JVC VN-H657WPU Review

An external PTZ with full HD resolution, 360 degree endless pan, superb low-light performance, and built to the same high standards that JVC is renowned for, the VN-H657WPU is a high-quality, welcome addition to the JVC HD family.

4/5

Good:

• Full HD 1080p resolution
• Direct-drive motor
• Superb low-light performance
• -40 degrees to 58 degrees operating temperatures
• 360 degrees endless panning

Bad:

• 18x zoom is good, 36x would be better
• No advanced options such as auto-tracking

JVC has a strong pedigree in building quality cameras. Their reliability is as good as anyone’s, their image quality is extremely good, and their low-light performance is the best in the industry. The latest offering is an external PTZ that boasts full HD 1080p resolution, 360-degree endless panning, and a direct-drive motor, ensuring exceptionally accurate pan and zoom. This is JVC’s first PTZ since it launched its HD/H.264 range, so how does it fare?

Full HD 1080p resolution

The image quality of this PTZ is as crisp as any other I have seen. Images are sharp, and the level of detail you expect from 1080p is in full view here. JVC allows you to customize pretty much all aspects of your image, but its preset schemes are perfectly good — the white balance, colour settings, and sharpness are all spot on. There is no extra warmth added to the image, no distortion, and no blur.

Coupled with this excellent resolution are usual add-ons such as image stabilization and noise reduction. The camera was tested from a height of 3 meters. There was no graining on the image at any time, including during daylight hours when exposed to extreme brightness and shade. At night-time its low-light performance is excellent — minimal noise and breakup, and even though it does not have IR lighting built in, the images it produced were better than some cameras with IR.

Direct-drive motor

Many PTZ cameras’ mechanisms rely on cogs and belts for movement. These wear out after a time, especially if the camera is set to patrol when left idle. JVC uses a direct-drive motor instead — no cogs and no belts. The result is a mechanism that will last much longer: The camera has MTBF figures of 90,000 hours. Another key aspect of direct-drive is that it allows for pinpoint movement, as well as varying panning speeds. In a nutshell, it enhances our PTZ experience and helps the camera last longer.

Low-light performance

The JVC HD range, since its launch, has had the best-performing low-light range that I have come across. Regularly I have seen image quality at almost 0 lux that has outperformed IR-enabled competitors.

The VN-H657WPU is no exception. It retains the same low-light performance as the other cameras in the range. I can test through the night, looking outwards into an area that ranged from 0.3 lux down to 0.05 lux. Regardless of the lighting, the image remained excellent. Usually I would expect grain, noise, and distortion when the light is so low, but in this case all of these were experienced in very small amounts.

The verdict

PTZ cameras are all about movement. We want to move left and right, up and down, and zoom in. They also have the same remit as a static camera — quality images!

The JVC VN-H657WPU produces high-quality images, unmatched low-light performance, and exceptionally quick and accurate panning.

The menu of the camera is a breeze to use, with almost every aspect of the camera adjustable, to ensure it works in your environment. The preset options offer excellent results as well.

There are two flaws in the camera, however. First, the zoom: 18x works fine for most installations, but more and more cameras are now boasting 30x zooms or greater, and in a recession where users are trying to get cameras to do more (so they can buy fewer cameras), having extra zoom on a PTZ can be a big bonus. The VN-H657WPU has an 18x zoom, and this is perfectly acceptable, but a 36x zoom would have been better.

Second, in terms of advanced features, there are other PTZ cameras out there that offer extras such as customizable auto-tracking, which is missing here. It would allow us to follow potential threats, for example.

A few extra features: micro SD card recording (based on event triggers), 24V or hi-PoE power options, terminal alarm in/out.

With everything thrown in, we have an excellent camera here. It is certainly a viable option for any PTZ requirement. The only downside is the lower zoom vs. some other brands, but its raw performance is as good as any other PTZ we have seen this year.