A typical application could be the monitoring of a petrol station, with the optical auto focus zoom easily going from a wide angle shot to a zoomed image, triggered by the lifting of the petrol pump. This provides a close-up view of the driver and number plate, providing evidence in the event that payment for the fuel is not made.

The outdoor models have the camera with lens encased in an IP66 approved watertight housing which includes an internal heater, with even the mounting bracket and sun protection cover included.

For day-night applications the CCAS1415 models ensure optimal picture quality, whatever the lighting conditions during the day, and when used with infrared lighting, providing crisp monochrome images at night. There is also no need for operator intervention to switch from day to night mode - once the switchover light level is set, this occurs automatically.

In addition to high resolution performance, the cameras are also very easy to use. A logical, on-screen display (OSD) function enables easy programming of the cameras' many features and settings, including white balance, light settings, back-light compensation, line-lock synchronisation and dynamic noise reduction. Specific text can be established for each camera and overlaid in the image to enable the operator to quickly recognise which picture a camera is showing.

Programming is done either through the camera's OSD or remotely via an integrated RS485 interface. The Siemens Sistore range of digital recording and transmission systems can be used to control the zoom lens of the camera, again via the RS485 interface. With the addition of the Siemens CKA keyboard, perhaps with a matrix switcher or digital recorder, control is also possible for the 22x optical and 11x digital zoom function.