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Posts Tagged ‘Cameras’

Cameras FAQ

Camera Problems?
I broke my Camera. It fell on the ground and I really need it. SHould I convey it in somewhere? if I should how much is it going to cost? It an Olympus and the front say FE-170

Camera purchase?
we are currently looking to purchase a new camera. I really similar to the SLR cameras but we are open to any sympathetic... long battery energy, picture quality and versatility are considerable features... we would also like the camera to own video capability but to be precise not high on our enumerate of features. We own a landscaping business so involve clear crisp photos...

Camera Question for student Photographer ..?
I asked this in Photography but single one person answered (thanks fhotoace!) So my best friend is really into photography. She is turning 18 and we will be graduate in June. For her birthday I planned on getting her a camera (the show ones, not digital) but I have NO IDEA where on earth to start. I wanted to procure her a good lens, camera and tripod (plus show obv.) but am not looking to spend more than 0.00. Unless her mom plans on helping me out. I was looking at the Nikon Body next to 35-70mm f3.5-4.8 Zoom Nikkor lens. (I have no opinion what any of that means) LOL It was this one: http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/vi... Any suggestions? She is also going to conservatory for photography so I don't want to spend much and stuff just incase they hold certain requirements for the cameras. Also, is this a well-mannered tripod? http://www.adorama.com/BATPDX.html

Camera question?!?
ok so i have a interview.. this might sound silly but seriously.. is complex the mega pixels tha better? and which is better fine or normal wen it comes to the picture? and which describe brand digital camera is the best? thanks (:

Camera Question?
I'm an amateur photographer and I am looking for a camera that does the following: 1) Takes good zoom photos (Like pictures of flowers, etc, beside crisp detail.) 2) Has good battery-operated life 3) Is pretty portable 4) Takes well-mannered quality shots contained by both daytime and nighttime. So far I narrowed it down to: 1) Panasonic Lumix TZ3S 2) Canon Powershot SX100IS 3) Sony Cybershot H10 I'm leaning towards the Canon one because it's the cheapest and I hear good things almost it. My question is, am I looking for the right things? I clutch a lot of pictures of the insides of flowers (petals, etc) so I inevitability them to come out crisp and nice. So I thought that getting a camera with a elevated zoom would be good. But is zoom the item to look for? Or do I need a special lens to achieve all the flower details? Please abet!!

Camera Question?
Is there any course i can take my friends memory card and plug it into my comp and grasp the videos rotten it? I dont have her hardware installed or anything but we tried and nought happened, is nearby anyway we can do it?

Camera question?
What is the best camera for the best price? How should I sell my polaroid digital camera?

Camera Repair, South East of England!!?
I've got a Canon Eos 400D, and I'm getting Error 99 constantly!! I've tried resetting everything, and cleaning the gold ingots connectors with a rubber. Even tried other lenses, purely not getting it to work for me! Does anyone know a decent reliable camera repair place surrounded by or near Brighton within England? Cheers guys!!

Camera Shopping Question?
Ok, i am a concert goer and i want a camera (not professional) that is small and reading light and has a long zoom

Camera shutter speed sound out...?
Okay so I'm kinda confused about this right immediately. If i slow down the shutter speed by 20 seconds, or any amount of time really, how does it translation the exposure? Because on my camera, a GE A730, if i go to [menu>slow shutter>manual] it go to a screen that say "long exposure period" and i can choose 1-20+ seconds [i own it on 20 right now]. Does that mean that at that speed i can appropriate pictures of things like dripping hose down, and it'll show the individual drips? Any help will be appreciated.

Camera Software??
I'm looking for a sort of camera software (for free) that you can use for live input on the computer (I have window vista), and that you can take pictures near, from the actual compter, without have to actually touch the camera. I hold a usb connection and the camera is an Olympus Stylus 770 SW. I own looked all over the net...

Camera Stuff! Wont work! Please relief im implore you!?
Ok my camera has pics i want on the computer and i enjoy a laptop,And im trying to put them on the computer.But I plug it into the computer and then i turn on the camera and progress to control panel and then step to cameras and scanners...And Then click on the thing that pops up adage my camera thing and next it trys to get pics from the camera But Then it pop's up wise saying "Cannot detect camera or scanner,Please make sure you plugged it contained by right and turn on camera." And That's What i did.And it wont Work! Please Tell Me What Im Doing Wrong! Oh And Ive Tried on my dad's regular computer that's not a laptop and It Says The Same thing. Please Help Me! I call for These Pictures For a Project Thingy..[[Hard To Explain]]

