Cameras - IP, Megapixel, Analog, Night Vision: 39 Companies - MajorCompanies in breif
Overview: Surveillance cameras may be
categorized into 4 main segments: analog, standard definition IP, megapixel and
night-vision. Analog cameras are the most traditional and commonly deployed
cameras today. Analog cameras are commonly connected to DVRs or encoders so
operators can view over PCs. Standard definition IP cameras offer similar
resolution to analog cameras but do not require a DVR or encoder as the video as
has been digitized for PC viewing inside the camera. Megapixel cameras are IP
cameras that offer higher resolution than either analog or standard definition
cameras. Megapixel cameras offer up to 16 MP resolution while traditional analog
cameras only offer about .3 MP. Finally, night vision cameras are specialized
cameras that are used to see when natural or artificial light is missing. The
four major types of night vision cameras are infrared (e.g., Extreme CCTV), SWIR (e.g.,NoblePeak), thermal (e.g., Flir) and laser-based (e.g., Vumii).
ACTi
ACTi offers a full line of solid quality,
inexpensive IP cameras plus NVR software. An early leader in IP cameras, ACTi
has lost ground over the past few years.
American Dynamics
American Dynamics offers a full line
of video surveillance products. Their flagship product is the Intellex DVR line
but they also have respected line of analog cameras and matrix switchers. Though
their products are sold into a variety of markets, their strongest market has
always been retail. In 2008, they acquired encoders and NVRs from Trident Tek
and video analytics from Intellivid. American Dynamic is building an end to end
IP video solution.
Arecont Vision
Arecont Vision offers a full line of
megapixel cameras up to 20MP
resolution. Arecont's cameras are fairly bare bones with no on board
storage, audio nor analytics. Only a few of their models have auto back focus.
However, Arecont's pricing per pixel is one of the lowest in the industry,
making them attractive to the cost conscious. Also, Arecont is one of a only a
few manufacturers with multi-imager cameras (like their 8MP and 20MP versions).
See our tests of their 10MP, 3MP
and in our
indoor shootout versus their main competitors. In November 2011, integrators
overwhelmingly selected Arecont as
the the IP camera delivering the worst experiences.
ATEME
ATEME is a manufacturer of video
surveillance encoders and recorders. ATEME is best known for its leadership in
developing advanced CODECs including leading efforts in H.264.
Avigilon
Avigilon offers a full line of IP cameras,
encoders and VMS software. The company is best known for super high resolution
cameras (up to 29MP) and for optimizing the display and retrieval of such
cameras. Combined with some of the industry's most attractive pricing and
restricted dealer access, Avigilon is one of the fastest growing companies in
all of surveillance.
Axis
Axis is one of, if not the, largest manufacturers
of video surveillance globally. While the company focuses primarily on cameras,
with an extremely broad array of offerings, Axis is also developing management
systems including a hosted video solution (AVHS) and a decentralized VMS (ACC)
in addition to their traditional VMS, ACS.
Axsys
Basler
Basler manufacturers megapixel cameras. A
long term developer of machine vision products, Basler entered the video
surveillance market in 2007. Basler offers a line of H.264 CCD cameras up to 3
MP resolution. Basler's cameras are physically much smaller than most or all
other megapixel cameras.
BiKal
BiKal offers a complete line of IP video
surveillance products including IP cameras, surveillance software and bundled
analytics. BiKal focuses on making IP video inexpensive and easy for the broader
market to use. Watch demonstration
videos of Bikal's products. Though Bikal manufacturers their own IP cameras,
their surveillance software supports a wide variety of third party cameras.
Bosch Security
Bosch Security is a global video
surveillance manufacturer including a broad line of both analog and IP
products.
Cantronic
Cieffe
Cieffe develops IP video management software
and a line of encoders/cameras. Acquired by March Networks in 2008, the Cieffe line
looks to be the centerpiece of March Network's emerging IP video strategy. The
March/Cieffe offering will compete with a similar offering from Verint as well as IP video solutions from Milestone and Genetec among others.
