Product Evalution: Panasonic BB-HCM527
1. Accessories
1.1 Included in the box
The camera comes complete with a ceiling plate, ceiling mount cover, safety wire, installation guide, setup guide, stand-alone SD memory card recording guide and a setup CD-ROM as well as various screws and washers for installation.
The camera also comes with a 1-channel version of HNP15 Network Camera Recorder software.
1.2 Additional Equipment Required
It should be noted that as with all the new Panasonic BB range of cameras the BB-HCM527 does not come with a power supply. This means you have to purchase an additional item to provide power to the camera.
Also if you want to flush mount the camera to the ceiling then you will need to purchase an additional bracket (Panasonic BB-HCA10).
2. Installation
2.1 Power
2.1.1 How does the camera achieve power?
The camera can be powered in two ways.
The camera is IEEE802.3af Power over Ethernet compliant so will work using an existing IEEE802.3af compatible PoE midspan or you can purchase a single port midspan while at the same time as the camera purchase. It makes sense to use PoE as this means the camera can be installed using a single standard Ethernet cable.
A conventional means of power can also be used by purchasing an AC adapter suitable for the camera, (Panasonic BB-HCA3A).
2.1.2 PoE compatible?
Yes, the camera is fully IEEE802.3af Power over Ethernet complaint.
2.2 Network
2.2.1 IP Setup Utility
The camera comes complete with an IP Setup Utility which allows the user to locate and set up their BB-HCM527 on their local network. This is the same tool which comes with the other cameras in the BB and BL ranges and is reliable and easy to use.
2.2.2 Default Details
Default IP address: 192.168.0.253
The camera has no default username or password. These are initially set the first time the user logs into the camera.
2.2.3 Ease of Setup
This is where Panasonic excel. Their cameras have a mature, reliable set up procedure which caters for non-technical users more than any other IP camera manufacturer I’ve experienced.
It only took me about two minutes to unpack the box, power the camera (using PoE) and set up its IP address for our network in the office.
The process will also guide you through setting up a viewnetcam.com address for those who wish to view the camera from the Internet but have a dynamic public IP address.
2.3 Wireless
2.3.1 Wireless Support?
The camera does not support wireless connectivity.
2.3.2 Encryption Methods
N/A
3. Viewing
3.1 Camera Features
The Panasonic BB-HCM527 is a pan-tilt-zoom camera in a mini-dome design.
Pan: -175° to +175° (speed 300° per second)
Tilt: -0° to +82° (speed 80° per second)
Zoom: 2.3x Optical, 2x digital (4.6x combined)
3.2 Viewing Formats
The camera can provide simultaneous MJPEG and MPEG-4 video streams.
MPEG-4 video is generally used for monitoring purposes as is provides a faster frame-rate at the maximum image size. Conventional JPEG mode provides higher quality images at a reduced frame-rate and are generally used for recording purposes.
The camera supports a ‘full-screen’ mode which increases the size of the display to incorporate more detail. Dissapointingly though the image only reszies in Internet Explorer. I have tested this on Firefox and while the screen changes to accommodate large images, the image size from the camera remains the same.
3.3 Viewing Technology and Compatibility
3.3.1 Firmware
This camera comes with new firmware V3.30R00.
3.3.2 Technologies
You will get the full benefit from the camera using an ActiveX control through Internet Explorer. Benefits included being able to use MPEG-4 video mode achieving 30 frames per second at max 640×480 resolution (MJPEG can only achieve 15fps at max. resolution). Audio is only supported through ActiveX
Audio from the camera is only supported through ActiveX so if you want to use the 2-way audio features then you will need to use Internet Explorer. Full-screen mode only works with Internet Explorer too so this may rely on ActiveX also. There are two ActiveX downloads which will automatically launch when you first call up the image on your Internet Explorer browser. You will need to install one control for the MJPEG view and one control for the MPEG-4 view. Note, when installing the MPEG-4 control you will be asked to accept an End User Licence Agreement for Panasonics MPEG-4 viewer (this appears as a pop-up) and once installed you may have to restart your PC (I did).
Testing the camera on a non-IE browser we chose Firefox. This browser uses Java technology for both the MJPEG and MPEG-4 views. However, the MPEG-4 mode using Java does not provide the full 30 frames-per-second at 640×480 that it would using Internet Explorer. On the plus side if you already have Java installed your camera will work without any additional downloads.
3.3.3 Cross Browser/Platform Compatibility
The camera will provide live images across multiple platforms and browsers although if you use a Mac or any other browser except Internet Explorer then you won’t get the full functionality the camera provides.
You will be limited to 15 frames per second at maximum resolution (30fps is available using MPEG-4 through IE). You will not receive audio using any other browser than IE and the full-screen mode will not function correctly. These functions are controlled by an ActiveX plug-in developed by Panasonic for Internet Explorer.
The CD-ROM containing the manuals, 1-channel recording software application and initial setup tool is compatible with Windows machines only. The camera can still be set up. See our guide, HOWTO: Set up your IP camera using a Mac for more information.
3.3 Supported Resolutions
The camera supports the following resolutions:
Single Camera View: 640×480, 320×240 (default), 192×144
Multi Camera View: 320×240, 192×144
3.4 Frame Rate
The camera supports a maximum frame rate of 30fps at 640×480 using MPEG-4 mode in Internet Explorer. Using MJPEG mode the frame rate is reduced to around 15fps at max. resolution. All other resolutions run at up to 30fps across both MJPEG and MPEG-4 modes.
