Everfocus HDcctv Line Overview

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Ethan Ace
•Published Jan 17, 2012 00:00 AM
PUBLIC - This article does not require an IPVM subscription. Feel free to share.

In this update, we'll take a look at recent HDcctv offerings from Everfocus, which have brought prices more in line with the lower end of the IP market, compare them to analog and IP options, and see what effect they may have on market position and potential applications.

Product Overview

Everfocus's HDcctv line consists of six camera models in dome, box, and bullet form factors, and three models of DVR: eight-channel HDcctv-only, four-channel analog/four-channel HDcctv, and 14-channel analog/2-channel HDcctv. For purposes of comparison, we'll be looking at the following models:

  • EQH5200 Box Camera: The EQH5200 [link no longer available] is a 720p/1080i true day/night camera equipped with a 1/2.5" 2-megapixel CMOS sensor. It can be found online for ~$360, not including lens, bringing the total up to about $450-500.
  • EDR-HD-2H14 DVR: The EDR-HD-2H14 [link no longer available] is a hybrid DVR containing fourteen analog camera inputs, along with two HDcctv inputs. The EDR-HD-2H14 is available for about $2,200 online, with a 2 TB HDD.
  • EPHD08 DVR: The EPHD08 [link no longer available] is an eight-channel HDcctv-only DVR. It may be found online for about $3,200 online.

All HDcctv DVRs are available with up to 8 TB of internal storage, and an additional 2-8 TB external eSATA storage. DVRs are also dual-stream capable, allowing full-resolution recording and local viewing, and a second lower-bitrate stream sent to remote clients and mobile devices. Everfocus offers a free iPhone and Android app for viewing of DVRs, as well.

Comparison to Analog

In order to see how the HDcctv line competes with other technologies, two comparisons need to be made, to analog and IP. First, let's compare the HDcctv line to Everfocus's existing analog line.

Comparing cameras, we see the following:

  • EQH5200 HDcctv Box Camera: ~$360
  • EQ700 720TVL Box Camera: ~$130 online

HDcctv and analog DVRs compare as follows:

  • EDR-HD-2H14 DVR: ~$2,200 online with 2 TB HDD
  • ENDEAVORX4/2 [link no longer available]: ~$1,600 online (16-channel analog DVR with 2 TB HDD)

Comparing a sixteen channel analog-only system to the two HDcctv-equipped options, we arrive at the following comparisons.

Sixteen channel analog:

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  • 16 x EQ700 Box Camera: $2,080
  • 1 x ENDEAVORX4/2: $1,600
  • Total: $3,680

Fourteen channel analog plus two HDcctv:

  • 14 x EQ700 Box Camera: $1,820
  • 2 x EQH5200 HDcctv Camera: $720
  • 1 x EDR-HD-2H14 DVR: $2,200
  • Total: $4,740

Sixteen channel HDcctv:

  • 16 x EQH5200 HDcctv Camera: $5,760
  • 2 x EPHD08 DVR: $6,400
  • Total: $12,160

First, this makes the premium between analog only, and analog plus HDcctv $1,060. This is not a trivial amount, but for many applications, this combination of analog and HDcctv may be attractive. For example, small retail or office space often prefer to install cameras inside, as well as outside. Exterior analog cameras are often lacking resolution for the areas they're intended to cover, such as parking areas. Using the two HDcctv cameras to cover these areas will make up for some of this.

Comparing sixteen channels of analog to sixteen channels of HDcctv, however, the gap widens greatly, with the sixteen channel HDcctv system pricing out at over three times the price of analog. The question then becomes whether this is the most cost effective way to add HD capability to a surveillance system. Which we cover next.

Comparison to IP

Comparison of HDcctv to megapixel IP is the best test of its market positioning, as IP cameras have been the only means of adding megapixel resolution to surveillance systems.

Compared to Vivotek, one of the low-cost leaders in IP surveillance, the Everfocus camera prices out as follows:

  • EQH5200 HDcctv Box Camera, plus lens: ~$450
  • Vivotek IP7161 2MP H.264 Camera: ~$400 online, including vari-focal lens

Since the IP7161 includes the lens, it totals up to about $50 less per camera than the Everfocus HDcctv model. Extending this pricing to eight cameras, along with the 8-channel HDcctv-only Everfocus DVR, pricing compares as follows:

Everfocus HDcctv:

  • 8 x EQH5200 Box Camera, plus lens: $3,600
  • 1 x EPHD08: $3,200
  • Total: $6,800

IP Megapixel:

  • 8 x Vivotek IP7161: $3,200
  • 8 x VMS License, such as ExacqVision Start, Milestone Essential: $400
  • PC for above: $1,000
  • 8-port PoE Switch: $250
  • Total: $4,850

(Updated 01/20/2012) If new UTP cables can be run, the pricing would equalize somewhat, though the IP option is still less expensive. Cable drops are typically in the $150 range, adding $1,200 to the IP total. If existing coaxial cable needs to be reused in the IP system, users can expect to pay about $300 per channel for a pair of coax Ethernet converters, adding $2,400 to IP total, making it $450 more on parts than the HDcctv option.

In the case of new installation, with the HDcctv option costing about $2,000 more than IP, most users will likely turn to IP as their preferred option, as it does have certain advantages. It's more tried and true, with a wider variety of manufacturers to choose from, and a wider selection of resolutions to fit the application.