Manufacturer: Rosewill, Inc. Product Name: IR Outdoor Bullet Camera Model Number: RSCM-12003 UPC: 898745060003 Price As Tested: $74.99 (Newegg | Amazon)
Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Rosewill.
Security cameras come in all shapes and sizes, with wired and wireless connections, and occasionally come with features such as pan, tilt, zoom, or infrared night vision. Consequently, security cameras also span the gamut in terms of pricing, with models costing anywhere from twenty dollars to several thousands. Featuring an IP66 hardened outdoor waterproof enclosure, the Rosewill RSCM-12003 IR Outdoor Bullet Camera kit is ideal for general-purpose outdoor or indoor wired security systems, and perfectly compliments Rosewill's own RSVA-11001 or RSVA-12001 all-in-one DVR kits. Comprised of Sony's 1/3" CCD sensor inside, the RCMR-13CCDIR camera unit produces 540 lines of resolution. In this article Benchmark Reviews inspects the Rosewill RSCM-12003 outdoor security camera kit, and weighs in on its features.
Camera Kit Features
Features and Specifications Courtesy of Rosewill, Inc.
The Rosewill RSCM-12003 gives users more flexibility and stability on monitoring their valuable personal and business assets. The camera utilize a 1/3" Sony CCD sensor to produce 540 TV lines of resolution and can be used indoors and/or outdoors with IP66 Weather Proof rating. The camera's 70 powerful IR LEDs produce high quality image in complete darkness.
Superior image quality The Rosewill camera comes equipped with 1/3" Sony CCD sensor for max resolution of up to 540TV lines.
Night view up to 60m The camera features 70 powerful IR LEDs that produce high quality image even in darkness within up to 60m (196.85 ft.).
WEATHER PROOF DESIGN In compliance with IP66 rating, the Rosewill RSCM-12003 camera can be fully functional under harsh environment making it ideal for both indoor/outdoor use.
RCMR-13CCDIR Specifications
1/3" CCD IR Camera (RCMR-13CCDIR)
General
Power Consumption
80mA (IR OFF) / 380mA (IR ON)
Power Supply
12V DC
Operating Temperature
23°F ~ 149°F (-5°C ~ 65°C)
Weather Proof
IP66
Dimension
3.3" x 5.9" x 7.8" (Φ85mm x 150mm x 199mm)
Weight
2.09 lbs. / 950g (camera only)
Video
Image Sensor
1/3" Sony CCD
TV System
NTSC
Effective Pixels (NTSC)
768(H)X494(V)
Horizontal Resolution
540 TV Line
Electronic Shutter (NTSC)
1/60-1/10000 sec
S/N Ratio
Max. 48dB (AGC off)
Auto Gain Control
Yes
Backlight Compensation
Auto
White Balance
Auto
Video Output
1.0Vp-p. 75ohm (BNC)
Lens
2.8 - 12 mm
View Angle
75 Degree
Night Vision
IR Distance
196.85 ft. (60M)
IR LED
70pcs
Min Illumination
0 LUX / F1.2
Package contents
1/3" CCD IR Camera (RCMR-13CCDIR) x1 Shield, x1 Screw Pack: Nylon anchor x4, Screw x4, Hex wrench x1
Closer Look: RSCM-12003
The Rosewill RSCM-12003 IR Outdoor Bullet Camera Kit (UPC 898745060003) is a standalone wired closed-circuit device that presently sells online for $74.99 (Newegg|Amazon). This kit includes the Rosewill RCMR-13CCDIR camera with built-in mount, a top-attachable shield, hex wrench for making adjustments, and four nylon anchors with screws.
At the heard of the Rosewill RCMR-13CCDIR camera is Sony's popular 1/3" CCD digital image sensor, which is paired to a 75-degree 2.8-12mm lens that produces 768(H)X494(V) effective pixels in NTSC TV system format. The camera delivers 540 TV lines of horizontal resolution, and features a 1/60~1/10000 second electronic shutter speed (NTSC).
Protected by an IP66-rated hardened outdoor waterproof enclosure, the camera (alone) weighs 2.09 pounds (950g) and measures 3.3" x 5.9" x 7.8" (Φ85mm x 150mm x 199mm). Four mounting screws with anchors are included with the kit, as well as a Allen-head wrench for adjusting tilt and turn.
Surrounding the lens are 70 infrared (IR) LEDs, which illuminate up to 196.85 feet (60M) away. In daylight, the camera displays a full-color picture. At night, or whenever the camera depends on IR lighting, the picture is displayed in greyscale. When Auto Gain Control is turned off, the maximum signal/noise ratio measures 48dB.
Two weather-resistant knobs located on the camera's underside separately control zoom and focus. These adjustments allow the varifocal lens system to focus from 2.8 to 12mm, with up to 75° field of view.
Rosewill's RSCM-12003 camera draws 80mA when operating without IR, and up to 380mA with active infrared. Integrated power and video cables are routed through the hollow mounting support, and can also be routed through one of the rubber plugs at the top and bottom of the mounting plate.
