Y-Cam’s revamped Bullet HD 1080. This 2nd Gen IP camera is slimmer, sleeker and has some subtle improvements for novice and advanced surveillance gurus.
Product on Review: Bullet HD 1080 (2nd Gen)
Manufacturer and Sponsor: Y-Cam
Street Price: £300 GBP / $420 USD
Y-Cam has had a phenomenal precedence since their arrival to the surveillance market back in 2007. Their popularity has increased significantly after appearing on popular TV programmes such as The Gadget Show and we’ve experienced first-hand how brilliant their products are in the last couple of years with the Bullet HD 1080 and Cube HD 1080.
Nowadays good hardware isn’t difficult to acquire, it’s the software which is the crucial element which many companies fall flat on their faces with. Y-Cam has demonstrated their prowess in both departments and today’s product review seeks to highlight this very fact.
Earlier this year, Y-Cam announced their 2nd Generation Bullet HD 1080 – A revised version of the original Bullet HD 1080, with some key improvements. Y-Cam has carefully refined the original camera by tweaking minor elements, the most obvious difference is the visual appearance; the camera now has an elegant, subtle style with much smaller dimensions and yet it appears that quality hasn’t been compromised upon.
Y-Cam on their Bullet HD 1080 2nd Generation
The 2nd generation of our award winning and hugely successful Y-cam Bullet HD is smaller, sleeker and smarter than ever! Designed for IP camera users who are seeking a feature-packed professional network camera, the Y-cam Bullet HD range offers high quality HD images and wide compatibility.
Technical Specifications
Camera
Image device 1/2.7″ CMOS, 2 Megapixels
Resolution 1920×1080 (HD 1080p)
Pixels 2,073,600
White Balance, Exposure, Gain Auto
Viewing angle Horizontal: 56.5°, Vertical: 37°
Focal length f=6.0mm
Aperture F=2.0
Min.llumination 1.0 Lux
Infrared LED 24
Night Vision Distance 10m
IR Cut Filter Yes
Image compression H.264, MPEG-4, MJPEG
Max. frame rate 18fps @ 1920×1080
Audio compression AAC
Built-in microphone Built-in electret microphone
Network
Authentication ID/Password, Admin/User (Up to 64)
Network protocols TCP, UDP, IP, ARP, ICMP, DHCP, DNS, HTTP, FTP, SMTP, NTP, PPPoE, UPnP, DDNS
Stream type HTTP, RTSP/RTP/RTCP, 3GPP
Network connection 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX
Power over Ethernet (PoE) Yes
Wireless LAN
Wireless technology IEEE802.11b/g/n
Frequency 2.412-2.462GHz
Transmission speed 150Mbps/54Mbps/22Mbps/11Mbps/5.5Mbps/2Mbps/1Mbps (Auto Switch)
Security WEP (64/128 bit), WPA-PSK(AES/TKIP), WPA2-PSK(AES/TKIP)
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) Yes
MicroSD slot Up to 64 Gb, min Class 4
General
Power requirements DC 12V, 1A, 100-240V AC, 3.75W
Operating temperature -5 to +45 °C (+22 to +113 °F)
Storage temperature -20 to +60 °C (-4 to +140 °F)
Operating humidity 20-80%RH (Non-condensing)
Storage humidity 20-95%RH (Non-condensing)
Dimensions(W x D x H) 60mm x 170 x 110mm
Weight 410g / 14.5 oz
Image device 1/2.7″ CMOS, 2 Megapixels
Resolution 1920×1080 (HD 1080p)
Pixels 2,073,600
White Balance, Exposure, Gain Auto
Viewing angle Horizontal: 56.5°, Vertical: 37°
Focal length f=6.0mm
Aperture F=2.0
Min.llumination 1.0 Lux
Infrared LED 24
Night Vision Distance 10m
IR Cut Filter Yes
Image compression H.264, MPEG-4, MJPEG
Max. frame rate 18fps @ 1920×1080
Audio compression AAC
Built-in microphone Built-in electret microphone
Network
Authentication ID/Password, Admin/User (Up to 64)
Network protocols TCP, UDP, IP, ARP, ICMP, DHCP, DNS, HTTP, FTP, SMTP, NTP, PPPoE, UPnP, DDNS
Stream type HTTP, RTSP/RTP/RTCP, 3GPP
Network connection 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX
Power over Ethernet (PoE) Yes
Wireless LAN
Wireless technology IEEE802.11b/g/n
Frequency 2.412-2.462GHz
Transmission speed 150Mbps/54Mbps/22Mbps/11Mbps/5.5Mbps/2Mbps/1Mbps (Auto Switch)
Security WEP (64/128 bit), WPA-PSK(AES/TKIP), WPA2-PSK(AES/TKIP)
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) Yes
MicroSD slot Up to 64 Gb, min Class 4
General
Power requirements DC 12V, 1A, 100-240V AC, 3.75W
Operating temperature -5 to +45 °C (+22 to +113 °F)
Storage temperature -20 to +60 °C (-4 to +140 °F)
Operating humidity 20-80%RH (Non-condensing)
Storage humidity 20-95%RH (Non-condensing)
Dimensions(W x D x H) 60mm x 170 x 110mm
Weight 410g / 14.5 oz
Packaging & Bundle
Packaging for Bullet HD 1080 2nd Gen
Bullet arrives in a large but elegantly designed box. On the front there is a list of the integral features and a picture of the camera. The sides and reverse of the box goes into further detail, highlighting even more features which are available.
