Camera Advice

Hello,
 
Im in the market for a few cameras right away, maybe a black Friday or cyber Monday deal can help me out. I honestly don't know much about them, but here is what I think im after
 
Camera #1 - Driveway camera, Dome, Can be mounted on either side of my garage (36' wide), at 10-11', with the driveway being 36' wide, and 55' long.
- im guessing 6-12mm lens, or varifocus
 
Camera #1s mounting can be moved to either side of garage, or in a peak at about 18' in the center of driveway
 
Camera #2 - Garage Man Door Camera, Dome (preferable for not knowing where its aimed), looking at a door ~ 20-25' Away. This can be focused right in. So again maybe 20-25' Away
 
Camera #3 - Font door camera, mounted 12' above door, and about 15' above grade. Looking down. Single pot light there above porch. Looking towards camera #1 location. Which would be 30' away
 
Id like each to have
720-1080P, pref on 1080+, id love to be able to ID a thief or tresspasser
IP
IR (though camera 1, and 3, will have pot lights near them, which may cause an issue if left on?
IP66
Do I need heat and fans? I see -20 to 30C most winter days, -40C for about 2 weeks, and rarely -45 to -50C. usually a day or two a winter. In the summer, I normally see 25 to 30C on average, and peak summer is around 34-36C. I can see 15-20C temperature swings in 24hrs, morning cold, day warm, night cold again.
 
I have coax, Cat6, and 4C18 at each location I have pulled, but have conduits and access to my roof for more cable if needed.
 
Id like them to be compatible with the following;
Haiku (currently vanilla, but I do plan to buy a mac, and helper)
Synology Diskstation 1813+ (my NAS, and will be my DVR)
I will consider PTZ, but I think I can get more done with more cameras.
I currently have a 24 port 10/100/1000 unmanaged switch. So connections are ample
 
I think vanilla im stuck with MJPEG cameras. If I go helper, I think I could take H.264
 
Any recommendations. I don't mind spending a bit of money, but I don't want to piss it away either. Id like to keep it under 2000 for the 3 cameras. Though obviously if I can do it for 1200 or so (depending on what I actually need), that would be great.
 
 
 

I've installed about 10 Hikvision, 3MP, IP cameras now - for a few different people. I'm planning to remove my current analog cameras soon and switch to them as well.

Googling this morning found an interesting list of wares over at the CCTV forum dot com called the Ultimate IP camera guide.
 
Most Popular Camera Manufactures (on this forum):
ACTi (http://www.acti.com) - Midrange camera - good price - free software.
Avtech (http://www.avtech.com.tw) - Has good 'push' support for events to mobile devices.
Avigilon (http://www.avigilon.com) - Similar to Axis cost - must buy through dealer - good software/support.
Axis (http://www.axis.com) - Popular choice - higher end cameras get expensive - easy to find online for sale - free + paid software options.
Dahua (http://www.dahuasecurity.com‎) - Re-branded as Q-See - low price - difficult to find updates/support.
Geovision (http://www.geovision.com.tw‎) - Midrange - have some LPR cameras.
Grandstream (http://www.grandstream.com) - Low cost - have some unique features.
Hikvision (http://www.hikvision.com‎) - Becoming more popular - re-branded as Lorex/Swann systems from Costco.
IQinVision (http://www.iqeye.com) Midrange pricing.
Mobotix (http://www.mobotix.com) - Cameras made in Germany - reliable but expensive - no moving parts to fail in their cameras.
Vivotek (http://www.vivotek.com) - Midrange pricing.
 
Other Camera Manufactures:
Arecont (http://www.arecontvision.com/‎)
Brickcom (http://www.brickcom.com/)
Bosch (http://www.boschsecurity.us/en-us/Produ ... rkCameras/)
Canon (http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/professio ... rk_cameras)
GE (Unknown Website Address)
Honeywell (http://www.honeywellvideo.com/products/ ... index.html)
JVC (http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/cate ... tId=PRO5.2)
Panasonic (http://www.panasonic.com/business/psna/ ... index.aspx)
Pelco (http://www.pelco.com/sites/global/en/home.page)
Samsung (https://www.samsung-security.com/)
Sony (http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/mkt-security/)
Toshiba (http://www.toshibasecurity.com/)
 
Here utilize Grandstream / Grandstream OS camera boards.  Personally here settled on 3MP / 1080 IP HD with POE cams.  I did want to integrate my stuff to my HAI OPII legacy stuff / touchscreens such that I have also purchased the Grandstream encoder / decoder product and the 4 port analog to IP server.  Experimenting a while ago DIY'd Grandstream OS IP camera boards into Speco legacy domes (which I had sitting around).  Unique about the Grandstream stuff is SIP integration is built into every OS I have seen.   That said though its not on a couple of models of cameras sold here.  Mostly here utilize 2.8mm and 3.6mm lens for outside stuff.  I am going to a wider lens for the garage (maybe 2.1mm).  Software wise I utilize ZoneMinder (http://zoneminder.com).
 
Most popular high end cameras that I have seen and read about are Mobotix and Axis.  Prices / technology are changing really fast these days.  I personally utilized only Axis years ago for commercial endeavors (well in the early / middle 2000's).
 
