CAM 0159 CAM 0147 CAM 0144

Whilst CAM 0144 is featured in the animation above, all three cameras utilise the same Samsung A1 chipset. CAM 0159, however, has no IR functionality.

All three cameras are exclusive to VDT and contain one of the most sophisticated and advanced Samsung chipsets on the market. A camera of this calibre would usually trade or retail at a much higher premium rate. Prices are as low as they are for two reasons only: 1) We buy directly from the manufacturer; 2) We have low overhead within our organisation.

All three cameras have the highest possible resolution for a colour camera (600TVL), there is no better resolution on the market for this type of camera. They are true day/night, which means during the hours of darkness an electronic filter switches to black and white mode in order to capture crisp and detailed imagery. A full and detailed specification is contained in the Cameras-->High End IR Domes and Cameras-->Armoured domes locations of our website. However, below explains two pieces of functionality, both are very useful and one is very unique.

OSD up the coax

What does this mean? All three cameras have extended functionality. Apart from the simplest of all, focusing the camera and/or zooming the camera in or out, the camera has additional useful features. For example with privacy zoning the camera maybe positioned over a cashier's till with a chip and pin machine close by. These cameras have the ability to block out, for example, the chip and pin machine. Access to this feature is achieved via the OSD (On Screen Display) menu. Normally the engineer needs to climb a ladder to the camera and remove the camera casing in order to access an onboard joystick controller. However, these cameras have the ability to access this menu whilst stood where the recording devices (DVR) are situated. The diagram to the right explains how this works. In essence all but the focusing and zooming of these cameras can now be achieved more easily, more quickly and thus more efficiently by the engineer without the need for the engineer to be balanced precariously on a ladder. This feature, whilst not unique to this series of cameras, is normally reserved for cameras at a much higher price.

BLC zoning

What does this mean? BLC stands for BackLight Compensation. The problem of over-exposure plagues all but the most expensive cameras on the market and is usually dealt with in a range of products known as the WDR (Wide Dynamic Range). These cameras use various techniques to control light, but no-one has yet to master all eventualities. The diagram opposite shows a very unique feature that compensates using a rectangle that is both sizable and movable within the image handling over exposure. In this demonstration flood lighting is hitting the side of the van causing the side door panel and side rear panel of the vehicle to have a mild white out effect. By switching on the BLC function to "User Configure", the rectangle appears on the image. By selecting "Size" the rectangle can be increased or decreased in size and by selecting "Location" the rectangle can be moved around the image area. When placed over an area of over-exposure, the camera is instructed to normalise this area, thus toning down the white-out effect and displaying a more accurate picture of the vehicle. VDT has tested this function and has found it to be a very useful feature and unique to this range of cameras.