Camera technology under surveillance
In response to market demand, developments in security camera technology focus on ease of installation and the need for greater detail. Angela Tufvesson reports.
As security camera technology becomes cheaper, easier to install and more sophisticated it’s no surprise that consumer demand is rising.
Two of the industry’s main companies are aware of the constant need to upgrade their products and have recently introduced new models.
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Sony video security product manager Tony Lagan says the market demanded a camera that could pick up more detail.
“With some cameras the detail can be quite poor, so we have developed a camera with much greater definition.”
JVC Pro has recognised the need to develop a range of Internet protocol (IP) cameras to complement the existing analogue offering.
“JVC is putting a lot of research and development into IP cameras, although we are still very strong in analogue product,” national sales and marketing manager Noel Oakes says.
“The current range has almost identical feature sets in the analogue and IP cameras – it’s a way of being able to achieve research and development cost savings. Each model will be available as analogue or dedicated IP.”
Noel believes the main impetus behind development of the cameras – the analogue TK-C686E and IP VN-C686 – was the desire to find an alternative to belt-driven units.
Essentially the new technology cuts down on moving parts in the camera. This extends the lifespan, as wear and tear is reduced and there are fewer moving parts to fail.
Sony has developed three new high-definition models that offer four times the resolution of a standard security camera.
The SNC-DM110 is an indoor camera suitable for rooms with reasonable lighting. The SNC-DM160 is a vandal-resistant design for use outdoors, in harsh environments and in areas with poor lighting.
The SNC-CM120 can be used indoors and outdoors – withstanding dust, water or other environmental hazards – as there are several different lenses to suit varying applications.
“The resolution of a standard camera can be quite poor, so we’ve developed a camera that can pick up much more – for example, facial features and clothing details,” Tony says.
“It also enables you to zoom in, and cover wider areas with fewer cameras.”
Security cameras have generally suffered from poor performance in areas of low light. Tony says the new models work well in such conditions, using the ‘light funnel’ feature.
“In low light our cameras combine four pixels – two horizontally and two vertically – to become one, providing a four-fold increase in sensitivity to light.”
Both companies distribute dome-shaped cameras, which they agree are relatively easy to install as well as extremely discreet.
“The SNC-DM110 and SNC-DM160 are dome shaped,” Tony says.
“Basically everything is contained in one little unit – you don’t have to spend time installing the lens and housing. They are easy to surface mount and very inconspicuous, so they are suitable for homes or larger commercial buildings.”
Noel says dome cameras are extremely quiet and render spare parts largely redundant.
Security cameras need to survive exposure to the elements, and these new models are no exception. The Sony DM160 is designed to keep water and dust out, and the JVC models are tested against industry standards.
The two men agree that the new ranges are service friendly.
“There’s a main electronic section that is usually recessed into the roof,” Noel says.
“Then the camera mechanism pushes up, turns and locks, and holds all the powers into the housing.
“If something went wrong with the cameras, rather than having to pull the whole unit out there is a bayonet twist. Installers can take the camera portion of the unit out, and a test unit goes straight back into the base. It’s very easy to install and check the cameras.”
The JVC IP models come with a standard power over Ethernet feature.
“Installers have generally had to mount the cameras and run power to them, as well as running a video feed back to the monitoring or recording station.
“With these IP cameras, one cable – Category 5 or 6 – carries power to the camera and carries video and data back from it.”
Installers can set up these models from one remote location – including colour balances and focus checks – using a computer interface.
They can view the entire network installation rather than having to get a ladder and climb up to each camera to make sure the focus is accurate.
“I expect to see surveillance going down a similar path to what has happened with television over the past few years with high-definition wide screen,” Tony says.
“So we think the market will move pretty aggressively towards standard-definition cameras.”
Noel believes the IP cameras will win out over time and supersede analogue models by 2014.
So for security camera technology it seems progress is a welcome – albeit inevitable – product of consumer demand.
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