What is the BEST CCTV Camera available?

John

I am looking for a CCTV camera, which would be able to capture video of proper HD quality, and which should be able to produce a very good quality of video during both day and night (so that it would be able to zoom in on faces at a distance of 10-20 metres). What is the best camera available at present, and how much does it cost?

Answer
Hello

Note: The DVR (digital video recorder) is just as important as the camera.
http://www.ascendentgroup.com/x4s.htm

Yes High definitions mega pixel cameras do offer some advantages but are extremely limited in there applications. and represent less then 1% of the total market yet are often touted as the main advantage IP cameras over analog cameras. Mega pixels cameras are limited because of there poor price to performance ratio, large file size, low signal to noise ratio, motion blur, and most are based on CMOS which means they inferior ability to cope with ambient lighting such as back light, bright, deep shadows contrasts, low light and IR this is also known as the real word so are often only used in non critical indoor applications. (why mega pixel cameras are less then 1% of the market)

CCTV HD cameras are based on CMOS what you want is CCD.

CCD image sensors contain hundreds
of thousands picture elements, called pixels. Each pixel contains a light sensitive element and a capacitor.

This means CMOS has some significant disadvantages compared to CCD, this means CMOS
have inferior ability to cope with ambient lighting such as back light, bright, deep shadows contrasts, low light and IR this is also known as the real word.

If you want a good image go CCD if you want a big image go IP CMOS.

In short unless you have perfect lighting a good CCD camera will outperform an equivalent CMOS camera.


IP cameras have up to a 5X larger file size then analog cameras. (at same resolution) I have seen MP cameras that on 2MP resolution are over 300X (%3000) then a CIF image. This is an extreme case but generally speaking IP cameras have a much larger file size.

If you compare a good D1 resolution image and compare it with a 2MP you will very little deliverance any many times I have had people who choose the D1 using out 550TVL camera due to its better color reproduction and its ability to handle changing ambient lighting conditions.

What I suggest. PTZ Camera
A Pan-Tilt-Zoom camera (PTZ Camera) is a closed-circuit television camera with remote directional and zoom control. PTZ cameras allow users to take the driver's seat and aim cameras exactly where they want. The use of PTZ cameras is generally a very advantageous solution for the surveillance of a site since it makes it possible to cover a wide surface with only one camera. Ascendent's PTZ line-up ranges from precise weather-proof domes to high performance, explosion-proof housings. These cameras give you full capability to maneuver your way to areas of concern with 360° panning, long-range optical zoom, and 180° or more tilt range.

If you want night vision you will need IR: http://www.ascendentgroup.com/downloads/cameraspecs/FLEX-23X-LIR.pdf

Unparalleled Active IR Imaging
Unlike traditional IR night vision cameras that use standard CCD lenses and LEDs that operate autonomously, Ascendent's Active IR cameras have integrated AMC (Automatic Processor Control) and EPC (Electronic Photocell Control), MICF and a host of other technologies, to ensure the Optics, image sensor, lens, MICF and super bright IR LEDs work in tandem to eliminate hot-spots, washout, and under exposure usually associated with IR cameras. For flawless active IR performance up to 200m (650ft) Ascendent's IRs are optimally spaced and use different sized and angled LEDs to provide evenly distributed IR to offer both long range and wide angle illumination. Ascendent's IR cameras are designed to offer absolute performance and use the highest quality components and unique manufacturing processes to increase performance and reliability such as dual PC board design and hand welding of all the IR LEDs (Vista and Apex Series). All these components are integrated into rugged IP 66-68 Nema 4X enclosures constructed of extruded aluminum and thick, high- impact, optically pure polycarbonate to withstand the most brutal assaults and extreme climates for 24/7 surveillance in mission critical applications.


I would recommend using Ascendent CCTV Equipment http://www.ascendentgroup.com/

If you like send me an email ill show you a white paper about how to evaluate image quality.

Hope this helps
Will
williammorales93@ymail.com

Will 8.0 MP on a camera give good,decent, sharp pictures?

joey

Answer
What gives a camera its picture quality?
It is mostly the skill of the photographer that produces high quality pictures. The lens and camera are very important, but the ability to set the scene, adjust the cameras settings, and hold the camera very still or use a tripod with auto or remote shutter actuation when required is what gets the great pictures. Mega pixel resolution is about potential photo size, not picture quality.

