Must-Have Features for Surveillance Cameras in 2013

With IFSEC International nearing closer, I start to get excited thinking about the clever and unique innovations we will see this year.

I am sure there will be plenty of smaller cameras, with greater pixel counts, and higher frames rates. These are all perfectly good improvements, but for me (as an integrator) I feel there are certain must-haves every manufacturer needs to offer in their cameras by the end of 2013.

Remote zoom and remote focus
I somedays wonder how I ever lived without remote zoom and focus. This has to be one of the greatest time-saving innovations for installers.

I remember first seeing this feature on a Pelco Sarix fixed camera a few years back and I could not believe how effective it was. There has been plenty of time for other manufacturers to catch up since then.

By the end of 2013, installers will expect this feature, and any manufacturer that has not adopted it will soon be forgotten.

Super low-light cameras
Axis has Light-Finder, Pelco has SureVision, and Bosch has Starlight.

Whatever you like to call it, it is just another name for exceptional low-light performance. When megapixel cameras were first introduced, they suffered greatly from poor low-light performance and the reputation seemed to stick.

Fortunately, technology improved and so did megapixel low-light performance. IP camera manufacturers are now trying to shake the bad reputation by producing super low-light megapixel cameras.

Every IP camera manufacturer needs to add a line of super low-light cameras by the end of the year. Many installers and end users are looking specifically for low-light cameras. For this reason manufacturers should follow the trend by branding low light technology with their own name.

Video analytics
I am starting to see more and more cameras being shipped with built-in video analytics. I look forward to the day that built-in video analytics becomes as common as built-in video motion is today, but, for now, it is still rarely included.

Manufacturers that choose not to develop their own built-in analytics will need to partner with a video analytics plugin developer. It will not be long before every IP camera is expected to support some type of analytics.

Video analytics is an established and proven technology. Too many camera manufacturers are placing the responsibility of integrating video analytics on the VMS. With processing power moving to the edge, it is time camera manufacturers get on board with video analytics.

The megapixel race is slowing, and integrators are generally happy with the resolutions available today. Camera size and higher frame rates are both important, but before pushing the limits of these (already satisfactory) features, manufacturers must first focus on adding the functions integrators and installers expect.