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IP Camera in Metro Station

Security cameras: fixed lens vs vari-focal lens

Fixed lens security camera or vari-focal lens camera? Generally, fixed lens security camera is much cheaper than vari-focal lens camera. But we still recommend vari-focal camera, the vari-focal camera provides consumers and security installers a few advantages over a fixed-lens security camera. Having to physically re-install the fixed lens camera in order to adjust the field of view is the common headache to security installers and consumers. Furthermore, both customers and installers will be unhappy to re-do the installation, and re-installing a camera costs valuable time and money.

1# Adjustable focal length for diversity applications

Allowing security installer to adjust security camera's focal length to change the field of view (FoV) is the obvious advantage of varifocal lens security camera. Varifocal cameras can have a range of focal lengths such as 2.8 - 12mm, 4-9mm, 9-22mm, 6-60mm, 5-10mm. Among them, 2.8-12mm lens is commonly used in vari-focal security cameras, the lens offers a range of field of view from wide 90°to narrow 22°, this FoV range can provide the sufficient surveillance angle for diversity applications.  6-60mm and 5-10mm lenses are commonly used in long distance video surveillance cameras for specific applications such as license plate recognition.

Additionally, the adjustable lens of a varifocal camera enables the installer or end-users to change the focal length to capture the view desired by the end-users for their location. It's especially important for customers who may change their mind frequently. For example, sometimes a customer requests a specific focal length, then, after seeing the live image captured within the field of view, decides they want to camera to capture a different angle or view.

Choosing the vari-focal lens security camera, the installer or technician has the flexibility to change the camera's focal length which meet the customer's preference. This eliminate the requirement of having to physically re-locate or re-install the camera to get the ideal field of view for security camera.

2# Saving installation cost

Although a varifocal lens camera is much more expensive than a fixed lens camera, the varifocal camera can actually save a customer more money in the long-run by offering the flexibility of changing the focal length at a present or future time. The initial cost-savings may not be worth the extra time, money, or headache associated with having to re-locate/re-install the fixed lens camera, in order to get the view desired by clients. The installation of security camera typically involves with construction works such as drilling holes in the wall, relocating or move the installed security camera brings much headache.

3# Motorized vari-focal lens for easy installation

Beside the general vari-focal lens which requires the installer to manually adjust the focal length. The motorized vari-focal lens camera can automatically adjust the focus and zoom, which greatly simplified the installation process. Furthermore, the lens is motorized, you can adjust the camera's focal length remotely through Internet browsers or Client software.

4# P-Iris/Auto-Iris lens for better video surveillance

P-Iris stands for precise Iris, it's a quite new optical lens control technology, which firstly introduced by Axis. The P-Iris lens is a motorized lens which has the ability to create improved video clarity and depth of field (DoF). IP camera adopts the P-Iris lens, which allows camera to keep an accurate and consistent sharpness and depth of view. In addition to P-Iris, installers also can choose Auto-Iris lens security camera. Auto-Iris is motorized lens, with the ability to adjust the iris to keep constant video level, is good for capturing outdoor scenes during changing lighting condition. Compared with Fixed or Manual Iris lens, Auto Iris lens used more advanced technology, camera with an Auto Iris lens are often more expensive.

Get the right field of view for your security application

Reference: 

http://www.hkvstar.com/technology-news/ip-camera-lens-dc-iris-p-iris-aperture-depth-of-field.html
http://www.unifore.net/ip-video-surveillance/ip-camera-guide-how-to-select-a-megapixel-lens.html

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