Network Video WebCam

[Wes]

This is the best one I've tested so far. (One of the most expensive as well.)

56° wide angle lens and 40x optical zoom!
Pan Angle Range 340°!!!

No other cam I've tested have such numbers. For a limited time, test it out here: http://wes3.homeip.net:8088/viewer/live/en/live.html

If you use I.E., you can hear the birds sing after clicking on the upper right hand corner speaker icon. (it'll install a small activex to receive audio from the webcam.)

[shifty]

Please help by putting out donationsby 7:30AM

(just inside your door :D)

[shifty]

so, will this thing autofocus on its own? Motion activated?

What make/model is it?

[Wes]

lol. yea, the 40x zoom is amazing!

Yes, it does autofocus and can also do motion activated. But once the motion is detected, it'll take away the user control. That's why I have it disabled and let you guys play with it for a bit.

Canon VB-C60

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=160&modelid=17529#ModelFeaturesAct

[shifty]

Also, you have Newsday on your porch :D

[shifty]

And it's very windy there also :D

[shifty]

Man, how many cameras do you have on your house?! I see what looks like a half dozen by the window above the door!

[Wes]

LOL. yea, i have about 8 including this new one. There are a few on the other side of the house. Most of them are wired camera since I found those have the best quality.

Those I tested most often are those with very low lux and around $100-$300.

[shifty]

My browser now keeps telling me to "switch on camera control priviledge"

[shifty]

Thanks for fixing that - I am showing a friend here at work the camera and its features. He didn't believe you could read the text of a parcel on your porch :D

[shifty]

This thing is incredible. I need to get one for my street :D

[shifty]

The only thing I cannot figure out is if the camera(/software) supports these three things:

- Motion-activated record
- Motion-activated alerts (SMS/Email)
- Movement tracking (for recording)

Otherwise, this thing is absolutely incredible, even better than what we use here at our office which cost almost $3,000 for three cams and a DVR unit.

[Wes]

No, Yes, Kinda.

It has motion-activated alerts via email. It can even email you some picture as well. Movement tracking works great for indoor. For outdoor, wind, trees, and shadow often mislead the camera.

The recording is done by a separate software running on a computer. The one it comes with is called VK-Lite. It's a striped down version of Webview Livescope Network video recorder that cost like $700. I think the lite version can only handle up to 4 cams. The software has control of where to look at during certain time and what kind of exposure or focus IF you want to override the cam's build-in settings. Other than that, there are not much you can do about motion control or anything else. It just do continuous recording.

Here is a copy of the manual. It shows how to setup and operate this cam, and motion related stuff: http://myunreal.com/wesweb1/Canon_VBC60_manual.zip

Thanks for fixing that - I am showing a friend here at work the camera and its features. He didn't believe you could read the text of a parcel on your porch :D

I didn't do anything. If another person is controlling it, you have to wait for your turn to get control of it. :)

[Wes]

btw, it's 8pm now and it's completely dark outside. The cam auto switch to IR mode. While the ground and everything is still warm, you can still see everything clearly.

When it gets even later at night, it won't be as clear.

[dragonash]

wow, thats a crazy cam!!

it moves so fast too!

[dragonash]

whoa! The zoom is amazing!

so, since its an ip camera, how do you record? You need software for your computer and run it like that?

[Wes]

Yea, this thing is amazing and it's simply the best I've seen so far. That's why I posted it here.

This webcam is a standalone unit. Just plug in a PoE (Ethernet with power) and it's good to go.

Yea, a software calls VK-Lite Storage Server runs on a computer and you can configure it to go out and get the video stream for the webcam.

[shifty]

it's funny, someone has been hogging the vidcam page so i can't look around, but i noticed i can see the lights blinking on the door locks in your car

[lilith]

How much is it? Or, do I have to contact my local sales rep?!?! :confused:

[Wes]

hehe. If you have to ask, it's gonna be too expensive. :D About $1500 for just the unit sitting indoor or about $2000 for an outside dome installation.

mind you that it is a network video server. It's like a camera, with a high end auto focus zoom, PTZ control motors, real time video processor, and a computer running webcam software all in one. You can build a similar setup by buying all those component together for about the same amount of money.