A large assortment of items included in bundle
Included with the camera are a number of bundled accessories which help with the general usage of the camera. These items include the following:
• Y-cam Bullet HD camera
• Wall mount with cable management
• 1m/3ft network (Ethernet cable) (for setup only)
• 3m/10ft power supply with UK/US/EU plugs
• 2 x screws and anchors for fixing
• Screw, grommet and Allen key for wall mount
• Quick start guide
Compared to the first generation Bullet there are some additional items to for installing the camera such as the grommet which assists with keeping the cables housed within the metal cylinder.
Closer Look
Upgraded optics
The most immediate difference between the 1st and 2nd generation of Bullet cameras is the visual appearance. Not only has Y-Cam altered the colour of the camera to be more in tune with property coordination but the size of the unit has reduced somewhat too. The overall impression of this camera is that Y-cam has done a great job in streamlining it.
From a specifications standpoint the optics/lens arrangement has had some minor adjustments too. The focal length has increased, the viewing angle is wider, there are less infrared LEDs but night vision distance has increased, and the maximum framerate has dropped to 18FPS at 1920×1080 compared to 30FPS on the original Bullet camera.
So these subtle modifications equates to an overall improvement though we are slightly dismayed by the drop in framerate at the highest resolution.
Neutral styling to blend with property
Over the top of the camera we have the same protective visor which shields the unit from Mother Nature – this visor is fixed into place via two screws, loosening these allows the user to slide this plate forwards or backwards.
Another improvement found on this 2nd generation camera is the integrated electret microphone – delivering better overall audio with more clarity.
At the back of the camera Y-Cam include a metal cap which covers the WiFi connection for the antenna so that if you choose to have the Bullet wired to the network there is protection for this exposed feature.
Incidentally, Wireless N is fully supported, offering up to 150Mbps transfer rates and WPS is supported too so the wireless connection can be easily configured.
A revised locking mechanism
This updated version of Bullet also sees an improved locking mechanism. The original camera was a somewhat fiddly to adjust but now the mechanism uses a much more robust ball-joint and requires an allen key to tighten things up (An allen key is provided). The cables are also hardwired tinto the unit from the underside rather than the rear.
Power and network cables
Cables can be stored within cylinder
Unlike the original Bullet, the 2nd generation camera lacks the conduit arrangement for the cabling. Y-Cam has also simplified the options available too – now there is just a power cable and RJ45 socket. The network socket (RJ45) can use power over Ethernet (PoE) to supply power and network connectivity.
Y-Cam has designed a cylinder shaped base which is hollow inside, this object can accommodate these cables and the idea is to make the connection inside this cylinder, keeping the power/network cables tucked away and tidy. There isn’t a great deal of space inside this object but with some encouragement all of the cabling can sit inside.
SD card slot is found within the casing
It isn’t initially apparent where the micro SD card slot is located but opening the unit up we find this particular feature. Physically removing the card from the camera when it’s fixed to a property could be problematic but if this is the recording method a user is opting for, video files can be obtained via the integrated software.
This micro SD card slot supports up to 64GB of storage. If you’d prefer to record directly onto a NAS then there is good news; Bullet is ONVIF 2.0 compliant and can work in conjunction with a number of different devices from Synology, ASUSTOR and QNAP.
Software UI
To gain access to the unit software needs to be downloaded from Y-Cam’s website, once this is installed you then need to connect camera up with power/network cable. The camera needs to be powered up and connected to the router via the Ethernet adapter and cable.
