Wildlife Observation - Latest Recommendations?

[notaek]

I’m looking for 1 or 2 outdoor cameras, mainly for wildlife observation. Looking to spend under $600ish total.

Needs:

• Detects animals
• PoE
• Will be mounted on a pole
• Camera will be mounted 10-20 feet high, whatever is recommended.
• Area does not have a light, so solid night vision is required. I would prefer not to use a spotlight that would spook critters at night.
• Camera will be pointed at a mostly flat area/field. Only need to see 180° max in front of camera. I’m flexible here.
• Long range detection is preferred.
• 4k is preferred, open to 2k if it will perform better in these conditions.
• Needs to be compatible with Scrypted/Scrypted NVR since i’ll also be using it with HKSV.

Currently looking at 1/1.8mm cameras to maybe pair with one of these PTZ:

• IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3
• IPC-T58IR-ZE-S3
• IPC-Color4K-T180
• PTZ425DB-AT
• PTZ4M-25X-PV

Two in one option?

• PTZ4E25X-T180
  • I noticed this has SMD 4.0, which says it reduces animal detections.

Am I better off getting one solid PTZ or a PTZ and another camera to meet these requirements?

How does vari-focal work with Scrypted/HKSV? Will it adjust automatically while it tracks?


Appreciate any insights!

 

[wittaj]

The only camera on that list that has animal detection is the 54IR-ZE-S3, which is a varifocal and not a PTZ.

The other cameras will struggle detecting animals as the algorithms are designed to reduce detections that are not human or vehicle.

Do not get the 58IR as it is on the same sensor as the 54IR and without light the 4MP will out perform the 8MP.

The T180 on the list doesn't see infrared so you would need to blast the white light.

A varifocal camera is a set it and forget it camera - it does not auto zoom.

Until they add an animal checkbox, the PTZs will struggle with tracking animals.

 

[notaek]

Awesome, that helps a lot!

Are there plans for any of these PTZ's to get animal detection or will it be a new model?
Any other PTZ's I should be looking at that support animal detection?

 

[tigerwillow1]

Are there plans for any of these PTZ's to get animal detection or will it be a new model?

When the S3 with animal detection came out I thought it was the start of a trend for Dahua. Now I'm having doubts, thinking it might be a one-time special just for Andy. I have no inside information, just spouting off.

 

[CCTVCam]

If you want colour at night, at least some white light will be required. For everything else, IR will needed. Note I believe some animals can see IR. IR cameras will see B&W at night. Consideration needs to be given to the focal length as to whether you want over view or close ups. PTZ's might be the only option for close ups and are less of an issue with 2mp, but throw up their own issues in the form of tracking and ID.

 

[notaek]

If you want colour at night, at least some white light will be required. For everything else, IR will needed. Note I believe some animals can see IR. IR cameras will see B&W at night. Consideration needs to be given to the focal length as to whether you want over view or close ups. PTZ's might be the only option for close ups and are less of an issue with 2mp, but throw up their own issues in the form of tracking and ID.

Color at night isn’t a high priority, I’m okay with B&W. Most viewing will probably be during the day anyways.

So there really isn’t a great PTZ option for animals, even for day time viewing?

I can offload the animal detection to the NVR like Scrypted right? What do I all lose going that route, their built-in detection/AI? It wouldn’t prevent the NVR from using its own object detection right?

I’m leaning towards a 54IR-ZE-S3 for some nighttime viewing and a PTZ for daytime so open to any suggestions on that.

 

[wittaj]

If you are manually moving the PTZ to follow animals, then yeah.

But if you want the PTZ to be able to track and follow the animal, that is the limitation.

But if you use a 3rd party VMS that has animal detection and you accept the PTZ as a "fixed" camera to take advantage of the zoom, that would work, it just won't track.