Camera for identification at close range

[stibberto]

Hello everyone,

I’m relatively new to security cameras. I do currently own and use a Reolink 5MP Doorbell which has worked fine, but I’ve been considering upgrading to proper security cameras for more comprehensive coverage.
I’ve done my best to research the forums and would appreciate feedback or suggestions from those more experienced than me.

Overview of My Plan
I’m looking to install two cameras to cover specific areas effectively:

Camera 1: Front Yard up to the Front Door (Close Range)

• Location: Corner of my front yard, approximately 2 meters (6.5 feet) from the front door.
• Requirements: The camera should clearly identify anyone entering the front yard and approaching the front door, both during the day and at night. The main area to cover is about 4.5 meters (15 feet) in range. It would be a bonus if the camera could also monitor the parking spaces in front of the house.
• Lighting Conditions:
  • There’s a streetlight near the yard, but it’s relatively dim, leaving the area semi-dark at night.
  • A light by the front door stays on all night but would preferably be switched off if the camera can perform well enough in low light. If necessary, I could set the light to activate using motion detection.
• I've attached screenshots from my current doorbell camera to provide an idea of brightness with the light on and off. Please note that any foliage visible in the attached images will likely be removed in the near future, so you can disregard it as a factor when considering the camera’s coverage.

Camera 2: Rest of the Front Yard + Parking Area (Longer Range)

• Location: Positioned to monitor a larger area, with a focus on the parking spaces in front of the house.
• Requirements: The camera should identify individuals at distances up to 15 meters (50 feet). Its primary function is to capture activity near the parking spaces and anyone entering the front yard.

Based on recommendations from the Cliff Notes page, I’ve selected the following:

1. IPC-T54IR-AS-S3 (2.8mm focal length) for the first area.
2. IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3 (varifocal lens) for the second area.

I’d like to confirm if these choices are appropriate for my needs. Particularly for Camera 2's ability to work effectively for close-range identification, or would I need a different solution for overlapping coverage?

Any advice or suggestions for alternative setups would be greatly appreciated!

 

[bigredfish]

• FWIW I use 3.6mm at my entrance doors. 15ft is about max for positive, everytime, facial ID. With 2.8mm it will be less
• On the longer range, you kinda have to decide. Really you need two cameras there. Rarely can one camera do both well. Don't think you can do like on TV and zoom digitally after the fact, it doesn't work. Also note that when you use a stronger zoomed lens your FOV becomes condensed.
• Biggest mistake of most newbs is trying to do too many things with one camera.

Example 45ft to targets, two cameras 6 inches apart, aimed same direction but with different purposes.

Typical 2.8-12mm varifocal camera coverage for driveway


Close up zoomed view on a separate 2nd 8-32mm camera for visual ID at the street.



3.6mm fixed lens at door

 

[stibberto]

Thank you for your response!

I suspected the ideal setup would involve multiple cameras for the longer-range position. Your screenshots clearly illustrate what to expect from the different lenses, so thank you for providing them.

One thing that isn't completely clear to me, however (this might be a simple question), is that when we talk about 2.8mm and 3.6mm lenses (or any lens, for that matter), I mostly read about maximum ranges. Do these different lenses perform noticeably differently at closer ranges? For example, for my close-range position, a 3.6mm lens should perform better at 15 feet, but would it perform similarly to a 2.8mm lens for targets that get closer to the camera?

 

[bigredfish]

In the case of those two lenses (2.8mm and 3.6mm) yes very close

Understand the specs have a bit of "Marketing Bias" built into them so we generally cut the numbers by 1/3 or more for real world capabilities

 

[Revo2Maxx]

To be honest there are a lot of things that can go into cameras with close fucus. Between a 2.8 and a 3.6mm for a short 10 ' section of a walk way it would be best as it is narrower then a 2.8mm lens. Problem is that if the path way is very narrow even a larger mm lens can be helpful if placed correctly. But wouldn't go past 6mm and would want to make sure that the camera does offer a close focus point option. For instance one of my Motorized cameras that has a 5.3mm - 64mm lens it has a fixed close focus of 59 inches.. However I do have a mini PTZ camera that I can pick a very close focus point of less then 2 feet..

