Information
Analog recording is accomplished by laying magnetic tracks on a tape. The information is stored using strength of the magnetic fields. These magnetic tracks will degrade through use or even just time. Copies depend on the sensitivity of equipment used.
A type of lens in which the aperture automatically opens or closes to adjust the light levels on the image Sensor.
Bullet Cameras are weatherproof and can be used for either inside or outside. Because of their universal mounting bracket they can be mounted to surfaces at any angle. The wide angle 4mm lens is the ideal choice for most applications.
Inside each camera is an electronics package that processes the signals from Image Sensor and converts it into a TV signal. How well this package functions is directly related to picture quality and why different cameras using the same Image Sensor will produce different results.
An important part of selecting a particular camera is What You Want To See. The distance of the subject from the camera, and the area you want in the picture is a function of the lens. Different cameras have different lens options. Since optional lenses are not available for all types of cameras, the lens requirements may be an important factor in selecting cameras for your application.Use the charts below and your knowledge of your installation to determine the type of camera and lens that will best suit your needs.For Veri-Focal lenses, combine the information in two charts to estimate the obtainable results.
3.6mm 1/3" Image SensorThis lens is supplied with Bullet, Dome and Infrared Cameras unless otherwise specified. It is considered to be a "standard" lens.Use this chart to estimate the 4mm lens available on Professional Cameras.Lens AngleDistance From Camera 5 ft.10 ft.15 ft.25 ft.50 ft.W°H°W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.74°55°7.55.215.110.422.815.837.726.175.452.1 6mm 1/3" Image SensorThis lens is an option with C-Mount Professional Cameras.Lens AngleDistance From Camera 5 ft.10 ft.15 ft.25 ft.50 ft.W°H°W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.42°32°3.82.97.75.711.58.619.114.438.428.7 8mm 1/3" Image SensorThis lens is an option with C-Mount Professional Cameras.Lens AngleDistance From Camera 5 ft.10 ft.15 ft.25 ft.50 ft.W°H°W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.32°24°2.92.15.74.38.66.414.410.728.721.3 12mm 1/3" Image SensorThis lens is an option with C-Mount Professional Cameras.Lens AngleDistance From Camera 5 ft.10 ft.15 ft.25 ft.50 ft.W°H°W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.22°17°1.91.53.935.84.59.77.519.414.9 16mm 1/3" Image SensorThis lens is an option with C-Mount Professional Cameras.Lens AngleDistance From Camera 5 ft.10 ft.15 ft.25 ft.50 ft.W°H°W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.W ft.H ft.17°13°1.51.432.34.43.47.55.714.911.4
Camera Resolution is expressed in TV lines. It is the output of the camera and is the result of the picture captured by the Image Sensor and the processing of that information by the Camera Electronics.
A CCD camera uses a small, rectangular piece of silicon rather than a piece of film to receive incoming light. This is a special piece of silicon called a charge-coupled device (CCD). This silicon wafer is a solid-state electronic component which has been micro-manufactured and segmented into an array of individual light-sensitive cells called "photosites." Each photosite is one element of the whole picture that is formed, thus it is called a picture element, or "pixel."
Closed-circuit television.
Professional Cameras can be ordered with optional lens angles to provide different fields of view. Because of their universal mounting bracket they can be mounted to surfaces at any angle. These cameras are not weatherproof but can be ordered with a weatherproof housing for outside use.
In digital pictures colors have numbers. The color number for each pixel in the picture is recorded. No degradation can occur, copies are absolute.
Refers to the number of video images that are displayed in one second.
Dome Cameras are not weatherproof and are intended for inside use only. They are designed to be mounted to a ceiling. The power and video leads exit through the base of the camera and through a small hole in the ceiling. The wide angle 4mm lens is the ideal choice for most applications.
A DVR is basically a computer that converts the incoming (analog) signal from the cameras to digital, compresses it, and stores it. The DVR replaces the functions of a multiplexor (or quad or switcher) and a security VCR. There are many advantages of digital video recorders over their analog counterparts, for example, higher frame rates and on-board motion detection.
Refers to the number of video images that are captured, displayed, or recorded in one second.