Camera warranty canon powershot tx1?
Any recommendations just about buying a warranty for the Canon Powershot TX1 and if so which one (options from newegg)? 1 Year Extended Service Net Replacement Plan 49.99 More Information2 Year Day 1 Service Net ADH Warranty 79.99 More Information2 Year Extended Service Net Replacement Plan 99.99 More Information3 Year Day 1 Service Net ADH Warranty 99.99

Camera won't connect to computer?
I have a HP photosmart M525,usually it connects to the computer right away. in recent times now i tried to connect it,and an error message appeared axiom "Windows does not reconigze this this device" i don't know why it would say this,because it be wroknig yesterday..i've tried reconnecting it several times,doesn't want to work. does anybody have any solutions?

Camera!! (lens error) I dropped it! HELP BEFORE I GET KILLED PLZ!?
Yeah i dropped it now everytime I turn it on it say LENS ERROR and turns off :[ HEELP! PLZ!

Camera/ SD card acting up?
i've noticed only just that when i try to download videos that are longer than a couple of minutes to my computer from my SD card, it doesn't download the longer video. it never did this before and it freshly started happening. it's as if it doesn't read the long video on the card. also when i put the card back within the camera, everything is there. it's a impartially new card so i don't meditate that could be the problem.

Camera? im looking to buy a camera 5mp or greater for around 50/60?
pounds-apart from ebay can anyone reccomend a good site where on earth i could buy one or has anyone bought one only just that was a well-mannered one and can give me ideas-thankyou-uk just please

Camrea problems?
my camrea has a total black eyeshade when i turn it on. I can still go to feign menu and see the options but when i progress to take a picture the eyeshade is black. I did drop it once and then the peak turned black. So can i fix this myself ir is it broken?

Can a canon A570 Digital point and shoot camera be used as a Webcam beside a computer?
I have adjectives the necessary cable and such, i want to know if it can yes/no and if it can, which software (preferably free) should I use to accomplish this. thanks bemusw

Can a digital non-SRL camera filch professional level photographs?
I am not looking to become a professional photographer. I just wallow in taking pictures. But if for some rationale, I happen to nick a really great picture, I'd like it to be taken at a resolution and picture level good ample to submit in a contest or even for mart. Are there non dSLR cameras able of this? I really don't feel approaching dealing with different lenses, and the dust problems associated next to changing them. Any suggestions?

Can antediluvian lenses from the 70s fit on to the Canon EOS series?
My dad has hoary canon lenses from the 70s and I was thinking I'd acquire him a DSLR, specifically the Canon Digital Rebel XTi. I heard that the feeble lenses do fit the EOS series but I have no opinion if that's true or not. Is there anyway I can report by looking at the lenses themselves? A model number or something?

Can anybody speak about me which Is the best battery to use for a Fujifilm S3000??
The last 2x I own brought batteries I enjoy only taken 4-5 photo's and afterwards they die?? They are so expensive...Any Ideas would be great.

Can anyone dispatch me or show me online where on earth i can take token pictures of the PANASONIC DMC-FZ8EB-Kplease?
i want to buy the PANASONIC DMC-FZ8EB-K so i want to see sample pictures if everyone have any

Can anyone furnish me digital camera recommendation?
Hi there! I involve camera recommendations, and I figure this was the best place to travel! I'm not a photographer or anything, so I don't need something that's 30 megapixels- I'm more of looking to embezzle pictures of friends and places I go to show my inherited and friends. I don't want something that's going to look like crap though, so I want at lowest possible 5 megapixels. I also am looking

Digital SLR Cameras - What's New for Military Photography

DSLR cameras are highly valued by military photographers because of their resolution, sensitivity, versatility in the field, availability of a wide variety of objective lenses and because they allow an accurate preview of framing close to the moment of exposure. Many photographers also prefer dSLRs for their larger sensors compared to most compact digital cameras, now available with image sensors the same size as traditional film formats. These large sensors allow for similar field-of-view values to film formats, as well as their comparable sensitivity.

Over 80% of the dSLR cameras sold today are models from Nikon or Canon. As a result of their predominance, an abundance of lenses and accessories are available for these two camera bodies, resulting in an excellent selection and remarkable pricing. These accessories include: objective lenses that are fast, lightweight, optically stabilized,autofocus, as well as night vision modules and other camera accessories that increase overall camera performance. Note that while there are other camera manufacturers that provide excellent products worthy of consideration for certain applications, only Nikon and Canon cameras are mentioned in this article.

 Pixels:  How many? How Big?

