Mini-Review - 5241-Z12E-S2 - Replacement for the 5241-Z12E

[Parley]

See the post just above yours.

I just noticed one more thing that you might give a try. Under Backlight, I would turn on HLC at night and see what that does. With my LP2 camera I have it set to 95. I would start at 50 and go up as needed. That might reduce the glare from the license plate.

 

[NoloC]

Just had my older Z12E get water inside the lens. Upon search here seems to be common problem. Wondering if this newer model has an upgraded seal to prevent moisture issue?

Also is an S-3 Z12 coming soon?

 

[biggen]

Just installed one of these at my business to get plates of cars coming into and out of my lot. It's pretty nice when you can control the ingress/egress of every car and have throw as much light as you want at them since its a commercial property. I had hoped to run this cam in full color 24/7 with the amount of LED parking lot lighting I have at the driveway entrance and, so far, it doesn't disappoint. Almost feels like I'm cheating running an LPR at night in full color. Settings 24/7 are shutter priority range of 0 - 8ms and H.264 running CBR @ 12Mbps @ 15FPS. Using IVS intrusion zone to send alerts to BI but also recording continuously. No backlighting or WDR. Noise filters left at default. Distance to sidewalk about 3/4 way up the top is 190'. Lower asphalt at bottom of screen is 150'. Camera is mounted approx 20 feet in the air. Zoom is approx 90% of maximum.

View attachment LPR_cam.20240402_225436-225501.74.mp4

















Video above shows front plates no problem. When the car turns at the right edge I saw he is running a different plate on the back. A bit harder to see this rear plate since it's on the edge but still visible with some zooming and post-processing:


Second car later in the night during rain (edited to just show back plate. They had no front plate). No issue seeing this plate at all:

View attachment LPR_cam.20240403_012502-012518.73.mp4

















Pretty impressive little camera. I didn't bother showing you daytime shots as those are easy and fine. Just wanted to chime in how impressed I have with this cam at night at a pretty long distance.

 

[looney2ns]

I would lower the "noise filters" down to 35-40, and see if that helps any.

 

[Timokreon]

Does this camera do any better at capture the new 3m plates at night at further distances? 100+ feet?

 

[wittaj]

Does this camera do any better at capture the new 3m plates at night at further distances? 100+ feet?

Yes as shown in my first post comparing the two versions of the camera, copied below and this is from 175 feet:

Another area I think the newer chipset will help is with the 3M printed plates.

This is how many of the new plates look on my existing Z12E:

Compared to the new Z12E (different plate than above) that benefits from better sensor technology:

 

[Timokreon]

My bad, didn't see the 175 foot mentioned in first post. Thank you.

 

[wittaj]

It isn't perfect and some still sneak past based on angle or what not, but you stand a much better chance with the newer one. And I think you have street lights, so that will help?

 

[Timokreon]

It isn't perfect and some still sneak past based on angle or what not, but you stand a much better chance with the newer one. And I think you have street lights, so that will help?

Yeah, I've come REAL close to being able to leave set to color 24/7. Maybe the new chip would allow me to keep it color, that would be a HUGE help.
I'm trying to get the city to install a new light pole by the STOP sign. It's a dark hole and would help me, and everyone else, a lot.

 

[wittaj]

Yeah if you could get that you might stand a decent chance.

 

[wittaj]

Or you get a white blaster like I did LOL:

Gotcha 3M Printed Plates at Night - LPR

As many of us have experienced, and well documented in this thread, that the 3M printed plates, especially those with blue in them, are very difficult to get with infrared. Unlike the stamped/raised plates, these printed plates do not have the same reflective properties and the flat nature of...

ipcamtalk.com

 

[Timokreon]

Or you get a white blaster like I did LOL:

Gotcha 3M Printed Plates at Night - LPR

As many of us have experienced, and well documented in this thread, that the 3M printed plates, especially those with blue in them, are very difficult to get with infrared. Unlike the stamped/raised plates, these printed plates do not have the same reflective properties and the flat nature of...

ipcamtalk.com

Interesting, but I'm not sure how things would look with that up. lol...
I think I'll buy one of these new cameras, put it up and see if I can get color to work. If not, then hopefully I can at least get the 3m plates better when they go by.

Shame that the new ANPR doesn't have more zoom. If I could hit the 90-100 foot range, I think I could make the new ANPR work. It's 50 feet just to the end of my driveway. lol

 

[Timokreon]

Decided to order one. Should be here in a day or two. Not sure if I'll be able to put it up this week or not, depends on the weather.
As stated in my last post, really hope I can get color 24/7 to work.

 

[Arjun]

Currently testing an S2, comparing with an S1; I have tiny dots and artifacts that appear time to time at night with the S2, could this be due to IR bouncing around as cars pass by?

 

[wittaj]

Currently testing an S2, comparing with an S1; I have tiny dots and artifacts that appear time to time at night with the S2, could this be due to IR bouncing around as cars pass by?

That or hesdlight bounce. This sees more and I will get some cars that pass that I see more of the ground and stuff whereas the previous S1 version would be all black except for plate and taillight.

 

[Timokreon]

Got mine up and working. First, the two cons.
1) I would like the shield/cover over the lens to be a little longer. Kind of like the ANPR437. The ability to keep sun/rain, etc... off the lens.
2) I would gladly pay $5 more for better screws, and for a better set screw. That set screw is junk. I didn't come close to getting it tight and it stripped. PLEASE put a better screw here.

The good things so far. Really easy to adjust zoom/focus.
Right out of the box, it is showing snapshots on the side panel for my NVR, for humans and for vehicles. No clue why/how it's doing that. I must have a setting in the NVR that I messed with months ago causing this. It's not a bad thing, in fact it's exactly what I want it to do, so I need to find out why it's doing it. lol

 

[biggen]

Got mine up and working. First, the two cons.
1) I would like the shield/cover over the lens to be a little longer. Kind of like the ANPR437. The ability to keep sun/rain, etc... off the lens.
2) I would gladly pay $5 more for better screws, and for a better set screw. That set screw is junk. I didn't come close to getting it tight and it stripped. PLEASE put a better screw here.

The good things so far. Really easy to adjust zoom/focus.
More after awhile

You talking about the screw that tightens down so you can set the placement of where the camera is pointing to? I didn't have issues with the screw but I do have issues on how the camera mount "teeth" align. I've noticed when tightening down that screw, the camera will move some from where I was holding it as the teeth lock into place. I wish they wouldn't use a teeth locking system as it isn't precise enough. A friction mount would be better here and wouldn't move upon tightening the screw.

 

[bigredfish]

Yep it’s a 3 hand job. One to hold it clamped with teeth interlocked, one to tighten the set screw, one to pick up the wrench when you drop it

 

[Timokreon]

You talking about the screw that tightens down so you can set the placement of where the camera is pointing to? I didn't have issues with the screw but I do have issues on how the camera mount "teeth" align. I've noticed when tightening down that screw, the camera will move some from where I was holding it as the teeth lock into place. I wish they wouldn't use a teeth locking system as it isn't precise enough. A friction mount would be better here and wouldn't move upon tightening the screw.

Yes the screw that tightens for camera placement. It's a piece of junk. I have tool that I bought just for these type of security screws, and I've NEVER stripped one out before today.

 

[bigredfish]

So is the cheap pot metal wrench