Many of Rosewill's security cameras utilize the same 1.0Vp-p. 75ohm BNC video connection, as well as 12V DC barrel power connection. This helps to make their entire line of cameras compatible with their RSVA-11001 or RSVA-12001 all-in-one DVR kits.
Continue on to the Final Thoughts and Conclusion in the next page, where I share my test results and rate the Rosewill RSCM-12003 Outdoor Security Bullet Camera.
IR Security Camera Final Thoughts
As I previously mentioned in the introduction, security cameras come in all shapes and varieties because users each have unique needs. One project might require a camera with television-quality clarity and sharpness so the smallest detail is revealed, while another project might only need to show if there's someone watching the children. With so many features available to choose from, manufacturers pick from a myriad of options to provide consumers with the most likely blend of functionality. That's what Rosewill has attempted to do with their IR Outdoor Bullet Camera: combine decent resolution, camera protection, night vision, and give it an affordable price.
Of course, not every feature can make the cut. There are smaller, more powerful cameras out there with pan, tilt, zoom, and wireless features. Unfortunately, most of them cost much, much, more as well. For most people wireless is the way to go, as it eliminates the nasty step of running cable through walls for installation, but also relieves you of needing a longer/shorter cable. Eventually all cameras will be wireless, save for a few ultra-high bandwidth models that require the security of a cabled connection. Those niche products notwithstanding, the Rosewill IR Security Camera offers more than enough for general-purpose outdoor or indoor wired security systems.
In my testing, the varifocal lens system offered very good picture quality at its closest and farthest adjustments. Daytime recording was in crisp full color, while night/dark recording utilized the infrared LEDs to illuminate the landscape and display a grayscale picture. The RSCM-12003 kit is plug and play with Rosewill's RSVA-11001 or RSVA-12001 all-in-one DVR system, borrowing one of the four included cable connections included with those kits.
Video files recorded by Rosewill's RDVR-H08 system can be backed-up to a USB-connected drive, which saves H.264 video files together with H.264 HD Player playback software. This software is much like other modern multimedia players, but also adds AVI conversion (H.264/MPEG4) and screen 'snapshot' functions. The image below was taken from video recorded with the Rosewill RSCM-12003, from six feet away and with full zoom. At this distance, there was 3.0' available field of view.
Rosewill RSCM-12003 Outdoor Security Camera Sample Video Footage (Benchmark Reviews)
Daylight/Artificial Light/Infrared Light Sample Video
Rosewill RSCM-12003 Conclusion
With the understanding that there's a camera designed for every project, performance becomes a subjective matter. The Rosewill RSCM-12003 is designed for outdoor day or night environments, with a fixed focus and vantage point. 540 lines of resolution is a good starting point for general-purpose surveillance, but it's rather low for demanding high-detail applications that require the highest picture quality. The RSCM-12003 is to DVD quality as higher-resolution cameras are to Blu-ray; both offer good picture quality, but it gets better at a cost.
Appearance is another subjective rating, especially for an item like outdoor security cameras. 70 LEDs circling the center lens glass helps to give the Rosewill RSCM-12003 a high-tech look when observed from the front, while the IP66 enclosure make vandals think twice about tampering with the installation.
Rosewill's RSCM-12003 IR Outdoor Bullet Camera resides inside an IP66 hardened outdoor waterproof enclosure, and receives an equally-durable protective shade that attaches to the housing. Construction is solid, and aside from thin glass shields over the lens and LEDs, RSCM-12003 is ready for extreme conditions and abuse.
While compatible with any system that utilizes BNC camera connections, RSCM-12003 is built to compliment Rosewill's own RSVA-11001 or RSVA-12001 all-in-one DVR kits. The camera lives up to expectations and offers as much as is physically available, but not much more. Could it have included pan, tilt, zoom, microphone, speaker, motion sensors, and wireless functionality? Sure, so long as cost isn't an issue.
As of June 2013, the Rosewill RSCM-12003 Outdoor Security Bullet Camera (UPC: 898745060003) is available online for $74.99 (Newegg | Amazon). This isn't a bad price at all, and while there are wireless cameras with the same functionality that fall in the same price range, those cameras require PoE appliances and networking hardware to reach the DVR. For what the camera offers the Rosewill RSCM-12003 is appropriately priced, but that's not to say that a price like $59.99 wouldn't make it an even better value.
Pros:
+ Weatherproof IP66 protective housing
+ 70 Infrared LEDs aid in night vision
+ High-quality 1/3" Sony CCD sensor
+ 75-degree 2.8-12mm varifocal zoom lens
+ 540 lines NTSC TV resolution
+ Plug-and-play with Rosewill DVR systems
Cons:
- BNC wired connection with 12V DC power
- Lacks pan/tilt/zoom/motion features
- Does not include installation cables
Superior image quality The Rosewill camera comes equipped with 1/3" Sony CCD sensor for max resolution of up to 540TV lines. 
Night view up to 60m The camera features 70 powerful IR LEDs that produce high quality image even in darkness within up to 60m (196.85 ft.). 
WEATHER PROOF DESIGN In compliance with IP66 rating, the Rosewill RSCM-12003 camera can be fully functional under harsh environment making it ideal for both indoor/outdoor use. 
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