Repositionable Multi-Imager Camera Guide

IT
IPVM Team
•Published Dec 29, 2020 17:51 PM

Repositionable multi-imager camera usage has been growing strongly over the past few years, but this new segment may be confusing to those used to typical cameras.

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Inside this guide, we explain the following key elements in repositionable multi-imagers:

  • Number of imagers
  • Fixed vs. varifocal vs. motorized lenses
  • Positioning/panning differences
  • Motorized positioning
  • Tilt limitations
  • Corridor mode support
  • Size tradeoffs
  • Resolution and FPS options
  • Advanced features (WDR, super low light, IR)
  • Comparison to single imager cameras
  • Comparison to fixed lens multi-imager cameras
  • Potential analytics limitations
  • Cloud multi-imager cameras

Repositionable *****-****** ************

************** *****-******* ******* ** ******** ****** assemblies (**** *** ******) ******* ** the **** *******, **** ********* **** its *** * ** * **** gimbal *** ********** ***********.

************** *****-****** ****** **** **** ********* for **+ *****, **** **** ************* even ******** ** ****** ******** ** the ***** *****, ****** **** *** not ****** ****** ***** *** ***-**-**** 2010s.

Key ********* ***********

***** *** ***** *** ******* ** repositionable ***** *******:

  • ****** ** *******
  • ***** **. *********
  • ********* ***********

Number ** *******

**** ********, *****-****** ****** ******* **** imagers, ********* ****** *** ***° ******** (~90° *** ******), ****** **** ****-****** models *** **** **** ******** ******.

*****-****** ****** *** *********, *** **** rare, **** **** ************* *** ******** them ** ***. ***** ******* *** sometimes ******** ** ** ***° *******, as **** *** ** ********* ** and ***** ******* ******* ** *********.

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Dual-Imager ****** *******

****-****** ****** *** **** ******, *** a ******* *******, **** *** ******* from********,****, ************** *** **** *** *****. ****** most *****-****** ****** ***** ***** *** their ******* ***** * ****** **** "bubble", ****-****** ****** ***** *** ******** domes *******, ***** *****, ** * single ******* (****** **** ***** *** only *** ******** **********, ** *******, etc.).

** **** ** ******* * ******** of **** ******* ****** ** ***** 2023.

Fixed **. *********

******, *****-****** ****** *** ** ****** fixed ***** ** *********. ** ****, varifocal ****** *** ********* *********, ****** some ****** ********* ****** **** ********* in *** ****. ***** ***** ******* models *** ***** *************** **** *******, so ***** *** ****** *** ***** specific ******.

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Motorized *********** (****)

*******, ******* ****** ***** ***** ********-************ motorized *********** *** *** *********. **** allows ***** ** ****** *** ******** of **** ****** **** *** ******'* web *********, ******* ******* ** ********** open *** ****** *** ******.

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**** ************* ****** ************, ** *** camera *********** **** ***** ** ** mounted *** *******, **** ******* *** be ******** **********, *****, *** *******, but ***** ****** *** ********* ***** the **** ********* *********.

Freely ******* **. ******* *** *******

*** ********** ******* *** ********** **** varies, **** *** ***** **********: ****** movable *** ******* ***.

Freely *******

**** ****** ***** ******* ** ** detached **** *** **** *** ********** elsewhere, ** ****** ***** ****** * track ******* **** ****** ***** **** the ****** ** ***** ********* *** imager ** *** ****.

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**** ****** *** **** *********** ** positioning, *** *** **** ****** ** install, ** ** ******** ***** (**** limited *** ****** ** ***) *** more **** **** ** ***** **** removing/reinstalling *******.

Limited ***

******* *** ****** ***** **** ********** small *********** ** *******, ******* ****** by **** ***** ** *** ***** proximity ** ***** *******, ****** **** manufacturers' ******* **** ********* ** **** as ****** *** ***** ********** ****** become *********.

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***** ****** ********* **** ******* ** how ******* *** ** **********, *** they *** **** ******* ******* ** position, **** **** ***** * ******** fit ** ***** ** **** ******* in *****, ******* ** ********* *****.

Imager ****/******** ***********

****** ******* **********, ***** **** ** vary *************, ***** ****** ****** **** to **** ******* ******** *** ******** capabilities. *******, ***** *** ******* ****** selection:

  • ******** **** ****:*** *** ****** ***** ***** ** angle ** ****** ******** ****, ***** may ** ****** **** ********** ** cover * ******** ****** ** * intersection.
  • ****** ***********:**** ***** ******* ****** *** ******* in *** *** ** ***** ******* may ** ******. ***** ****** ****** of **** **** ********* ******* ** it *** ****** ******** ** ******** to **** ******.

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  • ******** **** *******:**** ****** ***** ********** ******* ** be *** ** ******** ****, ******* 90° ** ***°, ***** * *:* or *:** ****** *****. **** ****** for *********** ****** ******** ** **** hallways, **********, *** ***** *****.

