Environmental and wildlife cameras

Digital and analogue CCTV, SD (Standard Definition), HD (High Definition) cameras; Eco-watch recommends a range of cameras from highest quality digital and analogue CCTV type to full broadcast HD depending on what best suites your project. Some of the highest quality PAL or NTSC CCTV type cameras can produce SD quality (if recorded uncompressed); the video produced is usually interlaced (480i or 576i) and in 4:3 format, rather than 16:9 (wide screen), so generally not appropriate for modern wide screen displays. If you are looking for the most cost effective option, for example, looking for presence and absence or fundamental research into behaviour we may recommend these entry level cameras. They are proven technology, robust and reliable.

For presenting clear, crisp and sharp images that will "wow" your audience, nothing beats HD. Many audiences, particularly those visiting wildlife centres or watching promotional films and videos, will expect to see images in the same quality as they see presented on blue chip BBC wildlife documentaries. When seeing wildlife on large plasma screens or projected displays, viewers will expect full screen quality. HD comes in many guises e.g. 720p, 1080i, 1080p, 1280p but the important factor is often the way in which the camera encodes the images it captures; if compressed, then much of the quality is lost. We base our designs around what best suits your needs.

IP network cameras, video servers and encoders; distributing video from cameras to desktop computers or the Internet can be fairly simple using IP network technology. Some projects do not need images in the highest quality (e.g. there is no requirement to present images on large displays or to record and share in broadcast quality). For example, projects exclusively requiring webcams embedded into a web site either as live video streams or single frame uploads, or that want to offer control of cameras across the network or Internet, IP could be the best option. We may recommend IP network cameras for projects that require images viewable purely on computer interfaces (e.g. desktops or touch screen displays) and those that require the basic, most cost effective method of supporting and recording multiple cameras. For projects requiring a combination of broadcast and IP technologies or those that have old, legacy technology that needs to be integrated into a new project, (e.g. convert analogue cameras to IP), we also supply and install video servers and encoders.

Remote control, static, discrete, vista and macro cameras; where is your wildlife and where will the camera(s) be installed e.g. above or below ground, inside nest boxes, under water, on top of a tower or tree? The answer to these questions is usually in the place that gives you the best view of wildlife for the longest time. We supply and install cameras that can capture any wildlife, however elusive. We recommend remote controlled cameras (those that you can move up and down and zoom in and out) for watching and recording wildlife that moves around within a scene. Static cameras (set in a fixed position) are ideal if you know that wildlife will be in front of them for long periods (e.g. at a watering hole, feeding station or entrance). Although these cameras cannot move they can include remote control features such as zoom, focus, IR switching and image control. The physical size of the camera may also be important, especially with smaller animals. We supply discrete cameras that fit into smaller spaces and do not disturb the wildlife you want to view. Equally the physical size of the wildlife can determine the right camera for you, smaller mammals and insects often require more specialist macro or micro cameras to get the best images. For viewing whole habitats and recording how these change over time, maybe days or years, vista cameras might be best suited; often cameras like this do not need to be specialist. High quality remote zoom and focus cameras have good wide angle capability and are ideal for time lapse work. Eco-watch can advise you on what is best.

Infrared (IR), night vision, thermal imaging and ultraviolet (UV) cameras; watching and recording wildlife at night (in complete darkness) or capturing images from wildlife's perspective can be a challenge. The Eco-watch team understands the best techniques to enable you to get highest quality images of nocturnal wildlife without disturbance. For wildlife that congregates at a specific location (e.g. bats in a roost or foxes at a feeding area) we would generally recommend artificially illuminating the scene with infrared light and use infrared sensitive cameras to capture images. Changing the wavelength of infrared light makes it more or less visible to wildlife; the longer the wavelength the less visible the light and the less the possible disturbance, so we sometimes recommend implementing black IR.

Eco-watch also provide systems that enable white light to be gently introduced into nests and chambers without disturbing wildlife inside; this is essential if you are looking to capture full colour images. Eco-watch haas a range of automatic and manual white light and infrared illumination systems that can change light levels according to ambient conditions so that you get the best images from your cameras.

Although night vision and thermal imaging cameras do not provide the same image definition as is possible from infrared cameras using artificial illumination, technology is improving all of the time. These sort of cameras are useful for projects that require long range or vista views of wildlife within a scene. We tend to deploy them when it is not appropriate to use infrared illumination or when the project requires a more realistic impression of what wildlife "sees". The images these cameras produce give some insight into wildlife's perception of a scene, which can be very different from ours (for example, many nocturnal animals have a limited ability to perceive colour but have exceptional night vision and many insects can see beyond the human spectrum into the UV). We have specialist knowledge of ultra-violet cameras.

Ruggedised, underwater and extreme environment; the Eco-watch team has a wealth of experience designing, installing and maintaining camera and logging systems for extreme environments. Typically some of the most interesting wildlife is often found in the most inaccessible places. This may be on exposed cliffs, wind swept moors, in areas prone to either very high or sub-zero temperatures, flooding or harsh underwater environments (aquatic or marine). High quality ruggedised cameras and equipment are the mainstay for these sorts of projects. We provide this as IP68 rated wherever necessary depending on your project's needs.