The most noticeable change in the evolution of digital SLR cameras has been the steady increase in the number of pixels that makeup the image sensor. Commercial cameras have seen the number of pixels in the camera's sensor grow twenty times in as many years, from 1MP (1 million pixels) in 1990 to over 20MP in 2010.

Are cameras with larger sensor arrays better? Not necessarily. It depends on the application. There's more to understanding the impact of larger array sizes than merely the number of pixels. There are two other important considerations that are considered here: the physical sensor array size and the physical pixel size.

Impact of Physical Array Size

The first dSLR cameras used image sensors that were significantly smaller than traditional 35mm film formats (36mmx24mm). As shown in Figure 2, today dSLR image sensors are available in several distinct sizes. The smallest image sensors are about 2/3 the size of the 35mm format. They are available from both Canon (known as APS-C format) and Nikon (known as the DX format). Canon also provides cameras with a slightly larger size sensor,

APS-H which is approximately 28x19mm. The largest sensors (known as "full-frame" sensors) are now available in cameras from both Canon and Nikon and have the same size sensor as the original film SLR cameras, 36mmx24mm.

 For cameras having an image sensor that is smaller than full-frame, a digital crop factor has been defined (also known as the focal length multiplier or magnification factor) which can be calculated by taking the ratio of the diagonal dimension of 35mm film (43.3mm) to the diagonal dimension of the camera's image sensor size. As should be obvious by the term focal length multiplier, multiplying the lens focal length by the crop factor gives the effective focal length of a lens that would yield the same field-of-view if used on a full-frame camera.

For the military photographer, the concept of having a crop factor >1 is normally regarded as a benefit. For long distance viewing, a narrower field of view is quite desirable and the crop factor provides photographers a "boost" in long-focal-length enabling them to fill the frame more easily when the subject is far away. For example, the focal length multiplier for a Nikon DX-format camera is 1.5. Using a 200mm lens on a Nikon DX-format camera will deliver the same field-ofview as a 300mm lens on a full-frame camera.  However, while there are benefits for long distance viewing, the narrowing of the FOV is sometimes a disadvantage to photographers when a wide FOV is desired. For example, a 24mm lens on a Nikon DXformat camera will result in the same field-of-view as a 36mm lens, possibly too narrow for the application necessitating the use of expensive ultra-wide lenses to deliver the desired FOV (16mm in this example).

Obviously, cameras having "full-frame" image sensors that are the same size as the 35mm film size, there is no crop factor (crop factor is 1).

Impact of Physical Pixel Size

In order to better understand the impact of the pixel size, compare the performance of two cameras that have the same physical array size but a different number of pixels (and consequently different pixel sizes). For this example, let's compare the Nikon D3X (fullframe image sensor with 24MP) and the Nikon D3S (full-frame image sensor with 12MP). For the D3X, the physical pixel dimension is about 6μm whereas the D3S has pixels that are about 8.5μm, about 40% larger. In this example, if the military photographer is performing surveillance at a distance, identification of objects will be related to the number of pixels on target. Hence, if the same lens is used on the two cameras being compared, the standoff distance for the higher resolution model will be further than for the lower resolution camera. Explained differently, in order for the lower resolution camera to deliver the same resolving capability as the higher resolution camera with a 300mm lens, the lower resolution camera would either need a 420mm lens or the photographer would need to move closer to the target by about 25% of the distance.

As far as resolving capability goes, smaller pixels are better and the advantage goes to the high resolution camera which can use lenses that are lightweight, easy to hold and essentially "faster". Unfortunately, more smaller pixels aren't always the best thing for a surveillance photographer! All things being equal, as pixels get smaller in size, they also become a lot less effective at gathering light resulting in lower sensitivity for the camera. Pixel sensitivity is related to the area of the pixel, so in our comparison, the pixels that are 40%

larger will likely deliver twice the sensitivity (1.4x1.4~2). This means that to obtain the same light sensitivity will require an extra F-stop or double the exposure time. Alternatively, the camera's processor will have to gain-up the signal. (More on this in the next section). Nikon probably realized that for some photographers, more resolution isn't always better. Adding pixels means making them smaller and the smaller the pixel the worse the light sensitivity.

Fortunately, noise reduction techniques have improved considerably in the past few years, making it possible to increase resolution while keeping sensitivity about constant. So what if you applied current noise reduction strategies to an existing sensor, without adding more pixels? That's certainly what Nikon intended with the design of

the D3S, leaving the resolution at 12.1MP allowed them to increase the sensitivity for those customers that need it. For photographers who absolutely need more resolution, Nikon has the 24.5MP D3X.

