Severe Focus Issue with IPC-HFW5231E-Z12

bigredfish

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Yes under about 80-85% zoom. At 100% zoom neither of my Z12's will focus. But as long as I have good light, the autofocus corrects for the change and it sticks.
 

fstop

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Ok, yea I'm talking about full 100% zoom which is where I need to have this camera set at. Under 80% zoom, autofocus appears to work correctly.

I should add that I have multiple Dahua cameras and the 30x PTZ is able to autofocus on the same scene, same time, same field of regard.
 

fstop

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I can say with certainty that the 2018-12-26 and 2019-01 FW doesn't fix it :)

I didn't find this thread until after I received the camera and searched for focus problems. Looks like my only recourse is to return the camera and think about the lower-end 2mp starlight 25x PTZ.
 

fstop

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My video of the problem:


The video starts with zoom around 50%, and I take small zoom steps toward 100% zoom. Around halfway through the video is when zoom is around 80% and starts to have autofocus problems. Granted this is a complex scene with multiple objects at different distances, but I repeated this test on different scenes and different distances with the same problem. My 30x PTZ did the same test/scenes without any issue.
 

lulu5kamz

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I have 2 of these cameras that I use for LPR. One of them is set to 100% zoom at night. During the day both cameras run at about 85% zoom. I've never had any problems with either camera. The camera that runs 100% zoom at night is running the same firmware as @bigredfish older firmware model (2017-09-07 Build Date). Now both of my cameras have very simple empty street views with no trees.
 

fstop

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This is the version I have from the video above:

2.800.0000000.0.R, Build Date: 2018-12-26

I tried downgrading to a 2017 version but it said it was "too low" and didn't accept it.
 

bigredfish

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@lulu5kamz I recall you saying you manually re-focus the cameras 2x per day...

Here's an attempt to get it to focus between 90-100%, Notice towards the very end of the clip I set it back to B&W and the 80% zoom level I keep it in and it finally auto-focuses

 

fstop

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Yea, that's the same problem I see. It manually focuses correctly at all zoom levels 0-100%, but autofocuses correctly only between 0-80%.
 

bigredfish

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Bingo

The car is at 200ft and the crepe myrtle behind it I was trying to focus on is at 310 ft

I normally set zoom and capture tags before that at 120ft
 

fstop

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I have to say, this is my first 2mp starlight sensor and it's impressive. It's pretty dark out now and it's smoking my older cameras.
 

MachAF

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I'm having the same auto focus issues with my Z12. I have the Dahua Sunrise Sunset service running with my correct focus numbers for day and night. It works when I manually 'simulate' but somehow when its switching from Day to night or vis-versa it gets out of focus.

I just tried this command on the camera tonight which appears to disable auto focus, which I hope solves my issue. I'll report back in the morning if it does.

http://CAMERA-IP/cgi-bin/configManager.cgi?action=setConfig&VideoInFocus[0][0].Mode=4

Appears this worked. I'll make a post about it later. Still want to make sure things work over the next few days.
 
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djborden

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I was having these issues with focusing at night... what corrected them almost 100% was some reflective tape in frame roughly the same distance I wanted to record plates. I also do not zoom in 100%
 

MachAF

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I was having these issues with focusing at night... what corrected them almost 100% was some reflective tape in frame roughly the same distance I wanted to record plates. I also do not zoom in 100%
I have reflectors along the road, won’t auto focus. I use them to manual focus at night.
 
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Grant_3

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Question - The only question I am asking at this point is how do you set the Z-12 to Black and White 24/7 as some recommend for the focus issue? I cannot find that setting anywhere (I am logged in to the camera).

I don't have the firmware version in front of me. But the cam was from Andy a couple months ago (2019).

Background -
I am trying to dial in my Z-12E for LPR and also experiencing the focus issues. I may still need to do some tweaking on the camera (left to right) and park a car to double check I have things correct. My current distance may be stretched a little too far in the hopes of improving my angle - which is less than ideal.

Only capturing rear plate in one direction (after cars turn around and leave a cul de sac - no front plates in PA), speeds probably 15-20 - max 25mph. No real street light illumination in my target zone.

Right now I think I am at about 145-155 feet with about a 55 to 60 degree horizontal angle (90 being straight on). Vertical angle is minimal as camera is as high as it will go in bracket. (I am guessing I may need to bring my distance in some but will have a slightly worse angle.)

Zoomed in over 80%. (right now at 100%)

I have been getting pretty good plate views during the day. Working off many of the settings recommended on this site, Zero plates at night - just a blur of white light - - last night I manually refocused after dark and then adjusted the exposure settings - no captures. Camera is out of focus every day/night shift. (I am not asking for help on night settings yet, just giving background.)

Thanks to everyone who makes this site so great, what a wealth of knowledge - it has allowed me to get this far - setting up dedicated PC / BI without asking any questions till now.
 
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bigredfish

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Do you have extra IR pointing at the target? Your camera IR may not be enough at that distance
Anything over 30 degrees offset from the target is iffy at night
My Z12's wont hold focus at 100% even in the daytime

As to the B&W, I use a different exposure day/night so I use the 'Schedule" but choose B&W for both day and night. I also switch profiles 1 hour before sunset and 1 hour after sunrise to be certain it has something to focus on.
 

Grant_3

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Thanks @Big red fish. No supplemental IR yet. I am still messing around with camera aim and moved my target area in about maybe 20 feet closer last night. I did not realize it but I did get a plate two nights ago - not clear but could make it out.

It is weird as of 10 am it appeared not to switch to day from night and was still in night mode but focused. I dont think I made any changes that would cause that.

On the b&w I have been running the day/night mode where it switches automatically so far, and dont see a setting to make day b&w. Is that only an option when running day and night separate or as a schedule?

I am only a few days in to messing with this camera and LPR so definately got more work to do.

I will see how last nights distance/angle changes look. I may end up moving my shot into the cul de sac (which is much closer) but I feel that there is a lot more variables with how tight or wide cars drive around (affecting plate angle - some could be great others really off) and some goofs even drive around clockwise and would not show their plate the right direction.

Unless I move in to the cul de sac, I will definately be over 80% zoom for my other choices. But maybe not at 100%
 

bigredfish

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My older firmware doesnt have the new Day/Night so yes I use the "Schedule".
 
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