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DigitalHobo

DigitalHobo

n3wb
Aug 30, 2026
4
3
Olympia, Washington
Hi,
My name is Jay, I'm playing with some ALPR stuff and ran across this forum and joined.
I'm currently using an Amcrest 5x camera for ALPR on my street. The 5x zoom doesn't always capture plates so I'll be upgrading this camera to a 12x camera.
For capture I'm using both Visec and PlateCatcher. I then have some custom VB code that shows me the captured plates and vehicles and another custom app that takes the captured plates and alerts on the ones I care about.
Still playing around with it all.
That's about it.
Jay
 
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Welcome.
I use the IPC-54IR-Z4E in my situation, but I havent gone Gonzo on the plate database, because I was born before Color TV. :) Code is Russian to me.
empiretech01.com

EmpireTech 1/1.8" CMOS 4MP IR Vari-focal Bullet Network Camera IPC-B54IR-Z4E-S3

4MP 1/1.8" CMOS image sensor Built-in IR LED, the max. illumination distance is 120 m Deep learning algorithm Supports max. 512 GB Micro SD card Built-in MIC IP67 and IK10 protection Smart Motion Detection 3.0
empiretech01.com empiretech01.com
1788132820591.png
1788132895378.png
 
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Welcome to IPCT! :wave:
 
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Welcome,

5x and 12x is irrelevant as that is based on what the starting focal point is. The zoomed in range is much different on a 5x camera that starts at 2.3mm versus one starting at 5mm.

You need a focal length for the distance the plate is.

Up to 25 feet needs around 12mm

Up to 60 feet needs around 30mm

Up to 200 feet needs around 60mm
 
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wittaj said:
Welcome,

5x and 12x is irrelevant as that is based on what the starting focal point is. The zoomed in range is much different on a 5x camera that starts at 2.3mm versus one starting at 5mm.

You need a focal length for the distance the plate is.

Up to 25 feet needs around 12mm

Up to 60 feet needs around 30mm

Up to 200 feet needs around 60mm
Click to expand...
Thank you. The 12x I ordered is: 5mm to 60mm
 
Flintstone61 said:
Welcome.
I use the IPC-54IR-Z4E in my situation, but I havent gone Gonzo on the plate database, because I was born before Color TV. :) Code is Russian to me.
empiretech01.com

EmpireTech 1/1.8" CMOS 4MP IR Vari-focal Bullet Network Camera IPC-B54IR-Z4E-S3

4MP 1/1.8" CMOS image sensor Built-in IR LED, the max. illumination distance is 120 m Deep learning algorithm Supports max. 512 GB Micro SD card Built-in MIC IP67 and IK10 protection Smart Motion Detection 3.0
empiretech01.com empiretech01.com
View attachment 248396
View attachment 248397
Click to expand...
Oh nice. My nighttime ALPR is nonexistent at this time. I'm hoping the new camera does better. Do you know if it is better to read plates straight on or at a slight angle? I have the option for both. I noticed the reflector on your tree, is that to help with focus? Thanks.
 
DigitalHobo said:
Oh nice. My nighttime ALPR is nonexistent at this time. I'm hoping the new camera does better. Do you know if it is better to read plates straight on or at a slight angle? I have the option for both. Thanks.
Click to expand...

The closer you can get to straight on the better, but of course if that is at 300 feet, but you can get a less than great angle at 100 feet, you are better off with the closer distance.

Also, you would have to set the camera up specifically to read plates. You need the proper camera with OPTICAL zoom for the distance you are covering and the angle to get plates.

Regarding plates, keep in mind that this is a camera dedicated to plates and not an overview camera also. It is as much an art as it is a science. You will need two cameras. For LPR we need to OPTICALLY zoom in tight to make the plate as large as possible. For most of us, all you see is the not much more than a vehicle in the entire frame. Now maybe in the right location during the day it might be able to see some other things, but not at night.

At night, we have to run a very fast shutter speed (1/2,000) and in B/W with IR and the image will be black. All you will see are head/tail lights and the plate. Some people can get away with color if they have enough street lights, but most of us cannot. Here is a representative sample of plates I get at night of vehicles traveling about 45MPH at 175 feet from my 2MP 5241-Z12E camera (that is all that is needed for plates):

1675078711764.png



See the LPR subforum for more details.
 
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wittaj said:
The closer you can get to straight on the better, but of course if that is at 300 feet, but you can get a less than great angle at 100 feet, you are better off with the closer distance.

Also, you would have to set the camera up specifically to read plates. You need the proper camera with OPTICAL zoom for the distance you are covering and the angle to get plates.

Regarding plates, keep in mind that this is a camera dedicated to plates and not an overview camera also. It is as much an art as it is a science. You will need two cameras. For LPR we need to OPTICALLY zoom in tight to make the plate as large as possible. For most of us, all you see is the not much more than a vehicle in the entire frame. Now maybe in the right location during the day it might be able to see some other things, but not at night.

At night, we have to run a very fast shutter speed (1/2,000) and in B/W with IR and the image will be black. All you will see are head/tail lights and the plate. Some people can get away with color if they have enough street lights, but most of us cannot. Here is a representative sample of plates I get at night of vehicles traveling about 45MPH at 175 feet from my 2MP 5241-Z12E camera (that is all that is needed for plates):

1675078711764.png



See the LPR subforum for more details.
Click to expand...
Excellent, thank you. My current LPR camera is Camera 1 in the image. That will be upgraded to one with better optical zoom. The straight on view will be the furthest distance, and the angle view will be the closest. I'll play with both and see what works the best.
 

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DigitalHobo said:
Oh nice. My nighttime ALPR is nonexistent at this time. I'm hoping the new camera does better. Do you know if it is better to read plates straight on or at a slight angle? I have the option for both. I noticed the reflector on your tree, is that to help with focus? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Yes the reflector is used to dial in a focus point then watch a few cars and adjust. My Cheat code is the LED street light upstream from the capture zone about 100-150 feet. illuminates the plate a little more then no illumination.
I haven't had the opportunity to read straight on. My 1st experience was the IPC-B52IR-Z12E-S2 on a slight angle like 30 degrees off of dead center. And the plates were HUGE. like 50% of the screen. I think the Z4 depicted is probably high 30's or 40 degrees off dead center. but its a small plate but crisp resolution. I have 2 Z12's hangin out n the garage If i ever get the hankerin to go LPR nutz.
 
I agree with @wittaj on the spot to catch plates. Somwhere in that arc of the road curve they will reflect the IR back to the camera in way that is beneficial. Thats the art/science part of it. dialing in a capture area.
A z-12 would have no problem with that distance.
empiretech01.com

EmpireTech IPC-B52IR-Z12E-S2 1/2.8" CMOS 2MP 5mm–60mm Ultra Low Light

2MP 1/2.8" CMOS image sensor Built-in IR LED, the max. illumination distance is 150 m Deep learning algorithm Built-in MIC IP67 and IK10 protection Smart Motion Detection 3.0
empiretech01.com empiretech01.com
 
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