I need help with a 5 cameras design

[rqdasilva 0]

I am an IT consultant and I do Camera installs as a vertical business.

I have a client that requested me to install 5 cameras in his store.

The challenge is that he wants the cameras located on a particular area.

My question is how I to calculate the field of view so I can give him ideas as to what is going to be covered. I know there are lenses Calculators but I am wondering how to the pros here use this calculation to predict field of view.

Thanks

 

Rob.

[scorpion 0]

This is what I would recommend.

 

Take a camera that is varifocal 3.8 (or 4mm) to 12mm or more.

 

Take a 13 TV with a composite input, and the camera, camera power supply/cables/bnc adapters etc, and take it to the location. Stand on a ladder with the camera, and try various settings, and let the customer decide which view they prefer by looking at the tv screen.

 

This will save you alot of headaches at the time of the install, or after the install. Sometimes customers have one view in mind, and you have another view, and then you have those after sales blues! This has saved me more money, time, headaches, and has made my installs go much faster.

 

I actually use a 220X zoom camera for site surveys, OR AS I CALL IT A DOG AND PONY SHOW. LOL!

 

I have just one camera, and it covers every situation such as wide angle for indoors, reg view where I want to use a 6mm camera, and avoid the "distance distortion" that wide angle camera have. This is great if I am mounting outdoors as some people may want to see a facial shot, and I may not know what mm lens to use. I can set up the view with the 220X camera, and determine what kind of lens I will need.

 

If a customer is shopping for a PTZ, then I can use this camera to simulate what the view of a PTZ will look like. This is great for those with large yards who want to see someone at their gate. I can mount a camera on the house, and save trenching 300 feet!

 

I have a light stand that I bought at a music/guitar store. It collapses down for storage, and when I use it for site surveys it folds out, and it goes 10 feet up in the air. I hang a battery operated LCD screen on it so that I can talk to the business owner while I am zooming in, and out, to get the right view.

 

I charge $100.00 for the site survey, and I give them this value back when they purchase a system. If they do not buy from me then my time was not wasted, and more likely they will have a better idea of how to do the install when they buy their own stuff from some discount store. Most discount packages will only come with wide angle bullets, or domes, and then they have to buy from me as there are no other alternatives.

 

I do have a lens selector, but honestly I do not use it that much. I already can look at a site, and know what lens I need. It is nice to hand to a customer to let them "play" with it, and it helps justify the site survey fee.

 

For the cost of a lens selector I would not really recommend it. For the same money go buy a camera that is varifocal, and now everyone can see the view on the TV.

 

I have a light meter also, but the only time I use it is in the dark environments like arcades, bars, and nightclubs. I am not getting lux numbers, as I am only using it to show the owner that the "camera" they had in mind from a discount store will not work in a dark environment. One look at the light meter, and the first thing they say is that they cannot read it as it is too dark! Yes, and your camera cannot see in the dark either!

[CCTV_Suppliers 0]

Here is a link for lens and voltage calculator: http://www.panasonic.com/business/security/calculators/index.asp

 

It is fairly accurate... and easy to use...

 

Hope this helps.

[rqdasilva 0]

thanks Scorpion, It was very helpfull.

If is not too much too ask could you tell me what camerea and what monitor do you use?

Thanks

 

Rob

[rqdasilva 0]

Thanks CCTV_SUPLIERS it was very helpful.

[scorpion 0]

For monitors:

 

Residential: 13 color TV with composite input.

 

Commercial: 13 color TV with composite input.

 

Security is of the essence. CCTV monitor with high resolution. Tube is recommended before flat panel.

 

________________________________________________________

 

Cameras:

 

Too many variables!

 

1 customer budget

2 level of security

3 wide angle verses zoom verses varifocal

4 cheap lens verses quality lens

5 level of darkness after closing time

6 reg camera verses hidden camera

_______________________________________________________

 

Take your customer's budget, and look at the categorys above.

 

If the budget is an open expense then buy the best of the best!

If the budget is tight buy the cheapest all the way around.

 

Here is what I do. I take the budget, and I mix, and match quality level of cameras to match the budget.

 

I will put the most expensive cameras at the front door, and the back door.

I will put expensive camras where ever there is cash. Offices, ATM, cashiers etc.

 

I will put cheap worthless cameras in non threat places, or low dollar value products. I will not hesitate to use one by one inch mini cameras before I give up a camera location to cut back to meet budget.

 

I will use mid priced products for general views.

 

Avoid cheap lenses. They may be plastic instead of glass, or they maybe cheap glass with poor grinding.

 

IR

 

Measure from the camera to the area to be watched. Take this distance, and double it for the IR distance.

 

This is not perfect science per se, but at least you will come close if you are not familiar with the brand, or the quality of a camera.

 

Cameras are a live, and learn process, not best left to on the job training for a starter!

 

This is one that I use in the "inexpensive" range.

 

http://avssys.net/?s=product&sub=camera&cat=ir&p=vnd49ir

 

_____________________________________________________

 

If pilferage is a problem then use PIR (motion detector) cameras.

 

My favorite bullet to sell if budget is of the essence is the AVC 647.

 

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