FI9961EP Wide Angle Lense Replacement

I wish to start off letting everyone know right away that I am an idiot when it comes to the different components in these types of cameras. I am a highly technical person with vast knowledge of computers, networks, servers, OSes, and mobile devices and now I'm learning about CCTV cameras because I have no choice. I have replaced a gentlemen who mad a lot of mistakes and now I have been tasked with cleanup. There are roughly 30 cameras of varying brands. Lets get to the meat of it then.

The owner has asked meto come up with a sub $150 solution for a coverage problem in 2 areas. Most of the cameras are Foscam R2's indoors and the rest are outdoor domed cameras of varying brands. After months of work, all the cameras are now hard wired in to gigabit cisco switches on their own vlan and each switch is LAGed with 4 cat6 cables each. I built a new system for blueiris to run on and after optimum settings in blueiris everything is smooth, fast, and stable.

The 2 areas needing coverage are outdoors but the standard field of view on most cameras isnt wide enough. The owner is in love with the foscam brand as they have been good for the business so far. I was looking at the FI9961EP as the starting point but I was wondering if the lens could be swapped out for a 120 degree or greater lens. Any assistance would be appreciated.

Mimir

@Mimir, avoid foscam like the plague...its bottom barrel junk...you also dont want a dome camera...look at the dahua turret starlight thread...the fixed version can be had for 100...

Thanks for the reply fenderman,

I really wish it were that simple. The business owner loves Foscams and nothing else and it has to be purchased via Amazon otherwise he wont buy it. He got burned by ebay and a few other sites while the guy before me was around. Because of the previous guy I am very limited in what I can or cant do which is why I posted the question above. I am no expert when it comes to these cameras, maybe in time as I learn more, I can change his mind but for now I am stuck.

Mimir said:

Thanks for the reply fenderman,

I really wish it were that simple. The business owner loves Foscams and nothing else and it has to be purchased via Amazon otherwise he wont buy it. He got burned by ebay and a few other sites while the guy before me was around. Because of the previous guy I am very limited in what I can or cant do which is why I posted the question above. I am no expert when it comes to these cameras, maybe in time as I learn more, I can change his mind but for now I am stuck.

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Tell him to read this thread...hes being an idiot...

Hes nearly 80 years old and very set in his ways. I dont have the expertise yet to convince him otherwise.

Mimir said:

Hes nearly 80 years old and very set in his ways. I dont have the expertise yet to convince him otherwise.

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when you replace a lens with a much wider one you will lose significant detail as well as get a fisheye effect...makes no sense to pay you to swap lenses...you will have issues with those domes and ir reflection..if he insists get the 2.8 lens option...its the widest you can go in that camera..

@drunkpenguin I wish it were that simple. He does all the ordering and will only purchase from Amazon.

@fenderman how much Field of View will the 2.8 provide?

Mimir said:

@fenderman how much Field of View will the 2.8 provide?

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its in the specs

I showed the owner your comments fenderman and he agreed to purchase a different brand of camera. Since Dahua and Amcrest are essentially the same thing, he wanted a cheap stationary camera so he puchased the Amcrest IP2M-844EW 1080P POE IP Camera but it came with a 3.6mm lense. From what you have said, a 2.8mm lense would give a greater field of view. Which one would you recommend?