Snap happy!

Price sensitive dome

The TeleEye DM368 dome camera is an alternative for price sensitive surveillance applications requiring wide coverage protection. With its auto-patrol operations and high panning and tilting speeds of up to 50 degrees per second, TeleEye says the camera provides a "complete all-round vision to your business and asset".

The camera has a 1/3-inch high sensitive interline transfer CCD, and delivers images with 350 TV lines of resolution and 0.5 lux light sensitivity. It supports up to 64 preset positions and one patrol sequence, which provides active and wide coverage surveillance. "Its accurate response ensures targets are easily located and tracked," the company says.

"Equipped with polycarbonate cover and metallic housing, the TeleEye DM368 is vandal-resistant and provides optimal protection in outdoor environments and tough operating conditions. The camera also meets internal IP66 standards for dust and water resistance. It is easy to install, control and direct."

With a built-in RS-485 telemetry interface, the DM368 supports protocols like TeleEye and Pelco-d. It is also compatible with TeleEye video transmitters in remote surveillance applications, and users can control the pan/tilt to access video for immediate action.

Reader Service No 103

High performance domes

Axis Communications has launched two high performance network dome cameras - the Axis 231D and 232D.

Axis says its new series of network dome cameras offer the combined functionality of existing analogue dome cameras with the best features found in a high quality network camera.

"The Axis 231D and 232D deliver high quality, full frame rate Motion JPEG video with the capability to remotely control pan, tilt and zoom functions over an IP network," the company says. "The network dome cameras will also support simultaneous transmission of video in MPEG-4 mode.

"The Axis 232Dis an extension of the 231D. While both the 231D and 232D provide high quality colour video in light conditions down to 0.3 lux, the 232D goes further to provide light-sensitive black and white video in dark conditions as low as 0.005 lux, making the 232D a true day and night camera that is designed particularly for outdoor use. An outdoor housing, which has an IP-66 rated protection against dust and heavy rain, is also available."

Reader Service No 104

JVC goes IP

JVC's all-in-one VN-C655U PTZ IP network dome camera offers high resolution and functionality for remote and IP network viewing systems. It comes with a complete range of day and night features.

High resolution images are produced using a ¼-inch interline transfer CCD. The camera features 25x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom. The high quality images are output as Motion-JPEG format with resolution up to 640 x 480 and a maximum frame rate of 30fps.

"The new camera retains the same features as the highly popular TK-C655E (B) analogue dome but operates over the IP network," says Greg Gregoriou, senior sales manager, CCTV, at the UK branch of JVC Professional Europe. "It will fulfil the requirements of our customers who have been requesting a fully functional IP dome with all the performance of a traditional analogue dome."

The dome camera communicates over 10/100 Base-T and incorporates a web server and FTP Server/Client to allow virtually unlimited access. Designed for the toughest applications, additional features include variable pan, tilt and zoom speeds, motion detection and privacy masking to protect selected areas from intrusive monitoring. The 360 degrees per second endless panning, auto-patrol and 100 pre-set positions allows the camera to immediately pinpoint a location should an alarm be triggered.

Reader Service No 105

Advanced 221

Another new Axis camera is the Axis 221 day/night network camera. The company says the 221 is "an ideal solution for indoor and outdoor applications, including the surveillance of buildings, roads, parking areas, garages, railway stations and airports".

It features an automatic, removable infrared-cut filter, which enables the camera to provide colour video when there is sufficient light, and black and white video in dark conditions. It uses a high performance Pentax lens and a progressive scan CCD image sensor so that moving objects can be presented without distortion. In addition to full frame rate support at all resolutions, the 221 offers simultaneous Motion JPEG and advanced MPEG-4 video streams to optimise image quality and bandwidth efficiency.

It also supports a number of advanced features, including power over Ethernet, video motion detection, pre and post-alarm buffer, privacy masking, and inputs/outputs for connecting external devices such as door sensors and relays to activate lights or close doors.

Reader Service No 106

Eminently capable

Sony's SSC-E478P day/night colour video camera was Bench tested in our April issue.

Our testers said it "can cope with just about anything, including near dark conditions, bright lights within the scene area, and a very wide range of lighting situations.

"Picture performance and low-light sensitivity are both well above average and installation couldn't be simpler. Sony's eye-catching design will undoubtedly broaden its appeal amongst end users and specifiers looking for a well-priced camera with contemporary shape and styling.

