Eight megapixel (4K) CMOS Sensors used for network cameras are now trending in the market. 4K network cameras can use many different types of brands for UHD cameras. 4K Sony CMOS sensors are well documented for having a fantastic night time viewing with very little noise and hi levels of light sensitivity. Cortex produces fix lens and motorized varifocal models that use the Sony 4K CMOS in their cameras. 

These UHD cameras have advanced features in the software like analytics that can be used for object detection, line crossing, faced detection and Cross counting. The 16 : 9 aspect ratio of these CMOS sensors also provide an amazingly wide image viewing angle. 

Cortex network video recorderS and software allow remote management and video recording of the video streams from these UHD network cameras. Additional streams can be managed for video management software like our RTSP on port 554 and substreams for cloud backup. 

 By integrating 4k Sony CMOS sensor into Cortex Network cameras this manufacturer provided superior night time performance that can be set for continuous color viewing instead of black and white. Color saturation during daytime and full lighting environments is also increased. The option of converting the image to black-and-white in order to take advantage of infrared lighting is a great option used to many times in excessively dark areas. 

8MP IP Cameras for low light areas are extremely important and provide extremely wide angles because of their aspect ratio. 

2018 brings the latest wave of UHD IP cameras with many different labels like 4K IP cameras, 8meg IPC, 4K IPC, 8MP Cams and many others. One of the key issues that has held back 4K IP cameras is frame rate. Up to now users had to choose between very high resolution at extremely low frame rates like 1-3 FPS because of compression and throughput technology. With the latest release of high-efficiency compression engines including h.265, more information can be sent via networks and processed through network infrastructures. This means much higher frame rates like 15 FPS or even real time 30 frames per second. Prices fluctuate because of processing power and chipsets inside the cameras.

Along with better compression and increased functionality a new generation of 4K CMOS sensors have also hit the market from famous brands like Sony and others. This has increased the output of 4K into the mass-market and the general distribution channels. Citing reports from statistic gathering agencies, many distributors in the computer and home automation markets have also increased their offers of 4K IP cameras and recorders to their clients.

UHD IP cameras can be found for a variety of prices which reflects the components used and housings that are chosen. Even the finish and painting on the 4K rated housings have a direct correlation with prices since higher quality finishes and polishing delays production which increases labor costs. 8MP rates Lenses for 4K cameras also have a huge influence on final costs with many manufacturers scrambling to find cheap solutions that can increase their competitive edge. Premium sensors like Sony and Aptina have an effect on the cost of production and engineering.

4k IP cameras and NVRs also benefit from the mainstream branding of 4K TVs and household appliances. This mainstream resolution is now a must-have for any new video product on the market and will soon be dominant in the CCTV and surveillance world as well.

Another advancement in technology that has also increased UHD penetration into the markets is storage size. Western digital and Seagate have both introduced 8 TB and 10 TB hard drives that are dropping in price very quickly. There is even a display for a 12TB HDD visible in the pictures from the last CPSE security trade show in China. These new mega storage hard drives allow simpler cased designs with smaller power supplies which in turn lowers the cost of recorder manufacturing.  With so many affordable storage options and low-cost hybrid recorders, there is little doubt that 4K CCTV will make a big splash in 2018.

Be sure to shop the latest line of Cortex IP cameras and NVRs that will provide your clients with great value and long term performance.

The latest 4K CCTV cameras were on display during the China public security expo hosted in Shenzhen this year. Many new chipsets are available for UHD security technology which have dramatically dropped the market prices and created a whole new segment for video surveillance.

2160p UHD CCTV was the most common ultra high definition option available during the show since many of the component manufacturers have really focused on producing affordable solutions for 4K. These components include the sensors but also items like lenses that are very difficult to manufacture in such high resolution. Up to just a few months ago, it was very difficult to find low-cost lenses in the category suitable for 4K. During our visit we noticed at least seven lens manufacturers with a heavy focus on UHD CCTV offers. Now that lenses are available in fixed wide-angle formats and varifocal for 4K CCTV cameras, it easy to assemble affordable, high value 4K systems that can be deployed throughout every industry that utilizes video surveillance. 

A word of warning: with so many component manufacturer is fixated on delivering price driven 4K cameras and 4K recorders Byers must be extremely careful not to indulge in their price oriented decisions and test everything thoroughly in order to achieve a true 4K experience for consumers. An interesting point to focus on our the number of CMOS chip producers and have entered the market and are not competing with famous names like Sony, Panasonic, and Aptina. Although it will be sometime before these smaller CMOS chip manufacturers can perfect their technology and create the stability necessary for infield deployments, there will still be many buyers and manufactures that will attempt to prematurely use these 4K components and create the damage commonly seen during infield testing of new technology. A common word is “guinea pig” which is something that no integrator or installer wants to be. On the bright side, this means that very soon price competition in 4K will reach a boiling point which will create a standard for every day projects. 

Like many security shows around the world, large format drones equipped with video imaging and UHD recording devices have a heavy presence. Many of the manufacturers or targeting military and government uses but also can be very helpful for commercial and industrial applications like land surveying and hazardous area surveillance. The price tag for many of these high tech toys can be astronomical but many times extremely worth it for commercial users. We noticed that firefighting and fire detection are a fantastic use of these military grade drones. 

Drone based video surveillance is growing in popularity very quickly. Although it requires custom programming and some levels of artificial intelligence in order to achieve the desired results, we will soon see border patrol and seen awareness performed by unmanned drones. 

Face detection in video surveillance is it common function which so far has served a little purpose but when used correctly has been useful for storage space saving and alerts of unauthorized individuals in a timescheduled zone. Using many new chipsets that provide additional processing power for artificial intelligence in CCTV engineering firms have put forth face recognition that can map a persons face. By creating a percentage based analysis, this new AI UHD can plot accuracy and compare the scanned faces to internal databases like blacklists that can quickly alert security forces of a potential threat. This new technology is available throughout the video surveillance world and will soon make its way to the field. Although some countries like the United States and Europe will quickly balk at the idea of giving up one’s privacy in the name of safety, it is highly likely that security concerns will outweigh any justification for shelving this technology. If programmed correctly, we envision a future where these AI CCTV tools are integrated into scanning 4K cameras and can even trigger access control locks and gateways. AI with it’s cognitive capabilities will surely change the landscape of the surveillance market. 

Another technology worth mentioning that has also received a boost is the latest generation of EXSDI Which is now capable of 4mp resolutions. This Coax SDI technology is the only interface in the how megapixel range that can do full frame rate at full shutter speeds. This means real time display in the capability of recording at 30 frames per second. 4mp SDI or 4mp EXSDI is available from select distributors worldwide and requires an equally powerful serial digital interface on the recorders.