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Y-cam Cube HD 720 First Look
Here at NW we’re used to working with premium manufacturers like Axis, Sony and Mobotix, but we’ve always stocked and supported niche IP camera vendors like Y-cam, right from when they entered the market in 2007. Over the years since Y-cam’s products have delighted and disappointed in equal measure, but with the new Y-cam Cube range we think they finally have a product which impresses in an all-round fashion.
Right from receiving the box you can see the improvement in quality and attention to detail. The product’s packaging and its build quality both bode well for quality in the product throughout. It’s also really quite small.
First look: Axis P1204 covert IP camera (with videos)
It’s been over three and a half years since the Axis released their M7001 covert surveillance kit. This kit is comprised of a compact Axis M7001 analogue video encoder and a tiny analogue video camera connected via cable. It was and remains a best-seller and well suited to covert surveillance, but it relied on analogue CCTV technology, which meant its image resolution is limited.
Very recently, Axis created the P12 range. This range of covert IP cameras features flush-mount, recessed and outdoor-ready variants, but more importantly, the whole range is purely IP, meaning this covert capability benefits from full network application. In this article we’ll take a look at the new Axis P1204 and see how effective it is for covert security.
First look – Sony SNC-EP521 PTZ IP camera
The Sony SNC-EP521 is a feature-packed pan-tilt-zoom IP camera at an attractice price point. With 340° pan, 105° tilt and impressive 36x optical zoom, the camera is suited to surveillance of large, open areas.
With the current price of £588 / €735, the camera is one of the least expensive professional PTZ cameras on the market. Hundreds of pounds less than its nearest competitor, the new Sony SNC-EP521 offers incredible value with high-performance including 36x optical zoom. How well does the SNC-EP521 stand up to scrutiny?
First-look: Axis M3007-PV panoramic network IP camera (with sample videos)
In mid-2008 Mobotix released the Q22-SEC hemispheric IP camera, featuring a full 360° lens, followed closely by the upgraded Q24-SEC model. These cameras were unique in the marketplace and added further to the discussion about whether megapixel cameras with wider angles of coverage can be used to replace multiple narrower field of view IP cameras.
These models brought in state-of-the-art image de-warping, 4-from-1 video feeds and panoramic overviews and saw VMS suppliers rushing to provide support for these new products.
Cut to 2012 where since this release, Mobotix have almost dominated the market for hemispheric cameras, with little serious competition from mainstream manufacturers. However, this is about to change with the release of the Axis M3007-P series.
We’ve had an exclusive chance to look at the Axis M3007-PV (part number 0515-001) before its launch, and we compare it in part to the Mobotix Q24M-SEC.
Evaluation: Axis P3384-V with Wide Dynamic Range and Lightfinder
Until recently, Axis Lightfinder technology was available in the Axis top end Q series of cameras only. Now this technology has made its way into the more affordable P range of Axis cameras. Here we take a look at the Axis P3384 IP camera, which is currently the only camera in the Axis P series that features both Lightfinder technology and Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) with Dynamic Capture. As this looks interesting on paper, we were interested to see how it performs in real life. We placed the P3384 in various lighting conditions to find out.
Evaluation: Panasonic i-Pro WV-SW175
Panasonic’s now end-of-line BB-HCM735 was one of the best-selling network cameras in their home/office range, offering very decent VGA resolution footage in an outdoor-ready casing with pan/tilt movement and 2-way audio, while still being very cost-effective. Now that this camera has been discontinued, we’ve taken a look at its replacement; the Panasonic i-Pro WV-SW175. Does this camera still offer the same good value as its predecessor?
First things first, let’s see some sample footage from the camera.
First look: Axis Camera Companion
We recently announced that Axis had released their Axis Camera Companion IP surveillance tool; a quick and easy way to create a surveillance system encompassing edge recording and remote access.
Axis say that the software is “the easiest way to network video surveillance”. We take a quick look at the new software to see whether it is as easy to use as Axis suggest.
Evaluation: Sony SNC-CH140
Thanks to James, one of our resident network camera experts, we now have a fantastic, thorough evaluation of the new Sony SNC-CH140 IP security camera over on our IP Camera Learning Blog.
The article is packed full of sample images and we’ve evaluated many of Sony’s unique technologies such as XDNR and ViewDR. Head over there now to check it out. In fact, bookmark that site – we have some excellent, detailed articles coming up on some of the best new products being released in Q2 of 2011. Whether you’re looking for your next IP camera or simply want to keep up with the latest advances in network camera technology, our IP Camera learning Blog will have you covered.
Oh, and if you like what you see in the evaluation, you can always get your hands on a Sony SNC-CH140 from the Network Webcams store.
IP Camera comparison: Vivotek IP7142 and Y-cam Bullet
The Y-cam Bullet and the Vivotek IP7142 are two fixed view IP cameras designed for outdoor installation and fitted with infrared LEDs, designed above all to capture high-quality security footage in locations with no external lighting.
From the similar price points and how they are pitched, it is easy to tell that they are very similar, and are both aimed at small to medium sized businesses, but what are the real differences between these two similarly specced cameras?
Panasonic BL-C160 Outdoor IP Camera Evaluation
Greg, in our technical team has made a comprehensive evaluation of Panasonic’s newest IP Camera in the BL range – the BL-C160.
Greg’s thorough write-up talks about the camera’s unique features such as the built-in light and its Power over Ethernet capability, as well as going some day and night comparison shots for image quality analysis.