3.5 Image Quality
3.5.1 Lens/Sensor
The camera comes with a fixed, auto focus lens. F1.9 (wide) - F2.8 (tele), Focal range: 0.75m to infinity
The angle of lens is wider than any of the other cameras in Panasonic’s BB range at 73 degrees (wide). Useful for getting more in-shot but does become affected by ‘fish-eye’ distortion.
Sensor: Progressive Scan, 1/3.6 inch MAICOVICON (Matsushita Advanced Image Converter for Image Construction), approx. 370,000 pixels
3.5.2 Image quality
The image quality compares favorably to other cameras in Panasonic’s BB range.
The image shows fair color reproduction and clarity, especially with moving objects thanks to its progressive scan sensor.
Likenesses can be easily captured and recognized and with a 2.3x optical zoom you can gain a little more detail when required.
Image 1 – (wide) 640×480, Favor Clarity compression (fish-eye effect evident)
Image 2 – (tele) 640×480, Favor Clarity (fish-eye effect eliminated by zooming in)
Image 3 – (wide) 320×240, Standard compression
3.5.2. Image settings
Image quality (compression) can be set between the usual “Favor Motion, Standard, Favor Clarity” presets. Favor Motion provides a faster frame-rate but a worse picture quality, Favor Clarity the reverse.
Bit-rates can be adjusted in the MPEG-4 settings. The higher the bit-rates the better the image quality.
Brightness can be adjusted manually on the live image page but no other image settings are available.
3.6 Low Light Behavior
3.6.1 Low Light Performance
The camera performs adequately in low light providing images down to levels a low as 0.2 lux (in color night view mode)
3.6.2 Day/Night Function
The camera supports a Color Night View Mode which operates to a light level intensity as low as 0.2 lux. This mode increases the gain resulting in a noisier image but keeps the image in color mode.
3.6.3 IR Sensitive
This camera is not sensitive to infrared illumination.
4. Audio
4.1 Audio Support
4.1.1 Audio Supported?
The camera supports 2-way audio meaning that you can listen-in on what the camera is viewing as well as speak to people at the cameras location.
The camera comes with a built-in microphone but an external microphone can be attached for improved quality (not supplied). To communicate with people at the camera’s location you need to equip the camera with active speakers. These are not supplied with the camera.
Audio spec: 2-way half-duplex, Compression: ADPCM 32kbps, Bandwidth: 300hz-3.4KHz.
Audio is only supported using ActiveX which means this functionality is available in Internet Explorer only.
4.1.2 Microphone
The camera contains a built-in microphone. An external microphone can also be used to improve quality/coverage but this does not come supplied with the camera.
5. Events
5.1 Triggering Methods
Events can be triggered by motion detection, external sensor input or based on a timed schedule.
The camera features two sensor inputs for alarm triggering and motion detection settings can be adjusted for sensitivity.
5.2 Image/Video Transfer
The camera can store images internally to SD or SDHC memory cards or transfer them by email, FTP or HTTP.
I’ve tested image transfer by email and to an FTP server and I must say that the process for setting these up is very quick and easy. I had them both set up inside five minutes and they both worked flawlessly first time. A testament again to Panasonic’s focus on making their cameras suitable for the non-technical.
MPEG-4 Video transfer is available but only when storing to internal SD memory card. MPEG-4 video is not available to transfer by email, HTTP or FTP.
This camera supports SD card from 2GB to 64MB and SDHC cards from 8GB to 4GB.
5.3 Notification Methods
The camera can also send a separate email or a message to an HTTP server on event.
6. Unique Features
The camera supports a scheduled restart option which allows you to reboot your camera based on a schedule such as once per day or once per week etc.
7. Protocol Support
7.1 UPnP
UPnP is supported in the camera to help user set up their port-forwarding automatically.
7.2 Dynamic DNS (DDNS)
As with all Panasonic network cameras the camera supports the Viewnetcam.com service. This is a free service provided by Panasonic to ensure that the demand.
The camera also supports a user defined DDNS service, so that you can use an alternative to the Viewnetcam.com service.
The camera has the new tab titled ‘Internet’ and provides quick button presses to set up UPnP and the Viewnetcam.com service. They seem to be pushing ‘ease of use’.
8. Supplied Extras
8.1 Extras
The camera comes complete with a single camera license for Panasonics Network Camera Recorder software. This is now the new version HNP15 so you can take advantage of the new features such as MPEG-4 support.
8.2 API Support
Panasonic cameras come with full API support for application development.
9. Conclusion
This camera successfully bridges the gap between the BB-HCM511 and the BB-HCM580.
Utilizing the same firmware, it offers the same easy setup, configuration and management that all the other cameras in the BL and BB ranges offer and setting up the camera and alarm triggers is very easy indeed.
This camera is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses such as shops, offices, reception areas etc. It’s stylishly designed to blend with office/shop aesthetics and offers a wide angle of view, progressive scan to eliminate blurring of moving targets and the ability to pan and zoom in a little to get clearer views.
On the downside, Mac users will not be able to take advantage of all the features available such as MPEG-4 or audio.
This will be a popular indoor camera and a great, cheaper alternative to the Axis 215 for those on a budget.
10. Comparable Products
Axis 215 pan-tilt-zoom IP camera
The Panasonic BB-HCM527 is a cheaper alternative to the Axis 215. They are aimed pretty much both at the same market but the Axis camera offers a little more in terms of day/night switching, larger optical zoom and unique e-flip and auto-flip operation allowing it to mimic a true dome camera.
For this additional functionality you pay a bit more, as you would expect.