In new cameras, look for a viewfinder (LCD invisible in bright sun), optical image stabilizer, and check battery prices. High mega pixel settings take longer to process and may not be needed unless required for very large pictures. Maximum print size for a 3 mega pixel setting is 8 x 10 inches. Click links below for more details.
http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=398&pq-locale=en_US&_requestid=2039 ...
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.htm ...

The Canon A590IS is a slightly older model that is available everywhere at great sale prices. Think it is a great camera and a best buy. It has auto focus, a viewfinder, optical image stabilization, and uses rechargeable NiMH batteries.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/A590IS/A590ISA.HTM ...
http://bountii.com/deal-1523871-canon-powershot-8-0-megapixel.html ...

For expanded wide angle or telephoto capabilities, the A590 IS is compatible with Canon's accessory lens adapters: A small button next to the lens bezel is actually a latch; press it and you can remove the bezel ring, exposing a bayonet mount for accessory lenses. Canon offers the WC-DC52 0.7x wide-angle lens, the TC-DC52A telephoto lens, the 250D 52mm closeup lens separately, along with the LA-DC52G adapter to mount them on the camera. (Note that the wide, tele, and macro lenses all need the LA-DC52G adapter to mount them to the camera. The lenses won't work by themselves.)

There is no one particular place to get great buys, but you may see something above that really helps you find the best buy. Click on the second link in the information above for an example then search for your camera of choice at the upper left. Camera prices at this link change often.

There are so many cameras out there it is difficult to say which is best. The second source link will be very helpful as it list most of the cameras out there with prices. The following information should help you know what to look for in a camera.

CAUTION Do not overcharge! Batteries can be damaged. Use an automatic two or more hour Energizer Compact smart charger with temperature monitor, trickle charge technology, and safety timer ($9.76) at Walmart. Use pre-charged 2000mAh Duracell ($12.97) or RayOVac ($5.97) batteries (hold charge one year) and a full cycle charge. To preserve battery charge, use the viewfinder.

CAUTION To prevent memory card corruption, keep batteries charged and don't delete. Wait for lights to stop flashing then turn camera off before removing memory. For card readers, double click Safely Remove Hardware. Select, then click Stop and OK.

Lots of great camera tips in this link.
http://www.danscamera.com/Learning/going_digital/#resolution ...

This could be the best slim line camera with a viewfinder and ... It's PINK, but it uses a $49.50 Series G Rechargeable 960mAh lithium-ion battery.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Sony%20Cyber-shot%20DSC-W150%2FR%20Digital%20Camera:1995337750;_ylc=X3oDMTB0bjZzaWNuBF9TAzk2NjMyOTA3BHNlYwNmZWVkBHNsawNlbGVj ...
http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=3462&review=sony+cybershot+w150 ...

My camera has 5.2 mega pixel, but I use 3 most of the time because it gives great results, is faster, and takes less memory. Also, it only has a 3 x optical zoom and 7 x digital zoom. I never use the digital zoom because making pictures larger works better on the computer. This is an old camera, but everyone is impressed with the quality pictures it takes ... like magic.

Check with the Geeks in several stores and compare prices. Once you select a camera, read all about it in the owner's manual. You can view owners manuals at this link, but will need to Login. http://www.retrevo.com/s/digital+camera ...

The source links show most of the cameras out there with prices and make digital cameras work better with help on cleaning camera and battery electrical contacts.

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What is the best camera for me?

highest mp camera available image

Elizabeth

In order to save money, I have started taking photos of my daughter for her pageants. I have a point and shoot camera that is 12MP, but the quality of the photo is poor. I can't get a good crisp image from this camera. I need a better camera, but stuck on what is better for me. I use Perfect Photo Suite 7 for editing photos. I need the quality of the pictures to be at the highest quality possible. What camera should I get. A DSLR? A poing and shoot that has a higher MP? I am lost and need some guidance.
I should also say that I can't spend no more than $400 - $500. The cheaper the better. But I can spend some money.

