camera-newbie

some of these cams come with the option of smoked vs clear dome.. when used outside what are the pros/cons of each if any.. In my case they'd be outside (IP66 rated) and would need to handle low-light well.. I've currently got two existing analog cameras (CNB's) that have smoked domes and appear to work OK (not great at night mind you without serious IR help) but wondering if clear dome's would cause the picture to be more washed out during bright lighting situations.. comments?

Thanks.. I don't care whether people see where the camera is pointed.. I'll specify clear for my next camera purchase then.. Thx!

Sounds like something got messed up -- could be a hardware issue I suppose.. I would try the factory reset and if that doesn't work check to see that you're running the latest firmware...

Too bad I don't have any cameras at work -- we've got a HUGE video wall with something like 30 monitors on it.. Super slick but I can't take it home!!!

So.. I've got an Avigilon setup and wondering if I were to buy a few Hikvision cameras that are ONVIF compliant, is it possible that they might work with the Avigilon software so I don't have to use different software for them? Just curious.. I don't see the HIKVision cameras listed on their avigilon website as being compatible.. Is ONVIF one of those standards with fairly loose settings such that it's possible they might not work..??

Thanks for the info -- I think I've decided to go with Hikvision cameras and ditch the entire audio part..

Hi all.. long time no check with you all.. So, my mother lives alone in Oregon and she's got a 25' long front walk-way to get to her front door -- looks like a long hall with an open ceiling -- kinda weird but whatever. Anyway, she's 80 and there's been some issues in the recent past with odd people coming to the door and she's not able to determine who they are or what they want without opening the door.. I'd like to get her setup with a camera system that would allow her to remotely view who has been at her front door at the current time and optionally in the past if we desire to set things up that way. We also want 2-way audio so it would effectively work like an intercom. She's just received a new iPad Air and we were thinking that might be the best device to use for remote intercomming. To that end I've been poking around here and elsewhere and checked out a few devices people suggested here and elsewhere but none have stellar reviews or have turn-key issues of some sort or another. To that end, I kinda like the looks and simplicity of the Mobotix S15 camera system which supports 2-way audio as well as the expected video. I realize this system is probably overkill but I want something super simple and I gather there's an ipad app that can directly communicate with the mobotix cameras and also supports 2-way audio -- I don't recall the product off the top of my head -- I know it starts with a "q" -- IIRC. Are there any other decent -- NON wireless systems that might fit the bill? There was one croud-funded product that was mentioned here a few times but I read some off-line reviews and there were issues with it's WIFI capabilities as well as issues getting ahold of their customer support people -- two things that flagged that product as not ready for prime time. Ideally I'd like a wired system that can be directly plugged into a switch/router and they my mother can use her WIFI ipad to communicate with it throughout the house. Am I looking for a product that doesn't exist? I don't think I am -- I'm hoping I don't need a system that requires a dedicated NVR but can go that route if needed... Please point me in the right direction!!! Thanks!

Thanks all!! Sounds like something to get.. If I get this for my mom's narrow front porch what lens works for a 20' long 6' wide tunnel as seen in the photo in this thread : viewtopic.php?f=19&t=39152 I'm thinking the super wide is probably not a good match.. ideas?

Thanks for that description -- I gather the turret in question does not do audio tho.. I don't see any that do.. I might have to see if I REALLY need audio or not.. It would REALLY simplify things if I don't..

Oh.. I guess I didn't know the difference -- how is this better than what a common dome camera provides in terms of adjustability for pointing the field of view where you want? Is it better or about the same.. I guess I like the typical domes if there's no big advantage.. Are these turret cams better than the regular Hikvision domes (e.g. not the minidome) or is it just the same cam in a different package?

Is the camera you guys are referring to the Hikvision DS-2CD2332-I (page for it http://www.hikvision.com/en/Products_show.asp?id=7872)... ?? If something like that was hooked up to an Avigilon system running ACC, would it be able to control the turret on this camera or ??

Thanks.. One question tho.. If you've got one of these does it in fact have a standard ethernet port on it for a wired connection instead of WIFI.. The manual seems to indicate you need to use WIFI but I'd hope that's not the case.. Also, can this be surface mounted on a wall without too much trouble? If so, do the cables run thru a hole in the backing plate or out the side like some domes do..? You are correct that under that roof there's no chance for the camera to get wet -- just cold and humid Also, how flexible is the mount for aiming the camera to where it needs to be positioned?

