Quite expensive PTZ camera, but what you get is way superior the competitions. The camera can easily pump 30FPS at 640×480. The PTZ is very fast and easy to control (I’m not using their software). It seems also very robust comparing to other cameras.

First of all the following link provides a live demo of the camera: [. . . ] The Amazon page appears to be missing some basic specs on the camera so let’s get those out of the way. -Maximum resolution 704×576, 30 fps in all resolutions -zoom 18x optical -Min. illumination Color: 0. 3lux B&W: 0. 005 lux -Video codec MPEG-4 part 2, Motion JPEG -POE Nope -Comes with: Power supply, ceiling mount kit, Installation, CD with installation tools, recording software and User’s Manual, Windows decoder 1-user license. So let’s start with probably the most important aspect of a security camera: image quality.

This camera excels at that. Although it may not record at megapixel resolutions, the lens is of a high enough quality to produce clear images. Couple this with the 18x optical zoom, and you are able to peel the license plate off a car at quite a distance. Notice the 0. 005 B&W lux sensitivity (the smaller the number the better), this number is very important if you intend on using the camera to capture outdoor activity at night. Even at this sensitivity you are not going to get usable images in a poorly lit area. But if you throw a few lights out there and make sure they don’t shine into the camera, you should be able to record something meaningful. However, night time shots are difficult even for the best of security cameras.

Don’t expect that you will be able to clearly record detail of a fast moving object at night. Thus, if you are trying to record license plates, try to situate the camera so that vehicles will be driving directly towards it — this should minimized the apparent movement. Ptz functionality: What can I say, it pans & scans quickly and quietly.

You can set it to 20 preset positions, which you can flip through manually, or set the camera to automatically visit sequentially. When using the web interface, you can just click on whatever part of the image you want to focus on the and camera will figure out how to get there. If you want to zoom in on a specific area, then you just click and drag out a box, let go, and the camera will zoom in and pan appropriately.

More on the web interface: It is slick and functional. The first page you see is the live demo page, which allows you to control all of the ptz functions, plus the iris size, and focus. You can set the presets, and all of the other typical settings (IP, time, video, audio, users). I’ve tried the interface in IE and Firefox and it appears to work perfectly in both. Software: I didn’t try the Axis’s software, I’m sure it is fine but it is also expensive.

Instead, I opted for BlueIris. [ptz camera] software, and it does everything I need. It supports this camera, so you will be able to use the PTZ functions (although not quite as easily), and you will also be able to jump between preset locations. In conclusion, if you are looking for a quality camera without going too high, this is a pretty safe bet.

Recently released numbers show crime hasn’t taken a drastic hit since the cameras were installed in 2005. Overall, major crimes have risen slightly.

But Police Chief Richard Bull says the $500,000 camera system was well worth the investment. Ripon’s population has jumped about 30 percent since 2003, but its major crimes climbed only 4 percent during that period. By comparison, as Patterson’s population swelled 54 percent, major crimes rose 32 percent.

Bull says the cameras, along with proactive policing and a cooperative community, are a key tool in keeping crime under control.

“Normally, you would go from 10,000 people to 15,000 people and you would experience a heightened increase in crimes,” he said.

Read More and Source : www.modbee.com

Nick Gibson is attempting to re-open The Draper’s Arms on Barnsbury Street, a former Evening Standard pub of the year winner that shut its doors last August. But to regain a licence, he’s been told he must fit CCTV cameras that capture the head and shoulders of everyone entering the pub, and be willing to hand over footage whenever the police ask for it.

cctv security camera system

Gibson is furious at what he sees as erosion of civil liberties. However, his local MP and the Metropolitan Police keep blithely citing ‘public safety’. We find that a bit rich, considering studies have shown CCTV is less effective than increased street lighting at cutting crime, and CCTV footage is used to help solve just 3% of London robberies.

The deputy commissioner of the Information Commissioner’s Office weighed in on the debate, saying “use of CCTV must be reasonable and proportionate if we are to maintain public trust and confidence in its deployment”, and even the House of Lords recently warned about the UK’s surveillance creep.

So where does this leave us? Islington and Richmond borough councils are enforcing a blanket policy on anyone applying for a licence to sell alcohol, so drinkers there have no escape. Essex police want CCTV cameras on every licenced premises open after 11pm. We know cameras are already up on many pubs and bars, but police and councils are taking away our right to choose. By the way, anyone know how legal this V for Vendetta mask idea is?