Answer
In order to get good picture quality, I would suggest you to get a Dslr. There are many Dslrs available in the market which comes under your budget. I would Suggest you the Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera, because it has many distinguished and upgraded features with reasonable price. you can visit the following link for more detailed information

http://www.amazon.com/review/R3NZH2Q4KNDSWK/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B003ZYF3LO&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=tawerh-20

It has many good features like 14.2-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor with 3-inch monitor with One-Touch Live View shooting and movie capture. It also includes 3x 18-55mm Zoom- NIKKOR VR Image Stabilization lens with Full 1080p HD Cinematic Video with full-time auto focus and sound. It has Easy-To-Use Nikon Guide Mode with intuitive controls and on-board assistance. It also capture images to SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards etc.

What is a difference between SLR camera and any digital camera ?

Q. for example if SLR camera is 10 MP and regular digital camera is 10 MP, what would be the difference, if you take a same snap with both camera?????? and what are the other difference? which one is better.

Answer
There are two major differences:

1) Sensor size. An average compact digicam sensor might measure 7.6mm x 5.7mm while the sensor in an average DSLR might measure 23.6mm x 15.8mm. If both have 10,000,000 pixels, care to guess which sensor has the larger pixels? If you said: "The DSLR" go to the head of the class. Larger individual pixels means better performance at higher ISO settings and in low light - where you generally need a higher ISO.

2) Interchangeable lenses. With a compact digicam you're stuck with the lens attached to the camera. If its an f2.8-4.0 then that's all it can ever be. With a DSLR you have the ability to change lenses to suit the conditions. If you want to explore available light photography without using an excessively high ISO you simply attach a 50mm f1.4 lens. So why is an f1.4 lens better than an f2.8 lens? Because f1.4 is two stops faster. Suppose you're shooting in your living room tonight and its illuminated with two table lamps, each with a 150 watt bulb. You choose ISO 400 and with your f2.8 lens you get a shutter speed of 1/15 sec. Then you pick up a DSLR (also set at ISO 400) fitted with a 50mm f1.4 lens. Your shutter speed is now 1/60 sec. Increase the ISO to 800 (where digital noise really begins to be a problem with your digicam) and your shutter speed at f2.8 goes to 1/30 sec. and to 1/125 sec. with the f1.4 lens.

The actual quality of the lens is also in favor of a DSLR.

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Can someone explain some camera terms and examples of use?

highest mp camera available image

Cynthia E

I need to buy a digital camera to be used to shoot my wedding initially, and then close-up photography for my online sales after that. I have a maximum budget of $500 for the camera. I tried shopping for one the other day but all the terms were overwhelming. Zoom this, and megapixel that! Can anyone give me the lowdown on what all these terms mean and when/why I might need them?

Answer
Hello and best wishes on getting married! If you are thinking of getting a camera to photograph your wedding, I would caution you to step back and really think about it. Weddings are inherently stressful and chaotic, with too many tasks that need to get done. The last thing you need to be thinking about is how to operate a camera or whether or not your photos will come out. Since I truly wish you well and have your best interests at heart, I want your once in a lifetime memories to be properly captured; you may end up disappointed if you hand an expensive camera to someone who doesn't know how to take a photo or operate the camera. If you can't afford a professional photographer, you might consider looking for a photography art student or a skilled amateur who would be willing to photograph your wedding for the experience and a free meal. And those people should have the proper camera and lighting equipment already (not to mention the skill to use it), if they are truly serious about their work.

Now, since it also appears that you are serious about continuing with photography, given your desire to photograph items for online sales as well as your wedding, you should probably rule out point and shoot cameras (sorry, that includes the Canon S5 IS). For the absolutely highest quality photos of your wedding and your online items, a digital SLR (single-lens reflex) is the best choice. With a budget of under $500, there are really only two cameras to consider, the Nikon D40 or the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT. In fact, I priced the Nikon D40 yesterday at US1photo.com for $462 with the basic 18-55mm lens.

If you need even closer shots of items, a set of 52mm diameter close-up filters are cheaply available. This lens alone will let you stay about 11" away and still get a good magnification shot of small items.

