Cheap ~$65 BNC Camera

[rawfuls 0]

We're looking for a pretty cheap new camera, with about a 60-70ft range.

 

Must have BNC support, and will be going on our Q-See QSPDVR04 PCI card:

http://www.amazon.com/Q-See-QSPDVR04-Channel-Digital-Recorder/dp/B00069ECUY

 

Obviously, we're not looking for the best quality, but some decent quality would be nice.

Otherwise, we might go with a $60 Swann 580CAM:

http://www.amazon.com/Swann-580-Daynight-Camera-SWPRO-580CAM/dp/B0050U67HU

 

Color, if possible.

 

Thanks guys!

[rawfuls 0]

Any particular to keep an eye out for?

 

Need them to be weatherproof (though they will be under the roof)

 

Mostly looking for the wide-lens since it will be put in one corner of the house and be pointing across the entire front lawn.

And definitely some decent IRs..

 

Also needs to include some sort of power supply, we can run the extension cord through the attic.

[Soundy 1]

Honestly, if I were recommend a specific one, it would be this: CNB VCM-24VF

 

It doesn't have IR, because it doesn't need IR; it will give you excellent performance with very little ambient light. It's dual-voltage and will work with just about any power source from 10-30V, AC or DC. It's IP66 rated and can even be mounted in direct weather.

 

If you MUST have IR cameras, you'll have to wait for someone else to chime in - I don't use them at all.

[shockwave199 0]

Otherwise, we might go with a $60 Swann 580CAM

In your price range, consider this much better camera than the one you're linking to. And they all come with a power supply included.

 

http://www.gadspot.com/p-328-gs4031sm.aspx

[rawfuls 0]

Otherwise, we might go with a $60 Swann 580CAM

In your price range, consider this much better camera than the one you're linking to. And they all come with a power supply included.

 

http://www.gadspot.com/p-328-gs4031sm.aspx

 

Holy crap!

That picture of the car lot with that gadspot camera looks pretty incredible..

 

How would it rate against one of the Dahua's that Soundy posted earlier?

The ones in the ~$50 range?

Could you recommend one in the ~$50 range, and what would the pro/cons be of the 40/50 vs 70 models?

Since factoring in shipping and tax, that perfect $60 model went up to a $75 model...

 

Just need to gather some ammunition before I convince my dad to stray away from that cheap Swann

[shockwave199 0]

The gadpsot I linked to is a smart IR camera, which means it will adjust the IR so people don't get whited out such as the case without smart IR. That's a very good price for a great featured camera.

 

Their cheaper cameras will be ok, but the picture won't be quite as good. Also keep in mind it's not only the camera that makes a good picture. A good quality dvr matters too.

 

For cheaper, consider these-

 

http://www.gadspot.com/p-253-gs907cm.aspx

http://www.gadspot.com/p-214-gs741e.aspx

 

I have the GS741E. Not a bad camera at all for a mere 40 bucks. A couple pictures from it in my system-

 

 

[tomcctv 188]

We're looking for a pretty cheap new camera, with about a 60-70ft range.

 

Must have BNC support, and will be going on our Q-See PCI card:

 

hi. dont spend alot of money on cameras if you are going to use that q-see card.

 

 

for that card look for cameras around the $40- $60. your only recording in low FPS at CIF (you cant make it better by buying 600tvl cameras) your just wasting money.

 

http://www.apexcctv.com/c-49-infrared-security-cameras.aspx

[rawfuls 0]

We're looking for a pretty cheap new camera, with about a 60-70ft range.

 

Must have BNC support, and will be going on our Q-See PCI card:

 

hi. dont spend alot of money on cameras if you are going to use that q-see card.

 

 

for that card look for cameras around the $40- $60. your only recording in low FPS at CIF (you cant make it better by buying 600tvl cameras) your just wasting money.

 

http://www.apexcctv.com/c-49-infrared-security-cameras.aspx

 

What would be the equivalent max TVL in terms of the card?

[Soundy 1]

We're looking for a pretty cheap new camera, with about a 60-70ft range.

 

Must have BNC support, and will be going on our Q-See PCI card:

 

hi. dont spend alot of money on cameras if you are going to use that q-see card.

 

 

for that card look for cameras around the $40- $60. your only recording in low FPS at CIF (you cant make it better by buying 600tvl cameras) your just wasting money.

 

http://www.apexcctv.com/c-49-infrared-security-cameras.aspx

 

What would be the equivalent max TVL in terms of the card?

No analog cards will record higher than D1, which is 720x480 for NTSC video. Essentially, anything over 480TVL is wasted - some people's tests show slight noticeable differences going up to about 600TVL, others not so much. There's a lot more to quality video than just the vertical resolution.

 

Long story short: don't get hung up on TVL numbers. It's an indicator of relative resolution... it's not a sure indicator of overall image quality.

[rawfuls 0]

hi. dont spend alot of money on cameras if you are going to use that q-see card.

for that card look for cameras around the $40- $60. your only recording in low FPS at CIF (you cant make it better by buying 600tvl cameras) your just wasting money.

