Home Presentation Format... so we can have an efficient discussion about camera placement?

[MacFun]

What's the best way to present a home to the community such that I can be advised the best place to mount cameras? I assume I'll need a set of some kind combined with actual photos where they are marked with location numbers to better aid in an efficient discussion.

So, how should I present my home to you so we can talk about it?

Thanks,

Rob

 

[wittaj]

It works best with an aerial photo from like Google Maps and then some on the ground pictures from the house looking out and from the perimeter of the property looking back at the house.

 

[Ri22o]

^^What he said, and a good, SHORT description of what you are realistically looking to accomplish.

 

[wittaj]

+1 above - like do you want OBSERVE or IDENTIFY capabilities.

 

[Ri22o]

Here is some something to get us started.

Seeing someone is one thing, but identifying someone is another.

Below are captures from my 2MP B52IR-X3 that has 3.6mm, 12mm, and 25mm focal lengths. The three lenses in the camera all point at the same spot. In this case, the guy is across the street about 100ft away.

He is in every capture, but not all of the FOVs give the same detail.

One can Detect or Observe.
One can Recognize.
One can Identify.

Pick the capture that best describes what you are wanting to accomplish and we can recommend the appropriate camera for each location.

3.6mm:


12mm:


25mm:



If 100ft is too far, here is someone about 40-45ft away from the same camera model.

3.6mm:


12mm:


25mm:

 

[MacFun]

Wow, Rio, excellent post. So, I do have a driveway with a brick fence halfway down, If anyone comes up the driveway the choke point would be the brick fence opening. So, without anyway to judge scientifically, I'm thinking the 12MM zoom might be an appropriate focal length and I'm not sure how to compare other cameras that just say 3X zoom. Is there an app for the iPhone that would let you set the FOV with the app and where the app tells you the focal length that you need?

At the moment, I'm planning to use all Ubiquity UNIFI cams at this location because I like the ecosystem, however I see the value in using a more narrow FOV to go beyond just general observations. At the moment, the cams I was looking at are far too wide FOV.... I which they had something like the Dahua varifocal line. I do like my 5231 Turret cams I bought several years ago.

FWIW: I will later add the house with a full arial pic and other pics as recommended in a future post, but I wanted to respond to your post.

Thanks to all of you that have contributed to this thread!

Rob

Below are captures from my 2MP B52IR-X3 that has 3.6mm, 12mm, and 25mm focal lengths. The three lenses in the camera all point at the same spot. In this case, the guy is across the street about 100ft away.

He is in every capture, but not all of the FOVs give the same detail.

One can Detect or Observe.
One can Recognize.
One can Identify.

Pick the capture that best describes what you are wanting to accomplish and we can recommend the appropriate camera for each location.

 

[wittaj]

Keep in mind a camera saying X zoom doesn't mean much because the starting focal length determines the true amount of zoom.

Two cameras that state 5X zoom, but one starts at 5mm would then expand to 25mm focal length, while a camera that starts at 1mm focal length only expands to 5mm or the starting point of the first camera.

As far as cameras, without knowing what your goals of the camera is (is it truly just monitor or do you want identify?), this thread is used as the go to for the new person here outlining the commonly recommended cameras (along with Amazon links) based on distance to IDENTIFY that represent the overall best value/best bang for the buck in terms of price and performance day and night. It might be a 2MP camera in some instances. Many here feel 4MP is the current sweet spot for these cameras.

The Importance of Focal Length over MP in camera selection

And coupled with that thread is this great thread which will show why all of the same 2.8 or 3.6mm cameras is the wrong choice (these are the common focal lengths consumer brands sell):

i-want-2-8mm-cameras-everywhere-to-see-everything-this-is-why-you-need-specific-fovs-with-purposeful-focal-lengths.70053/

We would encourage you to look at those threads in detail.

It will probably raise more questions than answers LOL


While I appreciate your idea of liking the ecosystem of Ubiquity, keep in mind the comments from your other threads you have started and other threads that their camera quality won't be as good. You are paying for a better "experience" rather than "performance" of the cameras.

 

[Ri22o]

Keep in mind a camera saying X zoom doesn't mean much because the starting focal length determines the true amount of zoom.

Two cameras that state 5X zoom, but one starts at 5mm would then expand to 25mm focal length, while a camera that starts at 1mm focal length only expands to 5mm or the starting point of the first camera.

There was a post in the BI group on FB about this. Someone who knew better than everyone else could not comprehend the point you just made. After reading it again, I'm already starting to get pissed off about it.

The starting focal length is the multiplier when talking about zoom. Focal Point Range Start x Zoom Factor = Focal Point Range End

 

[MacFun]

I will dig in as you suggested.... So will FOV tell it all

Field of View from a certain camera:
Wide: H 109.9°, V 60°, D 127.7°
Zoom: H 35°, V 19.8°, D 40°

R

 

[wittaj]

To some FOV will tell it all, but I don't think it does.

I need an image, which is why I equated distance to focal length.

So in your zoom parameters above, a field of view of H 35°, V 19.8°, D 40° will produce greatly different results if the object is 30 feet versus 100 feet away.

Let's look at the example @Ri22o presented above and copied below. The person is IDENTIFY at this distance, but would be Observe across the street at the car parked well behind him.

 

[mat200]

I will dig in as you suggested.... So will FOV tell it all

Field of View from a certain camera:
Wide: H 109.9°, V 60°, D 127.7°
Zoom: H 35°, V 19.8°, D 40°

R

Really helps to have a good varifocal to play with to have this sink in better, otherwise often too academic

This is why I often prefer to tell people to get ONE good 4MP 1/1.8" varifocal camera to play with and test possible positions for placement.

 

[MacFun]

Really helps to have a good varifocal to play with to have this sink in better, otherwise often too academic

This is why I often prefer to tell people to get ONE good 4MP 1/1.8" varifocal camera to play with and test possible positions for placement.

So, I already have some 5231 varifocals in play but willing to buy a 5442 to play with... if I had a varifocal to setup for testing, how might the data collected be used? As I recall, it was hard to correlate the varifocal setting to a particular focal length.

Thanks so much for your help—you guys are fantastic.

R