Arecont's New D4SO Outdoor Dome Cameras

In September 2011, Arecont revealed two new additions to their product line, the D4SO outdoor dome camera and the MegaDome 2. In this update, we will cover the first of these two releases, the D4SO. This release substantially reduces Arecont's MSRP for outdoor domes, making them even more competitive.

The D4SO is an outdoor version of Arecont's D4 line [link no longer available] introduced earlier this year, which are essentially the latest generation of MegaVideo Compact cameras, the AVX115 series, fitted in surface or flush mount housings. One key limitation installers may not like is this line's 2-axis gimbal, versus the MegaDome's 3-axis, which will make fine adjustments more difficult.

This outdoor version shares the same form factor and accessories of the MegaDome [link no longer available] line, which are IP66-rated and vandal resistant. The D4SO will be available in 1.3MP, 1080p, 3MP, and 5MP versions. Arecont is also claiming the fastest frame rates on the market, with 42, 32, 21, and 14 FPS, respectively, at each of these resolutions. This release also includes privacy masking, extended motion detection zones, and binning modes not available in the MegaDome.

The D4SO will also be less expensive than the existing MegaDome line, with MSRP of $950 versus $1,290 for the 1.3MP version, and $1,250 versus $1,690 for the 5MP version, about a 25% reduction.  Street date is November 15th for these models. In recent price comparisons, Arecont has come out as a low-cost choice against many manufacturers, and this series should continue that in an outdoor form factor.