The Ernitec VariCam high resolution digital colour camera has revolutionised the way installers and specifiers think about choosing cameras and lenses for applications. The VariCam can save you time and money. We believe that once installers have used a VariCam they won't even consider anything else.
The unique, compact, aesthetically designed, integrated VariCam colour camera will fit in almost anywhere, blending in well with surroundings and offering a perfect picture quality in any conditions.
Pre-installation site surveys can be made much easier without the need for viewfinders to specify which cameras and lenses are required for each application, simply by using the VariCam. Just mount the VariCam and make the necessary zoom and focus adjustments, using the buttons at the rear of the camera. All the likely distance requirements are also covered.
The VariCam comprises a focal length of 5.8 to 58mm, which can easily be increased to 7.5 - 75.4mm using an optional tele-converter. Wide angled lenses are also an option. This means there is no need to carry many different lenses. Should the specifier have miscalculated the correct lens size, or the client decides to make a last minute change, the VariCam can easily be changed on site to accommodate a new position or simply to alter the focal length, so no time is wasted during installation. Features include:
- Extremely compact - only measures 117 x 54 x 62mm
- Various focal lengths from 5.8 to 58mm and 7.5 to 75.4mm, using an optional teleconverter
- Autofocus can be enabled or disabled
- Remote control of zoom and focus (optional)
- Backlight compensation
- Auto-iris, electronic shutter and AGC
- Manual/automatic white balance and flickerless function
- Bottom or top mounting
- Housing packages, including pre-mounted VariCam, power supply and either twisted pair or fibre cable transmitter.
The VariCam is the ideal solution for specifiers, installers and logistics professionals who need to save time, money and resources.
What our experts say...
A truly universal camera that can tackle every type of application is the Holy Grail of video surveillance. It has not happened yet but comes one step nearer with the VariCam. The principle is simple; instead of mixing and matching separate cameras and lenses for different applications, one box does it all. It is not a new idea and another manufacturer has been making fully self-contained cameras and lenses for several years. Many miniature board cameras also come with integrated lenses. However, the VariCam provides a greater degree of flexibility and convenience than has been previously available. The key feature is the internal lens assembly. It has a motorised zoom with 10x magnification (focal length 5.8 to 58mm, aperture range f1.8/2.7) and a horizontal angle of view of 4.7 to 45.9 deg. The exposure and white balance systems are both fully automatic. Zoom and focus can also be controlled remotely using a suitable telemetry system. Additional features include backlight compensation and switchable AGC; it has an external genlock connection and an S-Video output, which can be used at the same time as the composite video feed. The camera section is based around a 1/3-inch interline transfer CCD with a 752 x 582 (440k) pixel array. Stated horizontal resolution is 450-lines, low light sensitivity is claimed to be 2.5 lux and the signal-to-noise ratio (AGC off) is greater than 46dB.
The VariCam is housed inside a tough one-piece extruded alloy outer case measuring 54 x 62 x 117mm. A mounting plate (with a standard 1/4-inch thread) is attached to the housing; the plate can be moved to the top for an overhead or suspended mounting bracket. The internals are very well protected but the case is not weatherproof and holes in the back panel and the top and bottom of the case provide an easy entry route in for dust. The front-end cap is dominated by a large lens that is surrounded by a protruding hood, which doubles as a threaded mounting collar for adaptor lenses. There is much more to see on the rear panel. Along the top edge there is a row of four buttons; the two on the left are for adjusting the zoom setting (tele/wide) and the two on the right are for manually setting focus (near/far). Below that there are four groups of rotary presets and switches. The first is for manually adjusting white balance. Next to that is the auto-iris level controls and in the middle is the electronic shutter set-up (1/50 to 1/30,000 sec continuously variable) plus a pair of miniature DIP switches for selecting manual or automatic focus and AGC.
Video output is handled by a female BNC connector (composite) and mini DIN/Hosiden socket (S-Video). An eight-way spring terminal carries the connections for the power supply (12v DC), genlock input and remote control interface for external focus and zoom, using the Ernitec BDR-51X series of telemetry receivers.
Inside the case it is quite crowded with most of the space taken up by the lens housing and its servo motors. It is an off-the-shelf assembly, very similar in construction and appearance to the ones developed for domestic camcorders. This arrangement means that the CCD sensor and its associated control/processing microchips are close to the rear. Above the lens is another PCB, also responsible for video processing and at the back there is yet another circuit board for all of the input and output connections and set-up controls. Surface-mount components are used throughout which should help contribute to a long life. All the components and boards are bolted to a very rigid steel sub-chassis; interconnections have been kept to an absolute minimum and the whole caboodle looks and feels very sturdy.
