CNB VCM-24VF 600TVL 2.8-10.5mm Vandal Proof Outdoor Day/Night Dome Security Camera with ICR Technology

This camera is built like a tank, it features a heavy duty vandal proof dome and separate mounting base. The base has plenty of room for extra cable and connectors, between it and the dome assembly. The base assembly also accepts a conduit connector on the bottom or side, depending on how you intend to wire it.The camera produces a very nice video in very low light conditions. However, you will want to fine-tune adjustments for your specific conditions -- depending on the amount of ambient light you have available, any shadowing, etc. In addition you might also have to adjust the day/night ICR setting for the best color and/or b/w points.A 15W light bulb mounted inside the center of my 20'x26'sunroom provides sufficient ambient light at night, for a good color video or a very crisp b/w video. A city mounted street light about 75' away from my garage VCM-24VF, provides enough ambient light for very clean color or b/w video outside my garage doors. (Of course the motion detector lights mounted at the garage doors will activate when triggered; and that camera quickly adjusts to the increased lighting without any problems.)The ability to power the camera from either 12VDC or 24VAC offers a lot of flexibility. If you have a long run then you'll likely want to power the camera from 24VAC; for a short run 12VDC will be fine. (A nice thing is that you can hook the 12VDC up without worrying about polarity; the camera will operate either way the 12VDC is hooked up.)I found that zooming and focusing the camera for the first time was an interesting experience; but I stayed with it and finally got it nailed. The next VCM-24VF was a whole lot easier based on what I learned the first time.The menu setting joy stick on this camera, is mounted inside the dome. (Some cameras have it mounted on the power/video pigtail.) So you'll want to make any menu adjustments before you reinstall the dome for good. I suggest making gross adjustments on the bench, making final adjustments with it mounted, and then installing/locking the dome down. [The dome is a bit heavy, but it does hang by a tether to the bottom of the dome base.]

Until they start dieing. I have bought at least 12 of these in the past 2 years and already 4 of them have stopped working. Getting warranty won't happen if you buy from an unauthorized reseller, which CNB adds to their list all the time.