optimum camera placement

Bapski · Jan 13, 2017

i have my camera mounted on top of the my front door. marked "red"

and it gives me this view:

with views blocked on both right and left by walls, I do not think I have optimum placement. any suggestions as where I can optimally place this front door camera?

thank you kindly for your suggestions.

Kawboy12R · Jan 13, 2017

I don't see a hugely better spot. Looks like you're mounted as low as you can go without mounting to the brick, say under the light. That's not optimal either, so your best bet is to get a cam with a longer lens to narrow that FOV. Pixels are wasted on the brick and it won't help the night vision balance trying to balance out the darker grass etc in the distance. Is that a 2.8mm 3mp? A 2 or 4mp will be a wider but shorter FOV with the same lens length (widescreen vs 4:3), so running one in corridor mode (tall and skinny) would cover the opening, allow a longer lens, and give enough height to view closer to the doormat but still view into the distance as well. Whatever that lens is, go with at least the next length up or get a 5231R-Z starlight varifocal turret and tune the FOV until you're happy.

nayr · Jan 13, 2017

your placement is perfectly fine, you just need more zoom and/or rotate it 90 degrees and run it in corridor mode.

Fastb · Jan 13, 2017

@Kawboy12R

Kawboy12R said:
get a 5231R-Z starlight varifocal turret and tune the FOV until you're happy

Turrets seem ideally suited for horizontal mounting, like under a soffit. If Bapski mounts the starlight turret on the vertical surface above the door, will a mounting bracket be needed? Eg: PFB203W

The turret has a high degree of adjustability:
Pan/Tilt/Rotation Range: Pan:0 ̊~360 ̊; Tilt:0 ̊~78 ̊; Rotation:0 ̊~360 ̊

The spec sheet doesn't contain a diagram. The tilt spec is relative to the base? So aiming this cam down the front step would mean a tilt of 95 to 110 degrees? Meaning the mounting bracket is needed?

Maybe the answer is to rotate the camera 180 ̊, changing spec to Tilt = 78 ̊ ~ 0 ̊. Then use image rotation feature in the cam.

Reason I'm asking:
I'd like to use this on my house. It would be mounted to the siding (vertical surface). I'm not sure if I'd need a mounting bracket or not.
Aesthetically, I'd rather not use a bracket.

Thanks in advance,
Fastb

Kawboy12R · Jan 13, 2017

No bracket is needed for wall mounting. It has great adjustability except for turning it to look sideways (or straight up/down I guess) parallel to the wall, but you won't need it because who wants to watch the wall you're mounting it to?

Now, if you're mounting it to vinyl siding, the base will be bigger than the steps in your siding and will hang out over one of the steps and look funny. You can buy brackets from Home Depot etc to flat mount large flat objects to vinyl siding. Just make sure you get one to match your style of siding. Dutch lap or whatever's on your house.

hmjgriffon · Jan 14, 2017

nayr said:
your placement is perfectly fine, you just need more zoom and/or rotate it 90 degrees and run it in corridor mode.

By corridor mode you just mean rotate right? or does it actually make the shape of the frame different? I don't see that setting on my starlight turret.

Fastb · Jan 14, 2017

kawboy12R,

Thanks for that info.
Beveled cedar siding, 6.5" spacing, course to course. So that spacing that will handle the turret's base of 4.8" x 4.13", even if mounted diagonally. No overhang.

Because of shrubery, I won't look parallel to the siding. Instead, a 15 to 20 degree slice will be out of view. But who wants to watch a wall or shrub?

Fastb

Kawboy12R · Jan 14, 2017

For "corridor mode", rotate the physical lens 90 degrees. Then choose rotate 90 or 270 in your settings so that the appropriate "side" is now "up".

Bapski · Jan 16, 2017

Kawboy12R said:
For "corridor mode", rotate the physical lens 90 degrees. Then choose rotate 90 or 270 in your settings so that the appropriate "side" is now "up".

thank you so much... looks way better..!

hmjgriffon · Jan 16, 2017

Bapski said:
thank you so much... looks way better..!

View attachment 14104

it does, you just need a different focal length, lots of wasted pixels there, perhaps a varifocal so you can tweak it perfect.

nayr · Jan 16, 2017

thats a good view for seeing packages left at the door, a lil zoom couldn't hurt but it'd point your IR more down to maintain that; I kinda like where the center of this image is.. good work.

Bapski · Jan 16, 2017

nayr said:
your placement is perfectly fine, you just need more zoom and/or rotate it 90 degrees and run it in corridor mode.

nayr said:
thats a good view for seeing packages left at the door, a lil zoom couldn't hurt but it'd point your IR more down to maintain that; I kinda like where the center of this image is.. good work.

will do.. thanks again

Kawboy12R · Jan 16, 2017

Nayr's got a good point on the IR center. Pointing them down too much can create a hotspot particularly if the cam isn't an EXIR turret. The single IR emitter strangely enough spreads the IR out much better than the type with the ring of LEDs. To really kick things up a notch, get the next size longer lens, turn off the internal IR, and aim an external one up a bit from center into the distance. Not required though. You should be happier now with ID pics of those that come to the door. Unless you REALLY catch the camera bug and turn it into a hobby.

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