 

http://www.apexcctv.com/c-49-infrared-security-cameras.aspx

 

What would be the equivalent max TVL in terms of the card?

No analog cards will record higher than D1, which is 720x480 for NTSC video. Essentially, anything over 480TVL is wasted - some people's tests show slight noticeable differences going up to about 600TVL, others not so much. There's a lot more to quality video than just the vertical resolution.

 

Long story short: don't get hung up on TVL numbers. It's an indicator of relative resolution... it's not a sure indicator of overall image quality.

 

Gotcha.

 

What would be the general measure of the overall quality I should be looking at, and making sure I'm under, as not to waste money into a camera higher than the card can handle?

 

Excuse the ignorance, learning as fast as I can!

[Soundy 1]

What would be the general measure of the overall quality I should be looking at, and making sure I'm under, as not to waste money into a camera higher than the card can handle?

To a large degree, you get what you pay for, so use price as an indicator. If one camera is $60 and a similar one is $120, there's a good chance the $60 is pretty lacking by comparison - check the fourth post here noting some of the differences between a particular $65 camera and a $165 camera: viewtopic.php?f=54&t=30179.

 

Naturally that's not the ONLY thing to go on, but it will give you a starting point.

[hubjeep 0]

To a large degree, you get what you pay for, so use price as an indicator. If one camera is $60 and a similar one is $120, there's

 

That's what I'm trying to figure out. Certainly in home audio there is a point of dimishing return.

 

There is also cheap stuff that is re-badged with a premium name and sold at a premium price, which is hard to tell with this stuff since most of it looks the same to me.

 

Honestly, if I were recommend a specific one, it would be this: CNB VCM-24VF

 

In the little time I have been on this forum, that camera has been recommended numerous times. Has a newer one come out yet?

[Soundy 1]

Honestly, if I were recommend a specific one, it would be this: CNB VCM-24VF

 

In the little time I have been on this forum, that camera has been recommended numerous times. Has a newer one come out yet?

I haven't found anything better yet, certainly not in the price range, or even at double the price. There are a few instances where something else might be preferred for specific requirements (WDR, for example) but on the whole, you get a lot of camera for $165.

[hubjeep 0]

I haven't found anything better yet, certainly not in the price range, or even at double the price. There are a few instances where something else might be preferred for specific requirements (WDR, for example) but on the whole, you get a lot of camera for $165.

 

Thanks, that's what I like to hear.

 

Is there a generally agreed upon budget DVR (8-channel), $300 range?

[Soundy 1]

I haven't found anything better yet, certainly not in the price range, or even at double the price. There are a few instances where something else might be preferred for specific requirements (WDR, for example) but on the whole, you get a lot of camera for $165.

 

Thanks, that's what I like to hear.

 

Is there a generally agreed upon budget DVR (8-channel), $300 range?

Dahua professional 8 channel. For your googling pleasure

[hubjeep 0]

Dahua professional 8 channel. For your googling pleasure

 

 

What kind of power supply do you suggest. I assume RG59 with 18/2 siamese would be the way to go with a power supply at the DVR?

[Soundy 1]

Dahua professional 8 channel. For your googling pleasure

 

Dahua-made DVRs, which have a good rep here on the forum.

 

What kind of power supply do you suggest. I assume RG59 with 18/2 siamese would be the way to go with a power supply at the DVR?

I'd go Cat5e with baluns, personally... ideally with a "VPS" power supply unit (search the board for "VPS"). Cat5e is cheaper than Siamese, easier to work with, and makes for easy upgrading to IP cameras later, if you so desire. It also gives you the ability to run multiple video feeds on a single cable.

[hubjeep 0]

Thanks for the info, I was looking at balun/cat5 vs. coax. It looks like since my distances will remain fairly short coax should do fine.

 

This siamese coax is $90 for 500', can't get much cheaper than that.

 

... ideally with a "VPS" power supply unit (search the board for "VPS").

 

Thanks, I found this one, looks good. I see there are 12V and 24V ones, does most CCTV use 12V or 24V?

http://www.2mcctv.com/product_info-VeiluxVPS12810.html

 

Any other suggestions you have would be great.

 

-John

[Soundy 1]

Thanks for the info, I was looking at balun/cat5 vs. coax. It looks like since my distances will remain fairly short coax should do fine.

 

This siamese coax is $90 for 500', can't get much cheaper than that.

Cat5e generally retails for about $80-$90 per 1000' box Just sayin'

 

... ideally with a "VPS" power supply unit (search the board for "VPS").

 

Thanks, I found this one, looks good. I see there are 12V and 24V ones, does most CCTV use 12V or 24V?

http://www.2mcctv.com/product_info-VeiluxVPS12810.html

No, I meant search on the BOARD, not all of Google That would have led you to these: http://www.easterncctv.com/accessories/ev08p-vps.htm - combined balun and power supply unit. This by the DVR, suitable baluns at the cameras ends, terminate the Cat5 with RJ45 plugs, and away you go.

 

But with Siamese cable, that other power supply is fine. 12 vs 24V depends entirely on what your cameras require - if you're going with the CNBs, they'll support either, but you probably want to stick with 12VDC so it will support any cheaper cameras.