Dahua camera PTZ doesn't save manual focus

[kirillov203509]

My problem is how to disable autofocus on the Dahua camera model DH-SD29204UE-GN-W.
When I choose the manual focus mode and click the '+' and '-' buttons, everything works fine. However, after restarting the camera, it automatically sets the focus, and my image becomes blurred. Therefore, I need to enter the camera settings and edit them after each restart.
So, I am not satisfied with the autofocus algorithm, and I want to switch completely to manual mode. How can I do this?

 

[marq]

My problem is how to disable autofocus on the Dahua camera model DH-SD29204UE-GN-W.
When I choose the manual focus mode and click the '+' and '-' buttons, everything works fine. However, after restarting the camera, it automatically sets the focus, and my image becomes blurred. Therefore, I need to enter the camera settings and edit them after each restart.
So, I am not satisfied with the autofocus algorithm, and I want to switch completely to manual mode. How can I do this?

I remember being annoyed by a Dahua PTZ I used to own (with the same grey/orange GUI) that refocused occasionally when I didn't want it to, but sorry I can't test my suggestion, because I no-longer own that cam.

I suggest you try setting Focus Mode to Manual for all of your profiles (e.g.: Day, Night, and General), then set your focus, save it, reboot, and see if the focus changes across reboots, and I specifically suggest you test a reboot in both in high-light and low-light conditions after making the profile changes to be confident if such a settings-change actually solves your problem.

I have seen several posts by forum members who use various Dahua varifocal/PTZ models in Manual focus mode and don't recall complaints where reboots changed their focus, so guessing your problem might be related to profiles.

In summary, I wonder if your camera might cycle through different profile(s) during bootup, one of which might have a Focus Mode that is not Manual, that might explain why your cam could auto-refocus (torching your optimal manual setting) before switching back to Night profile where your Focus Mode is Manual.

Tangentially-related gripe: I really wished that Dahua's Focus Mode of "Semi Automatic" would not re-focus unless the focus is manually changed (via the web GUI) -OR- the PTZ is moved (ie I'd much prefer Dahuas behave like many other vendor's cameras when they are in semi-automatic focus mode), but I have noticed that Dahua's semi-automatic can decide to change the focus, often from "good" to "not-good", at "inopportune" times, when I could so no good reason why a refocus might have happened at that particular moment. Grrrrr.

 

[kirillov203509]

I solved my problem, but the solution isn't obvious.

My device has a glass cover, so the autofocus focuses on it, not on my target. Without the glass, the autofocus works well.

Therefore, for my purpose the "Night" profile with manual focus is needed.

For some reason, after restarting the camera, the autofocus program always executes (for "Manual", "Semi-auto", and "Auto" focus modes).

I did the camera restart using the following code:

http://user:password@192.168.1.1/cgi-bin/magicBox.cgi?action=reboot

However, after creating at least one PTZ function, the problem disappeared, and the manual focus settings were saved.

The problem reproduces after deleting all the PTZ functions.

There's no need to even choose this PTZ function. The first PTZ function works by default. I use for this the following HTTP code:

http://192.168.1.1/cgi-bin/ptz.cgi?action=start&channel=0&code=GotoPreset&arg1=0&arg2=1&arg3=0

Thanks for your reply, the answer is very detailed. Here are some clarifications for marq:
1. "I suggest you try setting Focus Mode to Manual for all of your profiles (e.g.: Day, Night, and General)". - No, I did this only for "Night" and use only that.
2. "a reboot in both in high-light and low-light conditions". - I checked this assumption, and the result was the same. The autofocus works with the same outcome.
3. "if your camera might cycle through different profile(s) during bootup". - Maybe, I didn't check this because I only use the "Night" profile, although it's not logical for the program to cycle through all profiles.