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

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

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.