Why Integrators Hate Cube Cameras

HI,

I would agree, Cube cameras have never been an option.

Meanwhile, I came across Block cameras from Sony the other day, and I was wondering where are these kind of cameras used?

Luis Carmona

In reply to nidal gharzeddine

Geutebruck USA • IPVMU Certified

Those are probably for OEM, machine vision and various custom applications. If you notice, they don't list spec's on connectivity like Ethernet or even USB ports we are used to. They're the basic imaging components for whoever else to attach their own housing and connectivity hardware options.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

•Jun 19, 2014

In reply to nidal gharzeddine

Hi Nidal,

Usually such cameras are used in Speed Domes and Pan-Tilt platforms to create a PTZ camera.

I suppose that also industrial applications might be a use too.

Regards,

Carl Lindgren

It depends on what you mean by the term "cube camera". While the vast majority fit into your description, there are/were some that don't. Two examples: the dicontinued Sanyo cubes, which were very popular with casinos, and the Ikegami ICD-505 and ICD-525, which we used in low light areas because their AGC didn't introduce as much distortion in the video as other cameras.

The strongest selling point of those cameras was their ability to fit inside Pelco DF5 back boxes. Recently, we have found better alternatives such as the inMotion and Vitek mini box cameras.

The Sony camera blocks, as well as their Hitachi sisters, are actually camera modules from consumer camcorders. For CCTV, they are used in many PTZs, including Pelco Spectras, AD and others. They can be found as repair parts at TLS Electronics / Time Lapse Supply.

John Honovich

In reply to Carl Lindgren

IPVM

I tend to think of the Ikegami as 'mini box' rather than cube, primarily because they support real varifocal lenses. Picture, as reference for others:

Carl Lindgren

In reply to John Honovich

Gotta love the white lens. That was one of my complaints about the Ikegamis - lack of color options. We took pains to order smoked domes for the DF5s we installed in lower ceilings, then Ikegami makes their cameras stand out like sore thumbs, even with smoked domes.

Andrew Lund

In reply to John Honovich

I'm surprised this didn't show up on the survey as a major negative of cube cameras - the fixed field of view of most of them. Even in a low-end SOHO environment that limitation keeps them crossed off my list in nearly all cases.

John Honovich

IPVM

In reply to Andrew Lund

I am sure it's a negative. For instance, that was a key stated negative for minidomes.

I suspect that cube cameras are so fundamentally discounted, most do not even get that far in their reasons not to use them.

Carl Lindgren

In reply to Carl Lindgren

By the way, Panasonic and JVC also used to make camera modules but discontinued them years ago. We had a number of AD Cobra Domes when I started here that used Panasonic modules. I've also heard rumours that Hitachi is discontinuing or has discontinued their modules, leaving Sony the sole supplier.

Interesting tidbit: the original Pelco color/monochrome day-night Spectra II BCBW used a Sony camera module. These had major problems in casino environments - the flashing lights of slot machines caused them to lose focus; which could sometimes be cured by cycling power but other times required camera module replacement.

I was talking to a Pelco engineer (something they used to allow if L1 and L2 Tech Support couldn't resolve an issue) who told me Sony admitted there was an unrepairable problem with the modules' "fuzzy logic auto-focus circuit" but that Sony refused to replace the defective modules. Around that time, Pelco switched module suppliers to Hitachi for at least their day-night dome drives.

I believe Pelco has switched back to Sony for the vast majority of their PTZ domes. Possibly due to them being the only manufacturer left?

And yes, the modules are not suitable for normal CCTV use. They require a lot of external circuitry, including power supplies and computerized control interfaces.

Andrew Lund

Typo toward the end of the article...

"Finally, the most common reason to use minidomes cubes is their frequent inclusion of wireless networking, a feature generally absent in all other form factors. As integrators noted:"

John Honovich

IPVM

In reply to Andrew Lund

Andrew, thanks, fixed!

Hernan Carzalo

IPVMU Certified

Is there any article comparing this kind of cameras? I wont use it in professional installations but I would think on them for personal use...

John Honovich

In reply to Hernan Carzalo

IPVM

Hernan,

What do you want to compare cube cameras to? What do you want to know?

We cover / contrast all form factors in our IP Camera Form Factor Selection Guide.

Hernan Carzalo

In reply to John Honovich

IPVMU Certified

John,

I want to pick this kind of cameras because of aesthetics and the easy way you can install them...

You can compare:

SD Slot
ONVIF
Wifi
Poe
PIR
Direct storage (to a NAS)
Duplex Audio
White Light
IR

All these, without thinking in the image itself (resolution, wdr, lens, day/night, fps, etc etc etc)

John Honovich