Thanks.. That was a really useful review!! I guess the only thing I'd need is the speaker/mic in an outdoor enclosure -- i did a little poking around and I think something like this might work as it's just a set of 4-wires to connect the mic & speaker to the camera : http://www.louroe.com/products.php?id=90 I think surface mount is the preferred mount for this installation so I don't have to cut a huge hole in the siding of the house.. I could get one with a call-button but I believe that's just adding too much complexity to the equation as they could instead just use the existing doorbell and my mother could fire up an iPad app and talk to the person outside.. Does that seem like a reasonable conops??

ok.. I double-checked the hikvision cameras and at least one of their cameras satisfies my needs I think -- the DS-2CD2732F-I(S) which has the 1 channel audio and io ports.. Is 1 channel good enough for 2-way audio? So, has anyone used 2-way audio with any Hikvision cameras? The manual implies there's a microphone but I don't think there is.. correct? Just want to be sure..

Thanks all.. I love the enclosures -- too bad the Axis cameras don't have built-in IR.. I think the model that would be needed would be the Axis M1034-W which has the 2-way audio -- the others do not. However, in reading up more on their built-in intercom feature it doesn't work as I was expecting .. sounds like I'd need to plug it into a more complicated telephone system that what my mother currently owns (regular old phones -- no PBX or similar). If we go with the DS-2CD2432F-I (W) (hikvision) for instance I'm assuming that is not outdoor safe -- it's meant for indoor use only. For any of these -- are dome or bullets my prime goal I guess?? As for resolution, is 1mp good enough or should I be looking for 2 or 3MP cameras or maybe 1MP is good enough? in poking around on the Hikvision site it does not appear that any outdoor cameras support two-way audio -- only select indoor cameras (box + domes).. In looking at the Axis cameras it appears there are only two models that support the following features I'm looking for: two-way audio outdoor ready PoE Day Night Built-in IR Specifically the only matches are the : Q1765-LE and P3364-LVE.. The Q1765-LE has the corridor feature .. I guess I'd still need to figure out the rest of the system to make it work with an iPad and the doorbell system to notify -- possibly.. I think it's probably OK conops that if the doorbell rings she can get the iPad out and fire up the video app to chat with whomever is out there.. I don't think it would be an issue to not have the doorbell tied to some sort of notification logic.. Then the only thing left to find is a combo microphone /speaker and wire it up to the cameras wiring..

Cool and thx!! Can I get the info for the company in so-cal? I guess a fully turnkey system for this is a pipe dream and experimenting is key..

Thanks for the great reply!! Can either of those alternate cameras be used without the sd card and with only an iPhone or iPad app exclusively? Also, with any of these that support 2-way audio, what is needed beyond the camera on the porch? Do I need to provide the speaker and microphone in a separate enclosure? I've never used 2-way audio before.. Thanks in advance!! Thanks again!!

No more comments on Mobotix? I was hoping I could get a bit more feedback.. hmm.. Of course other systems are probably ok -- as long as they have two way audio

If you are using IR, that may attract bugs to the IR source.. I see that on my cameras occasionally

Id be concerned about how well that would stand up out here.. The salt air is nasty bad and beats up everything..

My only concern with the Mobotix cameras is that they don't talk about how well they do in low-light -- other than having a lux rating.. Nothing about the iris or whether they'd work with supplemental IR, etc.. I gather I can buy one of their dual cameras models -- one for day and one for night but would hope that something easier could be achieved.

Here's a pic of the front porch walkway... Sorry for the side-ways image.. had to use my phone for that..

Thanks peter.. Is it safe to assume you could have a Mobotix camera setup along with this app and skip any sort of NVR? Does the app have notifications saying that someone activated the camera or anything like that..? Obviously there will still be a door bell being used and perhaps it's just a matter of firing up that app and interacting.. Is that about right? Do you have any experience with the S15 cameras? I want something that is fairly unobtrusive and not a giant in-your-face sort of setup when you visit the front door like some cameras can be.. It's not clear to me whether one of their Q25's mounted on a wall near the door would work ok or not.. or possibly ceiling mount of the same.. Ideally I like their door station but it seems like WAAAY overkill for this setup

Not a chance!

So.. To revive this topic... Are there any turnkey systems that don't take a degree to manage? I need one like this for my mother who lives alone... Something unobtrusive and non obvious would be great... I can do the install...