Panasonic BB-HCM515A Network Camera w/ 2-Way Audio

by Panasonic

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.9 x 7.5 inches ; 11.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000NVR9RI
• Item model number: BB-HCM515A
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,085 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 1, 2007

Product Description

Megapixel model 1280 x 1024 Network Camera with 2-Way Audio. Use of the built-in microphone and a separately purchased amp-equipped speaker enables two-way voice communication2 (transceiver system) between the network camera and a PC used to monitor the camera image. In addition to conventional monitoring of images and sound, voice messages can be transmitted from the PC to the network camera. Voice transmission and reception can be switched easily from the PC used to monitor the image.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent but flawed, January 20, 2009

By 

Anchialine (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Panasonic BB-HCM515A Network Camera w/ 2-Way Audio (Personal Computers)

I needed better image quality than is provided by the Panasonic network cameras with 640x480 resolution. This camera does provide that. Unfortunately, excessive jpeg compression appears to keep the camera from reaching its full potential. Even when set to the "favor clarity" mode that reduces the degree of jpeg compression, the compression artifacts are very noticeable. The bottom line: better image than 640x480 cameras deliver, but not what you would expect from its 1.3 megapixel imager. No doubt the high compression favors motion video, but I didn't need motion video for my application. I needed to periodically update a website with a still image, which I wanted to be of high quality.

Aside from that, it is a pretty standard Panasonic network camera. I had set up another Panasonic network camera (one of the 640x480 models), so this one was easy enough. I struggled a bit with the first one (see other reviews of Panasonic network cameras for the kinds of problems you may encounter) but the problems were relatively easily overcome.

Be aware that no power supply is included with the camera. It can be powered either with an AC adapter, or through the ethernet cable (POE). Either the AC adapter or ethernet power injector is a separate purchase. The POE option is almost certainly the one you want. I'm not sure why the AC adapter option would ever be preferred: it requires running two cables (ethernet and power) instead of one (ethernet only). But if you like running cables, you have the option.