 

[Revo2Maxx]

I just looked at the camera as I couldn't remember the shortest but knew it was less then a couple of feet come to find out it is inches lol.. But yeah having an option like that would be best to keep things in focus when they move in close to the camera..

 

[bigredfish]

This is an older clip but clearly shows that a standard 3.6mm lens for a Dahua turret as I described and posted specs on, can work just fine for close up ID.
He is no more than 18" from the door, very aware of being on video, and his face/head is about the same 18" from the camera.

Unless you're doing some close up bird watching or surveillance on bugs, the 3.6mm lens will work fine for entry doorways




View attachment 4116PLocal_ch3_20210925164523_20210925164609.mp4

 

[Revo2Maxx]

Agree, Sorry my text was missing that part lol.. It was as I was saying 2.8 and 3.6 got called by the wife and when I turned around seen the 3.6 so picked up from there thinking that I had said the 3.6 was the better option between the 2 lenses.. 6mm is great as it is even more narrow and placed right can get things at a distance past the opening.. But yeah and I do even have some IP cameras with 4mm lenses that work well.

 

[bigredfish]

That was a older but great 5442 turret NI (high light picup) and my most problematic/difficult scene. The glaring Florida sun and the long dark entryway meant having to use WDR and some crazy shutter speeds to try to keep things from being overly bright or dark. You can see the WDR trying to adjust as he enters and turns

 

[stibberto]

Thanks for sharing your insights! I think I'll start out with the close ranged camera and will pick an IPC-T54IR-AS 3.6mm

 

[mat200]

Hello everyone,

I’m relatively new to security cameras. I do currently own and use a Reolink 5MP Doorbell which has worked fine, but I’ve been considering upgrading to proper security cameras for more comprehensive coverage.
I’ve done my best to research the forums and would appreciate feedback or suggestions from those more experienced than me.

Overview of My Plan
I’m looking to install two cameras to cover specific areas effectively:

Camera 1: Front Yard up to the Front Door (Close Range)

• Location: Corner of my front yard, approximately 2 meters (6.5 feet) from the front door.
• Requirements: The camera should clearly identify anyone entering the front yard and approaching the front door, both during the day and at night. The main area to cover is about 4.5 meters (15 feet) in range. It would be a bonus if the camera could also monitor the parking spaces in front of the house.
• Lighting Conditions:
  • There’s a streetlight near the yard, but it’s relatively dim, leaving the area semi-dark at night.
  • A light by the front door stays on all night but would preferably be switched off if the camera can perform well enough in low light. If necessary, I could set the light to activate using motion detection.
• I've attached screenshots from my current doorbell camera to provide an idea of brightness with the light on and off. Please note that any foliage visible in the attached images will likely be removed in the near future, so you can disregard it as a factor when considering the camera’s coverage.

Camera 2: Rest of the Front Yard + Parking Area (Longer Range)

• Location: Positioned to monitor a larger area, with a focus on the parking spaces in front of the house.
• Requirements: The camera should identify individuals at distances up to 15 meters (50 feet). Its primary function is to capture activity near the parking spaces and anyone entering the front yard.

Based on recommendations from the Cliff Notes page, I’ve selected the following:

1. IPC-T54IR-AS-S3 (2.8mm focal length) for the first area.
2. IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3 (varifocal lens) for the second area.

I’d like to confirm if these choices are appropriate for my needs. Particularly for Camera 2's ability to work effectively for close-range identification, or would I need a different solution for overlapping coverage?

Any advice or suggestions for alternative setups would be greatly appreciated!View attachment 210786View attachment 210788View attachment 210789

Welcome @stibberto

This is my general view of thinking on this :
1) 2.8mm camera mini-dome wedge at face level by front door, and other doors which I expect outsiders to come through
2) 2.8mm or 3.6mm camera watching the package drop area ( depends on the setup )
3) Most other cameras 3.6mm
4) a few varifocal cameras to cover the front of the house sidewalks / street for ID purposes .. add extra if you want license plate capture attempts