My head is spinning with all of these camera choices. Can somebody please recommend a couple based on my needs?

[Think]

Hello everybody! I would greatly appreciate some camera recommendations - I've been researching for about a week now (2-4hrs/day) and I'm still not sure what to put on my short list. I've put some effort into keeping this post informative and brief to show that I have put in time and value yours as well. Here's my current plan:


About my property:

• I'm attaching a sat photo of my house. Red arrows are proposed camera locations and directions. Yellow lines on the house are doors (2 for people, 1 for cars)
• One-story single family home.
  • At night the front yard is dimly lit by street lights that are across the street
  • At night the back and side yard is extremely dark.
• I'm currently thinking of covering each side of the yard from opposite corners (8x cams total for this
• 1 cam at each doorway (2x cams)
• 1 extra cam in the middle of the front part of the house to cover a blind spot due to the shape of the house.
• Cams will be mounted under the eaves where soffits would be (my house has open tails)

About my needs (desires):

• I want to have full coverage of the yard. I don't need to ID people more than 10ft away from these cams, but want a good view day and night. I believe the estimated 9 cams for this would do it.
• I want the ability to ID people at the front door, back door, and mailbox.
  • The mailbox is approximately 40ft from where I would be mounting cameras.
  • Each entryway will have a camera right next to and above it.
  • For the mailbox, I think I might need an additional camera dedicated to just that, but did not put this on the attached image.

Hardware:

• I plan on be setting up a PC with Blue Iris for the monitoring, a NAS for the recording and will isolate the security cam network from my home network.
• I want to use wired PoE cameras (haven't run the cable yet - waiting until I'm 100% on the plan first

My Questions:

• What cameras would you recommend for the following positions?
  • Each corner of the house for yard coverage
    • I estimate a budget of ~$100 per camera
    • Want to be able to identify people within 10ft of the cams
  • above each entry door
    • up to $200 per camera budget
    • For identifying people at the doors and package monitoring
    • Wouldn't mind 2-way audio capabilities, but not needed
  • watching the mailbox
    • No budget on this one yet - not sure what would be reasonable
    • want to be able to ID anyone messing with the mailbox, even at night
    • as a bonus, there is an intersecting road right behind the mailbox so this could also be used to grab plates from cars entering my street from here - maybe
• Other notes:
  • AI features would be fun, but are not needed.
  • Cams should play will with BlueIris (unless you could direct me to a superior alternative as well)

That's it in a nutshell - thanks again!

 

[sebastiantombs]

The locations look fine. I'd suggest getting one, decent, varifocal turret like the 5442T-ZE and testing each location for real coverage and lens requirement. Set it up in test rig, 5 gallon bucket full of rocks or sand with a 2x4-8 sticking up to mount the camera to, along with a long network cable. Test it both day and night with motion. Have a buddy walk by with a ball cap or hoodie on and see if you can identify him, really identify not know wo it is because you already do know who it is. If you want to watch the mailbox, specifically, you will need a separate camera, probably a varifocal zoomed in to max, just to cover that.

This calculator will let you calculate the approximate focal length of any varifocal or zoom lens. Keep in mind it is approximate and that sensor sizes also alter fields of view.

Focal Length Calculator

Focal Length Calculator

Calculate the focal point of a camera to help determine the best size lens to order. Save & view your results later.

ipcamtalk.com

 

[mat200]

Hello everybody! I would greatly appreciate some camera recommendations - I've been researching for about a week now (2-4hrs/day) and I'm still not sure what to put on my short list. I've put some effort into keeping this post informative and brief to show that I have put in time and value yours as well. Here's my current plan:


About my property:

• I'm attaching a sat photo of my house. Red arrows are proposed camera locations and directions. Yellow lines on the house are doors (2 for people, 1 for cars)
• One-story single family home.
  • At night the front yard is dimly lit by street lights that are across the street
  • At night the back and side yard is extremely dark.
• I'm currently thinking of covering each side of the yard from opposite corners (8x cams total for this
• 1 cam at each doorway (2x cams)
• 1 extra cam in the middle of the front part of the house to cover a blind spot due to the shape of the house.
• Cams will be mounted under the eaves where soffits would be (my house has open tails)

About my needs (desires):

• I want to have full coverage of the yard. I don't need to ID people more than 10ft away from these cams, but want a good view day and night. I believe the estimated 9 cams for this would do it.
• I want the ability to ID people at the front door, back door, and mailbox.
  • The mailbox is approximately 40ft from where I would be mounting cameras.
  • Each entryway will have a camera right next to and above it.
  • For the mailbox, I think I might need an additional camera dedicated to just that, but did not put this on the attached image.

Hardware:

• I plan on be setting up a PC with Blue Iris for the monitoring, a NAS for the recording and will isolate the security cam network from my home network.
• I want to use wired PoE cameras (haven't run the cable yet - waiting until I'm 100% on the plan first

My Questions:

• What cameras would you recommend for the following positions?
  • Each corner of the house for yard coverage
    • I estimate a budget of ~$100 per camera
    • Want to be able to identify people within 10ft of the cams
  • above each entry door
    • up to $200 per camera budget
    • For identifying people at the doors and package monitoring
    • Wouldn't mind 2-way audio capabilities, but not needed
  • watching the mailbox
    • No budget on this one yet - not sure what would be reasonable
    • want to be able to ID anyone messing with the mailbox, even at night
    • as a bonus, there is an intersecting road right behind the mailbox so this could also be used to grab plates from cars entering my street from here - maybe
• Other notes:
  • AI features would be fun, but are not needed.
  • Cams should play will with BlueIris (unless you could direct me to a superior alternative as well)

That's it in a nutshell - thanks again!