DVR’s DO NOT store individual frames as single pictures. What actually gets written on your hard drive is an MPG movie of the action recorded by each camera. Through the use of computer algorithms, each frame is compressed so that the resultant movie takes the minimum amount of hard drive space. The chart below shows average results based on normal conditions. Hard Drive SizeRecording Rate80Gb120Gb240Gb360Gb480Gb600Gb720GbHours Of Continuous Recording30fps229344688103213761720209460fps1151723445166888601032120fps5786172258344430516240fps294386129172215258Days Of Continuous Recording30fps9.314.328.743.057.371.786.060fps4.77.214.321.528.735.843.0120fps2.33.67.210.814.317.921.5240fps1.21.83.65.47.29.010.8 The actual results will vary due to the way the compression algorithms process the data. Factors that will affect Hard Drive Capacity: Size: 640x480 takes more space than 320x240.Quality: High quality movies require more space.FPS: The more frames per second, the more space required.Motion: The more motion in the movie, the more space required.Colors: The more color in the movie, the more space required. As you can see, only the actual site conditions will determine exactly how your system will perform.
Every machine on the Internet has a unique identifying number, called an IP Address. A typical IP address looks like this: - 216.27.61.137 With a Dynamic IP Address your Internet Provider issues you an IP Address for your current internet session. When you log off the internet that Address can be issued to the next person that logs on. The next time you log on you may get an entirely different Address. With a Static IP Address you have exclusive rights to that address. Each time you log on you are assigned the same address. If you plan to access your DVR over the internet you need to know its current IP Address in order to connect with it from your remote computer. For this reason it is highly recommended that you obtain a Static IP Address for you DVR connection.
The image sensor is the light sensitive chip inside the camera that converts light into electronic signals. The face of the chip is divided into rows and columns of pixels. Each pixel sends a signal representing the color and brightness of the light that strikes it.
Infrared Cameras are equipped with a group of infrared LEDs that provide infrared lighting for cameras installed in dark areas. Infrared Cameras are weatherproof and can be used for either inside or outside. Because of their universal mounting bracket they can be mounted to surfaces at any angle. The wide angle 4mm lens is the ideal choice for most applications.
JPEG stands for "Joint Photographic Experts Group" who developed the system. This is a standard way of compressing images which works particularly well for photographic images
According to the International System of Units, "LUX" is defined in terms of lumens per meter squared (lm/m2). One lux is equal to 0.00146 kilogram per second cubed (1.46 x 10-3 kg / s3). One lumen is the amount of light emitted in a solid angle of 1 sr, from a source that radiates to an equal extent in all directions, and whose intensity is 1 cd. On a major image sensors website, LUX is defined as "Relative amount of light that will produce a viewable image." But, How Viewable, and in who’s opinion? Then there are also the Auto Iris sensitivity and all of the other electronics inside the camera that affect the actual picture that you see. The best way to compare cameras would be to install all of them in your application and see what you get. Pick out the best, and return the rest. OR You can look at our sample pictures and see the quality of the images before you buy. In developing our line of cameras we did exactly the kind of comparison you would do and only offer cameras that give you the best value for the dollar.
A feature on most Digital Video Recorders. A captured frame is held in memory and digitally compared to the next frame, if a change is detected motion has occurred and recording is begun. The sensitivity is adjustable. The DVR can also be directed to ignore motion in parts of the picture and only record if motion is detected elsewhere.
MPEG stands for "Motion Picture Experts Group" who developed the system. This is a standard way of compressing video files.
A device that can accept a number of camera inputs and display them on a single monitor.
PTZ cameras allow you to adjust Pan, Tilt and Zoom of the camera using a remote controller or DVR. Due to this added functionality, these cameras tend to cost much more than non-PTZ cameras
An analog device used to display 4 cameras simultaneously on a single monitor.
Refers to the number of video images that are recorded in one second.
The ability to view your cameras from a remote location. Pictures are transmitted via phone line, internet, or LAN.
A VCR that can be set to slow down its recording rate in order to extend the length of time that can be recorded on a standard tape.
A Vari-Focal Lens allows you to manually select the width of the field of view. Sort of like a manual zoom, once you get the size picture you want you lock it in place and reassemble the camera. Ideal for situations where a standard fixed focus lens wont do the job.
The PCI circuit board that is installed in a computer to convert the analog TV signal from a camera into a series of digital pictures.
Generally; digital compression is accomplished by removing redundant information. The first frame of a digital movie is recorded in its entirety, in subsequent frames only those pixels that are different from the first frame are saved. Also, algorithms are used to define blocks of pixels that are repetitive. This is why file sizes vary depending on the amount of motion in the recorded movie.
A Video Switcher will take multiple camera inputs and will show them on the monitor one at a time. Unlike a quad it will not display them all at once, instead it sequences through them showing one camera at a time. It will also allow you to select a particular camera to view.
