Security Cameras with Motorized Optical Zoom
Digital Zoom vs Optical Zoom
Every security camera has digital zoom available when used with our security DVR recorders, and is actually useful in HD security cameras with resolutions of 1080P and higher. We say practically useful because when video of low resolution cameras is magnified, it gets pixilated and is of no use in discerning detail like faces or license plates at a distance. As concerns digital zoom, the rule of thumb is: the higher the resolution of the camera, the better the quality of the digital zoom. 1080P, 3MP, 4MP, and 4K resolution security footage has varying degrees of digital zoom available, with 4K being the most detailed.
Optical Zoom refers to the camera optics providing the zoom as opposed to digital zoom provided by software on the camera or DVR to”magnify the picture.” Optical zoom provides the best quality of zoom as it is like using a pair of binoculars to see farther away. With optical zoom cameras, the lens inside the camera actually needs to move to provide zoom. While digital zoom can be done after video has been recorded, optical zoom needs to be executed or set in live video at the actual moment the incident of interest happens.
Motorized Zoom Security Cameras
There are two main types of optical zoom in fixed cameras (cameras that are looking in one fixed direction):
Adjustments knobs for manual zoom security cameras1) Manual Zoom – this type is also known as Varifocal Zoom, where the lens needs to be manually toggled at the camera to set the zoom. Please see the picture to the right for an example from our outdoor night vision cameras, where the manual zoom is set using a allen wrench to toggle “knobs” located on the underbody of the camera.
2) Motorized Zoom – also known as Motorized Varifocal Zoom, refers to the lens inside the camera being accompanied by a motor assembly that can be activated remotely from the DVR, NVR. It is important to note that our video recorders allow our motorized zoom cameras to be controlled not only at the DVR or NVR, but also remotely from the computer software and mobile apps. So if your are viewing the cameras away from the physical location, you can still adjust the camera lens with the touch of a button.
When choosing cameras, you have to determine whether you need only digital zoom, manual zoom, or motorized optical zoom:
In either case, if you are looking for cameras that go a step further and have the added ability to pan and tilt, consider using Pan Tilt Zoom Cameras. Above we list all of our fixed cameras that offer motorized optical zoom. These include HDCVI cameras and IP cameras.
