Fisheye Panoramic Camera Guide
Fisheye panoramic cameras are common but, because their lenses are fundamentally different than conventional cameras, their capabilities and tradeoffs are frequently misunderstood.
However, with many options, it can be confusing to understand the tradeoffs. In this 20-page guide, we explain:
- Why Use Fisheye Panoramic Cameras?
- Fisheye Panoramic Basics
- "Warped" Fisheye Video and Dewarping
- Camera-Side vs Client-Side Dewarping
- VMS Dewarped Stream Integration
- VMS Virtual PTZ Control Limitations
- Camera-Side Dewarping Recording Limitations
- Client-Side Dewarping Basics
- Client-Side Dewarping Drawbacks
- ImmerVision "Open" Dewarping SDK
- Fisheye Lens Types
- Stereographic And Panomorphic Lenses
- Fisheye Mounting Height Impact
- Ceiling Vs. Wall Mounting
- Wall Mount Only Fisheye Cameras
- Fisheye Model Availability
- True WDR Panoramic Performance Improvements
- Panoramic Low Light Weakness
- IR Panoramic Availability
- Image Detail Vs. Multi-Imager
Multi-imager panoramics, a common alternative to fisheyes, are covered separately in our Multi-Imager camera guide and Repositionable Multi-Imager Camera Guide
Why *** ******* **********?
*********** ************ ******* ******* ********** ************ ** ****(****), ********* ***** ** *******, * quarter ** * ******. ** ** you ****** ** ***** ********* **** angles, **** ** *** ******* **** or ***** ** ** *** ******** direction, *** ***** ********* *** **** cameras.
** ********, ********* ******* *** *** deploy * ****** ****** **** *** "see" ** * ******, ********* * full ***°. **** ***** **** ******* ****** *************** *** ********** ** ***** ** view ******* *** ***.
*******, *** ******* ******** ** ***** details, **** ******* ******* ********** **** lower***** *******/******* *********** ******* ******* ** ***** wider ***** ** ****. *** ********** can ** **** ** *** ***** above, **** ****** *** ***** **** longer ******** ** *** ******** **° camera (****** *** ****, *** ****** the ***).
** ******* ***** ********* ********** **** tutorial.
Fisheye ********* ****** ******
******* ********* ******* *** ********* ******* to **** *******, *** *** * specialized **** (~***° ** ****** ** some *****). ******* ****** *** ******* different **** ******* ************ ****** (***** below), ** **** *** ****** ******* of ****.
Fisheye ****** ******
******* ** ***** ******* ***** ** view, ******* ****** *** *********, ********* referred ** ** "******", ********* ** an **** ** ******, ***** *****. Fisheye ****** ******* **** ********* ******* blank *****, ***** *** **** ***** circle **** *** ***** *** ******* of *** ******.
Fisheye *********
*******, ******* ****** *** ********* *** used ** ***** ******, ****** *****, as ***** ****** *** ********* ** monitor, **** ******* ********* ****** **** or ******** ********* ** ***** **** are ** *** ***** ** ****.
*******, ******* ******** ** **** ** "dewarp" *** *****, ***** ******** ** into * **** *******, ****** ************ image.
Camera- **. ******-**** *********
********* ** * ******** ********* ** fisheye ********** ***** ****** *****, ** itself, ** *********** *******. ********* ** performed ** *** ** *** ********* (or ****):
- ******-****:********* ** ********* ** *** ******, prior ** ********* ** *** ***.
- ******-****:*** **** ****** ****** ** **** to *** ***, **** ****** ******** performing *********.
*** ****** ** ***** ** ****** impacts *** *********** *** ********* *******.
Camera-Side *********
********* ** *** ****** **** ***** a "****" ***** ****** **** *** VMS *** ******* **** **** * traditional ******. *** *******, *****, *** camera ***** ***** ******** ******** ******* which *** **** ** ***** ******* areas ** *** ****, *********** ** different ****** ** *** ****** ******* overview (*** ****).