Low Light Photography

For the military photographer, some of the most demanding situations occur at night when there is little ambient light, or scenes are at a distance. Today, dSLR cameras have unique capabilities and accessories are available that help the photographer make the most out of night-time imaging circumstances.

Aperture and Exposure Time

The primary factors that impact imaging in low-light are still fundamental to photography — lens aperture and exposure time. For night-time photography, since depth of field is not normally an important factor, it makes sense to select an objective lens that has the largest possible aperture. Selecting an objective lens for a specific application may be as important as selecting the dSLR camera. In fact, one  may select either the Nikon or Canon body because of the specific objective lenses that are available.

Similarly, exposure time for night-time imaging should be set as long as possible but still to avoid blur due to observing objects in motion or from camera jitter.

Enhanced ISO - Higher gain with drawbacks

Aperture and exposure time directly impact the amount of light that impinges on each pixel in the image sensor and affect the sensor's output electrical signal. In addition, dSLR cameras permit the photographer to adjust the gain (i.e. amplification) of the sensor's output electrical signal. (This is distinctly different from the ISO definition for film cameras which was to be adjusted to match the film sensitivity). For dSLR cameras, increasing the gain will amplify the sensor signal. Like all electrical circuits, image sensors are not perfect, and with the image signal, they also produce some noise in the form of unwanted random errors in the signal. Noise in digital images appears as graininess or specks of false color. To avoid too much noise, the night-time photographer adjusts the camera's ISO to a value that is high enough to brighten the image while still maintaining acceptable image noise levels. Today, the maximum value is typically 1600, but some cameras deliver perfectly usable images at ISO 3200, 6400 or even 12800.

 In addition to the standard ISO settings, digital cameras now perform noise reduction on digital images. As a result, some additional gain-up is enabled on these cameras, sometimes one step (H1), or effectively two times the maximum ISO setting, but also two steps (H2, 4 times) and three steps (H3, 8 times). This Enhanced ISO setting is now available on most digital SLR cameras. For example, both the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV and the Nikon D3S permit three levels of enhanced ISO which results in an equivalent ISO setting of 102,400! It is important to note that images adjusted as such normally have a great degree of noise and exhibit significant degradation in resolution because of the noise

Wireless Cameras Glossary: 10+ Components You Have To Know

The use of wireless cameras is quickly turning into normal for security and surveillance camera installations. Previously, wired CCTV cameras were the only options available for you but the development of PC and wireless technologies now made it viable for better quality and more effective cameras minus the awkward wires and cables to be provided and reasonable for users like you.

Wireless cameras have more advantages and broader coverage to be used than wired cameras, making them perfect for use in home, office and business installations. Here are a few of these applications that wireless cameras can be employed that are outside the capabilities of wired systems.

* Mobile applications wireless cameras can be moved from one location to another while wired cameras would need intensive installations / dismantling before any movement can be done.

* Temporary Use wireless cameras can be used in circumstances where there is no need for constant surveillance

* Appearance / Concealment wireless cameras are the best for use when you would like the units hid or does not want unpleasant wires seen around your home or offices

Wireless Camera Parts And Parts You Need To Know

There is a big variety of types, sizes, and shapes for wireless cameras. As an entrepreneur planning to retail these devices online or through a physical store, it is important that you know and are familiarized with all of the diverse parts and parts of the wireless camera products you're selling. Data in these areas is crucial whenever an investigation is made by a potential client. Answering any investigations relating to parts accurately will raise your potential client's trust on your business, especially if you are on online retailer.

To put you in the right road towards wireless camera online retailing success, the following listing is provided giving you some of the most basic, and most important parts and components you need to know as a web retailer.

* Camera Sensor

Simply put, the camera sensor is the center of the camera as it processes and records the photographs that are passed thru the cameras lenses. Wireless cameras now use sensors in electronic or digital form, and this includes the digital CCD ( Charge-Coupled Device ) image sensor, the CMOS or Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor sensor, and the back-illuminated CMOS sensors which are now used extensively in modern digital cameras.

* Lens

If the sensor is the center of the camera, the lens is the eye. Pictures and light are caught by the assembly of lenses that forms this part and passes these on to the sensor for electronic processing and storing.

* Bracket

Cameras are installed on location thru mounting brackets, permitting the camera assembly to be directed to the area it is monitoring. Using the right brackets is significant in giving the wireless camera a good vantage point in capturing the needed pictures or video feeds.