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Size / ****** **** ******

*** **** *** ****** ** *** muti-imager ******* **** ******. *** ******* in ***************** *****-****** ****** ************** ** * ****** (*.* ** 11.5 ***) *** ****** **** *.*" diameter ** **.*". ** ********** *** a *** ******* *** * *****-****** model, ***** ****** ********* ****** ****** specs.

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Bigger **** ******* ***** *******

******* **** ******* ******** *******, ************** multi-imager ****** **** ** ** **** large ******** ** ******* **** *******, as **** ** ***** ***°/***° *****-*******.

*** *******, *** **** ********** ***** shows ************** ****** ** *** *** row, **** ***** ***° ****** *****, and * ******* **** ******* **** for ********* ****** *****. *** ******* multi-imager ***** ** ****** ***** *** diameter ** *** ******** ****.

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Analytics ***********

***** **** *************' **** ********* ** their *****-****** ****** ******, ******* *** and *********** **** *******. *** *******, some ************* ******* ********* **** ** one ** *** ********, ******* ** all ****. ****** *** ***** "*********" but ******* **** ***** *********-***** *********, which ****** **** *********** ***** ***** issues.

** ********* ** * *** *******, beware ** ***** ****** *** ****** what **** ** ********* **** ******* and ** *** **** ********, ** ideally, **** *** ****** ** *****.

Cloud *****-******* ******** / ******** ** ****

******-**-***** ******* **** ***** ******* ** the **** *** *****, *** **** not ******** **** ******/**** *********** **** factors **** ** *****-******* ***** ****. Now,***************** **** ********* *****-****** ****** ** their *****, **** **** ***** ********* expected ** ** ** **** ****, as *** *****-****** *** ***** ******** continue ** ****.

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IPVM ********

*** **** ** ************** *****-****** *********** differences, *** ***************** *****-****** ****** ******** - ***, Avigilon, ****, *****, *****, ******* ********, Hanwha, *********, *-***, *** ******. ** **** **** ** ****** this ******** **** *** ****** ** they *** ********.

Tradeoffs ****** ****** ******

******** ** ******* ****** ****** ******, repositionable ****** **** ***** *** **********:

  • ******* ********* / ******* **********:***** ******** ****** ****** ***** ******* may ** ******** *** ****** ********, a ****** ************** ***** *** ***** the **** ****, ******** *** ****** of ******* ******* ** *** *******/**** and ********* **********. *******, **** **** the ********* **** ** **** ****** may *** ** ********** ** **** users, **** ***** ****** ** ******* may ** *******.
  • ******* ******** *****:******* **** *** ****** **** ** mounted *** ******, ***** ****** **** be ***, ***** ************ ****, *** fewer ******** ******* *********, ******** *****.
  • ******* *** ********:*******, **** *****-****** ****** ******* **** a ****** *** ******* *** *** channels, ***** ******** ***** ******* ***** use ******** ********, ******** ********* *****. Note **** **** ** *** **** of *** ****** *** *****, ** users ****** ***** ******* ************ **** their ********* ******/*** ***********.

*******, ***** *** **** ******* ***********:

  • ***** ******* ***:*****-****** ****** ***** ******* * ******* of **-** *** ** *** ******** or *****, ***** ******-****** ****** *** generally ******* ** *****.
  • ********* ***********:*****-****** ****** *** ** ******* ** advanced ******** ******** ******** ** ******-****** models, ******* ** ** **** *** channel ** ***** ***** ********* *******.
  • *********** ***** *********** *******:***** ******** ******** **** ********** **, true ***, *** ***** *** ***** have ****** ****** ** *****-*******, *********** is ***** ********** ***** **** ****** imager ****** **** *** **** ************.

Tradeoffs ****** ***°/***° ***** *******

************** ******' *** ********* ****** ***° and ***° *****-******* ** ***********, ** they *** ** ********** ** ***** odd-shaped ***** ***** *** *** ** properly ****** ** ***** ***** ******.

*******, **** *********** ***** **** ***** disadvantages:

  • **** ******* *****:****** ***** ****** ****** ***** **** aimed *** *******, ***** **** ******** aim *** ***** **** ********** ****** in ************** ******, ****** ** ************ time.
  • ****** ****:** ********* *****, ************** ****** *** larger **** ***** ****** ****** *** may *** ** ********** *************.
  • ******** ******* ******* ** ********:****, *** *** ***, ***° ******* produce * ****** ******** ******, *********** viewing ******** ** ************** ****** ***** take ** ******** ***** ** * layout *** **** ** ******** ******** logically.

[****: **** ***** *** ********** ******* in ****, *** ******* ****-**** ** reflect *** ******* ***** ** *** market, ****** ******** **** **** *******, and ****]

Comments (11)
UD
Undisclosed Distributor #1
•Dec 22, 2017

Hikvision also about to release there versions so a growing market place for sure , they offer great flexibility using such a camera 

(1)
Avatar
Jon Dillabaugh
•Dec 26, 2017
Pro Focus LLC
In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #1

My Hik rep gave me an initial pricing for their units and it was 4x the price of the P3707-PE. It did have twice the the imagers, but that didn’t justify the huge price delta. 

