Q-See QSC480100 High Resolution Weatherproof CCD Camera w/330ft of Night Vision (Color)
From Digital Peripheral Solutions
QSC480100 is an Outdoor video Color CCD camera. With CCD technology, it delivers the most sophisticated technology into the most reliable and accurate quality picture in the security industry Its ideal for monitoring or recording. The package includes a 60-ft. cable to allow flexible installation. Connect the camera to any TV/VCR and start viewing or recording immediately. Q-See outdoor cameras are built to withstand all the elements of nature. Rain, snow or hot sun will not deter the camera from sending clear video. The design of the camera incorporates a weatherproof metal casing with an "O" ring seal to keep the high resolution lens and the internal parts safe from nature. With 6 large & 6 small Infra Red LEDs that light up at night, the camera will give black and white night vision for up to 330 ft. in total darkness.
Amazon Sales Rank: #79102 in Camera & Photo Brand: Q-See Model: QSC480100 Original language: English Dimensions: 7.00" h x 14.00" w x 7.00" l, 7.60 pounds
Poor quality Camera came out of the box not working, the image was a blur. $10 to ship to QSee and a week later, camera came back with a clear image during the day, but at night it looks like your looking through fog. Can't see a clear image at 150 ft. Good LEDs, but not so good CCD imager & lens I'll be honest here - I'm wavering between 2 and 3 stars - I've changed it twice. I settled on 3 because q-see has such a clearly defined low-medium-high end product line. This is the medium and the expectations are set by that. The testing: On one hand Q-see managed to put out a value line of a true CCD imager with exceptional IR output (I have a lab grade IR meter and the LEDs in this really do put out the beam) but... for $70 more you can get their top of the line unit Q-see Outdoor Ccd Camera 540TVL with 250FT Night Vision Here's what the $70 upgrade buys you #1 - the QSB550SR is a true high definition camera with 550 lines of TV resolution in night mode (540 in color day mode) - this camera is measuring about 470 lines. It's a big deal in being able to read a license plate or not. #2 - the 550SR also uses a genuine SONY SUPER HAD imager instead of the no-name ccd chip inside this unit #3 - the 550SR actually puts out MORE IR than this unit #4 - the 550SR has a much better weather sealed case #5 - the 550SR has a 10X zoom lens (5mm - 50mm) #6 - the 550SR has a focus and zoom ring weather sealed #7 - the 550SR comes with a 3A power supply And last, but certainly not least #8,9,10 the 550SR has inside it a sony DSP noise reduction chip and built it motion detection, and backlight control, as well as your choice of night mode being IR w/color or IR and only black + white but with better resolution. You set these parameters with an on screen menu that is pulled up with a PS/2 keyboard mini-din plug (email me for info on how to make a remote from a ps/2 cable - no sense in buying a remote you're only going to use to setup the camera) I sent back this unit and bought the 550SR - not only was it feature packed, but the 10X zoom lens was a real "wow" factor and the LEDs were focused to the distance so you could use the zoom feature. The mounting bracket is also superior on the 550SR than this camera. I was much happier and over the lifespan of the camera, $70 is not that much when it comes to being able to get good color and good night picture quality. I'm giving it a 3 star rating because this one still puts out alot of IR light and because it is 70 dollars cheaper. But if it were any more expensive it would be a 2 star camera compared to the 550SR. The Sony image quality just can't be beat - at night it is a .00006 lux camera which is pretty spectacular at turning night into day, and this camera's CCD chip does not do that well at night - the whole image is pretty grey without fine detail that the real high resolution sony gives. One note - the extension cables (65 ft or so) that q-see gives you are at best average. Their roll cable (500 ft bulk) is true rg-59 which is much better suited to the task. The freebies that come in the camera box combine power and video into one cable with a single shield being the power ground. On the spool cable it is a "siamese" construction with two power wires separate from the genuine rg-59 coax that you can crimp any connector you want (rca on the tv end for example and bnc on the camera end if you don't use a DVR) Plus you can peal back the power side of the cable and run it to a distribution box like the Q-See QS1210 18 Camera Power Distribution Panel which makes for a more professional install. Q-see gives you the same extension cables in all their cameras, but it lowers the resolution of their truly high res cameras like the 550SR which when placed into a modern hdtv set or a professional video monitor / VTR can really show its stuff. Like always, it all boils down to money - if money is tight, this will do the job - if you want all the fancy features of backlight cancellation and noise reduction, and the ability to configure the camera to your exact situation, then spend the $70 extra and get the one 550SR instead. embarrassing combinations The camera seems to be working just fine, although I am a bit concerned about a metallic tumbling sound that happens when you invert the unit- there is something loose in there and I can't get it out. The night vision is excellent, I already provided my local police with footage of a suspect breaking into a car. It's an OK unit if you don't mind retrofitting this camera to a realistic mounting bracket. The one it comes with is embarrassingly inadequate for any practical use. Next disappointment is the light shield; it doesn't fit the rails on the camera. That also took some retrofitting.