I have read good things about Hikvision cameras and they are becoming very popular lately. 

Ok, what about fan/heaters in the enclosures?

I haven't looked at the Lorex/Swann systems, but I know Hikvision cameras are rebranded as Trendnet.

My early analog non IP cameras did have heaters.  The newer IP cameras have done OK in the midwest here with the temperature extremes.
 
Guessing the specifications will state the temperature extremes.
 
Here noticed that when the LED lamps are on they do generate heat.  That said they are only on at night.  There is a manual operation on these.
 
Temperature extreme time frames have been over a week for temps hovering around 0 degrees F (~-18 C) with ranges down to -10 F for 1-2 days (~-23 C)
 
In the summer temperatures have gone to around 90-100 F with no issues to the cams.
 
I have not had any issues relating to temperature extremes to date with the older Optex analog combo's and any of the new IP HD cameras outside to date in the Midwest; near Chicago.

 

Camera #1 - Driveway camera, Dome, Can be mounted on either side of my garage (36' wide), at 10-11', with the driveway being 36' wide, and 55' long.
- im guessing 6-12mm lens, or varifocus

Click to expand...

 
I have three (4) cams which look at my driveway.  (up down and over if that makes any sense).  Each cam sees other cams.
IE: one faces the house / garage door from the end of the driveway.  I am wired for another camera facing the house from the other side of the driveway (never installed though).  3 cams utilize a 2.8 / 3.6 mm lens and one is a 4.0mm.
 

Camera #3 - Front door camera, mounted 12' above door, and about 15' above grade. Looking down. Single pot light there above porch. Looking towards camera #1 location. Which would be 30' away

Click to expand...

 
Front door cam is some 9 feet or so above grade overlooking front door and walk with a 3.6mm view.  2 cams look at it; one above and one perpendicular to it.
 
While present video analytics is enabled but not primarily utilized.
 

im guessing 6-12mm lens, or varifocus

Click to expand...

 
Personally would go more with a 2.8-XX varifocus or 2.8 / 3.6 mm lens.

My concern is condensation in the housing of dome. I guess I can try without. Worst case I get some new emclosures

My concern is condensation in the housing of dome. I guess I can try without. Worst case I get some new emclosures

Click to expand...

 
Here have two Speco domes (IP66) with Grandstream OS IP HD cams in them.  Going into 2nd winter now with these and I have not seen any condensation inside the domes.  The domes are also sprayed by the irrigation system and have done well.
 
I also now utilize these three styles (IP66) and do not have any weather / sun related issues with them.
 

 
Newest 3PM HD IP POE 2.8mm IP66 bullet cam is doing fine.  It is the 4th camera in the same location now in the last 10 years.  First two were analog cams and I never had any problems with them (no heaters were utilized).  Old Optex combo analog cams have never had any problems.  The Optex combo's have weather very well and are very modular cameras.  I am looking to retrofit / replace the lens board with an IP board / lens board sometime in the future.

If you're going to integrate with anything, the most common handlers and products supported are Axis (period.)
 
I had pretty good luck with all of the Speco intensifier series and they now offer IP products of the same (though their shutters tend to become issues, or have been on some of the older units I put in).
 
For sheer performance and bang for the buck, I like Sony Ipelas. You do need to understand and know about cameras as they can eat bandwidth like no tomorrow unless configured properly.
 
Arecont Vision units are also pretty good. Put in a few, but they are bandwidth hungry also. Good when you need coverage but only intend on putting in a single cam or two. Put in a ton at WDW.

I added to the above camera list.
 
Here is a  quickie snapshot from last purchased Grandstream OS (POE, 3 MP, 28mm lens cam).  It still needs to be adjusted a bit. 
 
 
Its been a bit cold here lately.   It is replacing an Ubiquti Aircam.
 
Driveway is approximately 33-36 feet wide  X length. 
 
When adjusted properly it will cover the width and length of the driveway and part of the front walk. 
 
Grandstream OS IP Camera View
 

 
Ubiquti Aircam View - it was modded with a 28mm lens. Notice that the peripheral edges are blurry.
 

I'm in the process of installing a handful of Grandstream cameras around my house - I like their form factor/features/price balance.  I'm in an area that has extreme heat but not cold so I haven't had to worry about that...  Grandstream is just releasing their own NVR as well which I'm curious about - it's very cost effective.  Of course there's no Mobile app yet and it may be a while before one makes it out which is a huge drawback.  I may have to reach out to their sales to see when that's coming.
 
The main thing I wanted to mention for you is that many of these cameras support multiple streams so you could run MJPG to Haiku on a smaller stream then have a larger H.264 for recording.
 
Also even though you have a 24 port switch it's likely moot since you'll most likely want POE for the cameras to simplify life.

Yes, I will most likely have my cameras on a separate router, and patched in to NAS. Then a separate router going around the house etc, and out. Minimize bandwidth issues to NAS from cameras, as I will only be polling 1 at a time, may two going out.

And keep in mind, POE is not the be-all end-all when it comes to an IP camera. Many that have heaters, IR's or the like require a separate power source or a POE+ compliant midspan.

I have everything I need, for every combo at my camera locationa

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