* Transmitter

Wireless cameras employ radio waves to broadcast image or video info and other info to a receiving video processor or computer. So as to do this, the signals are sent thru a transmitter built into the camera itself. There are various transmitters for wireless cameras and would rely on the particular connectivity or compatibility it was designed for such as infrared, Bluetooth, GSM, 3G or WiFi.

* Receiver

The receiver is the counterpart of the wireless camera at the opposite end, receiving the captured image and video signals for processing and recording. The receiver will also depend on what kind of video signals and compatibility that the camera has. The wireless camera also has an included receiver alongside its transmitter to get and process instructions from the user by remote.

* LED Light

L. E. Ds or LEDs are fast becoming the norm for low-energy lighting systems for nearly any applications including the illumination utilized for wireless cameras. These LED lamps give off trusty on-camera video illumination without consuming much space in the camera's framework.

* IR Light

The night vision capacities of wireless cameras are made feasible with the use of infrared lighting and illuminators. Using infrared radiation, light waves the eyes can't see, the wireless cameras can record images even when there's little or no perceivable light.

* Processor

The camera's processor is the mind of the wireless cameras which controls the image processing and other mechanical and electronic functions of the wireless cameras. The sort of processor in the camera defines its video and wireless capabilities, much like the CPU of a PC

* Electronic Shutter

An electronic shutter is the digital replacement for the normal mechanical window shutters letting in light and images to the camera's sensor. The differences in design will depend on the design of the camera's sensor, if it is's a CCD or a CMOS image sensor.

* Antenna

Video signals broadcast by the wireless camera are increased, sent and received thru the antenna of the receiver. The camera also has a built-in antenna that receives the digital instructions from the user or controller that sets the functions of the camera and its mechanisms.

* Sunshield

Wireless cameras, dependent on the requirement and application, can be installed outside a multinational and exposed to the environment. A sunshield is required to protect the camera's lenses and stops the sun's glare from twisting the captured photographs. Sunshields are typically made of sturdy plastic or metal that protects and insulates the camera from the environment.

The newer and most modern wireless camera brands and models are coming up with extra features, parts and elements that will make the user's experience much more effective, and exciting. As an online retailer, it'd be to your most lucrative advantage to know more about these components and set yourself up as a trustworthy source of information as well as products by your potential clients.

The best place to search for wireless cameras is on the world wibe web, so search for them today and find the best value and best quality wireless cameras.

Source China's best wireless cameras on the web. Visit Chinavasion or paste this link into your browser: http://www.chinavasion.com/index.php/cName/surveillance-equipment-spy-camera/

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Business Security Cameras - Top 10 Questions Asked

So you own a business and you just got broken into, again! The desire for security cameras has just gone from a want to a necessity in the time it took you to call the police, and they, (as nicely as possible) told you there is still NOTHING they can do for you.

At this point you are mad, scared or downright ready to throw in the towel. You probably feel like it is all up to you to prevent it from happening again. You are ABSOLUTELY correct! Unfortunately in this day and age crime is on the rise, and only security cameras can give you a 24/7 presence that criminals not only notice, but fear.

After making the decision to bite the bullet and get a surveillance camera system for your business, I bet you've done a search on the internet hoping to find that one link that answers all your questions and tells you exactly what you need. Yeah, good luck on that! There is so much out there, and so many companies, good and bad, that can offer security cameras to you. It takes hours and hours to filter through it all and separate the need to know, from the not what you are looking for.

I have customers call in everyday overwhelmed with information and underwhelmed with the response they are getting from the companies they are calling. Well, have no fear! I can very simply narrow down the questions you have and help point you in the right direction.

Without further adieu - Here are the Top 10 Questions I am asked on a daily basis for what a business needs in reference to security cameras.

Question # 10. How far and wide of an area will the cameras see?
Answer - How far a camera will see is based off of truly one thing - how big your lens is, and in this case size really does matter! The larger the number the farther away you'll be able to see. So for example - if you have a 3.6mm lens the area of sharpest focus is around 12' away from the camera. But if you have a 50mm lens, then the focus moves to around 75' away from the camera.

Now, how wide a camera will see is based off of two things - The image sensor and more importantly the lens. The two most common image sensors are 1/4" and 1/3". The larger the number the better. It will let more light into the picture and give you a slightly wider angle of view. The lens has a bigger impact on the angle of your cameras though. As in our example in #10, a 3.6mm lens will see about 80 degrees wide, if you put it in the corner of a room you'll see pretty much the entire room. Now a 50mm lens will only be around 5 degrees wide. Think of it this way, if you zoom in with a camcorder you can see farther away but your scene gets narrower. It's the same scenario for security cameras. A lot of people also want to know if there is a camera out there that can see perfectly clear at 5' and at 200' at the same time. No there is not. Pan-Tilt-Zoom Cameras (PTZ's) can zoom in and refocus electronically, but it is still one focal distance at a time.

