Web camera home setup

[6288]

Steve, do you have trouble with sections of the screen disappearing? The part with the audio volume control appears and then changes to a pink line like "page not found".

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I haven't seen anything like that, but I don't have sound capability either. I would check on the panasonic website to make sure you have the latest firmware. It's fairly easy to download/install. Go to the "support" tab on the camera page and there should be a link.

[Brad]

I haven't seen anything like that, but I don't have sound capability either. I would check on the panasonic website to make sure you have the latest firmware. It's fairly easy to download/install. Go to the "support" tab on the camera page and there should be a link.

Actually, I do not recall seeing this issue till I did update the firmware. I am on the latest level. My son is not on the latest level and has not seen the issue.

[Steve M]

Brad,
I'm considering buying this camera soon and was wondering what you think of it and the price. $350.00 is about the max I can spend at this point so from what I could find a Toshiba seems out of my price range.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16881180024

[Brad]

Brad,
I'm considering buying this camera soon and was wondering what you think of it and the price. $350.00 is about the max I can spend at this point so from what I could find a Toshiba seems out of my price range.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16881180024

First question is what will you be using it for? indoors - outdoors - need ability to move the image around - low light - etc.

[hobbes]

Brad,
I'm considering buying this camera soon and was wondering what you think of it and the price. $350.00 is about the max I can spend at this point so from what I could find a Toshiba seems out of my price range.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16881180024

It's only got digital zoom, 640x480 res, etc. Probably not worth $350. You may be better off getting a BL-C30 which can be had for less. But as Brad states, it really depends on your requirements...

[Steve M]

I'm planning on using it outdoors to capture the sunsets mostly. We have a place with a nice open view of the western sky and the sunsets are incredible at times, especially in the winter.

[Brad]

Unless there is some unique feature (like the flush ceiling mount), this is not worth the price. The zoom is okay - not great. Like most Panasonic cameras it does not have high resolution. But, at its highest quality image the frames per second drops whereas the BL-C131A can run at 30fps at the best quality.

Yes, this camera can do Power over Ethernet (just string a network wire and power goes over that). But, do you really want to be stringing wires in a ceiling? The BL-C131A can do wired or wireless.

The lens is f3.5 - okay but not great. The BL-C131A is a f2.8 lens. This means it will work better in low light. This is not close to the Toshiba cameras. The focus range is 0.5 - 8,0 meters - hmmm.

It can support an external mic - the BL-C131A has a mic inside it (and it works very well).

It does tilt but I can not see that it can pan. It seems to have a wide angle lens instead. The BL-C131A can pan, tilt and zoom.

The price on Amazon for the BL-C131A is $269. A better camera at a lower price. I would go with the BL-C131A if you are looking for an indoor camera - unless you really want the ceiling mount.

I have the BL-C131A as does my son and we are both happy with it.

[Brad]

I'm planning on using it outdoors to capture the sunsets mostly. We have a place with a nice open view of the western sky and the sunsets are incredible at times, especially in the winter.

Ceiling mount - limited pan (if any) indoor camera being used outdoors. I don't think it fits at all.

Ceiling mount says it is under the eaves. Then you can not tilt up at all.

The BL-C131A might still be better if you can protect it from rain, etc.

[Steve M]

Ceiling mount - limited pan (if any) indoor camera being used outdoors. I don't think it fits at all.

Ceiling mount says it is under the eaves. Then you can not tilt up at all.

The BL-C131A might still be better if you can protect it from rain, etc.

I thought that camera I was looking at was an outdoor camera. On second look it's not. Will an indoor camera be ok outside? If not I need to find a decent camera as cheap as possible for outside.

[Brad]

I thought that camera I was looking at was an outdoor camera. On second look it's not. Will an indoor camera be ok outside? If not I need to find a decent camera as cheap as possible for outside.

We need "6288" to pop in here with a suggestion. From the indoor cameras I have worked with I have found their low light capabilities to be lacking - plus, you have to really protect them from rain (both the camera and the power adapter).

A Power over Ethernet (PoE) camera is nice for outdoors because there is power adapter/transformer needing to be outside. Panasonic has 2 product lines for web cameras. Check them both out.