Best night vision IP cameras???

[Daskew78 0]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm having a lot of trouble finding a camera that works well in very low lighting conditions. I've even purchased a Raymax type industrial IR illuminator and still not getting good results from the two previous cameras I've tried.

 

Please could someone suggest a REALLY good day and night vision camera that is actually good enough to identify someone at night rather than just being able to make out it's a human?

 

My budget is about £500 per camera (I need 2) and they need to have IR built in (good for 20 meters or more) as the second camera won't have it's own independent IR illuminator.

 

My wish list is as follows:

 

3 Megapixel or more 2048x1536 (1536P) (due to the area I would like to cover)

POE (Power Over Ethernet)

Auto focus (essential)

Auto brightness, contrast.... etc (desirable)

h.264 Support - yes

iPhone \ iPad access

Onvif compatible

Can set different profiles for day and night, and can auto switch between them.

Can turn off infra-red in night mode (for the camera that has it's own illuminator)

WDR (kinda essential)

XDNR (Extremely desirable)

 

Sorry for the long list, most cameras can do most these things but the most important is the night vision, it really needs to be nothing short of excellent.

 

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

[thewireguys 3]

So what cameras have you used and that model Raytec did use? Also what is the distance to target and FOV?

[Korgoth Of Barbaria 0]

How about new ACTi KCM-5211?

Its 4 Mpixel with 18x optical zoom and autofocus.

Rly good image at night, clear at day. Fast focus and easy installation.

There is DNR, but no WDR or 2 profiles for day and night :/

here is sample at day that we made. Distance ~1400m

 

If You don't need zoom try new IQeye SENTINEL cameras with auto focus (IQ86x Models).

[Daskew78 0]

Hi Guys,

 

@ thewireguys -

 

I've used Vivotek IP8332 before but not very good at night and not enough area that I want to cover, I need 3MP for the area.

 

I've also used Surveon CAM3365 which gives an amazing picture during the day but not at night. And I cannot set day / night time profiles, so what's right for day time is not for night time and vice versa.

 

I'm using this as my IR illuminator: http://www.advanced-led-technology.com/ir1.php (second one down IR312) and it's been set at 100 degrees.

 

The max distance i'm trying to cover is about 30 meters, nothing major and the illuminator should easily handle that. We can tell it's working because we can see car plates reflecting from around 30 meters away, but it's not lighting up everything else as it should.

 

Lastly I'm not sure what you mean when you say "FOV"?

 

@ Korgoth Of Barbaria -

 

Funny you should mention them because I've been speaking to that company about that exact camera. The problem is that yes they look good with an 18x zoom but I don't need that, I need excellent night vision. I've seen night time demo's of that camera which does look good but it's done where there is lots of street lighting, I'm in a much darker environment.

[Daskew78 0]

This is the area I'm looking to cover front and back.

 

The front is where I use the illuminator, the back (main road side) isn't as bad as the front because there is a small amount of light from a nearby street lighting.

 

[dec88 0]

Hi Daskew,

I have to tell you that that isn't a RAYMAX illuminator from Raytec. You may get better results with a real Raytec illuminator.

Good night time performance with IP cameras is getting much easier. Lots of the big manufacturers, Axis, Arecont, Sony, Mobotix etc, can all provide cameras with good low light performance now.

 

See an example of a good 5MP camera here www.raytectapp.com

It is a password protected site but enter:

username = arecont

password = tappav

then click on the resource centre to see the 5MP camera

 

We've tested all the major brands and they all have a good low light camera, this is just an example.

 

Hope this helps... it's always better to see the results that can be achieved rather than read a spec sheet.

[thewireguys 3]

Yes the IR unit that you are using is a rebranded Iluminar unit see here> http://www.iluminarinc.com/

 

 

Also not sure a 3MP camera will give you the results you are looking for you might night want to go to 5MP.

[Daskew78 0]

Hi guys,

 

I already know the device iluminator i'm using isn't a RAYTEC / RayMax, I said it's that "type" of device. The one I'm using isn't a re-branded Iluminar.... The Iluminar is a re-branded one from Advanced LED technology where I bought it.

 

Iluminar are their distributor over in the US, he makes them himself and claims they are better than the Raymax ones because he used to work for Raymax and develop them before setting up on his own. So knows all about them and apparently they are better.

 

In regards to the camera I've decided to try the Sony SNC-CH280, this has a 1/2.8 Exmor sensor which is the latest and greatest (apparently) and as it's just night vision that i'm having the problem with I hope it will fix my problems (but break my bank balance).

 

Anyone with any experience with these cameras please do let me know if I've made a good/bad choice?

 

Thanks

[dec88 0]

We recently tested the SNC-CH280. But the footage is raw. Send me your e-mail and I'll show you the footage. (the footage was for testing only and is no good for marketing - cameras FOV was wider than the IR for example as we were testing multiple cameras at once).

 

We recently held a Sony Test night in the UK. A closed doors test night between Raytec and Sony. The units we tested were:

 

SNC-EP580

SNC-CH180

SNC-CH280

SNC-DH180

SNC-EP550

 

One of those cameras isn't released yet... .but don't ask me which one.

Edited September 23, 2011 by Guest

[Daskew78 0]

I think i'd be embarassed asking that but for anyone in the future reading this please bear in mind it might not be him.

 

I've pm'd you pal, looking forward to seeing these.

