I want to install a camera to monitor a my hallway. It need to be a narrow angle view cam and I'd prefer Dahua or one or Andy's cams. I don't know how to tell if a given cam is wide angle or narrow angle, hence my question.
TIA
TIA
Need a recommendation for a camera
- Thread starter Sparkey
- Start date
Smilingreen
Known around here
The lower mm of the of the fixed lens, the wider the angle. A 2mm will be a wide angle. A 12mm will have a much narrower angle. Sound like you need a varifocal. Dial it in to what image you want, adjust your settings for the best image day and night and forget about it.
Why would they want a VF camera to run in Corridor mode? I mean to be honest 5mp has the tallest FOV by design. I mean normal small 2.7mm x 13.5mm how is this going to help them to watch a hall. I mean yeah sure if you live in a Maga Mansion and you have a 40 or 50 foot hallway.. All that is going to do is over shoot anything that is close to the camera
Easiest one to fix that I know has the ability, I didn't make any camera adjustments but you can see 90, 270 and 0 180 option is only if you mounted the camera upside down lol so didn't pick that but is an option lol..
Attachments
looney2ns
IPCT Contributor
You like to disagree with everyone, don't you?
Your last statement makes no sense.
A varifocal would be the best choice for the unknown sized hallway. Adjust to the exact FOV needed.
No just don't know how a zoom camera is going to work in a hall that is narrow and long, and get whole scene.
My last statement sorry I didn't change the cameras position to match my changing the format. In other words the camera is setup for normal view I didn't change the cameras position on the house to match going into 90 or 270 degree, Sorry was not clear..
Camera that Can Turn 90° and 270°
(aka camera with electronic image rotation or physically mountable in multiple orientations)
Best for: Fixed mounting at either end or in the middle of a hallway.
Advantage: Wide-angle lens (like 2.8mm) mounted with 90° rotation can give you a vertical field of view aligned with the hallway.
Pro Tip: Cameras with "corridor mode" or "rotate mode" (from brands like Dahua, Axis, Hikvision) are ideal. These rotate the image in software to better fit narrow spaces.
Result: Cleaner footage with more pixels focused on the hallway length, less wasted resolution on walls/ceiling/floor.
Zoom Camera (e.g. motorized varifocal or PTZ)
Best for: If you need to zoom in on specific areas, or the hallway is long, and you only care about part of it at a time.
Advantage: Ability to narrow field of view to get ID-level detail at a distance.
Downside: May miss areas when zoomed in or pointed in a specific direction (unless it's an auto-tracking PTZ).
Extra: A full PTZ with patrol or tracking could follow someone walking down the hallway, but it's more complex and $$$.
There is that text layout better for you..
looney2ns
IPCT Contributor
You don't need to understand how, just accept that those of us here that have experience with this stuff knows it will work out fine.
WTF even is this “experience” you’re swinging around like it trumps logic? What your long-a life automatically makes you smarter than everyone else now? Your username alone says enough.
Look, I’m not here to nod and smile while someone uses 'experience' as a pass for half-baked setups. Yeah, a VF camera can technically work,, but dropping one into a narrow hallway without rotating it or using corridor mode is like hanging a portrait sideways and calling it a design choice. I’m not arguing just to argue, I’m explaining how to actually optimize coverage. If that threatens your ego, maybe take a step back and ask yourself what your ‘experience’ is really worth if it can’t handle a little technical nuance.
To the OP, If your camera has the ability I would also look at setting up in Corridor mode and see if that helps.. I have installed and I personally own Many cameras and using corridor mode in a narrow side yard was common practice where I have installed more then my share.. My 8mp VF Dahua camera will let me change down to 4mp and I can then rotate the camera 90 and 270..
Look, I’m not here to nod and smile while someone uses 'experience' as a pass for half-baked setups. Yeah, a VF camera can technically work,, but dropping one into a narrow hallway without rotating it or using corridor mode is like hanging a portrait sideways and calling it a design choice. I’m not arguing just to argue, I’m explaining how to actually optimize coverage. If that threatens your ego, maybe take a step back and ask yourself what your ‘experience’ is really worth if it can’t handle a little technical nuance.
To the OP, If your camera has the ability I would also look at setting up in Corridor mode and see if that helps.. I have installed and I personally own Many cameras and using corridor mode in a narrow side yard was common practice where I have installed more then my share.. My 8mp VF Dahua camera will let me change down to 4mp and I can then rotate the camera 90 and 270..
In addition to as you stated some cameras reduce resolution in corridor mode, many cameras AI do not work in corridor mode or do not work reliably, thus if that feature is important to someone, a varifocal is the way to go.
Personally I use varifocals for hallways because it is always better to run cameras in their native resolution and I want the AI function to operate correctly.
Personally I use varifocals for hallways because it is always better to run cameras in their native resolution and I want the AI function to operate correctly.
looney2ns
IPCT Contributor
I made no mention of NOT rotating it into corridor mode, that's kinda a given when you mention corridor mode that the camera is rotated. Too bad you didn't understand that.
You are the one that thinks you are the end all be all of cameras. A lot of your posts, are pretty much gibberish to a newb.
I'm done with you, ignore list is handy
You’re right , if someone mentions corridor mode, rotation is usually implied. That’s literally the point I was making: rotation and aspect ratio matter in a narrow hallway, and too many people throw in a VF cam without that context. But hey, if pointing that out makes you uncomfortable, that’s not on me."
"As for the rest, I don’t pretend to be the 'end all be all' of anything. I just prefer sharing detailed info that actually helps others understand why something works instead of leaning on vague 'trust me' vibes. If that's too much for you, the ignore button might be your best tool after all.
Edit: @wittaj Understand.. Again I wasn't telling them to run the camera in 4mp but I was explaining that my Dahua 8mp won't do it in 8mp but would in 4mp.. Again they were talking about looking for a camera so i was offering them some info that they could take while looking for the camera so they didn't make a mistake of buying one that is 8mp to find out it won't do the rotate.. That was all. Thank you..
Last edited:
Smilingreen
Known around here
Somebody shit in that boy's Wheaties bowl
.......
(either I am making a suggestion or making a statement.....either one can apply)
....... (either I am making a suggestion or making a statement.....either one can apply)
Just added him to my ignore list also. 
I have 2 Dahau cams. One is a IPC-T54IR-ZE. and the other is a PTZ425DB-AT. The first one is a wide view which is good, the other is a PTZ and it's a narrow view. I figure since it's a PTZ it doesn't need to be wide view. I've searched thru the menu system of the IPC-T54IR and can't find any setting that affects the aspect ration nor is Varifocus mentioned anywhere.
I have 2 Dahau cams. One is a IPC-T54IR-ZE. and the other is a PTZ425DB-AT. The first one is a wide view which is good, the other is a PTZ and it's a narrow view. I figure since it's a PTZ it doesn't need to be wide view. I've searched thru the menu system of the IPC-T54IR and can't find any setting that affects the aspect ration nor is Varifocus mentioned anywhere.