With only two connections to be made in most cases (DC power and video out), it doesn't take long to get the VariCam up and running. The focus and zoom controls make the business of lens selection effectively obsolete and simplify installation considerably, eliminating completely the need for any back-focus or auto-iris lens adjustment. Access to the manual adjustments and switches on the back panel could be better. It depends on a set of miniature screwdrivers, but provided enough room is left between the rear of the unit and any nearby walls, it should go quite smoothly. The only adjustment that might slow things down is the setting of the auto iris levels. There are two rotary presets; one is for Area level and the other is labelled LVL, which stands for video level. The instruction manual simply points out that the area preset determines where on the image light levels are measured (all, centre or borders), and says that the video level control sets a higher or lower level. There is no advice on how to set it up, other than a list of the factory default values. The part covering setting the high-speed shutter is almost as brief though it does helpfully point out that shutter speed controls light sensitivity and it can be used to compensate for flicker from tube lighting. There are no technical details concerning the remote control options, other than that it is compatible with the Ernitec telemetry receiver.
The zoom control is quite coarse and it can take a fair amount of button dabbing to get it exactly right. Manual focus is smoother and much more progressive. We suspect the built-in zoom lens will cover 95 per cent of routine applications but the VariCam can also handle awkward situations with the use of adaptor lenses. Currently two are available; a wide-angle converter lens that has a focal length of 4.6 to 46mm and a tele-converter with a 7.5 to 75.4mm range. The horizontal viewing angles for the two lenses are 6.9 to 55 degrees and 3.6 to 35.5. Resolution checks and the results of our low light tests were very respectable and did tally with the manufacturer's specs. In good natural light the image is crisp and packed with fine detail. Noise levels are average for a camera of this type: in a well-lit scene noise is negligible. As light levels fall, colour disappears quite quickly and there is an increase in grain but it does not become intrusive until the picture is all but unusable. Image stability is excellent with almost insignificant levels of jitter. The auto focusing system is comparatively sedate with an occasional tendency to overshoot. It can have difficulty in low light or scenes where there is not much in the way of detail or strong contrast. It can also have problems shooting through glass, and highly patterned objects can cause confusion. But in most fixed camera situations it should only be necessary to set the zoom and focus once and leave it switched on manual operation.
Auto iris operation is also fairly relaxed and it takes a few seconds for it to compensate for sudden changes in lighting level, but in normal operation that should not be a concern. On our sample colour accuracy in natural and tungsten light was on the button and the auto system is well able to cope with small variations. Under tube light we found it was necessary to set the white balance manually as the auto setting wandered slightly and in some circumstances (notably mixed natural/tube light) could give the image a slight yellow caste. Although not quite silent in operation the zoom and focus motors are quiet and almost certainly inaudible above normal background noise levels, not that they are likely to be in action very often once the initial adjustments have been carried out. Several sharp taps on the case and end panel confirmed that the electronics and internal connections are all rock solid.
What the installers say...
Superb! That was the verdict of one installer we spoke to. He said: "It solves a lot of problems. We have used them where you need to read vehicle registration numbers and with high resolution and an autofocus built in, we can get them in good focus. On the negative side, it has no presets, which takes it out of certain applications. We specify it every time now. We sold a couple to the security division of a large company. They put them on tripods to film vehicles on a weighbridge and they are having tremendous results."
Another installer commented: "We would use more if Ernitec produced a black&white version, because colour is not suitable at night. But at this specification we would never use any other camera. We have had no problems, and for the price there is nothing better. It is compact, so you can put it in a small housing and it is not obtrusive, it is smaller than most cameras without lenses. It is easy to set up, you can feel your way around the back panel. You would usually use it with a remote link, so there is no problem getting at the back." One application for his company was in the long corridors of a town centre. Passers-by stayed in focus as they walked towards or away from the camera.
Overall assessment
It is difficult not to be impressed by the VariCam and as far as performance is concerned, it compares well with most conventional camera/lens combinations in just about every respect. The only areas where it may not compete so effectively is in really difficult situations, where greater low light sensitivity is called for or the lens requirement falls outside the VariCam’s range, though such instances are likely to be few and far between. Clearly the greater cost of the motorised zoom and focusing systems, and the slightly higher risk of failure, has to be weighed against the price and reliability of fixed optics. However, we suspect the latter will not be a problem with this device as the build quality is of a very high order. In the end it is the simplicity of installation and flexibility that sets this camera apart from the crowd. It has the potential to greatly reduce the installer’s workload and its ability to adapt to changing situations - both short and long term - is a key consideration. Of course none of this would matter one jot if on-screen performance was not up to the mark, but it is, and in some circumstances it works better than comparable fixed-operation models. It is definitely worth considering.
Source
Security Installer
