I have Hikvision dome cameras around my home. They are decent cameras for the price (<$100/piece). However, no matter my settings they can't capture car license plates during night time. The cars' head/rear lights and the reflection of the license plate make the license plate numbers unreadable. Thieves obviously know this because they pull up their cars right to homes they burglarize. Is there a <$1k camera (preferably below $500) that can capture license plates at night? The angle from the house to the street is about 40 degrees, the distance is about 40' and we have some street lights so it's not completely dark.
Camera for License Plates
- Thread starter rfj
- Start date
bigredfish
Known around here
Visit the LPR forum here
LPR requires some time and effort. Every situation is a bit different. Your angle will be the biggest problem.
At 40ft with a little ambient light the rest should be easy.
Are you using an Hikvision NVR? If so, usually best to stick with same manufacturer.
LPR requires some time and effort. Every situation is a bit different. Your angle will be the biggest problem.
At 40ft with a little ambient light the rest should be easy.
Are you using an Hikvision NVR? If so, usually best to stick with same manufacturer.
bigredfish
Known around here
Cool
Dahua makes a 5x and 12x zoom of their popular 5231 starlight series, many of us use these for LPR, under $300
Dahua makes a 5x and 12x zoom of their popular 5231 starlight series, many of us use these for LPR, under $300
With regular fixed or varifocal cameras, at minimum, it seems the stars need to align to capture anything usable. However, this camera should meet your expectations: NSC-LPR832-BT1
Check out our review to see it in action during day and night: LPR Review
Check out our review to see it in action during day and night: LPR Review
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Links don't work
bigredfish
Known around here
There's nothing inherently different about the image capture of say the $200 Dahua 5231E-Z12E and much more expensive cameras with built-in plate "database" which stores plate numbers such as the HiK above.
Dahua also makes a range of more expensive ANPR cameras with built-in database/algorithm and newer AI technology.
https://www.dahuasecurity.com/products/allProducts/4472/4552
But if all you want to do is be able to clearly see and capture video to ID a plate, you dont need the added cost or complexity.
Dahua also makes a range of more expensive ANPR cameras with built-in database/algorithm and newer AI technology.
https://www.dahuasecurity.com/products/allProducts/4472/4552
But if all you want to do is be able to clearly see and capture video to ID a plate, you dont need the added cost or complexity.
A camera salesperson once told me that 'LPR' cameras have special f/w that pulses the IR leds synced to the shutter speed (or AC line frequency) to assist with the plate capture. Not sure how much truth to that there is or it was just marketing.
@Ford Links fixed.
@bigredfish I agree the Dahua camera has similar specs to our LPR as far as hardware goes. However, I believe the complexity would stem more from attempting to configure the Dahua for plate captures versus a small box drawn on the LPR. "Every situation is a bit different.", definitely true. Depending on the scenario, one may need the built in features that automatically recognize the text from plates which are sorted and easily reviewable. Without it I imagine configuring a non-LPR correctly to capture plates (for day and night) and then reviewing footage frame by frame until finding the clear shot (if any) could take quite a while. Then again, if someone has lots of extra time that wouldn't be a problem.
If trying to decide between those two cameras specifically I believe the question becomes "Do I want to save time and have something that 'just works' at a higher cost or spend the time tweaking the settings and reviewing video everytime I need to get a plate at a lower cost?"
On a side note: I have to say, those Dahua specs in general are great for around $200.
@bigredfish I agree the Dahua camera has similar specs to our LPR as far as hardware goes. However, I believe the complexity would stem more from attempting to configure the Dahua for plate captures versus a small box drawn on the LPR. "Every situation is a bit different.", definitely true. Depending on the scenario, one may need the built in features that automatically recognize the text from plates which are sorted and easily reviewable. Without it I imagine configuring a non-LPR correctly to capture plates (for day and night) and then reviewing footage frame by frame until finding the clear shot (if any) could take quite a while. Then again, if someone has lots of extra time that wouldn't be a problem.
If trying to decide between those two cameras specifically I believe the question becomes "Do I want to save time and have something that 'just works' at a higher cost or spend the time tweaking the settings and reviewing video everytime I need to get a plate at a lower cost?"
On a side note: I have to say, those Dahua specs in general are great for around $200.
Thanks Ryan!
My comments go back to best practices - 'why do it in software when you can do it in hardware'. If the budget allows and performance is similar, I will always choose the dedicated LPR camera over a server based solution.