Question # 9. Do I need infrared?
Answer - If your camera is inside, it depends on whether or not you want to be able to see at night, and if you routinely leave any lights on after you close. Some facilities are like Fort Knox when it comes to outside security and you have to have Presidential clearance to get inside. The security cameras inside are only used to watch employees or processes, and after hours surveillance isn't needed at all. In this case a regular hi-resolution color camera is perfect. No point in paying for something you don't need.

For outdoor security cameras, infrared is great. Infrared LEDs can illuminate an area on its own with no other light source. So if you have a camera with LEDs, then even in a pitch black parking lot or alleyway you'll still be able to see. It lights up people and objects like a Christmas tree. Most LEDs have a faint red glow to them, so yes people might be able to see them. I always think this is preferred because it would be much easier if you deterred people from messing with your property, as opposed to filing a police report, locating, and then prosecuting them after they've done something bad. Having lighting with your cameras is wonderful, but what happens if your power goes out? See # 8.

Question # 8. Do I need battery backup?
Answer - YES YOU DO!! You want an Uninterruptible Power Supply with around 1000VA or more of battery backup. You also want the ability to plug at least 2 things into the battery-backed outlets provided. Those two items are your DVR and your camera power supply. So if you have a power outage your cameras will still get juice and your DVR will still be recording. The higher the VA rating - the longer your unit will stay powered off the battery. Also make sure you get an automatic reset UPS. This means if the power is gone for long enough to completely exhaust the battery, and it dies too, you want the UPS to turn back on as soon as power is restored. Most UPS's have non battery powered outlets as well, but still give you surge protection. This is very handy. You want to keep your monitor plugged into a surge protected outlet but you don't want it draining your battery if the power goes out. Having a UPS is normally a requirement of a full DVR warranty, and besides, it's just smart to have.

Question # 7. Do I need fixed lenses or varifocal?
Answer - I get this one a lot, and honestly it depends on the camera location and preference of the owner. Fixed lenses give you a very sharp picture, but no ability to adjust how the camera focuses. You can normally point the camera in a different direction, if your hand is on the camera, but what you see through the camera is what you get. Varifocal lenses give you the ability to manually adjust the zoom and focus on the camera to get the view you need.. So not only can you move it with your hand to aim it at a different area, but you can also change how wide and far it sees. This can be worth a lot if you are trying to cover wide areas far away, or you aren't positive exactly what you need to focus on.

Question # 6. Do I need fixed cameras or PTZs?
Answer - Well to start with I'll explain both just so we're on the same page. Fixed cameras in this instance are cameras that don't move. They may have a varifocal lens but they would still be manually adjusted. You're hands would have to be on the camera to adjust their view or zoom. PTZ stands for Pan Tilt Zoom, and these cameras are electronically controlled cameras that have additional wiring requirements because you can actually adjust them remotely. The cameras require the same video and power, wire but they also need a twisted pair (Cat5 or Cat6) data wire run to them as well. Either through a keyboard/joystick controller, your DVR or remote software; these cameras can actually be controlled. You can adjust the direction the camera is pointing to, the tilt of the module itself as well as how the camera is zoomed and focused. These cameras can be a godsend or a waste of money depending on where they are mounted and how they are used.

For most PTZs you have preset locations you can save for each camera. Starting at 8 presets and then up to hundreds depending on what you are using to control it. Then you can have auto pans and tours and...I digress. If you haven't noticed already PTZs are complicated. They are infinitely settable and difficult to configure for even the seasoned installer. So if this is your first foray into cameras I would stick with fixed until you are comfortable with your equipment.

PTZ cameras are great and awful for the same reason. They move. If you are sitting at your house and manipulating your PTZ camera through your central monitoring software (CMS) and you leave it looking at your dumpster, and then walk away...what happens when somebody comes screaming around a corner and plows right into your brand new 00 lighted LED sign. So it's a good idea to purchase a PTZ that can return automatically to it's programmed home position after a preset dwell time. And before you ask - no you can't turn the camera back after it has been recorded and see what you missed. Your DVR will only record what your camera is looking at. So you can miss things because your PTZ can't be looking at everything all the time. On the flip side of that scenario, PTZs can be used to capture supremely important footage. Say you are sitting at your house again looking around your property. You are about to turn it off and go to bed when you see that same person screaming around the corner. You turn the camera and zoom in to get the plate before they drive away. The PTZ probably just paid for itself.

