Look for a human tracking Dahua PTZ camera.

[wepee]

Hi,

Has anyone got any experience in human tracking PTZ camera.

My goal is to have a human tracking PTZ camera hook up to my Blue Iris PC.
The camera is blocked accessing the internet.

I interested in this model: SD2A500HB-GN-A-PV-S2 - Dahua Technology



Just wonder if this camera requires a Dahua NVR connected which has access to the internet, for Human Tracking to work?
Does the human tracking feature requires AI from the Cloud to work (internet access)?

If no, can I use the camera itself to detect human tracking.

Thank you.

 

[Mark_M]

I interested in this model: SD2A500HB-GN-A-PV-S2 - Dahua Technology

View attachment 173990

This camera does not have auto tracking listed in the specifications. The is PT only, not PTZ..... so no optical zoom function.
Are you sure this has auto tracking?

Just wonder if this camera requires a Dahua NVR connected which has access to the internet, for Human Tracking to work?
Does the human tracking feature requires AI from the Cloud to work (internet access)?

Dahua cameras which support auto tracking do this AI processing on the camera. No internet or Dahua NVR is needed for auto tracking to work.

 

[wepee]

This camera does not have auto tracking listed in the specifications. The is PT only, not PTZ..... so no optical zoom function.
Are you sure this has auto tracking?

Thanks, I thought human detection = human tracking is the same thing
I guess I need to search another model which has auto tracking.

 

[Mark_M]

Thanks, I thought human detection = human tracking is the same thing
I guess I need to search another model which has auto tracking.

At least you have realised before you bought the camera .

 

[Ri22o]

I have the SD4A425DB-HNY.

Below are some of the auto-tracking videos I have captured. I have also added a video of how calling it to a preset with a spotter cam works.

More SD4A425DB-HNY captures from the 1st floor. This thing is a beast.

I wanted to share some videos of my SD4A425DB-HNY after moving it from the 2nd story soffit down to the 1st floor soffit. So far, I am far from disappointed. I know it does not have a lot of distance to work with to determine human and then track, but it seems to be figuring it out...

ipcamtalk.com

Video of how my spotter cam's IVS rules call my PTZ to auto-track.

With more people looking to get a PTZ and asking about it moving to a preset and auto-tracking I decided to put a video together. This shows how the PTZ goes from parked to a preset based on an IVS trigger from a spotter camera. From this preset the PTZ has its own IVS rules to tell it to...

ipcamtalk.com

 

[wittaj]

We get this autotracking PTZ question quite a bit LOL

The best sub $1,000 PTZ:

EmpireTech PTZ5A4M-25X 1/1.8" CMOS 4MP 25x Starlight IR 5.4mm–135mm Va

1/1.8" 4Megapixel CMOS | Powerful 25x optical zoom | Starlight+ Technology | Max. 25/30fps@4MP | IR distance up to 150 m | Deep-learning-based perimeter protection | Auto-tracking and IVS | PoE+ | IP67, IK10

empiretech01.com

This would be the best around $500 PTZ:

EmpireTech PTZ1A2M-25X 2MP 25× Starlight IR Positioning System PTZ Cam

The EmpireTech PTZ1A2M-25X is a powerful 2MP camera that stands out with its 25x optical zoom, 150m infrared distance, and starlight technology. It offers auto-tracking, perimeter protection, face detection, and more, for reliable surveillance. Thanks to its robust IP67 rating, it can be used in...

empiretech01.com

If you have enough light, this camera does well but is not on the ideal MP/sensor ratio, so it needs light (and do not update firmware or you will lose autotracking):

EmpireTech PTZ494M-25X 1/2.8" CMOS 4MP 25x Starlight IR 4.8mm–120mm Va

1/2.8" 4Megapixel CMOS Powerful 25x optical zoom Starlight technology Max.25/30fps@4M Perimeter protection Support PoE+ IR distance up to 100m SMD PLUS IP66

empiretech01.com

If discretion is more important than picture quality at night unless you have a lot of light, this is the best choice:

EmpireTech PTZ425DB-AT 1/2.8" 4MP 25x Starlight IR 5mm–125mm Vari-Foca

1/2.8" 4Megapixel STARVIS™ CMOS. 25x optical zoom. Starlight technology. Max. 25/30fps@4MP. IR distance up to 100m. Auto-tracking. Perimeter protection. Face detection. SMD 3.0. IP66.