During the day, you can look around my house and you can see I've tested many different camera setup. Give me a budget and I can suggest some combination of products for you.

it's funny, someone has been hogging the vidcam page so i can't look around, but i noticed i can see the lights blinking on the door locks in your car

Did you click on blue ctrl button on the lower right first? It should put you in the queue. I have it setup to allow only 2 minutes of control time if someone is queuing for control. You should see some number counting down.

[shifty]

i found the unit at one of the camera stores for $450. apparently this was just for the special case it can go in for outdoors :D

meh. that is expensive, but it sure as hell is awesome.

[Wes]

lol. Yea, the special case is heated and with fans inside. The canon one cost about $450. I bought a clone one that suppose to be for other brands but has similar form factor and it cost $180. I gutted it, and use some aluminum plates to custom make a mount to fit the camera inside.

[dragonash]

hehe. If you have to ask, it's gonna be too expensive. :D About $1500 for just the unit sitting indoor or about $2000 for an outside dome installation.

I've been toying with the idea of a cam for my place, but thats way too expensive.

Can you recommend any cheap PTZ cams that will do a good job for a small apartment? I just need one since it will be able to move around!

A good seeing range of like... 50ft should be perfect.


edit:

omfg Wes, I can read your vehicle registration!!! lol That is AWESOME

[Wes]

Almost all of the under $1000 ones use very tiny lens (as in those typical webcam or phone camera). These things is similar to normal digital camera and lens setup. Better the lens, better the quality. The bigger CCD sensor also gives better quality. If quality (picture sharpness) is not a big issue, you can get one for about $300. Panasonic has a few wired and wireless one that's in that price range. How much you are thinking to spend?

P.S. Optical Zoom are very expensive! Don't expect to find any optical zoom for under $600.

[shifty]

Wes, it looks like everyone on your street has an american flag out front. bunch of patriotic folks you are!

[dragonash]

the way i see it, with all the security cams Wes has, i think he might be doing something illegal lol

[shifty]

yeah, i noticed that. i counted (for sure) three of them around the outside/front of his house. if there are three outside, you can figure at least twice as many inside, and half as many out back :D

remind me not to pee at Wes' house ;)

[garm]

Damn that's sweet. Used to run a simple webcam set up to watch my pooches. But now I have a bigger place need 3 cams and server for that.

Wonderful set up Wes.

Costco has some cheap packaged deals for those that are looking for a cheap version.

[dragonash]

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?whse=BC&topnav=&prodid=11313968&ec=BC-EC877-CatHome&pos=19&lang=en-US

wow, i knew they had cheap stuff and i've looked there before, but this is an awesome deal!

16cams!

[Ninjahedge]

Why do I fear for anyone visiting DA's place?

;)

[Wes]

Yea, but those cams quality really suck. Get one of those $20-$50 X10 cam and try it out and you'll see. Their quality are about the same. I have one setup outside my door. You can find it by selecting "Cam3" in the "Preset".

[dragonash]

Yea, but those cams quality really suck. Get one of those $20-$50 X10 cam and try it out and you'll see. Their quality are about the same. I have one setup outside my door. You can find it by selecting "Cam3" in the "Preset".

the quality doesnt suck for a small brooklyn apartment :)

Im looking at this one
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11334480&whse=BC&Ne=4001405+4000000&eCat=BC|79|4802|4803&N=4001405&Mo=13&No=10&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=4802&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&hierPath=79*4802*4803*&topnav=

I will buy one of those small color cams..the ones the size of a nickel. They cost like $60.

And to confirm Ninja's fears.... yes... my live-in girlfriend should be afraid :)

[garm]

I think Costco bought just too many of these surveillance packages and they've been trying to get rid of them ever since.

[dragonash]

I think Costco bought just too many of these surveillance packages and they've been trying to get rid of them ever since.

buyers market!!

hmm.... dree hundred? .... I'll give ya twenta-fi dollas!

[Ninjahedge]

Tree fiddy.