TrendCamera manufacturers going HD

Published 24 September 2009

High definition technology gives users the capability to make out faces and license plates more easily, which in the future will also have implications for video analytics, making them more effective

Walking the floor at this year’s ASIS International Seminar and Exhibition, it is clear that many camera manufacturers are looking to make their mark in the high definition camera market.

SecurityInfoWatch.com’s Joel Griffin writes that one of these manufacturers, Sanyo, is making a huge push in the market, launching nine new full HD camera models at the show. The new cameras, which come in fixed, dome and pan/tilt/zoom models, are all in full 1080p HD and feature both H.264 and MJPEG compression formats.

In a presentation before ASIS media members and attendees on Monday, Sanyo executives explained the company’s strategy for the HD market. Several factors played a part in the company’s desire to become a leader in the HD space. First, HD cameras are expected to grow at two and a half times the rate of network cameras, jumping from nearly 327,000 units sold in 2009 to an estimated 790,000 in 2011. Secondly, Sanyo has received rave reviews since it first entered the market space last year with the launch of its VCC-HD4000 camera, which was awarded CCTV Product of the Year at IFSEC 2009.

Sanyo North America President Masami Murata said that the company’s ultimate goal is to become the top manufacturer of HD security cameras and is aiming for a 30 percent share in the HD network camera business.

I have confidence… we can take the number one position in North America,” he said.

To accomplish this, Murata said that the company is focused on increasing its presence and market penetration in several key verticals including education, retail, commercial, government and gaming. The company will focus heavily on the education, commercial and government markets, according to Murata, being that they are currently the most active verticals in deploying HD camera technology.

Griffin writes that to differentiate itself from the competition, the nine new Sanyo models all feature an auto focus capability and all are in full, 1080p HD.

Another company that is making a big push into the HD space this year is Sony. The company, which is now on its fifth generation of HD security cameras, is launching several new HD products at ASIS including a new dome, as well as two new fixed cameras.

The technology may still be in its infancy stage, but Miguel Lazatin, senior marketing manager of security systems for Sony, said that implications of HD quality on the security industry could be huge. “For (Sony), it’s more about picture quality and incorporating the technology that is important for security,” he said.

High definition technology gives users the capability to make out faces and license plates more easily, which in the future will also have implications for video analytics, making them more effective,” Griffin writes. Another value proposition of HD technology for end-users is that it allows them to preserve pixel density with a wider field of view.