*** ********* ** **** ** ****** integration. ***** ****** ******* ****** ******* to **** ** *** *** *** can ** ********** *** ****** *** drivers. *******, ***** *** ***** *** limitations ** ******-**** *********.
VMS ****** *******
**** ****** ** ********** **** ****** on *** ****** **** ******** *******, such ** ********, ********, ****** ********, view *****, ***. ******** ** ***** are ***** *****:
*** *** **** ********* *** ** these *******, ********* *** ****** *******, in ***** ** ***** ******* *** camera. *******, **** ***** ** *** support *** ******* **** ****** *******, especially ***** ***** ***** ******* ** direct *******, ** ***** *** ** limited ** **** * *** ******* or **** * ****** ******** *****.
PTZ ******* ***********
** ******** ** *** ******** ****** integration, *** *** **** **** ******* PTZ ******** *** ****** **** ********* windows. ******* **** ***********, ***** ******* must ** *** ** *** *** web ********* *** *** *********** ****** in *** ***.
**** ** ********* **** ** ** issue **** ****** ******* ***, ***** fisheye ******* *** *** ******** ***** are *********** ******* ** ******** *** cameras, ** **** ** ***** ************ are ******* ****.
Camera-Side ********* ********* ***********
*******, **** ***** ******-**** *********, *** VMS ******* **** **** *** ******* PTZ ****** *** ******* ** *** time. **** ***** **** ** *** view **** *** ******** ** *** wrong *********, ****** *** ** ******. Because ** ****, **** *** ****** to *** ******-**** ********* **** ****** a ****** ******** ** ******** ******, as ****, *** ******.
** ********, ******-**** ********* ** ********* on *** **** ****** ***** ** both **** **** *** ********, ** events ****** ** ****** ** **** way. *** **** ****** ** ****** recorded.
Client-Side *********
** ******** ** ****** ****, ***** using ******-**** ********* ******* *** ***** only * **** ****** ******** ******. Upon *******, ***** *** *********** ****** the **** ***** ********** ******** ** the ****** ** **** **** *** archived *****.
*** *******, ** *** **** *****, we ****** **** ****** ******** ** PTZ ******, ***-, *** ***-****** *********.
*** **** ********* ** **** **** of ********* ****** ******-**** ** **** it ******** **** * ****** ****** to ** ******** ***** *********** ******** information, ******* ******* ** ******** ****** integration ** ******* *** ******* ******* elsewhere ** ** ***** ******.
Client-Side ********* ********: ********** *********** ********
*******, *** **** ******** ** ******-*** dewarping ** **** ********** *********** ** required *** **** ******* ******. ******* manufacturers ********* ******* ***** *** **** which ******* *** ******* **** ******** for ***** *******, ***** **** ** integrated ** **** *** ********** **.
**** ** ****** **** ***** *** camera ************'* *** ** ****** (*.*.,********* ******* ********* ****-****). *******, ** *** **** ** use * *****-***** ***, **** **** VMS **** ********* *** *** *** each ************. **********, **** *** *** practical *****, ** *********** ***** ****** manufacturer *** *** * *********** ***** investment *** *****, *** ** ****, most ******* ********* **** **** ********** to *** ******* **** ****.
************, **** *** *********, **** ********* *****,***** ****, *** ***** *** ***** ********* dewarping ** *** ******* ******, *********** this ***********/*********** *******. **** ******* ** uncommon, *** *******.
ImmerVision ***
***** **** ************* **** ************ **** their *** *** *** ******* *********, ImmerVision *** ********* **** ******* *** a "*********" *** ***** ** **** by **** ************* (*.*., ******, *******, etc.) ** ***** *** ***********.
***** ************* *** ***********-******** ****** *** the ******** ***, ***** *** **** integrated ** **** ****** ***** *** some ****. **** ******** **** ************ from ******* ** ****** ***** *** SDK *** **** *** ********** ** implement *******.
