Have you ever used the panoramic feature on your smartphone’s camera?
Typically, you’ll click like you’re taking a picture and then move the screen image in front of you from one side to the other. You’ll then end up with a cool picture that stretches wide from left to right.
Panoramic cameras in security surveillance are similar. They may not be ideal for every situation, but they sure are great for certain applications.
Here are four benefits of using panoramic cameras as part of your video surveillance system:
A good panoramic camera can do the job of three or more cameras. This means fewer wires to run, fewer network switches to install, and ultimately less expense.
In a warehouse … Instead of seeing two or three rows of product in one shot, a panoramic camera could show eight or 10 rows.
In a grocery store … Instead of seeing one or two end cap displays, a panoramic camera could show all the end caps.
In a parking lot … Instead of seeing one row of cars, a panoramic camera could show the entire parking lot.
In large spaces, the applications for panoramic cameras are endless.
View large areas seamlessly – As a person or vehicle moves, a panoramic camera can keep track of them in one frame instead of having to bounce between multiple images on a screen. This is more than just an issue of convenience. Sometimes, vital security camera footage could get lost in the blind spots between camera shots. The alternative, of course, is to install more cameras that overlap to make sure any footage isn’t missed. But in that case, businesses may end up installing more cameras than needed. Panoramic cameras provide a solution for all of this with one seamless view.
Capture views traditional cameras miss – Perhaps there are only a few poles in a parking lot and no easy way to put cameras in every place desired. Why not use panoramic cameras to cover the areas that otherwise would not be reached?
See the big picture and zoom in for details – A panoramic lens mimics what the human eye can see. As we view your surroundings, we usually don’t need to see everything our eyes can see. Instead, our peripheral vision helps guide us to what’s important, and then we focus in on that.
The same is true for a panoramic camera. You might not need to see every pixel of a wide-angle image. But seeing it all at once allows the viewer to easily find and zero in on what’s important.
With panoramic cameras, this is accomplished with digital zoom functions. This helps narrow the focus on a specific section of the image you want to view. If it’s a high-quality HD camera, the tighter shot should still have a high enough resolution to provide a clear picture.
This saves valuable time in finding the specific footage needed rather than having to hunt through several cameras and images, especially in larger spaces.
The video surveillance experts at Sonitrol Great Lakes can assist in finding the right types of security cameras to provide wide-scale coverage, coupled with professional monitoring and verified response to protect your people and your property. Please contact us for a no-obligation assessment of your camera system.