Tuesday, July 7, 2009

USA-AV-SD and HD systems.

Finally a system that is built for integrators and high end users in the audio video industry. The USA-AVPTZ complete A/V system is available in either standard or  high definition from USA Security Systems. The standard comes with a Sony EVID 70 P/T/Z camera and the high definition version comes with a Sony EVI-HD1. 

Both are fully able P/T/Z cameras which makes them perfect for applications that call for remote shooting. Examples of this are Houses of Worship, Corporate Boardrooms, Broadcast events, Video and Web conferencing, Concerts, Government and Educational training purposes, and almost any security application.


The USA-AV-SD comes with:

The USA-AV-HD comes with all of them same equipment except the EVID-70 is swapped out for the EVI-HD1. 

Both of these complete systems  are the answer for anyone looking for a simple and easy set-up process. With a system like this, one does not have to search for multiple components that are compatible with only certain aspects of the entire system. USA Security Systems has already done the work piecing together a system that is ready to be set up and operational.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Optical Vs. Digital Vs. Full Zoom Capabilites for Surveillance/Security Cameras

Today's cameras are constantly being pushed to the edge of their threshold.  24/7 operation for years on end is asked for without break down and minimal wear. One important piece is also asked for, incredible zoom capabilities.

What a lot of people don't know is that there are two extremely different types of zoom, each work in a completely different way and both will have different outcomes. They can, however, also be used together to achieve the highest level of zoom.


First, we look at optical zoom. Optical zoom is the most common type of zoom, it uses the moving parts on a focal lens to see objects with closer detail.  Zoom lenses are mechanical assemblies of lens elements with the ability to vary its focal length (and thus angle of view), as opposed to a fixed focal length (FFL) lens. With optical zoom you are actually changing the input that is going into the camera. With optical zoom the sensor is actually seeing the image closer their fore the out put is clean and clear.

Digital zoom actually decreases (narrows) the apparent angle of view of a digital photographic or video image. Digital zoom is accomplished by cropping an image down to an interpolating achieve the area with the same aspect ratio as the original, and usually also interpolating achieve the result back up to the pixel dimensions of the original. Digital zoom is engaged after the image is processed and can make the image blurred or pixelated if zoomed too close.


The third type of zoom set ups on cameras is called full zoom. Full zoom incorporates digital and optical zoom to make the most of both digital and optical zooming capabilities. Most cameras have both types of zoom to further enhance the image, zooming in very close with the optical zoom and getting even closer with the digital. Digital zoom can cause pixilation and loss of image quality whereas optical zoom is actually changing the ability of the lens its self. So the optical zoom lens makes the image look closer and then digital zoom can zoom even further into the already close image.