SouthernYankee
IPCT Contributor
Ford
I am just the opposite, software get up grade and enhanced over time. After two or three years the hardware is totally outdated , it is junk and should be replaced, In three years we will have 8+mp cameras with excellent night vision costing $100
I am just the opposite, software get up grade and enhanced over time. After two or three years the hardware is totally outdated , it is junk and should be replaced, In three years we will have 8+mp cameras with excellent night vision costing $100
bigredfish
Known around here
Interesting... I haven’t come cross that spec....
Yep agree .. I think it comes down to the use case/need.
For me, we monitor a small 1400ft cul-desac with 41 homes. One way in/out with 3 tag cameras an 3 overview (not including homeowner cams like my own) I capture tags at 3 locations at 120', 120', and 75'. The 64mm lens comes in handy at that range.
I have no need to catalog every car plate that drives down our street. We store 30 days of video. If an "event" occurs, its childs play in a few (2-3) minutes to pull overview along with tag camera footage given a rough ballpark on the time of the event. I'm not watching live traffic ....I guess Id be interested in hearing the use case from some users in my situation, residential/neighborhood watch type capture, non-LE, no Traffic enforcement, no access control. I suppose it would be nice to know if a certain tag came into the neighborhood today, but then again I'm not LE and with 2 "full time jobs" time isnt something I have an abundance of
I just can't justify 3x cost.
Love me some Nellys - Sean talked me through my first analog system in 2012 and you guys are second to none on service/support.. I wasnt aware that configuration on that camera was as simple as drawing a box, love to try one of those
Pulled each of these below from footage tonight using simple event lines in playback. Push pause when tag comes into view, save photo or clip, probably 2 min each.
Yep agree .. I think it comes down to the use case/need.
For me, we monitor a small 1400ft cul-desac with 41 homes. One way in/out with 3 tag cameras an 3 overview (not including homeowner cams like my own) I capture tags at 3 locations at 120', 120', and 75'. The 64mm lens comes in handy at that range.
I have no need to catalog every car plate that drives down our street. We store 30 days of video. If an "event" occurs, its childs play in a few (2-3) minutes to pull overview along with tag camera footage given a rough ballpark on the time of the event. I'm not watching live traffic ....I guess Id be interested in hearing the use case from some users in my situation, residential/neighborhood watch type capture, non-LE, no Traffic enforcement, no access control. I suppose it would be nice to know if a certain tag came into the neighborhood today, but then again I'm not LE and with 2 "full time jobs" time isnt something I have an abundance of
I just can't justify 3x cost.Love me some Nellys - Sean talked me through my first analog system in 2012 and you guys are second to none on service/support.. I wasnt aware that configuration on that camera was as simple as drawing a box, love to try one of those
Pulled each of these below from footage tonight using simple event lines in playback. Push pause when tag comes into view, save photo or clip, probably 2 min each.
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area651
Getting comfortable
oh man......my wife is gonna flip when I tell her I need a $300 camera. haha....I actually don't "need" it but like the OP, I'd like to monitor the cars that come/go on my culdesac in case there's a break in & we need to identify a car plate. This is intersting and a good thread to bookmark for later. Thanks for sharing the captures
Mikentosh2017
Getting the hang of it
I too live on a cul de sac and want license AND face ID from about 100 yards out. Any camera recommendations and FOVs?
bigredfish
Known around here
300ft is going to put you in a different and more expensive game.
You will need two cameras regardless, one dedicated to LPR and pointed at a specific spot, the other, for facial ID at 300ft, will also have to be focused into a tight set area. Not typically done at that distance without a hefty budget.
You will need two cameras regardless, one dedicated to LPR and pointed at a specific spot, the other, for facial ID at 300ft, will also have to be focused into a tight set area. Not typically done at that distance without a hefty budget.
Mikentosh2017
Getting the hang of it
How about 100’?
bigredfish
Known around here
LPR is very doable with the 5231E-Z12E. I'm at 120ft
As to facial ID, I assume you mean in your driveway? Front door? The standard 5231E-ZE will probably work depending on distance.
Both cameras are motorized variable focus, which allows you to dial in the best fov within the limits of the optical zoom of the camera.
As to facial ID, I assume you mean in your driveway? Front door? The standard 5231E-ZE will probably work depending on distance.
Both cameras are motorized variable focus, which allows you to dial in the best fov within the limits of the optical zoom of the camera.