*********** ******* *** ***** ** ***** using ** "*** ******" ***** ** unique ** **** **** ********, ***** here ** *****:
*********** **** ********* *** *** ******** "Panomorph" ******, * *********** **** ** fisheye ****, ********* *****.
Fisheye ******
***** *** ******* ***** ** ******* lenses ***** *** ********* "***********" **** *********, ********* *************, ***********, equisolid, *** *********.
- ******* ******* ****** *** *********** ***********, which ********* * ******* ********* ********** the ***** ** ****, ****** ** the **** "****" **** ** ****.
- ************* *** ********* ****** ***** **** detail ** *** **** ** *** field ** ****, ***** ** ********* drastically *********. ***** ***** *** **********, but ******.
*** *******, *** ******* ***** ** shown ** *** **** ***** * camera **** * ************* **** *** on *** ***** ** * ******* equidistant *******. *** ************* **** ***** less ********** *** ******* **** *** facial ******* **** *** ******* ******* on *** *****, ****** ** ***** appears ****.
Panomorph ****** (******** ** ***********)
********* ****** *** * *********** **** of ******* ****, ******** *************, *** ******* *** ****** *** provide *** ********* *** ** ****** for ***********.
***********'* **** ***** ** **** **** use ** ********** ****** ******* ** circular, ***** ****** *** **** ****** at *** ***** ** *** *** and ************* ******* ***** ******* *** less ****** ****** *****, ***** *****.
*******, ** *** *****, ** **** found ***** *********** ** ** **** pronounced **** ************* ******, **** **** minor *****.
Fisheye ******** ****** ** ********
******** ******* ********* ******* *** *** close ** ******* ** ********. ******** ******* ** ********* ******* ***** quickly** *** ******* ***** ******* **** from *** ******, ** ********* ******** resulting **** ******** ******* ****** ******* this *****. *** ********, * ******* who ** * **** **** **** a *** *** ****** **** ** captured ** ****** *** ***, *** the **** ******* ** **' **** drop ** **** ~** ***. ** 20', ********** ***** *** **** ******* cameras, *** ** **** ~** ***, too *** ** ******* **** ****** detail.
** ********** ****, **** ********* ***** the ********** ** ******* ********* ** the **** ********* ******, ******* ** 10', **', *** **', **** *** subject ~**' **** (******** ************).
****** ***** ******** **** ** *** extension ****** ** *** *** ****** closer (** ******, **** *** *********** that **** *** ** ************* ***********).
Ceiling **. **** ********
****** *** ******* ********* ****** *** be ****** *******-******* (******* ****) ** wall-mounted (******* ************ ***).
*** ******** ** ******* ** ***** a ******* ****** ** *** ******* or **** *********** ******* ** ***** subjects *** ****** ** **** ******* the *****.
- **** **** ** ********:** ******* ** ** ******** *** likely ** **** ********** *** ***** and *** **** **** *** ******, using * ******* ***** ****** ** likely *** ****** ******, ** ** may ******** ******* ** ******* *** far **** *** * **** ***** camera ** *******.
- ****** **** ** ********:** ******* *** ****** ** *****/**** through *** ** *** *********, **** mounting * ******* ****** ** ****** to ******* ****** ******* ** ******** as **** **** *** ** *** lower ***** ** ********* (********* *****).
******* ****** *** *** ************* ******* **** ** ******* ******** **** ******* *** ***** ******* examples ** **** *****.
Wall ***** **** ******* *******
***** **** ********* ******* *** ** ceiling-mounted ** ****-*******, **** ******* *** 360° ** ***° *********, **** *********** models ******** **** *** **** ******** are *********. ****** ******* ******* ******, these ******* ********* ****** ******** ***° (or **** ** **** *****) ******** views ****, **** ** ******* *** multiple ******* *** ***** ** ***** panorama *****.
