Types of Panoramic Cameras
nnCameras are the basis of any surveillance system. Panoramic Cameras are the new generation of IP cameras which offer a wider field of view than standard cameras. While a wall-mounted panoramic camera offers a 180° view, a ceiling-mounted camera offers 360° overview.nnA single fisheye camera can provide wide-area coverage for monitoring overall activity, situation awareness, tracking footfall, and improving area management.nn nnOur previous blog summed up how panoramic cameras benefit an organisation by reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).nnThis blog is a guide to the various kinds of panoramic cameras available in the market.nn nnThe following section assists in finding a panoramic camera that best suits your need.nn nnSingle-sensor Panoramic CamerasnnThese cameras can be employed in smaller indoor areas such as retail shops or lobbies.nnBy mounting single-sensor cameras onto the ceiling of a store, it is possible to view a 360° image. In doing so, the security personnel or camera operators will have an overview of the shop’s floor without any blind spots. Besides, even though the camera uses a fisheye lens, due to the ‘dewarping technology’, the image will look natural and is not distorted. With such a large overview of good image quality, small stores can spot behaviour and proactively deal with it, resulting in better area management.nnOn the other hand, when placed on walls, panoramic cameras can focus on capturing 180° of coverage, making them extremely adaptable depending on business’ timely requirements.nn nnMultisensor Panoramic CamerasnnAdvanced panoramic cameras are not limited to single-sensor functions. Multisensor panoramic cameras consist of at least three sensors, each covering 180° horizontal and up to 90° vertical areas. It creates a seamless image with much greater detail, even at far distances, with minimal distortion and absolutely no blind spots.nnSafety and security can often be challenging in situations such as busy town squares, stadiums and parking lots which have a lot of motion in a wide area. The better image quality of distant objects makes panoramic cameras extremely useful in situations where incidents can happen far away.nnFor instance, consider a stadium during a cricket match with two sets of aggressive fans. If someone was to cause tension, the cameras could easily find the culprit and help security staff to deal with it accordingly immediately.nn nnMultidirectional Panoramic CamerasnnPanoramic cameras can position their sensors to face different directions and gain maximum coverage where it is needed the most. They have four distinct streams with individual viewing angles. The sensors can cover up to 360° and can also overlap each other to create more zoomed-in coverage through one sensor, and also provide a clear overview of the same area through another sensor.nnFor instance, consider a school or university campus. Security and staff must be aware of who is on campus, who enters and who exits the premises. The cameras can be placed on the outer, in open areas or at hallway intersections for effective results. When multidirectional panoramic cameras are positioned in the ceiling or at the centre of hallway intersections, its sensors can monitor different directions. Security staff and the camera operators will have a clear and detailed view of each corridor which maximises overview and hence helps them spot any security issues that may be developing.nn nnMultidirectional Panoramic Cameras With PTZnnCutting-edge multidirectional panoramic camera package also includes a separately installed PTZ (pan tilt and zoom) camera for increased coverage and zooming functions. The PTZ camera is used to provide zoomed-in images while the other sensors render a highly detailed overview, of up to 360°, in any scenario.nnThese panoramic cameras provide real-time monitoring, which is ideal for open areas and city surveillance. Security personnel and camera operators will be able to control the PTZ camera sensor depending on what they want to focus on. Hence, the cameras can provide a much better idea of what needs to be done to deal with any incidents.nn nnBy having a wide and maximum coverage of a situation and by being able to observe it at different angles and distances, security staff can identify what needs to be done a lot quicker, which will help increase overall security.nnThese cameras enable businesses to increase the overview of their premises, with comparatively lower costs.nnBy only installing a single unit, there is no need to pay for multiple software licences, individual cameras or installation costs.nnTherefore, businesses and users can instead focus on other vital elements knowing that they possess a security system with almost no blind spots in place.