Cisco
Cisco offers an end
to end video surveillance solution that tightly integrates with Cisco's
networking equipment. Cisco's offering includes encoders (acquired through
SyPixx) and video management software (acquired through Broadware). Cisco has
released two IP cameras and has ported the Broadware software to run as modules
in Cisco routers. Cisco's main competitors include Milestone, Genetec and other large DVR/NVR manufactures.
Dallmeier
DVTel
DVTel offers a full line of video surveillance
products. DVTel's products center around their own line of IP cameras, encoders
and IP video surveillance software. A key differentiator is their Scene
Tracker technology that stitches cameras view into a single image to improve
viewing of large areas. In 2010, DVTel
acquired one of the leading video analytic providers, ioimage. Genetec, Verint and ONSSI are
key competitors and alternatives to DvTel.
EverFocus
EverFocus manufacturers a broad range of
DVRs, analog and IP cameras primarily for the budget / SMB markets. Everfocus is
one of the founding members of the HDcctv
alliance - a group that plans to deliver non-IP megapixel cameras that work
with existing coax.
Flir
Flir specializes in the production of Infrared /
thermal cameras. In the surveillance market, these products are primarily used
for nightvision or scenarios where heat can be detected but light is obscured.
Flir is the market leader.
Geutebrueck
Geutebrueck is a manufacturer of a broad
variety of video surveillance products including DVRs, cameras and analytics.
Strongest presence is in Europe.
Grandeye
Grandeye offers 360 degree panoramic cameras.
Grandeye offers both analog and IP versions. The analog version is 3MP and
requires its own dedicated record. The IP version offers 5MP resolution, uses
MJPEG and integrates with a variety of leading video management systems. The
closest competitive camera is the Mobotix Q22.
Another alternative is Immervision that provides 360 degree lenses for up to
1.3 MP cameras. Read a review of Grandeye's products
and positioning. Note: Grandeye recently had a significant
company restructuring.
Hikvision
Hikvision is one of the largest Chinese
security manufacturers, offering encoder cards, cameras and DVRs.
Honeywell Video
IndigoVision
IndigoVision offers an end to end IP
video solution. IndigoVision's product line consists of IP cameras, encoders,
NVR appliances and IP video surveillance software. IndigoVision does not support
third party IP cameras though plans to release 3rd party support in 2010. Key
differentiator for IndigoVision is their in-house designed video CODECs that
IndigoVision claims provides higher quality at lower bandwidth.
IQinVision
IQinVision provides a full line of megapixel
cameras. One of the pioneers of megapixel surveillance, IQinVision has fallen
behind as megapixel has moved mainstream. In August 2011, a major management shakeout
occurred.
Lumenera
Lumenera offers a line of megapixel cameras.
Key differentiators for Lumenera include (1) megapixel cameras with low light
sensitivity (using a CCD imager rather than CMOS), (2) supporting video
analytics (in their li series), and (3) 11 MP camera. Comparable products
include Arecont Vision who generally offers
lower prices and IQinvision who offers a
broader line of housing and body types.
Mango DSP
Mobotix
Mobotix Mobotix manufactures megapixel cameras
and video management systems. Key differentiators for Mobotix are: (1) provide
the video management system for no charge and (2) do not require video
management servers (video can be transmitted directly to storage). Mobotix
generated over $50M
annual revenue in 2008. Mobotix's product approach is most similar to Avigilon.
Panasonic
Panasonic is one
of the top analog camera providers. Panasonic also carries a line of DVRs and is
expanding their IP camera product offering. They are regarded for their high
quality cameras (especially their SDIII line). For analog cameras, their main
competitor is Pelco. For IP cameras, it is Axis. In July 2008, Panasonic announced a new
President and a strategic
shift to sell solutions rather than products.
Detailed Information on Panasonic from IP
Pelco
Pelco is one of the largest companies in video
surveillance. A market share leader in analog cameras, Pelco offers a broad
series of surveillance cameras as well as 3 lines of video management systems -
classic DVRs, the Integral product line and the Endura hybrid DVR/NVR system.