**** ** ***** *** ********** ******* (see *** **** *********'* **** ***** *********) ***** ****** *** ********** **** audio **** ******** (**** ***** **** *****-* **** *******).
Wall ***** ******* ****** **** *** ****
*** **** ********* ** **** ***** fisheye ******* ** **********, ** **** generally ****** ******* *** ****** * panorama ******, ******* ** ********* **** complex ****** ** ****** **** ********* integration *** *****.
*******, ***** ****** *** ********* ***** resolution **** ******* ******* *******, *-* MP ******* ** *-** ******* ** typical **** *** **** ********** ******* models, ** *** ******* ***** *******.
Fisheye **** *** ************ ********
**** ****** ****** ****** ** ******* *******, where ********** ***** ****** ******* **** performance. *** *******, *** **** ***** shows *** *********** ** ***** *******, two ** ***** *** **** *** (left *** *****) *** *** ***** is *** (******).
Fisheye ************ **** *** *****
********* ******* **** ************ **** ********** poor ** *** *****, ***** ********** noisy ** **** ****** ** **** slightly *** *****. **** ** *** to *** ************ *******:
- **** *-**** ******:******* ****** ********* **** * *****-****(*/*.* ** */*.* *** *********** *******) letting ** ~**% **** *****.
- **** **********:***** ******* ****** *** ********** ***, 6MP, ****, ***., ****** *** ****** smaller *** ******* **** *****.
******* ** ****, ***** ****** ****** when ********** ******* ****** ** **** moderately *** ***** (*-***), ** ***** and ********* *** ********.
IR ******* *** ******
** ****** ******* *******' **** *** light ***********, **** ************* **** ********** integrated ** ******* ******, **** ************ covering * ***° ***** ** ****. For *******, *** ********** ***** ***** two **** (*** ******) ******
** ****** ******* *******' **** *** light ***********, **** ************* **** ********** integrated ** ******, **** ************ ******** a ***° ***** ** ****. *** example, *** ********** ***** ***** *** 12MP **** *** ****** ** ~*-* lux, **** *** ********** ** ***** able ** ******* ***** ****** ****** details, ***** *** ***-** ***** ** effectively *****.
**** **** ******* ***** ************, ******, users ****** ** **** ******* ***** using ********** ** ******* **** *****, as *** *********** ***** ***** ** not ******* ** *** ********* (******* or *****-******) *******.
Fisheye ************
****** ***** ************ *** ******** ** least *** ******* ********* ****** ** their ******, **** **** ******** **** than *** ** ********* *********** (********* 6-12 **), ******* **** (***/**), ****** and ******* ********, ***.
******** **** ** **** * *** years *** **** ******* ********* ****** were ********** ********** ******* *** **** available **** * ******* ** ************* with ******* ******* *******.
Image ******* **. *****-******
**** *********** **** ***** ********* ********, users ****** ********* ******** *** ************, as ****** ****** *** ****** ****** served ** ***** ****** ******.
*** *******, *** ***** ***** ***** the ******** ****** ******* * ****** imager *** ******* ******, * ***° multi-imager (**° *** *** ******), *** a ***°. **** *** ******* ~**' from *** ******* ******* ** *** subject *** ******* ***** ** *** test ***** *** ******* **** ** the ******* *****.
**** *** ******* ** ~**' **** the *******, *** ******* ********* ******** no ****** ******* **********, ***** *** 360° *****-****** ***** ******** *** ******* lines ** *** ***** *** **** rough ******* *******. ** **** ********, the ***° *****-****** ***** ******** ************ details ** *** *******.
[**** ***** *** ********** ******** ** 2016, *** ************* ******* **** *** image ********, ******* ** **** *****, current ***** ** *** ******, *** more ** ****. ** ******* ******* of **** ***** ******* **** ******* and *****-*******, *** ** *** **** split **** * ****** ** ******* the ****** ** **********. *** **** see ********-****** ****** ********************** *****-****** ****** *****.]