Toshiba IK-WB21A IP/Network Camera, PTZ, Megapixel, 1280x960, 4-8mm Lens, 22x Zoom

by Toshiba

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 9.8 x 10.2 inches ; 5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000BJBCG6
• Item model number: IK-WB21A
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

High-resolution, full motion video remotely viewable from any PC in the world. This IK-WB21A is an all-in-one, professional-grade IP network camera that allows authorized personnel to view streaming live video from any Internet-connected PC — wherever, whenever. Plus, they can control the cameras functions remotely, including PTZ, and record video for later review.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Camera, Bad Company, July 25, 2007

By 

Scott B. Carle (South Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Toshiba IK-WB21A IP/Network Camera, PTZ, Megapixel, 1280x960, 4-8mm Lens, 22x Zoom (Electronics)

I am giving this camera a bad review because of the support from toshiba.

Pros
the camera is an amazing camera for image quality, speed and range of PTZ, optical zoom... note all this is hardware related..

streaming over the internet over an average highspeed connection the activeX control is very fast and responcive. However note that this camera is only viewable from IE on windows.. Firefox, Macs, Linux need not apply, it wont work for you.

cons
However note that this camera is only viewable from IE on windows.. Firefox, Macs, Linux need not apply, it wont work for you.

Toshiba support is cursory and for the most part does not exceed the "this is where this option in the interface is" level of support. Even at this low level of support they are not very responcive to getting back to you. I have on average in a two year period and 4 camera installations for different clients contacted Toshiba 8 or 9 times for advanced help in implementing web integrations, as well as some basic problems with bugs in the firmware. The first level support is friendly but very slow to help. I would get the I need to look that up, can i call you back responce.. 4 to 8 days later I might get a call back. Developer support which the first level refers you to for anything other than interface help, is useless. they might email you the sdk but other than that responce is non existent to monosylibic. I have multiple times asked very detailed questions and 4 out of 5 times got no responce at all. The time i did get a responce it was not oh this is how you do that but a one line reply that was not in context to my question. For a product that costs as much as this I expected more documentation and examples of integrations and also expected at least a minimum of support from toshiba in implementing these solutions.

So my end summary is that it is amazing hardware but if you want to do more than watch a live image on a windows computer with internet explorer I would look elsewhere.
To date I have been unable to implement succesfully a web integration with this camera due to how the firmware is setup and based on the SDK tha was supplied to me. Toshiba support has refused to help.. well maybe refused is to strong... lets say it has been apathetic and non responcive. I have even filed a review of my support with them complaining about not getting support and got no responce to that.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Surveillance/Web Cam, December 11, 2007

By 

Patrick M. Killough - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Toshiba IK-WB21A IP/Network Camera, PTZ, Megapixel, 1280x960, 4-8mm Lens, 22x Zoom (Electronics)

Toshiba 22X Optical Zoom Ptz Netcam 30 Fps 2WAY Audio with Sd Card Slot

I bought this camera to use in the laboratory to allow remote viewing of samples by customers and experts from other laboratory sites around the world. Some times, there is just no substitute for a visual inspection by the expert or to get the customer to show you what they need analyzed. The fact that it has its own web server was crucial, but the 22X optical zoom is what sold me on this camera. I was able to read a telephone list from 20 feet away.

Setup was easy on our internal network. We were up and running within 30 minutes of receiving the camera. The fact that the web cam has the built in web server allows me to move it from lab to lab cutting the cost to us because it can be shared.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great optics, lousy interface, November 26, 2009

By 

Mark "wingmark" (Chippewa Falls, WI, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Toshiba IK-WB21A IP/Network Camera, PTZ, Megapixel, 1280x960, 4-8mm Lens, 22x Zoom (Electronics)

The IK-WB21A has the best specs in its class (at the time of this review), but has a lousy interface with no alternate browser or mobile device support. The optics are excellent, but the IK-WB21A is designed only to be accessed from a Windows desktop or laptop computer with Internet Explorer, with pop-ups enabled. Forget accessing the camera from any mobile device unless you purchase a third party application (ViewCommander for PC or Live Cams for iPhone) and accept limited functionality. Toshiba advertising states "[Using an] Internet-ready cell phone, a user can remotely view video and control the camera's PTZ and multiple presets without additional software or plug-ins." Since no compatible cell phone exists, this is simply false advertising. [...]

The interface consists of a parent window with a camera pop-up, and another control pop-up. So three separate windows on your screen, inefficent and cluttered. While the interface supports multiple connections, it's a one-setting-fits-all, so you cannot set-up more than one generic user login. Even the most basic IP netcams exceed this. I previously owned a cheap Panasonic PTZ netcam, and never dreamed the Toshiba, which costs five times as much, would be a step backward. If you like a simple camera interface, don't buy the Toshiba. I certainly would not again.

Beyond the interface, the IK-WB21A has a lot of excellent features. You can set-up as many presets as needed, and the camera speed to each preset is amazingly fast. You can move from a normal wide shot to a 22X optical zoom of a preset within a second or two. A comparable PTZ can take several times as long. The sharpness is so good you can literally zoom in and read printed text from an open book 30 feet away. This would be great to watch a quarter mile in every direction on a large property. Depending on your needs, this could be the best camera for you. Since I need mobile access and a clean interface, the IK-WB21A's interface shortcomings are a deal-killer and I will be making a lateral move to another PTZ in the future.