LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., September 9, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the new Vandal Resistant Fixed Mini-Dome Network Camera, the VB-C500VD. Built for indoor use, the innovative Canon VB-C500VD is designed with special advanced features to make it ideally suited for any location where a fixed indoor security camera is needed and may be susceptible to vandalism or tampering, such as in shopping malls, educational institutions, businesses and banking environments.
Paramount to the design of this camera is Canon’s new Multi-Directional Shock Absorber, a four-spring mechanism designed to protect the camera by lessening the effects of impact from various angles. If the dome is subjected to a blunt force, the four suspension springs shift the lens’ moveable base in the direction of the momentum to catch and displace the force of impact. In addition to this highly developed feature, the Canon VB-C500VD also boasts a new vandal resistant housing with tamper-proof screws. The housing is designed with a dome cover casing made of strong polycarbonate plastics, the body from tough alloyed aluminum and the base from heat-resistant polycarbonate and ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) mixture. These resistant materials help reduce the possibility of both external damage to the housing and internal damage to the camera. The tamper-proof screws were specially shaped to fasten the dome cover casing to the base providing an added level of security since their drive design prevents removal with ordinary screw drivers, effectively minimizing damage from wrongful acts.
“Having a remote security system to protect a business or school is a necessity in today’s world,” stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager of the Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. “With the addition of the vandal resistant mini-dome, users can be confident that the security system will provide superb video quality while also being resistant to vandalism as well.”
Other key features found on Canon’s new VB-C500VD Vandal Resistant Fixed Mini-Dome Network Camera include Genuine Canon Optics, a high-sensitivity progressive-scan CCD, an advanced image processor and Canon’s powerful DIGIC NET processor.
The VB-C500VD offers an impressive 82-degree wide-angle lens with 2.4x optical zoom (manual) and 4x digital zoom (focal length = 2.6mm~6.2mm). The high-sensitivity progressive-scan CCD captures sharply defined, color accurate motion video in either Motion-JPEG (M-JPEG) or MPEG-4 for remote monitoring over IP. The advanced Canon image processor provides Smart Shade Control, which automatically adjusts the contrast between bright and dark areas of an image for optimum detail display, and an Auto Day/Night function, allowing the camera to automatically switch between Day Mode and Digital Night Mode depending upon lighting conditions. A key benefit the VB-C500VD offers is that the camera will continue operating in color down to 0.2 lux (SSC on and 1/30 sec. shutter speed), which enables the camera to capture color differences even in the lowest-light conditions. This is especially critical for security and surveillance monitoring applications where color accuracy can be crucial in making positive identification. When the camera switches to Digital Night Mode, the camera will automatically switch from color to monochrome video without interruption (other cameras may require the removal of an IR cut filter).
The Canon VB-C500VD’s powerful DIGIC NET processor enables the camera to simultaneously stream M-JPEG and MPEG-4 video encoding and transmission in high-quality VGA (640 x 480) resolution at a full 30 frames per second. M-JPEG offers higher image quality, while MPEG-4’s compression scheme offers lower bandwidth consumption and less storage space. The camera allows the distribution of M-JPEG images in three sizes simultaneously: 640 x 480, 320 x 240 and 160 x 120. The VB-C500VD offers support for up to 30 simultaneous users to access and view video images at the same time (10 users for MPEG-4). There is also a built-in Web Viewer, which allows for live monitoring on the Web without installing any software on to a computer.
Canon’s new VB-C500VD also includes Motion Detection, Audio Input/Output and a Recording Stream Function. To ensure only authorized users have access, the camera includes a IPv6 and IPsec Support (IP security), a set of protocols for securing IP communications by encrypting data streams while also securing the data flow to and from the camera.
The Canon VB-C500VD offers flexible installation options as it can be either ceiling or wall mounted, or set in a recessed mount*. For further convenience and ease of installation the VB-C500VD supports the IEEE 802.3af standard for Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology which allows both power and data to be carried over a single LAN cable when connected to a PoE hub/switch/midspan.
Version 2.2 Network Video Monitoring and Recording Software
In addition to the new VB-C500VD, Canon has also released Version 2.2 of its VK-64, VK-16, and VK-Lite Network Video Monitoring and Recording Software packages. These new versions offer full compatibility with all current Canon Network Cameras.
For even greater value, the VB-C500VD Vandal Resistant Fixed Mini-Dome Network Camera is bundled with a license of Canon’s VK-Lite 2.2 Network Video Monitoring & Recording Software, an application that enables the user to monitor, record and playback images from up to four cameras from a single screen (additional licenses are available for $99 each).
Pricing and Availability
The Canon VB-C500VD Vandal Resistant Fixed Mini-Dome Network Camera has a suggested list price of $999, and is scheduled to begin shipping in mid-October.**
For more information on Canon’s Network Video Solutions products log on to www.usa.canon.com/ipsecuritycameras
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked third overall in the U.S. in 2008†, with global revenues of US $45 billion, is listed as number four in the computer industry on Fortune Magazine's World’s Most Admired Companies 2009 list, and is on the 2008 BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." At Canon, we care because caring is essential to living together in harmony. Founded upon a corporate philosophy of Kyosei – “all people, regardless of race, religion or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future” – Canon U.S.A. supports a number of social, youth, educational and other programs, including environmental and recycling initiatives. Additional information about these programs can be found at www.usa.canon.com/kyosei. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/RSS .
# # #
†Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.
*Recessed mounting kit is optional.
**Availability, specifications and prices subject to change without notice. Actual prices are set by the individual dealer and may vary.
All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.