[pavel1883 0]

Here is the Panasonic wv-SP306.

 

http://videobits.net/

[mike_va 0]

Hi Guys,

 

I'm using this as my IR illuminator: http://www.advanced-led-technology.com/ir1.php (second one down IR312) and it's been set at 100 degrees.

 

The max distance i'm trying to cover is about 30 meters, nothing major and the illuminator should easily handle that. We can tell it's working because we can see car plates reflecting from around 30 meters away, but it's not lighting up everything else as it should.

 

Lighting up a plate which is reflective is MUCH easier than a person. It does not appear that IR you've got is rated to that distance, you should probably cut in half any stated rating and then realize that MP cameras need even more light than analog at decent shutter speeds.

[HTElectrical 0]

Hi Daskew,

I have to tell you that that isn't a RAYMAX illuminator from Raytec. You may get better results with a real Raytec illuminator.

Good night time performance with IP cameras is getting much easier. Lots of the big manufacturers, Axis, Arecont, Sony, Mobotix etc, can all provide cameras with good low light performance now.

 

See an example of a good 5MP camera here www.raytectapp.com

It is a password protected site but enter:

username = arecont

password = tappav

then click on the resource centre to see the 5MP camera

 

We've tested all the major brands and they all have a good low light camera, this is just an example.

 

Hope this helps... it's always better to see the results that can be achieved rather than read a spec sheet.

 

Those videos are basically useless IMO. The FPS looks to be around 2 or 3, which is pretty sad.

[Daskew78 0]

Can someone please tell me what HOV and FOV is please?

[HTElectrical 0]

I know FOV is Field of View

[HTElectrical 0]

High Occupancy Video

[HTElectrical 0]

** HOV Heavy Occupancy Vehicle

** HOV Heartbreak on Vinyl (Blake Lewis album)

* HOV Hamburger Omnibus Verein eV (Germany)

* HOV Hydraulically Operated Valve

* HOV Hand of Virtue (Everquest gaming)

* HOV Haunch of Venison

* HOV Heat Of Vaporization

* HOV Heckscher-Ohlin-Vanek (trade model)

* HOV High Occupancy Vehicle

* HOV High Octane Vehicle (racecar)

* HoV Hill of Vision

* HOV Hoogwaardig Openbaar Vervoer (Dutch: High Quality Public Transport)

* HOV Hospital Outpatient Visit

* HOV Hover

Possible Meanings Rank

 

Hartija Od Vrijednosti *****

HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLES ****

Hospice of the Valley ****

Hands Off Venezuela ***

High Order Virtual ***

Heads of Veterinary ***

Healing Our Village ***

Handbook of Vastu ***

Human Occupied Vehicle ***

Heart of the Valley ***

Helderse Ondernemers Vereniging **

Hands on Virtual **

High Occupancy Vechicle **

Hybrid Only Vehicles **

Higher Occupancy Vehicles *

High Ocean View *

High Occupancy Video *

High Occupancy Vagina *

Hydraulic Operated Valve *

Hand Operated Valve *

However in Virginia *

Hawaii Our Visit *

History Of Violations *

Hollywood Online Video *

Hurricane Opal Video *

[mike_va 0]

See an example of a good 5MP camera here http://www.raytectapp.com

It is a password protected site but enter:

username = arecont

password = tappav

then click on the resource centre to see the 5MP camera

 

We've tested all the major brands and they all have a good low light camera, this is just an example.

 

Hope this helps... it's always better to see the results that can be achieved rather than read a spec sheet.

 

Those videos are basically useless IMO. The FPS looks to be around 2 or 3, which is pretty sad.

 

Perhaps a sign that they are using a very slow shutter speed...it would be nice if the "results" achieved specified the shutter speed...

[HTElectrical 0]

Yeah, after I wrote that I thought that it might be more like the shutter speed, but basically it has the same result.

[Daskew78 0]

I know FOV is Field of View

 

Thanks, I'm guessing HOV is hight of view then?

 

(edit), didn't realise this had gone onto 2 pages and explain on this page.... cheers(/edit)

[dec88 0]

agreed. those videos look like a very slow shutter speed.

 

All our recent videos are at least 1/30 shutter speed.

Take a look at our Axis mini site

www.raytectapp.com

username: axis

password: tappax

 

As I say, we've tested a bunch of cameras from different manufacturers. These are not intended as full technical tests, but more as a practical approach to show what is possible.

 

You might all be interested in our White Paper for lighting with Network Cameras. Found on this page http://www.rayteccctv.com/education-centre.aspx

[Daskew78 0]

Have got my new cameras up and running now (Sony SNC-CH280) and my problem is solved. Finally a decent night time image.

 

Im using it with the IR Illuminator from advanced LED tech and its nothing short of an amazing night time image.

 

Will post an image soon.

[Daskew78 0]

Well here's the final results, I'm no expert but I'm very happy with the results (serious dent in my bank balance though).....

 

No IR

 

With IR from Advanced LED Tech

[nDAlk90 0]

I don't understand why you installed the camera so high. You will never see anyone's face with that height!?

 

 

Well here's the final results, I'm no expert but I'm very happy with the results (serious dent in my bank balance though).....

 

No IR

 

With IR from Advanced LED Tech

[rory 0]

I don't understand why you installed the camera so high. You will never see anyone's face with that height!?

 

but with megapixel you can zoom in on their bald spot and ID them from that.

 

nice crisp shots of the cars though