11.6.4 Configure the settings relating to image quality (“Image adjust” setup menu) (NP502, NW502S)
The settings relating to image quality can be configured with the setup menu displayed in a newly displayed window. When the values are changed, the changed values will be applied to the currently displayed image on the [Image quality] tab.
IMPORTANT
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Image adjustment functions are activated for the angle of view in the aspect ratio of 4:3 even while “16:9” is being selected for “Aspect ratio”.
[Super Dynamic(SD)]
Select “On” or “Off” to determine whether or not to activate the super dynamic function.
Refer to the description “Super Dynamic function” about the super dynamic function.
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On: The super dynamic function will work.
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Off: The super dynamic function will not work.
Note
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When the following are observed depending on the light condition, select “Off” for “Super Dynamic(SD)”.
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When flickering appears or the color changes on the screen
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When noise appears in the brighter area on the screen
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This setting is only available when a 1.3 mega pixel setting is selected for “Picture (Camera) mode” on the [JPEG/H.264] (or [JPEG/MPEG-4]) tab.
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When “Outdoor scene”, “Indoor scene (50 Hz)”, or “Indoor scene (60 Hz)” is selected for “Light control mode”, this setting is available.
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When “On” is selected for “Super Dynamic(SD)”, the minimum illumination will be set to the same specifications as the 3 mega pixel mode. Refer to the Installation Guide for more information about the specifications.
Super Dynamic function
When there is wide variation between the illumination of light and dark areas of the location being monitored, the camera adjusts the lens iris in accordance with the brighter areas. This causes loss of detail in darker areas. Conversely, adjusting the lens brightness for the darker areas causes the brighter areas to become washed out.
Super Dynamic digitally combines an image that is set up for a clear view of the brighter areas with an image that is set up for a clear view of the darker areas, creating a final image that preserves overall detail.
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A.
Subject in the dark area is hard to notice...
B.
Subject in the bright area is washed out...
C.
Creates a clearer image by digitally combining images
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[Face SD]
With the “Face SD” setting, if a person's face is dark and difficult to see, by combining the face detection and Super Dynamic functions, the area with the face in the image can be corrected to become brighter and easier to see.
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On: The interactive control with face detection will work.
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Off: The interactive control with face detection will not work.
Note
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“Face SD” is only available when a 1.3 mega pixel setting is selected for “Picture (Camera) mode”.
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There may be some cases that the effect is not distinct when the faces are too dark to recognize due to strong backlight.
[Adaptive black stretch]
Select “On” or “Off” to determine whether or not to activate the darkness compensation function. The darkness compensation function can make darker parts of images brighter by digital image processing.
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On: Activates the darkness compensation function.
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Off: Deactivates the darkness compensation function.
IMPORTANT
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When “On” is selected for “Adaptive black stretch”, noise in the darker parts may be increased, and parts around borders between the darker parts and the brighter parts may become darker/brighter than the other darker/brighter parts.
[Back light compensation (BLC)]
Select “On” or “Off” to determine whether or not to activate the back light compensation (BLC) function. When “On” is selected for “Super Dynamic(SD)”, this setting is unavailable.
The back light compensation function can compensate back light by setting mask areas on brighter parts of images.
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On: Mask areas will be set automatically.
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Off: Mask areas will not be set automatically. It is necessary to set them manually.
[Mask area]
When “Off” is selected for “Super Dynamic(SD)” and “Back light compensation (BLC)”, it is possible to compensate for backlight by masking brighter areas.
[Light control mode]
Select the light control mode from the following.
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Outdoor scene: Depending on the brightness level (illuminance), the iris will automatically be controlled together with the shutter speed adjustment to control light. When shooting a bright subject such as outdoor, etc., select this parameter. Be aware that flicker may occur when a subject is under fluorescent lighting.
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Indoor scene: The shutter speed will automatically be adjusted to prevent flicker caused by fluorescent light.
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ELC: This selection is suitable for use of a lens with fixed iris or manual iris.
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Fix shutter: The selected value will be set as the fixed shutter speed.
3/100 Fix, 2/100 Fix, 2/120 Fix, 1/100 Fix, 1/250 Fix, 1/500 Fix, 1/1000 Fix, 1/2000 Fix, 1/4000 Fix, 1/10000 Fix
Note
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When a faster shutter speed is selected (up to 1/10000), it is possible to capture a fast moving object with less blur.
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When a faster shutter speed is selected, the sensitivity will become lower. Smear also may appear under bright light condition.
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When “On” is selected for “Super Dynamic(SD)”, “Fix shutter” is not available. To configure “Fix shutter”, set “Super Dynamic(SD)” to “Off”.
[AGC]
Select a method of gain adjustment from the following.
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On(High)/ On(Mid)/ On(Low): When the luminance of the subject becomes darker, gain will be automatically increased and screen will become brighter. “High”, “Mid” and “Low” are indications of gain level.
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Off: Images will be captured with the fixed gain level.
[Auto slow shutter]
The electronic sensitivity enhancement (sensitivity up) can be carried out by adjusting the storage time of the sensor.
The following are available for the recording duration.
Off(1/30s), Max.2/30s, Max.4/30s, Max.6/30s, Max.10/30s, Max.16/30s
IMPORTANT
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When “On” is selected for “Auto slow shutter”, frame rate may become lower. Noise or white dots (blemishes) may sometimes appear.
Note
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When “Max.16/30s” is selected, for example, sensitivity will automatically be increased up to x16. When “Off” is selected for “AGC”, this setting is unavailable.
