New to LPR

I thinki if yoou're using the Dahua NVR and have Snapshot recording enabled it already does. Now it may not get the perfect frame, thats the reason I run high FPS on LPR to get as many frames/chances at a good plate as possible. lemme look...
 
bigredfish said:
I've been experimenting with Customized range during the day of 0-1.5 or 0-2 and only 30 DNR and seem to be getting more even lighting on dark/bright days.. Lets the shutter compensate better than fixed manual exposure... FYI

Today is very dark overcast rainy. 1st image 1/1000 manual, 2nd one is 0-2 Customized range. Iris 35 gain 0-20

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I have been trying that as well recently with mine - you have a better angle than mine, but mine would seem to "catch" between shutter speeds during the frame and the photos would be not as sharp as a fixed. And I got a lot more motion detects as it adjusted based on the clouds, etc., but that portion can probably be tweaked in settings.
 
Yeah it does help on days like today, but there is a fairly intricate relationship between the shutter speed, Iris, and gain that can drive ya nuts tweaking... . :banghead:
 
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Ok so settled on these settings for now. Friday was a tough day for LPR with heavy overcast, thunderstorms and periods of sunshine. I'm pleased with the results.

Day/Night settings both working well under various conditions. I do switch from day/night/day 30-45 minutes before sunset and after sunrise

No backlight used for night settings, IR 100% manual. These are at 115ft

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Various snap from various conditions with the above settings, so far so good.

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What if you leave your cams on the night settings during the day - do they still capture okay? Or, is it necessary to use both day and night modes?
Still shopping for LPR cams for best bang for the buck - as I can mount them in a solid tree and won't need to shoot more than 80 ft.
So I am thinking a varifocal at 12mm (which is 4x zoom) would do the job with a decent angle and don't need the cost of a 12x.
 
i'd suggest more zoom than 12mm for 80ft. I've used 25mm at 75-80 ft and that was OK. also consider the IR on most VF's is usually optimzed for the wider view, so you get less IR concentration when zoomed out to max. that can be overcome with appropriate external IR, of course, but just something to consider...
 
@StratRider - yes you can have same night setting for day and run black and white 24/7, I have done that for a long time.

You would be surprised how small a 4x zoom really is for something like LPR, but if you have the angle maybe, but I think it would be tough.
 
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Okay, I've got a 3241 loose enough that that I can tinker with it, I'll go set it at the tree and check the zoom and just start testing it that way.
For cams that don't do anything else but LPR, well, I'm just looking for whatever I can get away with at the best price. Thanks
 
@StratRider - keep us posted.

Keep in mind most here are not using a camera designed to be a LPR camera, we are using a camera that we tweaked the settings to use for LPR.
 
wittaj said:
@StratRider - yes you can have same night setting for day and run black and white 24/7, I have done that for a long time.
You would be surprised how small a 4x zoom really is for something like LPR, but if you have the angle maybe, but I think it would be tough.
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Okay, I have placed a IPC-T3241T-ZAS at 17 ft back from the curb and so far almost all moving targets are at 80 feet and this gives an angle of about 28 degrees (using google maps for measurements)
the 3241 cam has a 13.5 mm varifocal so it is a solid 4x zoom and you are right, I am disappointed in how wide the FOV still is.
Using both day and night settings between 3-4pm on a slightly cloudy day, I can make out every plate so far but have to use a little digital zoom most of the time - not good.
I would bet though that a 4 mp camera would produce a better and likely just barely acceptable picture for days.
I will run my own vehicle out there tonight and make adjustments for some night settings, but unless those are really nice - I will likely start looking into cams with higher zoom levels.
also, I am making an assumption that the low angle is needed in order to get the best reflection from IR at night and it likely allows for lower frame rates.
I have just located another spot where the cam will be at 55 ft to target but at a 40 degree angle - which is fine for daytime, but will check on that tonight also.
Did a test shot while typing and there isn't much difference in 55 ft or 80 feet when it comes to this cams daytime clarity.
 
@StratRider - yeah, it is amazing how small 4x-5x zoom really is, especially for LPR. You almost need to be within 20-30 feet for LPR at that zoom.

Most here use the IPC-HFW5241E-Z12E or the older IPC-HFW5231E-Z12E, which is about $120 more than the camera you have. You will not be disappointed in it for LPR. You do not need 4mp for LPR.

If it is questionable during the day, it will probably be a lost cause at night, but if the IR angle is right, you could get a good shot.

I run mine at about 45 degree horizontal and 35 degree vertical at 140 feet and get all but the completely rusty/dirty or paper temp plates.
 
what is interesting is that I also have an Amcrest IP2M-853 which is 2mp and the 12x zoom on that thing I can easily read plates at 300 feet in the day and almost at night using the same day settings (it's starlight).
This is why I was expecting more from the 3241 - which is $130 from Andy but just the next step up from the 2231's
I'll be running these tests tonight anyway, just for my satisfaction - will report later.
 
Wow you must have a lot of ambient lighting or a perfect location - the 5241 is starlight also and I am not aware of anyone running color LPR at night here. And 300 feet?
 
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@bigredfish when you say that you switch the day/night/day 30-45 minutes before sunset and after sunrise, are you doing this with the sunrise utility or letting the camera schedule do this task? And if you are using the utility, does it change your zoom during this day/night adjustment? I am capturing plates pretty good during both, when the camera is focused. I just seem to have a lot of issues with it re-focusing after adjusting the zoom.
 
nhs128 said:
@bigredfish when you say that you switch the day/night/day 30-45 minutes before sunset and after sunrise, are you doing this with the sunrise utility or letting the camera schedule do this task? And if you are using the utility, does it change your zoom during this day/night adjustment? I am capturing plates pretty good during both, when the camera is focused. I just seem to have a lot of issues with it re-focusing after adjusting the zoom.
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I’m using the camera Schedule profile
 
It’s not 100% but close. I keep zoom to under 80% now (I’ve actually repositioned the camera to allow less distance and zoom) and if we happen to have rainy overcast (too dark) at switch time it occasionally misses focus
 
The sunrise/sunset utility created by a member here will allow you to have a different zoom and focus for the day and night.
 
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