Axis 2100 foggy image and my experiences

[martyp]

Hi all,

I hope this is a good place to come for advice and help...
I was extremely lucky a little while back to find an Axis 2100 camera complete in box at a boot sale and pay only ?2 for it! (It was very cold and the guy desperately wanted to go!) I was absolutely thrilled as I'd always wanted an IP camera but could never afford one...
I plugged it in to my router and used the IP tool to set the IP address (from www.axis.com) worked in ways I can't understand and set the IP of the camera.
I then set port 80 forwarding to the camera and used it in my living room, mainly looking at a fish tank but the images never seemed that clear. They always seemed quite smokey and noisy.
I have just made it wireless with a D-Link 22mbps ethernet bridge and got it working great looking out an upstairs window.
The image wasn't too bad but I got panicky about sunlight damage to the CCD. It is pointing down to the ground as the sunlight was glaring off house roofs at the top of the view...
I also went out and bought a 12mm lens to see what that was like. Worked great very close up but blurry over about 3 metres away...
I then bought an 8mm instead and that seems to work well, but still the fogginess in the image, they don't seem crisp and clear.
I've chatted at length with Axis support who are really great and they agree the picture seems foggy.
I tried very gently cleaning the CCD as it seemed a bit dusty but still the same...

Anyone else here with this camera or similar issues with another camera?

I thought it'd be the lens but have tried several...
The other thought was using an auto iris but I'm not sure you could use one with this model of camera? Any ideas?

Many thanks

[Administrator]

Hello,

That is very strange. Is it possible for you to post a snapshot?

You named off all the ideas I had - cleaning the lens, trying a different one. Could be something defective with the image sensor.

Good job on getting it so cheap!

The 2100 does not have an Auto Iris port.

Try and post a snapshot and I will try to think up some more suggestions.
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[martyp]

Hi Wes,

Sure, I can send a snapshot.
The CCD seemed slightly dusty, after cleaning it it looks very shiny and clear. I turned the colour up quite a bit.

It seems to work well outside but the image isn't sharp. I do wonder about where it was and how it was used before I got it. I can't complain too much for the price - I never thought I could ever afford an IP camera...

I've asked Axis if it's still under warranty and they're going to get back to me.

[Administrator]

Thanks for the snapshot and access to the camera.

It is very foggy. See if it is still under warranty. I believe Axis only offers a one year warranty. Hopefully they don't ask for proof of purchase

I'm starting to think there could be an issue with the CCD. Perhaps if it was banged around it could be broken. The CCD has to be just the right distance from the lens. You should double check to make sure your lens is compatible with the Axis 2100.
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[martyp]

Hi Wes,

Cheers for the reply.

I checked the warranty and unfortunately it's well over...

I fitted a CS Lens to it which apparently are supposed to go straight on the same as the standard lens.

The lens that was originally on unscrewed completely with the black ring so that the only ring left was the fixed shiny silver one.

I did notice that the screws underneath had been tampered with. As it's out of warranty I'm considering opening it up to have a quick look, unless you think that could cause major problems doing so?

[Administrator]

Considering the screws have been tampered with, it sounds like it was broken for the last user and they tried opening it.

You can try opening it up and seeing if anything is out of place - I would but just be careful

Considering its out of warranty you don't have to worry about voiding the warranty.
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[martyp]

Hmm...I did test the accessibility of the camera in terms of possible repairs,undid the two screws underneath but it refused to come apart so experimented with the distance of the lens from the CCD.

Even though the new lens is CS Mount the same as the original one it does appear that the distance between the lens and CCD could be different?

I've attached some pics of the lenses and CCD below, see what you think?

It did seem to improve the picture a bit not fully screwingin the lens (I remember Axis telling me about loosening the ring to improve focus).

Very good and valid point...I shall experiment...

[martyp]

Just a quick update on this. I got another response from Axis and they said that none of them had seen this foggy image problem before. They said a CCD either works or it doesn't.
I'm really not sure what to do. Would it be worth getting the CCD professionally cleaned do you think? I can imagine it'd be expensive though and don't know anywhere near me that might do it.

I noticed two small silver studs in the corners of the black 'window frame' around the CCD, do you think it could be replaced? I'm not too sure how the CCD is fixed within the camera...

[Administrator]

Hey, sorry about the late reply. I have been very busy for the past week.

I would see how much it is to get the CCD cleaned or repaired. It might be cheaper to just go with a new camera. The Axis 2100 is a good camera but it is old and there are newer cameras out that have the same features and then some, for a cheaper price. You can purchase new IP cameras with the same features for just over $100.

I'm not to sure how you can fix CCD's. If the inside looks like it has been opened and there are marks, it could be the CCD is broken.

Let me know if there are any updates or if Axis recommended anything else. I wouldnt mind finding a solution too so I know what to suggest to users in the future.

Cheers!
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[martyp]

Hi Wes,

I couldn't open the camera in the end so thought best not to force it. I thought I'd best appreciate the picture I already get on it as the majority of features all work great. I'm really pleased I also successfully got the FTP upload feature working. It now uploads an image to my personal FTP site every hour. It took a bit of fiddling to get it to work properly though. I kept starting and stopping the running application script to get it working (I often find settings revert back sometimes after I've clicked on Save. If I go to the live view then back they're back to how they were. I then set the settings again or maybe twice and they'll then stay).
A streetlight at night was causing problems as it caused a very bright glare on the camera so I have it on a timer to switch it off during the night.
Axis pretty much suggested the new camera idea, funnily enough they referred me to look on ebay!

Here's their response:
"Dear Martin, we don't have a repair centre. the costs would be too expensive if we did. the lenses look fine and the ones you purchased will work with our 210, 211,221 cameras perhaps it is time to look on ebay for one of these cameras. (although you will miss out on the powered iris on the 211, 221) Sorry we can't help with the foggyness. It is something no-one here has seen before , and usually will not be caused by the CCD or a clean lens. CCD's either work or don't !! regards Axis Customer Services"

[martyp]

There's something I'm also really looking into...using a filter...?
Maybe the blueshiness could be corrected by that?

I thought about polarising but now am not sure as there's also skylight and UV filters?

Really not sure which one I should get? Can anyone advise?

[martyp]

Follow up on this one...

I was chuffed to find a circular polarising filter in a bargain bin in a local camera store for only ?3.73!

I then used a cardboard gift box to make a discrete enclosure to help protect the camera from sunlight. I cut a hole in the front to poke the lens through. I then found the filter, 46mm, fitted perfectly on the end of a toilet roll tube and attached that in front of the lens (about 1cm away).

I was impressed to see the image was still about the same through the filter as it was before. I'm hoping now that the filter will protect the CCD?

See below for some pics, still got the fogginess though, any thoughts please let me know (please ignore the heading saying 'My fish' I'm yet to change that):

[Administrator]

Looks good! Well except for the foggyness

Thats a nice fix you made for an enclosure. Just make sure the camera isn't getting wet by condensation or anything.


Looks great though!
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