I noticed one of these: http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0332677
selling for $15 in the latest Micro Center flyer (price not reflected on their site for some reason). I don't recall seeing web cams before that incorporated night vision LEDs. Better picture of the model here with the LEDs illuminated: http://www.pcgearhead.com/webcams-all.php?PrdID=1071 If you can get 1280 x 1024 pixel resolution (720P HD) image sensor packaged retail for $15, makes you wonder why $200 IP cameras barely can do 640x480 (and most that produce that resolution still have a fuzzy picture). (Actually you can get a pan/tilt IP camera claiming 640x480 from China for $70. The sensor budget is probably $2.) I would expect to see several limitations with using web cams as security cameras: -The lens angle for a web cam may be too wide or narrow when you position the camera 10 feet away from your area of interest, instead of 2. -As above, focus may be off, but the lens may already be designed be focused at "infinity" for anything that is more than a foot away. (Looking at a large JPEG of the camera, it looks like it has a manual focus ring and the markings F/#2.4 f:80mm-infinity.) -The "night vision" LEDs appear to be visible white, rather than IR, which diminishes their value for security applications. If the camera needs visible light, then you might as well just use general lighting, and you likely would need that in a security application where you need to illuminate a larger area. No specifications for the minimum light level required by the camera. -This is a wide aspect ratio HD camera. The extra width may or may not be useful in a security application. The slightly cheaper 800 x 600 resolution model might be better. I know there are some people on the list that have experimented with using web cams as security cameras. Have you had success using higher resolution web cams to produce a better image than what you'd get from a $200 IP cam? If so, what did you pair it with? ShevaPlug? Ideally I'd like to see a ShevaPlug-like device that: -Has a hardware watchdog timer (IP cameras are very crash prone). -Has a USB port. -Has an input port that you can wire a passive IR motion detector to. -Has a hardware H.264 (or similar) encoder. -Has an Ethernet jack. -Powered by PoE. -Tom _______________________________________________ Hardwarehacking mailing list [email protected] http://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/hardwarehacking