One other thing to remember if you buy a PTZ and then leave it sitting in its home position all the time - you've just purchased a very expensive fixed camera. But if you use it to look around your property every time you log in to look at your cameras, then a PTZ is the right choice.

Question # 5. Can one camera work for every location?
Answer - Every property is different, and sometimes each camera location on one property might need a different style, or a different lens. So if you found a company stating that they have one "end all, be all" camera that will suit every environment and all customers, hang up the phone. There is not a camera out there that is right for everyone or every scenario. That is why you got 8 bazillion entries when you searched for business security cameras. Now pick up the phone again and call a company that offers custom quoting and design for each business they talk to. They are worth their weight in gold when it comes to holding your hand through the entire process.

Question # 4. Can I go wireless?
Answer - Honestly...probably not. Most wireless security cameras are made for outdoor use and line of sight. Meaning the transmitter antenna and

High Speed Infrared Cameras Enable Demanding Thermal Imaging Applications

Introduction

1.0 Infrared Spectral Sensitivity Bands

2.0 Image Resolution and Field-of-View

2.1 Detector arrays and pixel sizes
2.2 Infrared lens characteristics

3.0 High Speed Camera Features

3.1 Short exposure times
3.2 High frame rates
3.3 Dynamic range expansion
3.4 Event triggering
3.5 Calibration: Non-uniformity correction and radiometry

4.0 Infrared Camera Applications

IR Inspection in Design,Test and Manufacturing
Hyperspectral and Gas Imaging, Remote Sensing
Target Signature Measurement andTracking
Research and Development
BodyTemperature Detection, Medical Imaging
Non-DestructiveTest (NDT)

Summary

Introduction

Recent developments in cooled mercury cadmium telluride (MCT or HgCdTe) infrared detector technology have made possible the development of high performance infrared cameras for use in a wide variety of demanding thermal imaging applications. These infrared cameras are now available with spectral sensitivity in the shortwave, mid-wave and long-wave spectral bands or alternatively in two bands. In addition, a variety of camera resolutions are available as a result of mid-size and large-size detector arrays and various pixel sizes. Also, camera features now include high frame rate imaging, adjustable exposure time and event triggering enabling the capture of temporal thermal events. Sophisticated processing algorithms are available that result in an expanded dynamic range to avoid saturation and optimize sensitivity. These infrared cameras can be calibrated so that the output digital values correspond to object temperatures. Non-uniformity correction algorithms are included that are independent of exposure time. These performance capabilities and camera features enable a wide range of thermal imaging applications that were previously not possible.

At the heart of the high speed infrared camera is a cooled MCT detector that delivers extraordinary sensitivity and versatility for viewing high speed thermal events.

1.0 Infrared Spectral Sensitivity Bands

Due to the availability of a variety of MCT detectors, high speed infrared cameras have been designed to operate in several distinct spectral bands. The spectral band can be manipulated by varying the alloy composition of the HgCdTe and the detector set-point temperature. The result is a single band infrared detector with extraordinary quantum efficiency (typically above 70%) and high signal-to-noise ratio able to detect extremely small levels of infrared signal. As shown in Figure 2, (see link below for a complete article referencing all figures and tables), single-band MCT detectors typically fall in one of the five nominal spectral bands shown:

• Short-wave infrared (SWIR) cameras - visible to 2.5 µm

• Broad-band infrared (BBIR) cameras - 1.5-5 µm

• Mid-wave infrared (MWIR) cameras - 3-5 µm

• Long-wave infrared (LWIR) cameras - 7-10 µm response

• Very Long Wave (VLWIR) cameras - 7-12 µm response

In addition to cameras that utilize "monospectral" infrared detectors that have a spectral response in one band, new systems are being developed that utilize infrared detectors that have a response in two bands (known as "two color" or dual band). Examples include cameras having a MWIR/LWIR response covering both 3-5 µm and 7-11 µm, or alternatively certain SWIR and MWIR bands, or even two MW sub-bands.

There are a variety of reasons motivating the selection of the spectral band for an infrared camera. For certain applications, the spectral radiance or reflectance of the objects under observation is what determines the best spectral band. These applications include spectroscopy, laser beam viewing, detection and alignment, target signature analysis, phenomenology, cold-object imaging and surveillance in a marine environment.