empiretech01.com

If money is no object, this is the best one:

EmpireTech PTZ4K45X-AI 1/1.2'' CMOS 8MP 45x 8mm–360mm Vari-Focal PTZ C

1/1.2" 8Megapixel STARVIS CMOS. 45x optical zoom. Ultra light sensitivity. Max. 25/30 fps@4K. Auto-tracking. Perimeter protection. Face detection. Face recognition. Metadata. SMD Plus. IP67. Dual light fusion. Electronic defog. Wiper.

empiretech01.com

If you are looking for a cheap one that is similar to what you posted above then try this one, but autotracking won't be as good as the above, and the zoom isn't as powerful (review thread):

EmpireTech PTZ3E405-AI 1/2.8"CMOS 4MP 5x Network PTZ Camera Support Tw

1/2.8" 4Megapixel CMOS. 5x optical zoom. Max. 25/30fps@4M. IR distance up to 50 m. Warm light illumination distance up to 30 m. SMD 3.0. Perimeter protection. Face detection. Alarm: 1 in, 1 out; audio: 1 in, 1 out. Built-in Mic and Speaker for Two-way Talk. 12 VDC/PoE power supply. IP66. Sound...

empiretech01.com

 

[wepee]

At least you have realised before you bought the camera .

Yup, otherwise, I will be cursing myself non-stop.

 

[wepee]

We get this autotracking PTZ question quite a bit LOL

The best sub $1,000 PTZ:

EmpireTech PTZ5A4M-25X 1/1.8" CMOS 4MP 25x Starlight IR 5.4mm–135mm Va

1/1.8" 4Megapixel CMOS | Powerful 25x optical zoom | Starlight+ Technology | Max. 25/30fps@4MP | IR distance up to 150 m | Deep-learning-based perimeter protection | Auto-tracking and IVS | PoE+ | IP67, IK10

empiretech01.com

This would be the best around $500 PTZ:

EmpireTech PTZ1A2M-25X 2MP 25× Starlight IR Positioning System PTZ Cam

The EmpireTech PTZ1A2M-25X is a powerful 2MP camera that stands out with its 25x optical zoom, 150m infrared distance, and starlight technology. It offers auto-tracking, perimeter protection, face detection, and more, for reliable surveillance. Thanks to its robust IP67 rating, it can be used in...

empiretech01.com

If you have enough light, this camera does well but is not on the ideal MP/sensor ratio, so it needs light (and do not update firmware or you will lose autotracking):

EmpireTech PTZ494M-25X 1/2.8" CMOS 4MP 25x Starlight IR 4.8mm–120mm Va

1/2.8" 4Megapixel CMOS Powerful 25x optical zoom Starlight technology Max.25/30fps@4M Perimeter protection Support PoE+ IR distance up to 100m SMD PLUS IP66

empiretech01.com

If discretion is more important than picture quality at night unless you have a lot of light, this is the best choice:

EmpireTech PTZ425DB-AT 1/2.8" 4MP 25x Starlight IR 5mm–125mm Vari-Foca

1/2.8" 4Megapixel STARVIS™ CMOS. 25x optical zoom. Starlight technology. Max. 25/30fps@4MP. IR distance up to 100m. Auto-tracking. Perimeter protection. Face detection. SMD 3.0. IP66.

empiretech01.com

If money is no object, this is the best one:

EmpireTech PTZ4K45X-AI 1/1.2'' CMOS 8MP 45x 8mm–360mm Vari-Focal PTZ C

1/1.2" 8Megapixel STARVIS CMOS. 45x optical zoom. Ultra light sensitivity. Max. 25/30 fps@4K. Auto-tracking. Perimeter protection. Face detection. Face recognition. Metadata. SMD Plus. IP67. Dual light fusion. Electronic defog. Wiper.

empiretech01.com

If you are looking for a cheap one that is similar to what you posted above then try this one, but autotracking won't be as good as the above, and the zoom isn't as powerful (review thread):

EmpireTech PTZ3E405-AI 1/2.8"CMOS 4MP 5x Network PTZ Camera Support Tw

1/2.8" 4Megapixel CMOS. 5x optical zoom. Max. 25/30fps@4M. IR distance up to 50 m. Warm light illumination distance up to 30 m. SMD 3.0. Perimeter protection. Face detection. Alarm: 1 in, 1 out; audio: 1 in, 1 out. Built-in Mic and Speaker for Two-way Talk. 12 VDC/PoE power supply. IP66. Sound...

empiretech01.com

Thanks for you information, which will save lots of time on myself doing the researching.

