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 security cameras are some of the advanced cams on the market. Having the ability to pan a cam 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 a person, 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 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 joy-stick and keyboard. A guard is a bit old school and 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
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
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 on other sites. Make sure that it tells you what the optical zoom is and not a digital zoom. Digital zooming on PTZ cameras have terrible resolution! Stay away from digital zooming PTZ security cameras.
PTZ Auto-Tracking Is The Way To Go
A PTZ security camera's auto-tracking feature makes it the best security camera you could ever want. With each year passing by, the development of better, cheaper, and more flexible auto-tracking is making owning PTZ security camera a must. Just five years ago, PTZ security cameras were too expensive for local consumers to be able to afford them.
In the last two years, our company has developed an interface device that has the ability to turn any PTZ security camera into an auto-tracking camera! This enables consumers to integrate small PTZ security cameras in their CCTV setups. This means that PTZ cameras an now available in a price point within reach for the residential market.
With the ability to recess-mount smaller PTZ cameras with a 10X time optical zoom, a typical home-based CCTV system becomes much more lethal. Imagine having these PTZ cameras mounted in the eves of your home!
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
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. In a residential setting, you would not want to make it as obvious that you have installed a large PTZ security camera.
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.
You may also want to consult our PTZ Cameras FAQ.
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