In the last year, Pelco has increased their product offering and market
focus for IP camera, launching Sarix, their platform for IP/megapixel cameras.
Given Pelco's large size, they compete against a broad variety of
companies. In the IP camera market, Pelco's two largest competitors are Axis and Sony. Pelco's historically
been well regarded for their customer service. However, their video management
technology is widely viewed as average and their IP camera offerings are still
limited.
Pixim
Pixim offers specialized WDR imaging systems
used by dozens of camera manufacturers. Pixim's key competitive advantage is the
ability to overcome harsh lighting conditions that are common in video
surveillance applications, allowing people and objects to be seen more clearly
than in traditional CCTV cameras. Watch a demo of Pixim's
abilities. Pixim also claims an advantage in reducing
storage consumption. Pixim sells its systems to camera manufacturers,
enabling hundreds of
cameras, but does not sell directly to integrators or end users. The closest
competitive offering to Pixim is the Panasonic
SDIII.
Q-See
Q-See makes inexpensive DVRs, analog and IP
cameras. OEMs Chinese products. Re-sold in Costco
Raytec
Raytec is a specialist provider of IR and
white light illumination products.
Sony
StarDot
StarDot is a megapixel camera
manufacturer, providing a range of cameras from VGA to 5MP. StarDot has an
extensive history of manufacturing megapixel cameras for non-security
applications. In the past few years, StarDot entered in the surveillance market
and has gained VMS support from a number of leading providers such as Milestone
and Exacq.
Veracity
Veracity manufacturers products for
transmitting IP video. Highwire is Veracity's flagship product. Highwire
consists of adapters that allow IP cameras to reutilize existing analog cabling,
eliminating the need to pull new cabling. Highwire is available in 1 and 4
channel versions and is viewed as a key enabler to quickly and cost effectively
migrate from analog CCTV to IP video. A single channel Highwire adapter pair
costs approximately $400 USD. For this price point, Highwire is ideal for longer
cable runs (more than a few hundred feet) or for areas where access or
installation is difficult or problematic. For short, easy cable runs, the
alternative is to simply replace the coax cabling.
Verint
Verint is a leading IP
video provider offering a broad line of cameras, encoders, wireless, analytics
and IP video management software. Over the last 5 years, Verint has evolved from
a high end DVR manufacturer to an end to end video provider. Verint's offering
centers around their Nextiva platform which provides tight integration with
analytics and advanced command and control functionality. Verint's main
competitors include March Networks, Genetec and DvTel.
Vicon
Vicon manufacturers a wide range of video
surveillance products. One of the older companies in the industry, Vicon is
widely considered to be a leader in analog CCTV. Over the last few years, Vicon
has expanded their product portfolio to include both IP cameras and IP video
surveillance software. Vicon provides free VMS licenses for use with Vicon
cameras and OEMs integrated analytics through Agent Vi and access control from S2. Vicon is a publicly traded company, reporting 2008
annual revenues of $66.9 M USD.
VideoIQ
VideoIQ integrates video analytics, cameras
and storage to create all-in-one surveillance appliances. While traditionally,
all 3 elements were run in separate devices (a camera, a recorder and a server
for analysis), VideoIQ bundles all of them inside their camera (which they call
iCVRs).
VIVOTEK
VIVOTEK offers a broad line of inexpensive IP
cameras. VIVOTEK serves the lower end of the market from the consumer to the
small/medium sized business. It is one of, if not the largest provider, in this
segment, with almost $40 M USD 2008 revenue. VIVOTEK ranks 8th overall in
network cameras.
Vumii
Vumii offers long-range night vision systems
using lasers to illuminate targets at long distances. Key differentiators for
Vumii include the ability to identify details of targets (clothing, facial
features, writing, vehicle type) and to do so at ranges over 1500 meters. Vumii
competes with thermal imaging cameras, primarily from Flir by claiming lower cost and far high image
quality than the blurred image generally produced on thermal cameras.
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