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #2
•Dec 22, 2017

I'm curious...The "limitation" of 15-20 IPS versus 30 IPS is commonly noted in camera evaluations. With the exception of gaming and perhaps ITS, does anyone in healthcare, manufacturing, education, etc actually record at 30IPS? Seems to me a vast majority of video applications are perfectly well suited by 10-15 IPS. 

The only ones recording at 30IPS that I know of are the ones left at factory default by the installer (whole different discussion!) and the ones specified by unknowing specifiers. 

Theater movies are (for the most part, I believe) are 24IPS. Smoothness of video at 15IPS is barely detectable by the human eye. 

Recording at 30IPS vs 15IPS requires (effectively) twice the storage for an exceptionally small marginal increase in evidentiary quality with the exception of high speed events including slight of hand. 

If off topic, I apologize, but just curious on thoughts of others. 

 

(1)
JH
John Honovich
•Dec 22, 2017
IPVM
In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

I'm curious...The "limitation" of 15-20 IPS versus 30 IPS

It's certainly on topic. It's not a deal breaker for most but it's worth mentioning.

Related, I edited that section to put the advanced features lacking to be in front of the fps so that it visually / structurally gives emphasis to that (i.e., WDR, IR, low light, etc.) which will more commonly be barriers for multi-imager adoption.

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
•Dec 22, 2017
In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

Having a maximum lower than 15FPS is indeed a limitation on cameras these days for a many reasons:

- with intelligent codecs, better motion detection algorithms, latest compression tech, dynamic I frames and FPS settings, 30 FPS using 2x the space and bandwidth of 15FPS is a false narrative.

- true WDR cuts your frame rate in half, whether or not the camera or spec sheet discloses it. A 7FPS multi imager now has lackluster evidence running 3-4 fps in most cases.

- Security threats are ever changing which means compliance, spec, needs, etc are changing. Why settle for minimum settings when you can offer future proof design with a multi imager that can handle more than 15 FPS?

- Environments can change. End users will often shift operations to different areas, build new structures or move cameras around. Why not use multi imager technology that can grow and change with the business and there will be no question of capability?

- of it comes down to court, 5 or 7 FPS can certainly miss evidence in all verticals. Fights, use of weapons, vehicles traveling at high speeds where they shouldn't, slip and falls, employee theft at registers, etc.

(2)
Avatar
Jon Dillabaugh
•Dec 26, 2017
Pro Focus LLC
In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

I agree with your overall points that 5-7 FPS output just isn’t viable for us. While we do often configure our installs at the 7-10 FPS range, I don’t like the idea of maxing out the capabilities of a camera. We have found that many models become unstable and sluggish as you reach their maximum frame rate. We try our best to avoid this. 

(2)
U
Undisclosed #4
•Dec 27, 2017
In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

I will typically spec 30fps to filter out the junk. I want some headroom to actual need, not something minimally compliant. I don't want something that will struggle and drop frames or freeze in an active scene at 15fps. 

Or take a fisheye for example, do you think a fisheye that has 12fps max at full resolution can dewarp/PTZ as smooth as a 30fps fisheye running 12fps at the edge?

Also, as other poster mentioned, WDR.

Why do people use Cat6 when Cat5e is fine? Why do people use gig switches when 10/100 is fine?

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #2
•Dec 22, 2017

Agreed its definitely worth mentioning. Thanks.

And yes, appreciate structural emphasis on imaging issues which are most times the most important. 

Not sure I remember reading it in the past but if it hasn't been done, a survey of integrators/end users on selected recording rates by vertical might be interesting. 

GK
Geoffrey King
•Dec 26, 2017

I really enjoy seeing these comparisons.  Are you planning on comparing the image quality on a single page?  Based on your early evaluation, the Hanwha camera looks impressive, but hopefully the size of these cameras will come down as technology evolves.

Any thoughts on the motorized pan on the Arecont? 

JH
John Honovich
•Dec 26, 2017
IPVM
In reply to Geoffrey King

Geoffrey, thanks.

Are you planning on comparing the image quality on a single page?

We had not but it's a good idea. We / Ethan will have to think about how to present it, given the variance in AoVs involved.

Any thoughts on the motorized pan on the Arecont?

We have not tested the newer Omnis. Our main concern is the fate of Arecont. They have clearly been heading down (e.g., Troubles At Arecont Vision, Failed Arecont China Acquisition) so one is taking a real chance with long-term support in that environment (this is especially problematic given Arecont's quality problems). I think it would be good for the industry if Arecont pulled through but given their ongoing problems I am not sure how likely that is.

(1)
EP
Emigdio Paredes
•Jun 19, 2019

Great article, do you have a chart listing out wattage consumption by these various models ?