Looking for PTZ for security and wildlife

[Richard Harnwell]

Hi,

I’m running Blue Iris with 3 cameras (2 fixed PoE external and one internal). I need an additional one to give coverage for the rear of my house, plus I’d like something to help me spot wildlife (mostly nocturnal - foxes & badgers) in our small paddock next to the house. I’m wondering about one PTZ camera to do both. I could mount it on the rear wall of our house and it would have a view of both areas. I’m thinking it would need to have a “patrol” mode where it scans areas as it wouldn’t be able to see everywhere at once.

My first question is, how does a “patrol” mode work with Blue Iris motion detection? Is there some way for Blue Iris to know that the image is changing because the camera is turning and be able to differentiate this from actual motion in the image?

The HikVision 24x PTZ in this post looks like it would work well for me - Automated Home 2.0 – #04 Awesome PTZ CCTV Camera to Watch Our Self Build Remotely (2MP 25x zoom, DS-2DE4225IW-DE)

It’s not cheap though! Is it considered good quality/value? I’m interested to know if people would recommend any other alternatives (preferably cheaper) with similar functionality. We’re in a bungalow so it’s going to be within reach of any burglars (don’t think a pole will be acceptable), and I’d be gutted if they smashed it, so if there was a camera that had better protection, that would be even better.


Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

 

[Type2]

Short read: Best PTZ Camera with optical zoom greater than 4x for less than $200

 

[fenderman]

Patrol mode offers no security, you will miss events.

 

[Richard Harnwell]

Short read: Best PTZ Camera with optical zoom greater than 4x for less than $200

Thanks, that's useful. Gonna get a fixed camera ordered now for security, then I'll use this to help me decide on a PTZ for the future.

 

[Richard Harnwell]

Patrol mode offers no security, you will miss events.

Thanks, that makes sense. Maybe I should get a fixed (therefore substantially cheaper) camera purely for back garden security now, then maybe add a PTZ for wildlife viewing later.

Edit:

After a bit more research, it looks like the Dahua IPC-HDW2231R-ZS should be perfect for my back garden security. Will get one ordered.

 

[timb999]

Hi...I can give you some night time demos from my DS-2DE4220IW-DE...this was replaced by the 4215 and 4225 I think, so should be very very similar. I have just posted the first clip featuring this camera a few days ago...



The Hikvision is the second camera featured in the clip...also in our paddock funnily enough, and also spotting foxes and badgers!

I will be uploading more clips featuring this camera in due course, but if you wanted more of a demo sooner then let me know.

I think they are good cameras for the money. I have bought more expensive Hikvisions since this and It is debatable whether they are worth the extra money. I am not using the 4220 at the moment, but I have decided to keep it rather than sell it, so that says something about it

As you will see in the clip though...they are not ideal to control with a keyboard! I have moved into using a joystick now.

If you have specific questions then happy to answer if I can.

 

[bigredfish]

Great clip

 

[Richard Harnwell]

Hi...I can give you some night time demos from my DS-2DE4220IW-DE...this was replaced by the 4215 and 4225 I think, so should be very very similar. I have just posted the first clip featuring this camera a few days ago...



The Hikvision is the second camera featured in the clip...also in our paddock funnily enough, and also spotting foxes and badgers!

I will be uploading more clips featuring this camera in due course, but if you wanted more of a demo sooner then let me know.

I think they are good cameras for the money. I have bought more expensive Hikvisions since this and It is debatable whether they are worth the extra money. I am not using the 4220 at the moment, but I have decided to keep it rather than sell it, so that says something about it

As you will see in the clip though...they are not ideal to control with a keyboard! I have moved into using a joystick now.

If you have specific questions then happy to answer if I can.

That’s really useful and excellent footage! Thanks very much.

 

[timb999]

Just to follow up on this with a few more demos in case anyone searches in future...so a couple more IR demos from a Hikvision DS-2DE4220IW-DE...


Close up capability/detail is really good when subjects are quite close to camera (this is just using auto focus...you can get more stable pictures if you adjust focus manually using keyboard etc)...



...and here is the opposite...what performance is like at full zoom when subjects are much further away...not so impressive, but to be expected for this sort of budget I guess?

 

[coney27]

Just a recommendation but I purchased the DS-2DE4A225IW-DE 2 months ago and installed it. I'm very pleased with the product itself and impressed with the video it captures. It does amazingly well in low light and the 25x zoom is pretty incredible. I currently use it in conjunction with 2 bullet cameras that watch over the front of my house. I currently have the smart events activated under line crossing which in turn allows auto tracking to work. Auto tracking is a nice feature that allows a broad overview of my entire front property once line crossing is tripped.