Avigilon HD Multi-sensor: First Varifocal Multi-Imager Cameras

By John Honovich, Published Apr 15, 2015, 12:00am EDT

2015 is the year of multi-imager cameras, with Axis unveiling a 33MP model, Pelco announcing DragonFly and DW coming out with a 48MP model.

However, all of them are fixed focal only.

Now, Avigilon is introducing multi-imager cameras that not only are varifocal but remote zoom too.

In this note, we examine the key features, pricing and competitive positioning of this line.

********

******** *********** ** ***********, **** *** / 3 ****** *** **** / * ****** ******** (ergo **** ****** ** 3MP). **** ****** ** **** WDR ********* * *.* - *** ********* **** with ****** **** / focus.

*** ******* **** * little **** ****** ***** with ******* / '*******' that *** ** ************.

******** ***** ***** *** sent *** **** * single ******* **********. **** Avigilon's *** ***, ** only ******** * *******. Other *****, **** *** multi-imager, **** ****** ** the ***** *****-****** ********* policy.

***** ***** *******

****** *** ******** ********** Avigilon *****-****** (***** ***** 180 / ********), *** new ****** **** **** ONVIF / *** ***** support.

*******

****** ******* ** ********* to ** ******* ** the ******* **** ** the $**** - $**** range.

************

******** ****** **** *****.

Competitive ***********

*** ***** ***** ******* is *** ********* / zoom ************. *** **** challenging ******** ** **** those *** ****** / valued.

*******, ***** ** * lot ** ****** / demand *** ***** *** cameras, **** **** ****** fixed / *** ** 45° ****, ****** * panoramic ** ** ****. By ********, *** ****** of ********* / **** would ** ** ********* / ****** **** ***** of *** ***** *** wants ** *****, ******* that ***** ** ***° side ** **** ** 2 ******* ****, *** imagers ****** ** ** cover ******** ***** ** high ********, ***.

******** ** *** ******* Omni, *** ******* **********, given **** **** **** allow *** ********* ****** position *** ***** ******, Avigilon *** *** ******** advantages. ******* **** ** designed ******* ** * construction ***, ***** *** tech ***** ** ******** attach / ****** ******* plus **** *** ***** focal ****** (*** ********** **** **** *******). ** ********, *** Avigilon *****-******* **** *** imagers *** ****** *** built-in, ******** *** ******* adjustments (*.*., ** **** to *** ********* **** lengths, **** **** *** manually, ******** **** *****, etc.).

Too *** **********?

*** ******** ** **** these *** ********** ******** 'low' **********. ** *** has ******* ******** **** years ** ******** ********* it ** **** **** pixels *** ****** ******. For *******, *** ** the *** **** **** models***** ************ * ** ***** Avigilon ***** (********* ** Avigilon *****). ***, ** course, **** ** ******** has ******** ************, ***** is **** ** ******* than **** ***** *****. However, *** ***** ******* areas, **** ****** *** often ******. ** **** end, ***** ** **** that *** **** *****, in *** **** ***** range, ***** ******* ************* wider ******* ******** ****.

Versus *** *** *******?

*** ****** ******** ** Avigilon's *** *** ****** cameras ** **** ***** multi-imagers **** ** **% to **% **** **** their *** ** **** PRO *******. *******, ** wider ******, *** *****-******* may ******* ****** ******* coverage, ** **** ***** price, ***** *** *****-******* can ** ********* *** combined ** ****** *** most ********* ***** ** a *****.

*******, ** ******* **** is * ***** ********** that ******** * *** tool / ****** ** designing ************ *******.

Comments (12)

Radu Vadeanu

04/15/15 02:01pm
Hi, What will power requirements for this camera? Thx

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Radu Vadeanu | 04/15/15 02:28pm

PoE normal operation.

With heater, PoE+

Avatar

Scot MacTaggart

04/15/15 02:07pm
Can you expand on what is possible when you say the heads can be "repositioned" please?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Scot MacTaggart | 04/15/15 02:21pm

From their announcement: "Each of the three or four cameras can be positioned independently along three axes (roll, pitch, and rotation), exposing all areas that would otherwise be obscured."

If Avigilon will let us in the booth, we'll take a quick video of it and post it.

I am curious myself to see how much / well it can be adjusted.

Avatar

Scot MacTaggart

In reply to John Honovich | 04/15/15 02:29pm

Cool. This was always one of my top issues with the existing style.

Michael Miller

In reply to Scot MacTaggart | 04/15/15 02:54pm

There is lots of adjustment options with the camera heads including rotating the imagers and the ability to point any of them down to cover the area below the camera. The 3 head version will work well for mounting on the corner of a building which needs 270 degrees of coverage.

Having installed many Arecont cameras the remote zoom/focus is a huge advantage. Struggling to focus those M12 lenses on a bucket truck is now a thing of the past!

Undisclosed Integrator #1

04/15/15 02:34pm

To provide an answer to when these are needed, our application of varifocal is having the lens in a wider view during the day when lighting provides the best results. Then as the light fades, we use presets to move the camera to have a image of the most important scene elements; door, gate, etc. We knowingly sacrifice the view of the open areas, in exchange for the critical areas. We do this with single lens varifocal cameras, and doing that with a multi-lens makes sense too.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 04/15/15 02:50pm

Add some varifocal aware stitching and you have a poor man's Dallamier Panorama.

James Gowan

IPVMU Certified | 04/15/15 03:37pm

You have my interest.

Itamar Kerbel

04/15/15 08:36pm

Finally...
I have been hearing about this for abou a year now.

The old models were too expensive and not that good (image quality).

Also have you seen this:

Avigilon Pro Analytics camera

Andrew Thomas

04/19/15 06:24pm

The original panoramics (available since 2009) have grown stale, and I look forward to working with these.

However, with a multi-sensor (3 or 4) camera, the tendancy is to visualize the camera mounted on the X or the y axis. By adding a variable mounting angle, my mind is now blown as I architect camera placements for the aisleways of a 1mil. sq./ft. factory with many 3 and 4 way intersections, all while maintaining a minimum image requirement and 100% coverage.

The tools we developed are getting a workout as we consider mounting cameras at off-angles with the 3rd sensor either above or below the two. Then rotate one or both outer lens and capture on the 3 x 4 axis, while we capture the 3rd sensor on the 4 x 3 axis. This opens up a lot of possibilities to have cameras overlap coverage and minimize camera counts.

Don't forget, we can also Mount the 4 sensor at 75 degrees, where the bottom sensor can capture on the 4 x 3 axis (93 degree HFOV) looking downward , the outer and upper sensors on the 3 x 4 axis to the left, right, and forward, at a narrow (24 degree HFOV.)

I expect this to be my new favorite camera if I keep my sanity.

John Honovich

IPVM | 04/26/15 10:11pm

New information:

Avigilon now has a demo page with a few examples of using HD multisensor in real world applications. Here's an elevator / hallway:

Also, here is the HD multisensor install manual.

Finally, Avigilon has a new blog post where they declare themselves #1 in panoramic cameras.

Read this IPVM report for free.

This article is part of IPVM's 6,728 reports, 907 tests and is only available to members. To get a one-time preview of our work, enter your work email to access the full article.

Already a member? Login here | Join now
Loading Related Reports