights on, and others will have lighting that gets pretty dim to almost dark (like in a club with various light show type things going on).

 

As for frame rate, I need 30 fps. My video encoder will make a digital stream with 30 fps (or 29.97 fps). It's my understanding that NTSC cameras scan 60 fields per second, and 2 fields make up a frame, so that is turned into 30 frames per second. Are there other rates?

 

Thanks for the reply. I hope it helps describe my setup a little better. Oh, and I'm in Roseville.

 

Regards,

dave

[Dave18 0]

Or, are you looking for a video camera used for creating live or filmed closed cicurit tv productions like a local High School foot ball game.play or something like that?

Yes, this one. For now, everything will be indoors. My encoders are going to encode the video onsite and then send them via T1 connection(s) to a datacenter where they will then be rebroadcast to viewers at home (or the office, or wherever). People will be watching live events delayed by about 15 seconds.

 

It does seem funny to use CCTV cameras, but miniDV cameras are much more expensive and their cables only go about 10 feet. In some cases I need 50 feet, and to repeat the signal 5 times gets very expensive. If you have any other suggestions in terms of cameras, I'm all ears. I've pretty much ruled out IP network cameras for a variety of reasons, so that seems to leave CCTV.

 

Thanks for any suggestions! My knowledge of video is pretty weak at this point... although hopefully getting better.

 

Regards,

dave