JVC has announced four new analog high-res CCTV cameras that it claims can produce accurate colors under extremely low light conditions. The new surveillance cams feature the company’s Super LoLux technology for sensitivity as low as 0.05 lux in color mode and 0.006 lux in black-and-white mode. JVC also claims these models use 40% less power making them more eco-friendly and cheaper to operate.
The security industry is steadily going digital, so it may seem odd to introduce new analog camera models when the sales of IP network cameras are increasing every year. But industry reports indicate that digital systems such as the Cisco PVC300 and the Archerfish Smartbox still have a long way to go to catch up; analog is still in use in about 90% of security surveillance installations.
“Digital video surveillance market share continues to increase, but analog camera installations still represent the majority of installed CCTV systems,” said Lee Elliott, JVC Professional Europe’s CCTV product manager. “JVC knows how important analog is to the surveillance industry, so we’ve made significant enhancements to improve performance.”
In addition to better low-light sensitivity, the new JVC cams also provide high resolution with 580 TV lines and feature a new 12-bit digital signal processor. JVC’s 3D noise reduction helps reduce picture noise in dark environments by comparing continuous video frames to noise data. The noise can then be reduced by blending it with other frames over time. A new “area white balance” feature automatically applies white balance to a specific zone of the video image, which the manufacturer claims helps to reduce areas of strong color for more accurate color reproduction. The units also feature automatic gain control, an automatic electronic shutter, and a 1.4x/2.0x digital zoom.
The four new models include two dome cameras and two box-type cameras. The TK-C2201E and TK-C2201WPE are compact, fixed dome cameras that feature a variable focus lens with a trick fine-focus adjustment mechanism. And to help ease installation, the dome cameras offer an RCA jack for an external monitor to verify camera angle and focus on location.
The TK-C2201E is vandal-resistant for use in schools and commercial locations, while the TK-C2201WPE ups the ruggedness factor with a weather-proof vandal- and tamper-resistant aluminum chassis and polycarbonate dome cover. JVC claims the unit can even withstand a shock of more than 50 joules.
The TK-C9200E and TK-C9300E are arm-mounted box-style cameras. The TK-C9200E is the basic model, while the TK-C9300E offers an extended dynamic range capability called ExDR Plus. JVC claims that ExDR Plus helps to clearly display people and objects in the foreground, even if the background is extremely bright.