Camera to monitor 5" x 8" LCD panel ?

TundraCam

TundraCam

Young grasshopper
May 19, 2020
55
21
Minnesota
I'm looking for a camera to monitor a small LCD panel on our boiler. Playing with a few that I've had laying around, an Amcrest IP4M-1051 has been able to produce the best image but it's still not very readable. This is from about 32" and zoomed in.

If anyone knows of something off the top of their head that would work well for this I'd appreciate the recommendation.

Screenshot 2025-04-20 at 11.45.20.png
 
TundraCam said:
I'm looking for a camera to monitor a small LCD panel on our boiler. Playing with a few that I've had laying around, an Amcrest IP4M-1051 has been able to produce the best image but it's still not very readable. This is from about 32" and zoomed in.

If anyone knows of something off the top of their head that would work well for this I'd appreciate the recommendation.

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wow, that image is terrible.

pretty much any camera should do a better job that this.

how far is this camera mounted from ur LCD display?
 
That's digital zoom for ya.....optical zoom would be MUCH better.
What's the closest you could mount a camera?
 
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Yep, you need optical zoom.
Closer may not be better though

Counterintuitive but a stand off of a few feet with a normal 12x zoom may be better because most cameras have a close focus distance measured in feet.
Lower MP cameras tend to have shorter close focus distances,

5241T-ZE close focus = 2.62ft
5442t-ZE close focus- 4.92ft
 
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I'll compare notes with you. When I'm away I use an old 6mm 4MP chinese market dahua camera pointing at my touchscreen thermostst. At this point in time, this is considered a fairly low-end camera. It's very close to 32" away and works great. One thing I noticed is, if I have this right, the horizontal FOV of your camera is 120 degrees. The camera I'm using has a horizontal FOV of 55 degrees, and the thermostat is still pretty small in the image, which leads me to think you're using a really really high level of digital zoom. This would work great if you were in a TV show, in real life, not so great. So my conclusion also is that you need a camera with a narrower FOV, which is in effect, optical zoom.

I'm reluctant to recommend a specific camera because there are so many variables and assumptions involved. My thinking is that with the backlit display you don't need a camera with great low light sensitivity and can go at the low end of the price range. Nothing wrong with a higher-end one of course. Taking a quick look at Andy's cameras I see only 2.8mm and 3.6mm in the lower end fixed focal models. The varifocal T22IR-ZAS-S3 can go to a 30 degree horizontal FOV and has a close focus distance of 31.44 inches. With my assumptions this sounds ideal but you never know for sure until you try it. If I were in your shoes I'd consider getting a older used 6mm or varifocal for somebody on the forum. Wouldn't surprise me if there over a hundred of them taking up members' closet space.
 
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