atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Security, Alarms and Paging IP Camera reviews

Is there any review sites which test the image quality and accuracy of manufacturer claims on security cameras?

I'd love to find something like either phonescoop.com(cellphones) or dpreview.com(digital cameras).

The reason is, I need to pick up an additional IP camera for the new building we are entering. While I'm mostly happy with the old Sony SNC-M1 we currently have. It is blind in the dark, though as Hal has noted in old posts, marginally sensitive to IR. I've thought about building a separate illuminator for it, but that doesn't solve my need for a second camera. The 66 page approved camera list for the DVR software we use doesn't list camera specs, but instead has features supported.

The camera I need is probably fairly basic, doesn't need to support PTZ, doesn't need an anti-tamper dome. Audio isn't a requirement either. Does need to support motion detect, JPEG, 640x480 is fine.

Thoughts?

It occurred to me a bit later that motion detect isn't required. The software we use provides it.

The two image below is the exclusion zone I defined. The way the software stores images is at a definable rate for a definable period on either side of a detection event. The focal point on the 3.7mm lens is about the corner of the desk, where every persons' head will be close enough to the camera for identification. Each 640x480 JPEG image is about 40K.

I'm a relative newbie to the camera world but I recently went to a Speco Seminar and the intensifier line is impressive for seeing in the dark