Box Camera Usage Statistics

By John Honovich, Published Jun 12, 2014, 12:00am EDT (Info+)

Box cameras are the 'original' surveillance form factor. But how are they doing today?

Over the last few years, options have proliferated, including domes, minidomes, bullets and cubes.

How has this impacted box cameras? How often are they being used? Why and where are they being deployed?

In this note, we share exclusive IPVM integrator survey results that answer these questions.

Overall ***** **** *** *******

**** **** * *** ** * surveillance ******* *********** ****** *** *** box **** ******:

******, ****** *** *********** *** *** cameras **** **** *** ***** ** the ****, **** **** * *** 'holdouts' ***** *** ******* *** * majority ** ***** ***********:

Reasons *******

*** ******* ******* ***** *** ******* are ********* *** ****** ******** ***** ***** *** ** *******:

  • "* ***'* **** ****** ** ******* tacky, ****, **** ********"
  • "*** ********** ** * ****** ********** whack. ***** * *******."
  • "**** *** *** *** *** ** a ******* ***** *********/***** **** ****** bulky *** ** ******* **** ****** bullets."
  • "**** *** **** *** ********* ** most *********. ** ***** **** *** them ** ***** ** *********** * longer **** ****."

Specialty ************

*********** ********** ********** **** *** ******* are ********* **** **** *** ******* purposes, ******:

  • "**** **** ** ********* ************."
  • "*********** ** *** *********/******* ** *** camera."
  • "*% ****** ***** ** * ******** application **** ******** * ******* **** requirement **** * **** *** *** offer"

Longer ****

*** **** ****** ********** *********** *** the **** ********* ****. **** *****, *** ****** limits *** ******* ****** *** **** box *******, *** **** *** ** as **** ** ******, ***** ***** is ** ***** ******** / ********* built **. ** *********** *****:

  • "** ** **** ********* **** * more ******** ****."
  • "***** ** **** ********** ** **** selection"
  • "***** ***** ****** ****** *** ******"
  • "**** **** ******** ***** ****** ****** are ****** *** **** ********."
  • "**** **** *** **** ******* *** the **** ******* ** *** ******* the *** *******."

Other ************

********* ******** ******* *** ******* ********** use **** *** *****:

  • "** **** ******* *** ******* ** we *** ********* ** ******** *** camera."
  • "******* **** ********* *** ******** *** camera ** ** * **** ******** would ********** *** ****."

* *** *********** ***** **** ******* capabilities, **** ***** **** **********, **** only ********* ** * *** **** factor:

  • "**** ** **** ********* ******* ***** there *** *** **** ** ******* options *********."
  • "*** **** *** ******* ** ********* sell *** *** ******** *** ****** cameras."
  • "*% *** *** ******'* *** **'* only ******** *** ******'*."

**** ******* **** ** ** * big ****** *** ***** ***** **** domes *** ************* **** ****** ****** up ** ****** ******** ******** ** domes.

*******, * *** ***** ***** *** in ***** ************:

  • "********* ********* ** ***** ************, *.*. explosion ***** ********, ******** *********** ********, etc."
  • "******* *** ********** *** ****** ************ with * ************ ******* ***** ********* are *** ******* ** *****."

Move ** **** *** ******* 

********** **** ********** **** **** ***** and ******* **** **** ******* ** the ******* ** *** ******. *** indoors, *** ****** ********** *** ******* install ** ***** ***** *** ****** away **** *****. *** *** ********, the ***-**-*** ******* ********** *** ****** resistance ** ******* ****** *********** **** boxes.

Comments (5)

Avatar

Marc Pichaud

06/14/14 10:12am

I do agree that Box is the solution when you need long distance (>15m) identification or plate recognition - with long vari focal lenses CS capabilities... (5-50 , 15-50 or more)

But I know lots of integrators (or may be more installer profiles.) deploying boxes, because they got BNC ports , like analog much easier to setup with analog display handheld.... Camera formfactor is just matching their ways to manage installations and also maintenance.

Avatar

Tom McFeely

06/15/14 07:50am

Although these days box cameras are considered somewhat "old-fashioned" by some, I cannot help but recall all the positive comments and editorials I've came across regarding the Samsung SNB-5004 for example. To this day it is considered one of the best low light cameras on the market - not to mention it's very competitive price.

I say this as someone who's business does not sell or install cameras, or derive any commission out of a related activity.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Tom McFeely | 06/15/14 10:20am

Sure, though you can get the same low light and WDR functionalities of the 5004 with the dome SNV-5084.

There are certainly cases where a manufacturer only has their top specs in a box, but those are increasingly rare.

Rukmini Wilson

In reply to John Honovich | 06/15/14 04:53pm

There are certainly cases where a manufacturer only has their top specs in a box,

Avigilon, Arecont are notable exceptions perhaps?

but those are increasingly rare.

That's does seem like the way it's trending, but with 4k's likely from the usual suspects in the next year, might we see a resurgence towards thinking 'in the box'? Bosch? Sony (for real, not the consumer sCamcorder)? Or is 4k=box not a valid assumption?

Avatar

Marc Pichaud

06/15/14 05:07pm

What I get from the field (SI and installer I train on IP and Video )is that the trend it to move to "all in one " solutions with maximum flexibity: Fixed dome or Bullet with "all features in one" ( IR, IP66/IK10, Extreme temperatures, low lux vision, smart/adaptive IR, WdrPro, remote focal focus, 3DNR, Image stabilizer, Customized exposure, and remote rotation (likeLG, Canon do)by degree to fix FOV horizon. Long range motorized vari focal with Bullet (like the one from Axis w<ith X18 optical) could replace most Box with much lowercost.

Maintenance dream is: make it short, simple, and stupid to install with very few part numbers, , and let me the opportunity to fix from remote potential image issues.

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