Looking for advice on my install locations.
- Thread starter Ri22o
- Start date
Yeah that is just the camera trying to decide white balance based on the angle. Force it to outdoor and see if it stops bouncing back and forth.
Again, for those still following, here is the progress with the camera installs in my backyard on the deck/patio.
This was my proposal drawing:
This is what the project looks like:
These are the views I have. For the most part I am happy with them, but I am not sure if I like the 3.6mm in the Back Yard position off of the side of the deck and may change it out for a varifocal, but at some point I am sure it's fine for its purpose.
I am also always surprised how taking the varifocals to the full 12mm still isn't as zoomed in as you would think it would be at this distance, but it is definitely a lot closer than the 2.8mm.
I still need to put in Camera E for Back Yard, North but it looks like I will have a gap in coverage between where the two cams (A/E) meet at the back fence. I already have A pulled in to 800/6mm and feel anything less than that I should go with a fixed 3.6 for these positions. Obviously any chance you have to ID is great, but that is what the cameras closer to the house are geared for and I could probably give up some here since I am already pulled in so much.
The FOV for the Back Gate is much tighter now that it is on the back of the lower roof soffit, which is good, and can possibly allow me to go to more of an overview with A/E since it should hopefully ID anyone who comes through.
This was my proposal drawing:
This is what the project looks like:
These are the views I have. For the most part I am happy with them, but I am not sure if I like the 3.6mm in the Back Yard position off of the side of the deck and may change it out for a varifocal, but at some point I am sure it's fine for its purpose.
I am also always surprised how taking the varifocals to the full 12mm still isn't as zoomed in as you would think it would be at this distance, but it is definitely a lot closer than the 2.8mm.
I still need to put in Camera E for Back Yard, North but it looks like I will have a gap in coverage between where the two cams (A/E) meet at the back fence. I already have A pulled in to 800/6mm and feel anything less than that I should go with a fixed 3.6 for these positions. Obviously any chance you have to ID is great, but that is what the cameras closer to the house are geared for and I could probably give up some here since I am already pulled in so much.
The FOV for the Back Gate is much tighter now that it is on the back of the lower roof soffit, which is good, and can possibly allow me to go to more of an overview with A/E since it should hopefully ID anyone who comes through.
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Thanks for documenting and sharing your journey.
This make a great thread to point people to when we try to explain how 2.8mm won't cut it and they will want more zoom.
Until you experience it, you just don't realize it.
Over time, almost every one of my varifocals have gone to max zoom, so it is great that you are showing your examples and how you have moved to that point as well like so many of us have.
It is why I am a big fan of varifocals - we inevitably decide we want more zoom.
This make a great thread to point people to when we try to explain how 2.8mm won't cut it and they will want more zoom.
Until you experience it, you just don't realize it.
Over time, almost every one of my varifocals have gone to max zoom, so it is great that you are showing your examples and how you have moved to that point as well like so many of us have.
It is why I am a big fan of varifocals - we inevitably decide we want more zoom.
My primary reason for posting is to get advice and opinions, but have come to realize my journey may contain some good information for someone coming in with no (or little) knowledge with camera choices and placement. Fortunately I have come to add some FOVs that can show someone across cameras with different focal lengths, at the same time, and really drive the point home why 12mm is better than 2.8mm in some instances.
The back yard is well ahead of where it was when I had just a single 2.8mm overview on the 2nd floor soffit and a 12mm zoomed in on the back gate, so anything I just posted is an improvement. I still need to decide how I want to handle the FOVs and whether I want to swap anything around to change them up.
The back yard is well ahead of where it was when I had just a single 2.8mm overview on the 2nd floor soffit and a 12mm zoomed in on the back gate, so anything I just posted is an improvement. I still need to decide how I want to handle the FOVs and whether I want to swap anything around to change them up.
For reference, these are some before and after images with the different FOVs and focal lengths. I wonder if I should dump some of these comparisons into their own thread?
T5442T-ZE on the 2nd floor soffit zoomed in to the full 12mm.
B5442E-Z4E on the 2nd floor soffit (L) and after I moved it down to the deck roof (R), both zoomed in to the full 32mm .
T5442TM-AS on the 2nd floor soffit. The first image is 2.8mm and the second is 3.6mm.
T5442T-ZE on the 2nd floor soffit zoomed in to the full 12mm.
B5442E-Z4E on the 2nd floor soffit (L) and after I moved it down to the deck roof (R), both zoomed in to the full 32mm .
T5442TM-AS on the 2nd floor soffit. The first image is 2.8mm and the second is 3.6mm.
Right? It's all about the pixel density...What a difference on the 2nd floor soffit T5442TM-AS! You can't even see the floor and roof joists with the 2.8mm lens. Dial up the 3.6mm lens and poof the deck clearly had more to it
Jokes aside... thanks for the content OP
The 3.6mm wasn't planned to go up there, but the 2.8mm crapped out during a storm and, wanting to watch the guys working back there, I swapped them out one night. I was surprised at how much of a FOV difference there was between the two. I would have liked to see more of the roof and what they were doing there, but am glad I did swap them out because it was a better view to keep track of what they were messing up.
Looking for some advice on what to do with the FOV/focal length for this view. I still need to install the camera that looks back across this one, but it will be the same question for that one as well.
The purpose for these is more of an overview for kids in the backyard and to track anyone who might come into the backyard.
I currently have it set to 6mm, but wanted an opinion on these other focal lengths to determine whether to swap it with a fixed 3.6mm or 6mm or leave it somewhere inbetween. How different is the FOV on a fixed 3.6mm/6mm vs the same setting on the varifocal?
3.6mm
4mm
5mm
6mm
The purpose for these is more of an overview for kids in the backyard and to track anyone who might come into the backyard.
I currently have it set to 6mm, but wanted an opinion on these other focal lengths to determine whether to swap it with a fixed 3.6mm or 6mm or leave it somewhere inbetween. How different is the FOV on a fixed 3.6mm/6mm vs the same setting on the varifocal?
3.6mm
4mm
5mm
6mm
You will find they are not a complete comparison.
Taking the 5442 6mm fixed lens and setting up the 5442-ZE to the equivalent 6mm and you will find the field of view is different for both. The 5442-ZE had to be set to a 9mm equivalent to get the same field of view as the 5442 6mm fixed lens.
Taking the 5442 6mm fixed lens and setting up the 5442-ZE to the equivalent 6mm and you will find the field of view is different for both. The 5442-ZE had to be set to a 9mm equivalent to get the same field of view as the 5442 6mm fixed lens.
It's hard to get it completely perfect because my ladder is in the way, the FOV isn't quite the same, and I was just holding it up there, but the 3.6mm 4K-T appears to be closer to 4.5mm on the varifocal. As long as a 5442 is comparable to the 4K-T, I think I will be ok with the 3.6mm. Left is varifocal 4mm for reference.
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I'd see if I could sunshade that 5442-t. Not only could you remove the lens flare, but you'd get a richer image as well. You can buy sun shades or unsuitable, you can make one by buying a sheet of black perspex and bending a 90 degree angle into it using a hot air heat gun of the type used for painting, a bench, gloves and a little patience whilst you gently and progressivly heat the bending area (go to fast and you'll scorch the perspex and push too hard when it's not hot enough and you'll break it). I'd bend slightly over 90 degrees so any rain or snow will fall off rather than accumulate. I made one using this method. I also took the corners off by drawing an arc on each using a coin and using a sander and some 80 grit to sand back to the drawn arc line.
That camera is no longer installed in that position. It has been replaced with the B5442E-Z4E pictured next to it.
