Thermal cameras Archives

Long Range Camera Systems – Custom Vs. Off-the-Shelf

Posted on November 27, 2017April 19, 2021 by Bob Mesnik

Review of Long-Range Day-Night IP Camera Systems

If you want to detect an object many miles away, you will need a special long-range PTZ camera. While custom-made cameras are best for very long-range applications, the latest off-the-shelf cameras provide some of the same capability for less money. These long-range PTZ cameras are very cost-effective, and allow you to detect a person almost 4-miles away. They have built-in IR-illumination or an additional thermal imaging camera that allows you to see an object over ½ mile away. Prices range from less than $3,000 to about $25,000.

The basic difference between the off-the-shelf cameras and the custom made cameras is their performance. The custom long-range cameras take much longer to build because they use special components. The custom long-range cameras generally will provide much better operational distance, especially at night. Custom-made systems can view objects at night that are over 8 miles away. They include very long distance lenses, specialized laser illuminators, special thermal cameras, and very high-performance pan tilt mechanisms. Off-the-shelf long-range cameras cost less than $25,000, while custom cameras range in price from $50,000 to well over $150,000. Here is a summary of the systems available:

Detection, Recognition, and Identification – Thermal vs. Optical IP Camera

Posted on June 21, 2016March 22, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

Resolution required for Recognition, Detection, Identification depends on the type of camera

By Bob Mesnik

There is some confusion in the industry about how much camera resolution is required to detect an object, recognize the type of object, or identify exactly what or who it is. The criteria are different between thermal and optical cameras. Resolution for thermal cameras and optical IP cameras are measured differently.

For example, when defining the performance of a thermal camera we use the Johnson Criteria of “detection”, “recognition” and “identification” (DRI).

On the other hand, IP camera resolution performance is usually defined by the number of pixels in the sensor, and we are usually interested in the ability to identify a person.

How much resolution do you need? This article compares how resolution is defined using thermal and optical technologies.

Long Range IR PTZ Cameras – How Long is Long?

Posted on November 4, 2014June 1, 2020 by Virginia Fair

IP surveillance cameras are ubiquitous today. Everyone who sets foot out his door is well aware that somewhere, sometime on his journey he will enter into and out of several cameras’ fields of view.

Since very few everyday security cameras are covert, one has only to look several feet up at buildings, light poles, retail store ceilings to see this is true. There is a reason for this – the sight of a surveillance camera can be beneficial in deterring crime.

But there are also cameras capable of surveying an area, sight unseen, from, literally, miles away. These surveillance cameras fall under the heading, long-range cameras.