[Day & Night(IR)]
Select switching between the color mode and the black & white mode from the following.
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Off: The color mode is selected.
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On: The black & white mode is selected.
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Auto1(Normal): The camera automatically switches between the color mode and the black & white mode in accordance with picture brightness (luminance). The black & white mode will automatically be selected when the lighting condition becomes darker, while the color mode will automatically be selected when it becomes brighter.
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Auto2(IR Light): Suitable when using near-infrared light source at night.
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Auto3(Super Chrome Compensation(SCC)): Suitable to keep the color mode even under darker light condition.
The color mode will be carried on by the Super Chrome Compensation (SCC) function even under illumination that is lower than Auto1(Normal).
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Default: Auto1(Normal)
Super Chrome Compensation (SCC) function
This function achieves faithful color images using the proprietary color compensation technology that reproduce images even under low illumination where it is usually difficult to capture objects faithfully.
Note
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The operating sound might be heard when changing to black-and-white mode, however it does not indicate any malfunction.
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Since the color compensation technology is used for Auto3(Super Chrome Compensation(SCC)), some colors may look different from the actual objects depending on the light condition.
[Level]
Select the threshold illuminance level (brightness) to switch between the color mode and the black & white mode.
The descriptions about the following threshold illuminance levels are given when a 1.3 mega pixel setting is selected for “Picture (Camera) mode” and “Off” is selected for “Super Dynamic(SD)”.
When “Day & Night(IR)” is set to “Auto1(Normal)” or “Auto2(IR Light)”
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High: Switches from the color mode to the black & white mode when the ambient brightness (illuminance) of the camera is approx. 6 lx or less.
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Low: Switches from the color mode to the black & white mode when the ambient brightness (illuminance) of the camera is approx. 2 lx or less.
When “Day & Night(IR)” is set to “Auto3(Super Chrome Compensation(SCC))”
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High: Carries on the color mode by activating the super chroma compensation function when the ambient brightness (illuminance) of the camera is approx. 6 lx or less.
When the color temperature of the object becomes approx. 3,500 K or lower, the color mode will be switched to the black & white mode.
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Low: Carries on the color mode by activating the super chroma compensation function when the ambient brightness (illuminance) of the camera is approx. 2 lx or less.
When the color temperature of the object becomes approx. 3,500 K or lower, the color mode will be switched to the black & white mode.
[Dwell time]
Select a wait time for switching between the color mode and the black & white mode from the following.
2s/ 10s/ 30s/ 1min
[White balance]
Select a method of white balance adjustment from the following.
White color can be adjusted by “Red gain” and “Blue gain”.
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ATW1: Selects the automatic tracing white balance mode. The camera will constantly check the color temperature of the light source and adjust the white balance automatically. Operating color temperature range is approx. 2,700 K to 6,000 K.
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ATW2: Selects the automatic tracing white balance mode under a sodium lamp. The camera will adjust the white balance automatically under a sodium lamp. Operating color temperature range is approx. 2,000 K to 6,000 K.
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AWC: Selects the automatic white balance control mode. This adjustment is suitable for a location where a light source is stable. Operating color temperature range is approx. 2,000 K to 10,000 K.
Note
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Under the following conditions, color may not be faithfully processed. In these cases, select “AWC”.
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When shooting a subject whose major part is a thick color
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When shooting blue sky or sun at sunset
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When shooting a subject whose luminance is too low
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When “AWC” is selected, click the [Set] button.
[Red gain]
Adjust the red color of images.
When the cursor is moved in the “+” direction, the red color will become thicker. When the cursor is moved in the “-” direction, the red color will be thinner. Click the [Reset] button to reset the color to the default.
[Blue gain]
Adjust the blue color of images.
When the cursor is moved in the “+” direction, the blue color will become thicker. When the cursor is moved in the “-” direction, the blue color will be thinner. Click the [Reset] button to reset the color to the default.
[DNR]
The digital noise reduction function reduces noise automatically under the condition of low illuminance. Select an effect level “High” or “Low” for the digital noise reduction.
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High: High DNR, increases afterimage
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Low: Low DNR, reduces afterimage
[Stabilizer]
Select “On” or “Off” to determine whether or not to activate the image stabilizer.
IMPORTANT
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If “On” is selected for the image stabilizer, the view angle will become narrower and the resolution becomes lower. When “On” is selected, check the view angle and resolution at camera installation. The image stabilizer function may not work for the following photographic subjects:
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Less contrast subject (e.g. white wall)
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Short cycled image shaking such as mechanical vibration
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Large amplitude image shaking
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Image stabilization may not be effective in the following cases.
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When a 3 mega pixel setting is selected for “Picture (Camera) mode”.
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When “On” is selected for “Super Dynamic(SD)”.
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When a parameter other than “Off(1/30s)” is selected for “Auto slow shutter”
[Chroma gain level]
Adjusts the chroma level (color density).
When the cursor is moved in the “+” direction, the colors will become thicker. When the cursor is moved in the “-” direction, the colors will be thinner. Click the [Reset] button to reset the color to the default.
[Aperture level]
Adjust the aperture level (outline compensation).
Images will be sharper when the cursor is moved in the “+” direction, and will be softer when the cursor is moved in the “-” direction. Click the [Reset] button to reset the color to the default.
[Pedestal level]
Adjust the black level of images by moving the cursor.
When the cursor is moved to the “+” direction, images will become brighter. When the cursor is moved to the “-” direction, images will be darker. Click the [Reset] button to reset the color to the default.
[Close] button
Click this button to quit the “Image adjust” setup menu.