For online sales shots, I would suggest you get a light tent and a tripod--this allows you to evenly light the object, provide a white background, and take a sharp photo. You can find examples of light tents on amazon.com

Now, to go over the terms you asked about...
Zoom: If you stand in one place, zoom capability is the ability for the camera to see wider or narrower (telephoto) without having to move farther back or closer. There are two basic types of zoom: optical or digital. Optical zoom is a true zoom, where the lens will get wider or more telephoto. Digital zoom is done by the camera, essentially cropping the photo to fake a zoom look. The images in digital zoom lose resolution if this is done; cameras/lenses should be judged by the optical zoom number, not by digital zoom. Zoom power is often expressed by a number followed by an "x" so that 3x is not as powerful as 4x or 5x. Note though that this X number doesn't tell you how wide or really how much telephoto the lens will give you; it's just a ratio of telephoto to wideness--i.e. the telephoto power is 3x more than the wide view or 5x more than the wide view, etc. Another thing to remember--the more power (10x, 18x etc.) the more optical compromises have to be made, so the poorer performance you get, particularly at the extreme ends (wide and far telephoto).

Megapixel: A pixel is a picture element or in simple terms, a dot of color. A million pixels is a megapixel or a million dots. Thus, a 6 megapixel camera has 6 million pixels. Note though that not all megapixels are created equal--a point and shoot camera with 12 megapixels (12 million dots) will not perform as well as an SLR with 6 megapixels. This is because the SLR sensor is so much physically larger, so it's better at capturing light. For a point and shoot 7 to 8 megapixels tends to be optimal for performance in such tiny sensors; more doesn't improve quality. For most digital SLRs, performance tops out at 10 to 12 megapixels, but even 6 mp is plenty in the SLR world.

Macro: this is a very mis-used term in point and shoot cameras. Most often, on point and shoots, it's really meant to reflect closest focusing distance. In SLR terms though, macro reflects the ability to get a 1:1 magnification ratio; that is, the object being identical to life size on the sensor or film. A 1:1 ratio is huge when seen in a photo; for online sales 1:3 or 1:4 is often plenty. What's nice with an SLR is that you get some working distance, allowing you to properly light your item attractively; too close and the camera lens casts a shadow on your subject or the lens distorts the object.

Aperture: This refers to the lens opening. It'll look like a series of numbers with an "f" in front, like f/3.5-5.6. For your purposes, you don't need to worry about this most of the time.

Exposure modes: again, for your purposes, you don't need to worry too much about this--you can set the camera to do automatic exposures or program exposures or the special scene modes. In brief, exposure modes are how the camera controls the shutter speed and aperture to determine how to get a properly exposed photo.

ISO: a measure of how sensitive the camera will be to light; bigger number = more light sensitive = can expose with less light. With a point and shoot, anything above ISO 400 pretty much is useless; with an SLR, you can go as high as 1600 (more with some cameras) and still be usuable.

LCD: This is the display screen on the back of the camera, measured in diagonal size. Usually bigger is better. 2.5" is the minimum you should get nowadays. SLRs use the LCD for viewing afterwards, not for taking the photo. Point and shoots use the LCD screen for both. The SLR is actually superior, particularly because the focusing and response time is so much faster than on a point and shoot.

CCD or CMOS: These are competing sensor technologies. Both have their pros and cons. Bottom-line: who cares, as long as you get good images.

Hot shoe: some cameras allow you to attach an external flash, which is done via a connection called a "hot shoe."

Image processing: chips in the camera to make the image from the data off the sensor. Canon calls their Digic, Nikon has Exspeed, Panasonic has Venus, etc. Again, for your purposes, who cares, as long as the image is good.

Hope this makes sense to you and explains not only the terms, but the other things you have to think about.

For a digital camera how many photos can I take with a 28MB?

glow 21

I'm going to get a digital camera but I want one with a big memory so I was just wondering how many photos a 28MBcan take?

And what cameras do you recommend that is easy to carry around and has a large memory?

Answer
Some cameras come with built in (internal memory) so make sure your camera can take added (external) memory. Internal memory is something you want to have in case you run out of external memory. I have never heard of 28mb memory unless the camera you are eyeing has that much internal memory. All of the memory cards correspond with multiples of 8, ie 8,16,32,64,128,256, and 512 and then you get into the gigabytes of memory (1000mb) -- 1gb, 2 gb, 4 gb...