Additionally, a spectral band may be selected because of the dynamic range concerns. Figure 3, (see link below for a complete article referencing all figures and tables), shows the infrared image obtained with an LWIR infrared camera resulting from the test firing of a solid rocket booster. The intra-scene dynamic range (including the plume and the background) is about 2200K. Such an extended dynamic range would not be possible with an infrared camera imaging in the MWIR spectral range. The wide dynamic range performance of the LWIR system is easily explained by comparing the flux in the LWIR band with that in the MWIR band. As calculated from Planck's curve, the distribution of flux due to objects at widely varying temperatures is smaller in the LWIR band than the MWIR band when observing a scene having the same object temperature range. In other words, the LWIR infrared camera can image and measure ambient temperature objects with high sensitivity and resolution and at the same time extremely hot objects (i.e. >2000K). Imaging wide temperature ranges with an MWIR system would have significant challenges because the signal from high temperature objects would need to be drastically attenuated resulting in poor sensitivity for imaging at background temperatures.

2.0 Image Resolution and Field-of-View

2.1 Detector Arrays and Pixel Sizes

High speed infrared cameras are available having various resolution capabilities due to their use of infrared detectors that have different array and pixel sizes. Several common array formats are shown in Figure 4, (see link below for a complete article referencing all figures and tables). For applications that do not require high resolution, high speed infrared cameras based on QVGA detectors offer excellent performance. Figure 4a, (see link below for a complete article referencing all figures and tables), shows a 320x256 array of 30 µm pixels. Such cameras are known for their extremely wide dynamic range due to the use of relatively large pixels with deep wells, low noise and extraordinarily high sensitivity.

Infrared detector arrays are available in different sizes, the most common are QVGA, VGA and SXGA as shown. The VGA and SXGA arrays have a denser array of pixels and consequently deliver higher resolution. The QVGA is economical and exhibits excellent dynamic range because of large sensitive pixels.

More recently, the technology of smaller pixel pitch has resulted in infrared cameras having detector arrays of 15 micron pitch, delivering some of the most impressive thermal images available today. For higher resolution applications, cameras having larger arrays with smaller pixel pitch deliver images having high contrast and sensitivity. In addition, with smaller pixel pitch, optics can also become smaller further reducing cost. A 640x512 (VGA format) pixel array is depicted in Fig. 4b and a 1280x1024 (SXGA format) pixel array is depicted in Fig. 4c. A sample image from an SXGA camera is shown in Figure 5. (See link below for a complete article referencing all figures and tables).

2.2 Infrared Lens Characteristics

Lenses designed for high speed infrared cameras have their own special properties. Primarily, the most relevant specifications are focal length (field-of-view), F-number (aperture) and resolution.

Focal Length: Lenses are normally identified by their focal length (e.g. 50mm). The field-of-view of a camera and lens combination depends on the focal length of the lens as well as the overall diameter of the detector image area. As the focal length increases (or the detector size decreases), the field of view for that lens will decrease (narrow). Since the field-of-view depends on the detector physical size, if a lens that is designed to be used on the detector depicted in Fig. 4c is used on either of the detectors depicted in Figs. 4a or 4b, the resulting field-of-view would be half that of the 4c detector. (See link below for a complete article referencing all figures and tables).

Table 1, (see link below for a complete article referencing all figures and tables), shows common lens/camera combinations and their resulting field-of-view for the 4a and 4b sized detectors. Shown are the commonly available lens focal lengths for mid-wave (MWIR), broadband (BBIR) and long-wave (LWIR) imaging. A convenient online field-of-view calculator for a range of high-speed infrared cameras is available in the comprehensive article at the link below:

In addition to the common focal lengths, infrared close-up lenses are also available that produce high magnification (1X, 2X, 4X) imaging of small objects, as shown in Figure 6, (see link below for a complete article referencing all figures and tables).

Infrared close-up lenses provide a magnified view of the thermal emission of tiny objects such as electronic components.

F-number: Unlike high speed visible light cameras, objective lenses for infrared cameras that utilize cooled infrared detectors must be designed to be compatible with the internal optical design of the dewar (the cold housing in which the infrared detector FPA is located). As shown in Figure 7, (see link below for a complete article referencing all figures and tables), this is because the dewar is designed with a cold stop (or aperture) inside that prevents parasitic radiation from impinging on the detector. Because of the cold stop, the radiation from the camera and lens housing are blocked, infrared radiation that could far exceed that received from the objects under observation. As a result, the infrared energy captured by the detector is primarily due to the object's radiation. The location and size of the exit pupil of the infrared lenses (and the f-number) must be designed to match the location and diameter of the dewar cold stop. (Actually, the lens

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