Arecont Vision Announces H.264 MegaDome Series.

Each All-In-One Dome Incorporates H.264 Megapixel Camera, Varifocal Lens and Vandal Resistant Dome Housing.

Arecont Vision expands its full line of H.264 megapixel network cameras with the addition of the MegaDomeTM series, integrating the camera, lens and housing into an all-in-one solution. Available in color or day/night versions and with 1.3M, 2M, 3M or 5 megapixel sensors, the dome cameras incorporate Arecont Vision’s fully-compliant implementation of H.264 (MPEG 4, Part 10) compression that uses up to 10 times on average less bandwidth and storage compared to megapixel counterparts using MJPEG compression.

Each model in the new Arecont Vision MegaDomeTM series, announced at the Intersec Trade Fair and Conference, features a three-axis camera gimbal with 360-degree pan and 90-degree tilt adjustment for accurate positioning, and each features an integrated 4-10mm megapixel varifocal lens. The domes are supplied in a surface-mount configuration, with pendant-mount or wall-mount options available. The vandal-resistant aluminum chassis and 4-inch polycarbonate dome meet the IP66 weatherproofing standard.

The MegaDomeTM series simultaneously supports H.264 and MJPEG at full frame rates. Multi-streaming provides up to eight concurrent non-identical streams with variable frame rates, bit rates, resolutions and picture quality.

Bit rate control, available for full view, multi-view and archive, maintains desired bandwidth and storage size. Real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) allows compatibility with media players such as Apple QuickTime, Windows Media Player, VLC Player and others.

The Arecont Vision MegaDomeTM cameras also offer user-selectable full or ¼ resolution for either live viewing or archiving. Other key features include 1/2-inch CMOS sensor for superior light performance, simultaneous full field of view and region-of-interest (ROI) transmission as well as image cropping to allow streaming of full density partial images, on-camera motion detection, and a motorized IR cut filter (on the day/night versions).

“Arecont Vision’s megapixel imaging solutions are growing in popularity, boosted by field-proven implementations throughout the world,” said Raul Calderon, Vice President of Strategic Relations, Arecont Vision. “Expanding the customer’s choice with our new MegaDomeTM line will accelerate the penetration of H.264 megapixel technology into the marketplace while offering the same innovative features that have made the other cameras in our complete line so popular.”

The Arecont Vision AV1355 is a 1.3 megapixel H.264 IP MegaDomeTM camera providing 1280×1024-pixel resolution, about four times the resolution of IP VGA or analog cameras, and up to a 32 frames-per-second image rate in 1.3 megapixel mode. The AV2155, a 2 megapixel H.264 IP MegaDomeTM camera, provides 1600×1200-pixel high-definition resolution, about six times the resolution of IP VGA or analog cameras and image rates up to 24 frames-per-second in 2 megapixel mode.

For even higher resolution, Arecont Vision’s new AV3155 is a 3 megapixel H.264 IP MegaDomeTM camera offering 10 times the resolution of IP VGA or analog cameras with 2048×1536-pixel images, and an image rate up to 15 frames-per-second in 3 megapixel mode. Additionally, the AV5155 is a 5 megapixel H.264 IP MegaDomeTM camera offering 15 times the resolution of IP VGA or analog cameras at 2592×1944 pixels with an image rate of 9 frames-per-second in 5 megapixel mode.

Each megapixel camera in the Arecont Vision MegaDomeTM series offers forensic zooming to enable users to zoom live or after an event while recording a full field of view in high-definition. Using a megapixel camera instead of multiple analog or IP VGA cameras involves lower system costs related to installation, less wiring and lower network video recorder (NVR) licensing fees. Power-over-Ethernet eliminates the need for external power. In all, such considerations make the use of Arecont Vision’s megapixel cameras much more cost efficient than IP VGA and analog cameras.

For more information contact Arecont Vision by calling toll free 1-877-CAMERA-8, or visiting www.arecontvision.com.

About Arecont Vision

Arecont Vision is the leading manufacturer of high-performance megapixel IP cameras and associated software. Arecont Vision products are made in the USA and feature proprietary low-cost massively parallel image processing architectures MegaVideo® and SurroundVideo® that represent a drastic departure from traditional analog and network camera designs. These innovative technologies enable Arecont Vision to deliver multi-megapixel digital video at standard IP VGA camera price points.

How Many IP Camera Megapixels Do You Need?

If you are thinking about getting a Megapixel IP camera, you might be wondering how many megapixels should my camera have? IP camera megapixels come in a range between 1.3, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10 and higher megapixels (depending on how old this article is when you reading it )

You need to decide how much video quality you are looking to get from your IP camera. The higher the camera megapixels, the higher the quality. Deciding on your IP camera megapixels would include the following questions:

1) Will I be mainly viewing recorded video? Pan/Tilt/Zoom (PTZ) IP cameras offer the ability to zoom in while you are viewing live video if you need to get a clearer view of a person or object however you cannot do this on recorded video. Megapixel IP cameras allow you to get better a quality picture when zooming in on recorded video than standard IP cameras. This gives you the advantage of being able to zoom in on recorded images to get higher detail when you cannot be viewing the IP camera live. The higher the camera megapixels, the better quality image you will get.
2) How far of a distance will I be needing to zoom in? The higher the camera megapixels, the further you will be able to zoom in with a good view.
3) Will I need to read license plates? If you are monitoring a parking lot or an area that will require you to view license plates, you will need to make sure the IP camera offers a good enough quality image so the license plates are legible. The more camera megapixels the IP camera has, the easier it will be to read license plates. If the area is large, a high megapixel camera would be recommended as this will give you the option to have a larger viewing distance and still have the ability for legible license plates.
4) Will I need to identify persons or objects? Traditional IP cameras can sometimes hinder efforts for facial recognition however megapixel IP cameras allow you to get a clear view of a persons face. A high megapixel IP camera is recommended for large areas such as malls, parking lots or any other location with a large viewing area.
5) Is this for a government building with regulations on video quality? Some government buildings have regulations on how detailed the video quality will need to be. A high camera megapixel rate would solve this issue as you would get a good clear image that would meet most regulations. This is something you should confirm to make sure the IP camera offers the quality required.
6) Is cost an issue? The more megapixels your IP camera has, the more it is going to cost. This is a given. Evaluate how much you can spend and don’t forget to include installation costs if needed.

Considering every IP camera installation is different, be sure to evaluate what you expect from your megapixel IP camera and how much you want to spend. Think about where the camera will be placed and how large of a viewing angle it will need to see. Once you have your expectations in line with a price, start shopping and be sure to check reviews on the camera. The camera megapixels will define the quality of the video so make sure you have enough for what you need.