"Our sample performed flawlessly. Resolution was as advertised at well over 500 lines, and in decent light the picture was crisp, bright and packed with fine detail. Contrast balance is also better than average and colours look natural under a wide range of lighting types and conditions.

"Backlight compensation is particularly effective, and the exposure system operates smoothly, responding quickly and accurately to both slow and rapid changes in lighting levels.

"Low light sensitivity is a major plus point on this camera and even at the limits of operation – close to zero lux – the camera still manages to produce a bright viewable image with significantly lower than average levels of picture noise and grain."

Reader Service No 107

Streamlined and stylish

The new Panasonic WV-CW370 Series' streamlined metallic body contains a Super Dynamic II camera, 8x variable-focal lens, fan/heater, and IP66 standard approved weather proof outdoor housing.

It has numerous features that make it ideal for all day, all night 24-hour surveillance, and the manufacturer says it is easy to install as well. "Its stylish design makes it the perfect match for office entrances, and communicates the presence of the highest level of security available," Panasonic says.

"The camera is the ideal form of outdoor surveillance for high-rise office buildings, suburban office complexes, movie theatres, stadiums, museums, shopping malls, airports, terminals, and parking lots.

"Loaded with advanced surveillance features to ensure dependable weather proof outdoor surveillance IP66 dust and moisture protection and day/night features, it is the perfect choice for 24-hour outdoor surveillance.

Equipped with an 8x variable-focal lens and Super Dynamic II image processing, it captures clear images in low-light and dark locations."

Reader Service No 108

Hunt for high-res

Hunt Electronic (UK) has introduced its high resolution HTC-11 series IR Day/Night Varifocal Vandal-Resistant Dome Camera.

The f=3.6-9.0mm IR lens provides viewing angles from 30 to 67 degrees, and the IR effective range is up to 12 metres. The auto-switching IR cut filter can produce accurate colour during daytime with the filter on, and can be switched to IR illumination to deliver black and white images in total darkness (0 lux).

The camera sensor features 1/3-inch CCD Sony chips and up to 520 TV lines. The camera also utilises a 3-D gimbal viewing chamber allowing mounting on walls and ceilings as well as 360 degrees rotation inside the housing.

The external housing is weatherproof and has security screws to prevent any tampering.

Reader Service No 109

Great outdoors

Rainbow CCTV says its outdoor camera is designed to be installer-friendly, and combines weatherproof housing, blower (heater optional), adjustable sun shade and dual power.

With a 1/3" high resolution colour DSP Sony Super HAD CCD, the camera also features a basic Day/Night function. Two models are available – a 3.5-8mm or 5-50mm DC auto iris lens.

All models include a mounting bracket and power/video connectors with cables. The camera provides 480 lines TV lines and 0.5 lux minimum illumination.

In addition, the company's new HD series High Impact Domes are IP66 weatherproof, vandal resistant and input power protected.

They utilise a 3-D camera bracket for quick and flexible installation, while the 1/3" colour camera offers 460 TV lines with a low light capability of 0.7 lux. The camera features a Sony Super HAD CCD and a 3.8-9.5mm aspheric varifocal lens.

Standard configuration for easy installation includes front and side conduit holes, a half-tint impact-resistant poly-carbonate dome and security screws.

Reader Service No 110

Range extended

Bosch has added three new fixed-dome cameras to its successful FlexiDomeXT range.

The new models feature NightSense to extend operation to very low light applications, plus a wider choice of lenses and mountings, which Bosch says will extend further the cameras' range of applications, including retail, banks, hotels, offices, elevators, car parks, and other indoor and outdoor situations.

The new models provide a choice of three additional auto-iris varifocal lens types. One allows for very wide angles of between 52 and 102 degrees, allowing full coverage of confined areas such as elevators, bank vaults or prison cells. Another is a telephoto lens with a narrow angle of 24 degrees, ideal for close-up views in banks or retail environments. The third lens, with an aperture of F1.2, is designed for sensitive low light applications.

The NightSense feature increases the camera's sensitivity by a factor of three, to ensure maximum image quality in very low light levels. When the light fades, NightSense takes over and automatically switches the camera from colour to high-sensitivity monochrome mode.

Reader Service No 111

Wide range of lighting

Security Installer Bench Tested Samsung Techwin's SHC-721A Day/Night camera in March. This is what our experts had to say.

"On balance the 721A deserves to be short listed for applications that are subject to a very wide range of illumination levels. General picture quality and low light performance are both very good, and it gets extra points for the quality of construction, and installer-friendly installation and setup. We are also suitably impressed by added-value features like the motion detector and privacy zone masks.

