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PTZ Camera

PTZ cameras are the first line of defence for many hi-commercial businesses and government compounds. PTZ cameras are named for their ability to Pan, Tilt, and Zooming to about 300 yards plus to focus in on license plates, faces of suspects who breach certain security zones, and other objects.

Listed below are all of our Analog PTZ cameras, many people who want PTZ cameras, amy wish to upgrade to IP PTZ Cameras. You may wish to also see our auto tracking boxes for PTZ Security Cameras or our PTZ camera accessories.



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About PTZ Security Cameras

 

So what does the "PTZ" in PTZ cameras stand for?

The PTZ in PTZ cameras stands for pan, tilt, and zoom.

PTZ cameras

PTZ security cameras are some of the advanced security cameras on the market. Having the ability to pan a security camera to the left and right, up or down, and zooming at long distances makes, PTZ cameras offer a complete view in any security zone. PTZ cameras provide the ability to give total coverage for a given area, however the main concern with a PTZ camera is its high costs in both purchasing price and operating costs.

Most of the time PTZ security cameras are manually operated by security personnel, although there are some PTZ cameras that have self-tracking technology built into the brain of the PTZ camera. Because of their cost and the need for an operator, PTZ security cameras are rarely used in residential areas.

Most security applications that call the kind of long distance, flexible coverage provided by PTZ cameras are in commercial and government organizations or large discount and department stores. However, PTZ cameras are getting cheaper and models with auto tracking modes are making it possible to not have to supply a guard, radically reducing their operating costs. Auto-tracking PTZ cameras cost around a thousand dollars, making PTZ cameras very expensive to purchase comparatively, but they can be much less expensive long term as you may not need to pay a security guard. The independence, flexibility, 24/7 peace-of-mind of a PTZ camera is a big draw.

 

Controlling PTZ Cameras

 

The most common way to control a PTZ camera is through the use of a PTZ camera joystick and keyboard. A security guard is expensive, but still the most preferred way of monitoring a PTZ camera. In the future, Sony says that Ipela technology will allow PTZ security cameras to monitor themselves and can predict security breaches based on complex algorithms. The newest and best way to control a PTZ camera is through Security DVR software. Most DVR software have a toggle interface from left to right, and up and down, which can all be operated with the click of a mouse. The last way is by remote, we have a device now where you connect to your PTZ camera and zoom the lens in and out and pan the camera. Using a PTZ camera is very similar to using a remote to change the channels on a TV.



Zoom Out To Very Long Distances Using PTZ Cameras


PTZ camera

If you need to record video from over 450 yards away, then PTZ security cameras are your only option. There are some very high powered PTZ camera lenses on the market, although the picture may get a little distorted at the maximum setting. It is important to not go overboard; never use a 32X lens on a PTZ camera in a residential setting. Most high powered PTZ camera lenses are in government applications and homeland security.



Optical Zoom Are The Best Lens


PTZ security camera

A PTZ lens, by definition, is an optical device with perfect or approximate axial symmetry which transmits and refracts light, converging or diverging the beam. For a good picture of how optical zoom lens works check out this PTZ Optical Zoom Lens. Optical lenses harness the power of light and a complex reactionary lens to get you a better zoom distance and picture. There are many levels of optical zoom, such as 10X, 20X, 22X, 32X, and 55X optical zoom.

You want to be carefully when shopping around for PTZ cameras: optical zoom is and digital zoom are very differnt. Optical zoom physically moves the lens and zoom in without decreasing picture quality. Digital zooming with PTZ cameras reduces picture quality and results in terrible resolution! Stay away from digital zooming PTZ security cameras.



PTZ Auto-Tracking

A PTZ security camera's auto-tracking feature makes it an extremely useful surveillance device. Auto tracking, as you might imagine, allows PTZ cameras to track objects. With the ability to recess-mount smaller PTZ cameras with a 10X time optical zoom, a typical home-based CCTV system becomes much more effective. 

 

How PTZ Camera Auto Tracking Works

Auto-tracking works on a series of presets. You can have many preset positions for the PTZ camera to return to a home position after the PTZ camera has finished watching an object that has left it's field-of-vision. Once an item has entered the PTZ security camera's field-of-vision it proceeds to zoom in on the target and it pans in any direction until it leaves it's field of view (FOV). With DVR software getting more advanced you can receive emailed photos, or sample clips of live video when one of the PTZ cameras is activated by changes in pixels from moving objects.

 

PTZ Security Cameras Have Night & Day Monitoring

If you were wondering about how these PTZ cameras work in low light conditions, do not worry. These PTZ cameras have very low lux settings, which means that they can capture video in low light conditions.

(A Lux ratings is the measurement of the amount of light that is necessary for the camera to capture video. A PTZ camera with a lower lux rating means that it can capture video in less light.)

There are some model of PTZ security cameras now that have infrared lights like infrared security cameras, which give you a high resolution black and white image at night. The brain in the PTZ camera lens has the ability to see color in the night. Larger chip-sets allow PTZ security cameras to record color video at night.

 

You Can Recess Mount PTZ Security Cameras

PTZ security cameras

One of the main concerns when purchasing a PTZ security camera, is the ability to mount PTZ cameras professionally, with the idea of concealing it's appearance. PTZ security cameras are intentionally quite noticeable in most commercial environments, to deter crime. 

Mini PTZ Cameras with recessed mounts are the answer. These mini PTZ cameras have a 10X optical zoom and can see out to like 100 yards (as compared to the 35X of commercial models). You can purchase a residential PTZ security system with a 4 channel setup, DVR, cable, connectors, and power supply box for nineteen hundred dollars. That is a lot of power and security. Call us, at 1-866-274-3688 for information on our complete security camera system with our recess mountable, vandal proof, auto-tracking PTZ cameras.

 

Sometimes PTZ Cameras are called High Speed Dome Cameras, but the terms are not 100% interchangable. Consult this knowledge base article to understand the difference.

 


You may also want to consult our PTZ Cameras FAQ.

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