With the software we can locate the camera on the network and establish the initial connection/settings.
Once the login credentials have been input by the prompt, you are met with a landing page which gives access to Live View or Settings. Live View will show you the camera in operation whilst the settings allow you to customise many different options.
The welcome page when logging in
There are a large selection of options which can be altered to give lots of flexibility. Below we’ve produced a video clip which navigates through the integrated software – showing how extensive this software suite really is.
Testing – Smartphone Usage & Video Footage
Viewing the camera over WiFi via smartphone
There are a number of different ways to access the Bullet via smartphone. In the past we have used IP Cam Viewer with allows for the inclusion of numerous cameras, giving the user the ability to fully control the unit.
Above demonstrates this application when using Bullet. We are using wireless connectivity, the image quality is good and the range of vision with this camera is also good with its wide-angle lens. We do however note how bright the image is but we couldn’t find any options inside the software to adjust the exposure levels – this option would have been useful.
Video Footage
To capture footage we can store data on a micro SD card or direct to NAS. For this series of tests we recorded to micro SD.
Daytime Footage
The daytime footage was shot in 720p and 1080p modes. For 720p the maximum framerate we can choose is 30FPS and for 1080p the maximum is 18FPS. This is of course also dependent upon the bandwidth being fed to the camera – so if using WiFi the signal needs to be strong to get the best performance.
As you can see from both clips, the picture is clear and the movement is fluid – although we’d have liked to see more than 18FPS as a maximum for 1080p. Our main qualm to criticise is the fact that we could not directly upload the output video files to YouTube because the format is not supported (.mov) – instead we had to convert to another compatible format such as AVI.
Night time Footage
For the night mode we used the same settings again and filmed inside the same room in pitch dark surroundings. The detail levels at 720p and 1080p are similar and Bullet offers great image quality via the Infrared mode. 720p will offer smoother movement but lack the extra pixels of 1080p – users will obviously need to decide whether they favour more fluid operation or higher resolution.
Conclusion
When we heard Y-Cam had revised their existing Bullet HD 1080 we were excited to see what changes had been made because the original which we reviewed back in May 2013 made a lasting impression.
Y-Cam has clearly gone away and carefully thought about what improvements could be made to an already excellent product. In the 2nd generation Bullet we have a much more sleek and elegant design which will better compliment any property it is attached to. Y-Cam has also trimmed down the size and yet the quality hasn’t come at a compromise.
The optics and lens has seen minor improvements, as has the audio too. Users can choose from a list of different resolutions and frame rates, the best obviously being 1080p. We are slightly dismayed that there has been a reduction in the frame rate for this mode – 18fps is now the maximum available for the highest resolution, but as we’ve seen on the previous pages this isn’t a major factor by any means.
The configuration of the camera has also been tweaked somewhat – now users can get up and running with their camera in next to no time. The software interface is easy to use, with options for novice and advanced users too.
One particular niggle we discovered with this camera was the output video files. Recorded footage uses the .mov format which appears to be incompatible with YouTube. Our files simply wouldn’t upload and we also learnt of other users encountering the same problems too. Although it wasn’t too much hassle to convert the files to another format, this isn’t ideal for those wanting to share footage immediately.
Bullet HD 1080 (2nd Generation) will set you back £300 / $420 – which is quite a hefty sum, especially if you need two units. But with all things considered, this camera is extremely capable and its feature-set is likely to outshine many of its counter-parts.
Y-Cam has made some key improvements to an already exceptional product and we’re left in no doubt of this 2nd Generation of Bullet HD 1080’s capabilities. It has a strong lineup of features and will satisfy those in the market for a high-end surveillance unit.
Pros
+ Elegant, subtle new design
+ Condensed dimensions
+ Cylinder for cable management
+ Weatherproof
+ Improved image quality
+ Improved audio quality
+ Easy to setup & configure
+ ONVIF 2.0 compliant
+ Small video file sizes
+ WiFi N ready
Cons
– Just 18FPS at 1080p
– Recorded video files incompatible with YouTube
+ Elegant, subtle new design
+ Condensed dimensions
+ Cylinder for cable management
+ Weatherproof
+ Improved image quality
+ Improved audio quality
+ Easy to setup & configure
+ ONVIF 2.0 compliant
+ Small video file sizes
+ WiFi N ready
Cons
– Just 18FPS at 1080p
– Recorded video files incompatible with YouTube
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net.