"Our test sample came within a whisker of the manufacturer's resolution figure and it delivered a very clean and highly detailed image across a wide range of lighting conditions.

"It's a snazzy looking design with two-tone grey and cream casework. The lens mount accepts C and CS type lenses (an adaptor ring is supplied) and there's a simple back focus setting that uses one of the smallest Allen keys we've ever seen to lock the adjusting ring.

"As expected the 721A proved to be very stable, and the picture remained rock-solid whilst subjected to a good beating with the Bench Test rubber mallet."

Reader Service No 112

Easy to install PTZ for domestic market

Micromark has launched a colour PTZ camera with PIR for the domestic market.

The Colour PIR Digital Recording CCTV Camera Kit is easy to install and to use. It plugs directly into the back of a TV set, through which the images can be viewed. Images or video clips can also be stored on an inbuilt 7Mb memory card, which holds up to 600 digital images.

An infrared remote control can be used to control the lateral and vertical movement of the camera, and is supplied with the kit. It also allows users to programme the functions on their TV screens.

Reader Service No 113

Big plus for Visionlink

Visionlink plus has launched a new PTZ dome under the Xeno brand - 'Scorpion', a state-of-the-art high specification speed dome that has been specifically designed for internal applications.

The camera offers 450 TV lines of colour resolution with 18x optical and 4x digital zoom. Fully proportional pan and tilt control is assisted with presets, tours and home functions, providing a high degree of operational flexibility.

Visionlink plus says Scorpion is installer friendly, with quick and simple installation, as well as configuration, which is achieved via on screen display menus. A dedicated control keyboard has a 'twist top' joystick, allowing full PTZ control via the joystick alone, with presets, tours and home position providing operation with minimal operator intervention. A backlit LCD display provides visual system status, and a programmable lock code safeguards against unauthorised use.

Reader Service No 114

Getting an UltraView

GE's UltraView wide dynamic range dome camera boasts new Xposure technology to process each individual pixel of each frame independently.

"The Xposure technology increases exposure in shadowed areas and decreases exposure in bright areas, delivering a light corrected image that shows crucial details clearly," the manufacturer says. "It even adjusts for different lighting conditions within the same image.

"When installed in an office lobby, users can see clear images of people's faces as they enter the building, even if the afternoon sun or bright reflections shine right into the camera. Users can additionally view the cars and objects in the parking lot beyond. This makes the UltraView wide dynamic range camera especially ideal for capturing facial features at outdoor cash machines."

Reader Service No 115

Dome fast and accurate

Bewator says its Solaris dome "offers a level of accuracy, speed and configurability never experienced before".

"Solaris is available for both internal and external use, so you can utilise your security system to the full," Bewator says. "The External Termination Unit separates power, video, telemetry and alarm cable terminations from the dome itself, and provides address and protocol selection via a menu-driven LCD display, avoiding the issue of remembering switch and links settings and meaning that the installer need never open the dome camera's enclosure."

The camera features automatic day/night switching, with manual override on the colour/mono version. Twenty four privacy zones can be programmed, with eight displayed simultaneously via the on screen display.

Reader Service No 116

New from Geutebrück

The GVK-330, Geutebrück's new high resolution colour video camera, uses the Sony ExView sensor combined with noise suppression to produce top quality pictures in poor light, the manufacturer says.

The camera offers back light compensation and comes with a 110-240v AC or a 10-30v DC/12-29v AC power supply unit.

Reader Service No 117

Daring For-A

For-A has launched a new six million pixel, ultra-high resolution camera with an internal disk recorder. The IHC-600 is one of the highest resolution cameras ever available, designed for use in the police, security, and defence areas, including sensitive areas such as airports, car parks, banks and harbours.

The camera continuously records high-resolution JPEG images onto an internal hard disk. "It is perfect for use where pictures need to remain clear, even when they are enlarged several times, or when a portion is zoomed in for closer inspection," For-A says. Up to four images can be output via a network and simultaneously viewed on a PC. Images can also be viewed via web browser, without the need to install any specialist software.

It comes with a 40GB hard drive which can be upgraded to 80GB.

Reader Service No 118

Easy to install dome

When our Bench Test team reviewed the LG LPT-SD168 Speed Dome camera in our March issue, they said "the camera is competitively priced and generally quite easy to install and setup, with a good range of adjustments to cope with a wide range of conditions", and it “builds on LG’s reputation for well specified products at sensible prices”.

Reader Service No 119