Welcome @Think

• Cams will be mounted under the eaves where soffits would be
• I don't need to ID people more than 10ft away from these cams, but want a good view day and nigh

Mounting at the soffit height may require you to ID suspects further away due to the angle to suspect's face issues when the suspect is basically too close to a camera mounted too high.

Recommend picking up one varifocal 4MP 1/1.8" sensor or larger camera to learn with first.

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

Hi @Think

Here are my recommend for you.

• 
  
• Each corner of the house for yard coverage
  • I estimate a budget of ~$100 per camera
  • Want to be able to identify people within 10ft of the cams
• -------------------Use IPC-T2431T-AS if just need 10ft identify, use 2.8mm lens is good. 4MP starlight for low budget , working good.
• above each entry door
  • up to $200 per camera budget
  • For identifying people at the doors and package monitoring
  • Wouldn't mind 2-way audio capabilities, but not needed
  • ----------------This camera just use IPC-T5442T-ZE, a best motorized lens from us now 4MP. 2.7mm-12mm lens, build in mic, no 2 way audio.

• watching the mailbox

Use a IPC-B5442E-Z4E.

LPR refer to this post LPR For IPC-B5442E-Z4E



Can refer the specification on our amazon shop.

Amazon.com

If you need any further help, just send me DM, will be happy to do support!

Andy

 

[Think]

Welcome @Think

Mounting at the soffit height may require you to ID suspects further away due to the angle to suspect's face issues when the suspect is basically too close to a camera mounted too high.

Recommend picking up one varifocal 4MP 1/1.8" sensor or larger camera to learn with first.

Thank you mat200

The camera height would be approx 10' from the ground, and I think I will take you advice and buy 2-3 cams to test with prior to blowing a big wad on the whole system. The decision would be much easier if I can test these devices locally first.

 

[Think]

The locations look fine. I'd suggest getting one, decent, varifocal turret like the 5442T-ZE and testing each location for real coverage and lens requirement. Set it up in test rig, 5 gallon bucket full of rocks or sand with a 2x4-8 sticking up to mount the camera to, along with a long network cable. Test it both day and night with motion. Have a buddy walk by with a ball cap or hoodie on and see if you can identify him, really identify not know wo it is because you already do know who it is. If you want to watch the mailbox, specifically, you will need a separate camera, probably a varifocal zoomed in to max, just to cover that.

This calculator will let you calculate the approximate focal length of any varifocal or zoom lens. Keep in mind it is approximate and that sensor sizes also alter fields of view.

Focal Length Calculator

Focal Length Calculator

Calculate the focal point of a camera to help determine the best size lens to order. Save & view your results later.

ipcamtalk.com

Excellent idea, and thank you for the focal length calc as this was one of my challenges. So now I think I will identify 2-3 possible cams, order them, test them, and then return/buy the ones that meet my requirements.

 

[Think]

Hi @Think

Here are my recommend for you.

• 
  
• Each corner of the house for yard coverage
  • I estimate a budget of ~$100 per camera
  • Want to be able to identify people within 10ft of the cams
• -------------------Use IPC-T2431T-AS if just need 10ft identify, use 2.8mm lens is good. 4MP starlight for low budget , working good. View attachment 98423
• above each entry door
  • up to $200 per camera budget
  • For identifying people at the doors and package monitoring
  • Wouldn't mind 2-way audio capabilities, but not needed
  • ----------------This camera just use IPC-T5442T-ZE, a best motorized lens from us now 4MP. 2.7mm-12mm lens, build in mic, no 2 way audio.

• watching the mailbox

Use a IPC-B5442E-Z4E.

LPR refer to this post LPR For IPC-B5442E-Z4E

View attachment 98425

Can refer the specification on our amazon shop.

Amazon.com

If you need any further help, just send me DM, will be happy to do support!

Andy

Thanks for the specific recommendations Andy! I'll be PMing you in a day or so with some questions.

 

[sebastiantombs]

If you're looking for good night performance, the 5442 it the goto model. You can also use external IR illuminators to improve their night vision, or the night vision of any camera with IR for that matter. The detail available with 4MP is well worth the price penalty, assuming a 1/1.8" sensor, at least to me.

 

[Rob2020]

Start small and build your system. I started around a Dahua IPC-T2231T-ZS and expanded into Dahua IPC-T5442TM-AS 4MP, both are available from EmpireTech, both are highly recommended on this board.

Once you start, you are going to want to ID people at distances farther than 10 feet. I would up my cam budget a bit. I would rather have 4 really good cams vs. 6 - 8 mediocre or average cams.

ETA: I tried the 2 x 4 with bucket and it was more trouble than worth in my particular case. I made a variety of mounts with boards of different shapes/lengths and mounted directly on the house/eaves, and other locations using squeeze type clamps (like the kind you get from Harbor Freight for $3 - $4 bucks.

 

[sebastiantombs]

Another dodge to the bucket is to use a step ladder and some clamps to hold the 2x4-8.

 

[wittaj]

Regarding a camera for plates (LPR) - keep in mind that this is a camera dedicated to plates and not an overview camera also. It is as much an art as it is a science. You will need two cameras. For LPR we need to zoom in tight to make the plate as large as possible. For most of us, all you see is the not much more than a vehicle in the entire frame. Now maybe in the right location during the day it might be able to see some other things, but not at night.

At night, we have to run a very fast shutter speed (1/2,000) and in B/W with IR and the image will be black. All you will see are head/tail lights and the plate. Some people can get away with color if they have enough street lights, but most of us cannot. Here is a representative sample of plates I get at night of vehicles traveling about 45MPH at 175 feet from my 2MP camera (that is all that is needed for plates):