Severe Focus Issue with IPC-HFW5231E-Z12

I forgot about the reflective stud/tape. I need to try that.

My Z12 had been working fine as long as I kept it in B&W 24/7 and didnt allow it to change to color. But spoke too soon I guess, the other day I noticed it was out of focus and I manually refocused it today. So far so good. I also pulled back on the zoom a bit. We'll see if that helps...

Very frustrating as my two other cams dedicated to LPR are older Axis and have no problem switching from Color (Day) to B&W/IR (Night) and not losing focus..

HOA Rear_Tag_main_FOCUSPROB-20180726075938_@3.jpg HOA Rear_Tag_main_20180727172258_@3.jpg
 
I just wanted to chime in that im also having difficulty with the day/night autofocus reliability as the unit switches from colour to B&W. I am also using the camera for LPR, and it works phenomenal for it. Due to my application being in a rural application, where at night it is much darker then a subdivision, and the cars go even faster (80+km/h 50+mph) I have to set my shutter to 1/4000. I get fantastic plate capture during the day, and somewhat acceptable plate capture at night (75-80% readable). But with the shutter that low, it just cant autofocus. I began experimenting with reflective tape (as the camera also looks at the mail box, and their is a hydro pole that I can stick tape to), and so far there seems to be good promise (ive gotten one good day that the focus wasn't too far off). I have to possibly add more. But I do wish Dahua would add a "turn off autofocus" on this model. I understand the focus characteristics change between colour and IR/B&W, but I suspect its not needed when zoomed maxed out at 64mm. Unfortunately I am not running a blue iris setup, and thus cant use any of the scripts mentioned for autofocus fiddling. Im using one of Dahua's new NVR's.
 
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Rockford622 said:
I wrote a C# windows service that I based on @bp2008 Sunrise/Sunset program, except I have it so it runs every 10 minutes and checks focus and zoom levels on my -Z12 cameras. Yes, if it needs to adjust focus, sending 1 command will get to where it needs to be. I figured out what the correct focus values are for both day and night and compare the current values with those and adjust as necessary.
Click to expand...
Would you be able to share your script? I don't mind to pay for it.
 
So I installed my 2nd camera(same model) and it does not have the issue taking the script commands like the first one I installed, so it appears I have a somewhat defective camera in that the focus steppers/servos do not hit the commanded points approx half the time. It will either overshoot or undershoot.

I guess I need to contact Andy and see if there is any type of warranty on these units. If only we could disable the focus in software on these cameras, it would really solve allot of the issues people are experiencing.
 
Well I was having the same issue as other folks have had, even after doing a firmware update from Andy.

I think I figured out a way to solve the issue temporarily. Currently im sure most of us are having this issue with LPR settings (shutter higher then 1/2000 for example) I set mine to 1/4000 to get great day time shots.

I noticed that when the camera automatically turned into "Night" "B/W" mode the shutter is too fast that regardless how much the camera tries to brighten the image via ISO, it cant see anything and thus cant autofocus. Same thing happens when it switched from Night to "Day" colour mode in the early morning.

My temporary fix was to manually set the Day/Nigh switch modes times. So that it will switch into "Night" while there is still ample light outside, and switch into "day" much later on in the morning. Playing with the "Auto" sensitivity didn't work because it would switch into "Night/day" too late/early and wasn't consistent. Its not ideal but it seems to work for my application, I just need to change the mode times as we go into fall and come out into spring. I have my shutter also set to 1/1000 for night, I cant catch cars driving by at 80km/h anymore, but with 1/1000 I can still easily catch a plate if a car slowly drives by, or pulls into the driveway. At Day with 1/4000, I have successfully be able to catch plates at 100km/h so far, I have yet to test faster :)

I also put some reflective tape out to test at first, although it seemed to help 1 day out of the week with a successful autofocus at night, it was still inconsistent, changing the day/night mode is 99% now. I had a few foggy early mornings, and the camera tried its best, but it couldn't focus.
 
This isn't the issue with mine. Mine will loose focus in the middle of the day staring at a driveway.

I would never recommend this camera for anything. I have 4 of them and won't buy another.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
I dont understand why Dahua cant upgrade the firmware with fixed focus settings for day and night ... its very easy to do !!
this company does not seem to take users seriously


BICK
 
I would love the ability to disable autofocus and let scripts manually control focus.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
I do this with my P8221 axis , i send api command each 60 sec with focus settings the same for night and no problems

BICK
 
My older P1365 mkII Axis works like a champ, no focus issues from color to B&W and back for 3 years now...no script needed

My second Z-12 (yes Im a glutton for punishment) that I just hung two weeks ago is doing good so far. About 120ft to where I capture tags with this one. I'm running the "Schedule" setting with color in the day and B&W at night! The trick it seems is to force it to switch to B&W while its still light out, about an hour before sunset, and wait until an hour after sunrise to let it go back to color. So far so good. I just lose any real ability to see anything for 2 hours a day :(

Why not a 2nd Axis P1365 you ask? Frankly, its 2.5 times the money, and I lose some basic functionality like MD connecting it to the Dahua NVR.
 
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bickford said:
I dont understand why Dahua cant upgrade the firmware with fixed focus settings for day and night ... its very easy to do !!
this company does not seem to take users seriously


BICK
Click to expand...

They don't want to deal with end users, their market is to large installs by authorized install company's.
 
looney2ns said:
They don't want to deal with end users, their market is to large installs by authorized install company's.
Click to expand...

I know this but the problem (focus problem ) is the same for authorized install company's


it's hard to believe that no company has talked about this problem in Dahua

BICK
 
True, and sad that Dahua seems to not care abut this. It IS a defect, it doesnt have to be being used for LPR, zoom in on anything and it will lose focus within a day or two switching from Color to B&W.

My latest experiment failed as it lost focus last night again. Only sure way Ive found to keep focus is to run it in B&W 24/7
 
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bigredfish said:
True, and sad that Dahua seems to not care abut this. It IS a defect, it doesnt have to be being used for LPR, zoom in on anything and it will lose focus within a day or two switching from Color to B&W.

My latest experiment failed as it lost focus last night again. Only sure way Ive found to keep focus is to run it in B&W 24/7
Click to expand...

Try with a focus script , like this :
to have the focus settings : http://<ip>/cgi-bin/devVideoInput.cgi?action= getFocusStatus

My axis camera send this api command each 60 sec and nos problems

BICK
 
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The cameras in question are remote, recording to a PoE switch NVR so I have no way of running such a script.

(Of course we shouldnt have to to begin with ;)

My Axis P1365 does just fine with no focus issues
 
bigredfish said:
The cameras in question are remote, recording to a PoE switch NVR so I have no way of running such a script.

(Of course we shouldnt have to to begin with ;)

My Axis P1365 does just fine with no focus issues
Click to expand...
AXIS P1365 and Dahua are not on the same network ?

BICK
 
Yes they are both on same NVR both plugged into PoE switch connections on the 4208-8P-4KS2
 
:) Ohhhhhhh I see what you are talking about now... that would be great!

I'm away from the site until later today, perhaps you could help give me some pointers on how to install that script on the P1365... I will look into it. Thank you!
 
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