A camera recommendation would be almost anything that is greater than 3megapixels. 4MP seems to be the standard starting point these days. If you are new to digital photography, make sure it has a viewfinder because not only will you be more comfortable getting used to it, there are situations (bright daylight) where you can't see the screen to compose your picture. You will want to be able to see it through the viewfinder. Some newer cameras have brightness features to help you see the screen better but I still like to have the option of viewing it the old-fashioned way, not having to reset the screen options and missing the shot.


The number of pictures corresponds inversely to the number of megapixels you have your camera set at -- the larger the megapixel setting, the better your resolution (you can enlarge your prints) but the fewer pictures you will be able to take. All of the memory card packages have charts to let you know approximately how many shots you can take at various camera settings. Here is my rule of thumb for shooting at my camera's "normal" setting (not "fine" or "basic"):

At 6MPixel setting, multiply the MB on the memory by 0.85 to get the number of pictures.

At 4MP, multiply the MB on the memory by 1 to get the number of pictures.

At 3MP, multiply the MB on the memory by 1.73 to get the number of pictures.

At 1MP, multiply the MB on the memory by 3.2 to get the number of pictures.

With a 256MB card, this comes out to :
218 pictures at 6MP
256 pictures at 4MP
443 pictures at 3MP
819 pictures at 1MP (lots of pictures, but only good enough for online auctions, emailing, and 3.5 x 5 inch prints.)
The actual memory card that your camera takes is the same size, no matter what the MB capacity is -- a 512MB card will take up the same amount of space as a 256MB. There are about 6 different types of memory cards available -- the camera box will specify what type your camera requires. When you purchase the memory cards, some record faster than others (stay away from the really generic cards).

Keep in mind it is better to take a picture at a higher MP and have fewer pictures than wanting to enlarge a small MP picture later because it was such a great shot and not being able to because it looks "pixelated" (the little boxes that make up the digital picture become larger, thus blurring your photo-- similar to zooming in on something on your computer.) You can always make your large pictures smaller for emailing, so it is better to shoot at the higher resolution in case you have captured that "once in a lifetime" award-winning shot!

As far as choosing a camera, look for the features I mentioned. Picking a camera with a larger lens will yield better results as well. Think of the size of a lens on a disposable camera -- the lens is so small it doesn't capture a very good image, the prints are never as good as using my larger lensed film camera. Also, look at optical zoom and pay no attention to the digital zoom. The optical zoom is real, just like on a regular camera. The digital zoom is useless, all it does it blows up the picture -- again, similar to zooming in on an image on the computer screen. Go for a camera size that feels good in your hands or one that will fit into the size bag in which you want to carry it around .

Another good feature is a camera that has less of a lag time -- that means the amount of time it takes from when you press the shutter to the actual recording of the photo. Sometimes what you get and what you hoped to get do not match because the camera takes too long to record it. I was reminded of this inconvenience while using my son's camera at the zoo today -- that jaquar was just not walking slow enough and I kept getting his tail not his face! The only camera that doesn't have this gap is a single lens reflex (SLR) because it captures the shot instantaneously, just as a film SLR would. A SLR camera will be pricier, bulkier, and heavier to carry so you might want to stay with a point-and-shoot.

I have used different cameras by Sony, Fuji, Olympus, and Nikon. The only camera I didn't like was the camera without the eyepiece feature and the ones with a long lag time. The newer Kodaks are nicer now than they were when digitals first came out.

On a final note, if your camera takes video, it will not be the high quality footage you would get with a camcorder AND video takes up quite a bit of the memory on the memory card so if you plan on using it for videos, make sure you purchase more than a 512mb card and it is always good to have more than one memory card with you, in case you haven't had a chance to transfer your pictures and videos to a CD or hard drive.

And now for the real beauty of digital photography: You can delete and never have to print the bad shots. Whatever camera you choose, it will pay for itself by not paying for the unneccessary printing of bad photos. I have already shot over 4000 photos on my Nikon -- had this been film, it would equal 166 rolls of film. At $4.00 for a roll of 24 pictures and $7.00 for processing, I would have spent over $1800 in the past year. Yes, my camera has paid for itself and more!

Before you head off to buy your new camera, print this and take it along because I realize no one would ever remember this much information when looking over all of the "candy" behind the counter at the store. So many decisions...So many options...

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