I am thinking of getting my son a live webcam to allow him to watch my office reef tank from home. This is a last-minute Christmas gift idea so I am wondering if there is a turn-key setup I can buy that will allow not only remote viewing, but panning, zooming, etc. via our home computer. Any input would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Live webcam ideas wanted
- Thread starter ellislaw1
- Start date
baldwinaquaman
New member
i'm looking into a cam for my apex lite, not sure how it works if anyone has any input...
Not as expensive as you might think. Don't know the exact details but a freind of mine has these set up at his house. You just need to find a website to host it once the cam is set up. That way your son can log in with a password. Might be a monthly charge but a relatively small one at that. Sorry I couldn't help more.
Joe
Joe
Untamed12
New member
I use a Panasonic...like this one.
http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-...tCams/model.BL-C30A_11002_7000000000000005702
http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-...tCams/model.BL-C30A_11002_7000000000000005702
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Panasonic BL-C131A
Tilts, pans and zooms... Panasonic provides the web host address free of charge.
Also works wi-fi, so no need for ethernet cables to connect the camera to the router...
LL
Tilts, pans and zooms... Panasonic provides the web host address free of charge.
Also works wi-fi, so no need for ethernet cables to connect the camera to the router...
LL
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Works great for me - only hangup is related to my router - not the camera. I use one in front of the tank and a second in the fish room. I can view one or both cameras at any time.
When I get my router ports to open again, I'll put a link on here...
LL
Los
New member
I *highly* recommend the Canon VB-Cxx series of cameras. They have built in web servers, so you don't need to have them hooked up to a computer. The best part is, you can pan, tilt, and zoooooom way in. I travel all the time (I'm in Hong Kong at the moment) and I use it to check on my tank. I can easily zoom right into a coral, to the point of checking out the individual polyps using a VB-C50ir. I loved the camera so much, I bought a couple of them as well as two of the even higher grade VB-C60, which I'm going to use for home security, my fish room, the other side of the tank, etc.
The software that comes with these is outstanding. You can have it, for example, create presets of a given pan, tilt, and zoom. You can then have it take pictures of the various presets (I think I have a dozen or so of them) automatically on a schedule that you designate. I have these automatically downloaded to a server (they come with the software to do so) and I'm eventually going to use all those pictures to do time lapse photography of my tank and some of my favorite corals. How cool is that!
It has other features which are really cool for home security. For example, you can designate a field of view so that if anything moves in that part of the camera's view, it will automatically start taking pictures and recording the event. You can even tell the camera to follow whatever it is that is moving (ie your daughter's boyfriend who is sneaking into your house
. All the setup is drop down menus, etc. so it's really easy. The key is that you need an ethernet connection and power by the camera. Other than that, it's easy as pie.
While the quality and ease of use is awesome, the price is a bit scary. New, the VB-C50ir runs about $1,200 and the VB-C60 is around $1,400. If you don't mind waiting a few weeks for a great deal, you can do what I did: I've bought all of mine on ebay and I typically paid around $400-$500 each. Only one of the six I bought had a problem: a single bad pixel.
I hope that helps!
The software that comes with these is outstanding. You can have it, for example, create presets of a given pan, tilt, and zoom. You can then have it take pictures of the various presets (I think I have a dozen or so of them) automatically on a schedule that you designate. I have these automatically downloaded to a server (they come with the software to do so) and I'm eventually going to use all those pictures to do time lapse photography of my tank and some of my favorite corals. How cool is that!
It has other features which are really cool for home security. For example, you can designate a field of view so that if anything moves in that part of the camera's view, it will automatically start taking pictures and recording the event. You can even tell the camera to follow whatever it is that is moving (ie your daughter's boyfriend who is sneaking into your house
. All the setup is drop down menus, etc. so it's really easy. The key is that you need an ethernet connection and power by the camera. Other than that, it's easy as pie.While the quality and ease of use is awesome, the price is a bit scary. New, the VB-C50ir runs about $1,200 and the VB-C60 is around $1,400. If you don't mind waiting a few weeks for a great deal, you can do what I did: I've bought all of mine on ebay and I typically paid around $400-$500 each. Only one of the six I bought had a problem: a single bad pixel.
I hope that helps!
Going with Panasonic BL-C131A
Going with Panasonic BL-C131A
Thanks to all of you for your input.
I just ordered the less expensive Panasonic ($226 plus free 2-day shipping, so I will have it just in time for Christmas) for now. It looks like it will work really well. If my son really enjoys it (or if I do ;-) we may spring for the Canon next year.
Thanks again!
Going with Panasonic BL-C131A
Thanks to all of you for your input.
I just ordered the less expensive Panasonic ($226 plus free 2-day shipping, so I will have it just in time for Christmas) for now. It looks like it will work really well. If my son really enjoys it (or if I do ;-) we may spring for the Canon next year.
Thanks again!
sfboarders
New member
I have the Panasonic and use it for more a security camera. It picks up the sound on my return pump and protein skimmer like nothing. EZ to setup. Have fun.
Hi,
How do you make sure that video recording of your home or maybe even you are not accesible by someone else. It that stuff secure especially with hifi. I do understand that canon and panasonic provide for user web space to store and play video - right? When you use it as a security camera or to check on your baby, with all kinds or crazy people in virtual space ... is that staff secure? It's grat to be able to see your stuff when you are away but can you keep it for you self?
Thanks
How do you make sure that video recording of your home or maybe even you
are not accesible by someone else. It that stuff secure especially with hifi. I do understand that canon and panasonic provide for user web space to store and play video - right? When you use it as a security camera or to check on your baby, with all kinds or crazy people in virtual space ... is that staff secure? It's grat to be able to see your stuff when you are away but can you keep it for you self?Thanks
Hi,
How do you make sure that video recording of your home or maybe even you
Thanks
With the Panasonic, you can assign a "public" username and password with limited access and features. It is completely customizable. For example, my public user cannot listen and can only pan and tilt to the sides of the tanks/ Your private admin username and password allows you to place the camera on privacy mode, turn features off and fully control the camera nad microphone. You can listen, pan around the entire room to view what is going on other than the limited view of the tank. The Panasonic also has a heat/motion sensor which I have never used.
It's not HD, but you can clearly see the tank occupants and equipment.
LL
Los
New member
Same with the Canon as far as security goes. There is a password required to access it.