 

[wepee]

I have the SD4A425DB-HNY.

Below are some of the auto-tracking videos I have captured. I have also added a video of how calling it to a preset with a spotter cam works.

More SD4A425DB-HNY captures from the 1st floor. This thing is a beast.

I wanted to share some videos of my SD4A425DB-HNY after moving it from the 2nd story soffit down to the 1st floor soffit. So far, I am far from disappointed. I know it does not have a lot of distance to work with to determine human and then track, but it seems to be figuring it out...

ipcamtalk.com

Video of how my spotter cam's IVS rules call my PTZ to auto-track.

With more people looking to get a PTZ and asking about it moving to a preset and auto-tracking I decided to put a video together. This shows how the PTZ goes from parked to a preset based on an IVS trigger from a spotter camera. From this preset the PTZ has its own IVS rules to tell it to...

ipcamtalk.com

Thanks you for sharing your video.

 

[The Automation Guy]

Just be aware that all "auto-tracking" PTZs are not going to perform the same. The reliability of the tracking really varies from model to model. Generally speaking, the higher the price and the newer the camera, the better tracking you will get. The issue with the auto tracking is not when the person is moving, as most cameras do an adequate job at tracking a moving subject. The differences come in when the person stops moving and/or passes behind a static object (a tree, pole, car, etc). This causes all the cameras to "loose" the movement/tracking. A lot of cameras will very quickly "reset" and return to the "home" position which means you'll miss any further movement of the subject. The cameras with better tracking algorithms will do a better job "lingering" in an attempt to reacquire the subject.

 

[wepee]

Just be aware that all "auto-tracking" PTZs are not going to perform the same. The reliability of the tracking really varies from model to model. Generally speaking, the higher the price and the newer the camera, the better tracking you will get. The issue with the auto tracking is not when the person is moving, as most cameras do an adequate job at tracking a moving subject. The differences come in when the person stops moving and/or passes behind a static object (a tree, pole, car, etc). This causes all the cameras to "loose" the movement/tracking. A lot of cameras will very quickly "reset" and return to the "home" position which means you'll miss any further movement of the subject. The cameras with better tracking algorithms will do a better job "lingering" in an attempt to reacquire the subject.

Camera is:
SD4A425DB-HNY

Yup I understand what you mean. Auto tracking stops after a certain distance when it detected the mail box.
Here is the footage:
View attachment 2023-10-04_21-25-00.mp4

 

[wittaj]

^This is why we never recommend a PTZ as only coverage. It is a great compliment to an existing fixed camera system.

You can't setting out every instance, but there are ways to get around it sticking on the mailbox. Getting off default settings is a huge start. Or adding another spotter cam to get past an object.

I always knew that you shouldn't chase a bright picture - it looks nice and people migrate towards a brighter TV for example, but upon closer examination, most images need to be toned down in order to get all the details. You will be surprised how much changing a parameter like gamma could impact tracking. For example, if you have a pesky tree or something in the middle of the view during an autotrack, just by changing some image parameters you can get autotrack to pass it. Making the image a little darker at night actually helped with tracking someone across the street, which was opposite of what I thought you would think to do. So add some contrast to your image and see if it improves.

I have a yard lamp post that more times than not autotrack would get stuck on it as someone was walking and the autotrack would only go so far. Because my image has soo much contrast (bright white concrete a third, blacktop road a third, grass a third), knocking down the gamma made the lamp post not be so "trackable" lol, and along with that I turned of PFA and that gave it just enough time to retrack the person walking past the lamp post. The camera may still autotrack the lamp post when a small kid goes by, but an adult it was autotracking past the lamp post.

 

[BlueWave]

I have the Dahua SD5A425XA-HNR 4MP 25x Starlight IR PTZ that I bought from Andy @ EmpireTech about 2 years ago, specifically for the Auto PTZ feature and I must say that it works VERY well.

I'm not using spotter cams (although I should give that a try one day) but again just wanted to comment to say this PTZ works GREAT, very happy with my purchase, and as others have said this should NOT be your only coverage.