Fisheye Panoramic Camera Guide

Author: Ethan Ace, Published on Aug 31, 2016

Fisheye panoramics have become widespread, with most manufacturers offering fisheyes.

However, with many options, it can be confusing to understand the tradeoffs. In this guide, we explain:

  • Why Panoramic Camers
  • Fisheye Panoramic Basics
  • 'Warped' Video and Dewarping
  • Camera Side vs Client Side Dewarping
  • VMS Integration
  • Fisheye Mounting Heights
  • Ceiling Vs. Wall Mounting
  • Panoramic WDR Availability
  • Panoramic Low Light Weakness
  • IR Panoramic Availability
  • Image Detail Vs. Multi-Imager
  • Fisheye Manufacturer Availability

Multi-imager panoramics, a common alternative to fisheyes, are covered separately in our Multi-Imager camera guide and Repositionable Multi-Imager Camera Guide

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Fisheye ********* *******

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**** *** *********, **** ********* ************* ********* ********* ********* ** *** ******* ******, *********** **** ***********/*********** concern, *** **** ** ********** ********.

Panomorph ******

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********* ****** ***** *** *** ********** **** ******* ******* ******:

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Panomorph *********

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

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Wall ***** **** ******* *******

***** **** ********* ******* *** ** ******* ******* ** **** mounted, **** ******* *** ***° ** ***° *********, **** *********** models ******** **** *** **** ******** *** *********. ****** ******* fisheye ******, ***** ******* ********* ****** ******** ***° (** **** in **** *****) ******** ***** ****, **** ** ******* *** multiple ******* *** ***** ** ***** ******** *****.

**** ** ***** *** ********** ******* (*** *** **** *********'* ******-**) ***** ****** *** ********** **** ***** **** ******** (**** as*** **** *****-*).

Wall ***** ******* ****** **** *** ****

*** **** ********* ** **** ***** ******* ******* ** **********, as **** ********* ****** ******* *** ****** * ******** ******, instead ** ********* **** ******* ****** ** ****** **** ********* integration *** *****.

*******, ***** ****** *** ********* ***** ********** **** ******* ******* cameras, *-*** ******* ** *-** ***** ** ******* **** *** high ********** ******* ******.\

Fisheye ******** ****** ** ***

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** ********** ****, **** ********* ***** *** ********** ** ******* delivered ** *** **** ********* ******, ******* ** **', **', and **'.

****** ***** ******** **** ** *** ********* ****** ** *** the ****** ****** (** ******, **** *** *********** **** **** may ** ************* ***********).

Ceiling **. **** ********

*** ******** ** ******* ** ***** * ******* ****** ** the ******* ** **** *********** ******* ** ***** ******** *** likely ** **** ******* *** *****.

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Fisheye **** *** ************ *********

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Fisheye ************ **** *** *****

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******* ** ****, ***** ****** ****** **** ********** ******* ****** in **** ********** *** ***** (*-***), ** ***** *** *********** is ********.

IR ******* **********

** ****** ******* *******' **** *** ***** ***********, **** ************* have ********** ********** ** ******, **** ************ ******** * ***° field ** ****. *** *******, *** ********** ***** ***** *** 12MP **** *** ******, **** *** ********* **** ************* *** Panasonic **** ** *** ***** *** ** *** ********** **.

**** **** ******* ***** ************, ******, ***** ****** ** **** careful ***** ***** ********** ** ******* **** *****, ** *** performance ***** ***** ** *** ******* ** *** ********* (******* or *****-******) *******.

Fisheye ************

** ****, ****** ***** ************ ******** ** ***** *** ******* panoramic ****** ** ***** ******, **** **** ******** **** **** one ** ********* ***********, ******* **** (***/**), ****** *** ******* versions, ***.

******** **** ** **** * *** ***** *** **** ******* panoramic ****** **** ********** ********** ******* *** **** ********* **** a ******* ** *************.

**** **** **** ******* ********* ******* ****** **** ****** **** multi-imager ******, *** *** *****-****** ******* *** ***** ************* ** the **** *-* *****.

Image ******* **. *****-******

**** *********** **** ***** ********* ********, ***** ****** ********* ******** PPF ************, ** ****** ****** *** ****** ****** ****** ** multi ****** ******.

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****: ** ******* ******* ** **** ***** ******* **** ******* and *****-*******. **** *** **** ***** **** * ****** ** reflect *** ****** ** **********, *** **** *** ********-****** ****** ********************** *****-****** ****** *****.

Comments (4)

Undisclosed #1

09/01/16 09:48am

Well done.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

09/01/16 01:41pm

Great article! One thing I've always theorized, but have never been able to test is the potential downside of using client side dewarped fisheye panoramics use of additional client PC resources when dewarped. I'm sure this is negligible if dewarping one or two, but if you have a large amount of this style camera being dewarped it could be an issue.

Undisclosed End User #3

06/03/18 03:51pm

Fisheye camera seems interesting but cost more...

Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed End User #3 | 06/03/18 05:33pm

The idea is you get more coverage with a single fisheye camera versus multiple fixed cameras which is how you save money with fisheye cameras.

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