Live Cam - Spec terminology

[Liquidmetro]

Looking at getting more cameras for live input.

Does anyone know which is the better sensor out of:

1/4" Sharp CCD

or

1/3" Sharp CCD

I know that when it comes to camcorders you want 3 CCD etc, but I'm unsure whether 1/4" means 1 out of 4, therefore 4 = more range so better or it is a simple fraction so 1/3" is better?

This feels like a silly question!

[deepvisual]

it is a silly question

1/4" is one quarter of an inch
the size of the chip.
the bigger the chip the better the quality.

[Liquidmetro]

Delete thread won't work
Simple fraction then

Weird as no price difference between 2 I am looking at. Nice, as the 1/3" one is in black and will look more discreet.

Thanks mate

[Hambone]

Not a silly question at all!

There's a lot more to factor into the quality equation than chip size only, although generally bigger is better.

[Liquidmetro]

Much appreciated as always Guys!

This is the one:

Image Sensor : 1/3" SONY Super HAD CCD
Effective Pixels: PAL:500(H)*582(V) NTSC:510(H)*492(V)
Sensing Area: 4.9mm3.7mm
Signal System: PAL/NTSC
Horizontal Resolution: 420TV Lines
Lens Mount: CS/C Mount (C Mount adaptor option)
Electronic Shutter Control: ON/OFF switchable
Backlight Compensation: ON/OFF switchable
Electronic Shutter: ON/OFF switchable
Shutter Speed:1/50(1/60)-1/100,000 sec
Auto Iris Lens:VIDEO/DC switchable
White Balance: auto tracking white balance
S/N Ratio: more than 48db(AGC OFF)
Sync.System: Internal
Minimum Illumination: 0.8Lux /F1.2
Video Output: 1.0Vp-p,75Ohm
Power Requirement: DC12V/AC24V
Power Consumption: Less than 2.8W
Video Out: BNC

I guess for us the main factors would be chip size, min illumination, TV lines, shutter speed and auto iris?

Legend

[Hambone]

It depends. It's a compromise, unless you've got a huge budget. For me, I needed manual iris control, and the ability to remotely sequence and control pan/tilt/zoom/exposure/night vision/etc.

So I had to give up some image quality in return for the other features.

[Liquidmetro]

Yeh I would love to be able to remote PTZ. Takes me back to my CCTV operator days! 36 PTZ cameras controlled by zoom/focus twistable joystick. Had a trigger button on top which captured a digital still too. Awesome for a commercial system.

I need them to be as small as possible as I attach them to guitars, under CD deck mounts, ceilings, heads, arm bands etc

I like the bullet cam/ lipstick cam ones as they are so small and durable. Reason I am shopping is that somehow the cable on one of mine sheared off at the back of the camera. Unsure how, but it was nowhere near me at the time. In the process of repairing/soldering, but need a spare in case the repair doesn't last long.

Any of you guys bought anything from Hong Kong on eBay? Naturally dubious about UK import tax.