Camera Placement at Fence Entrance (w/ pics)?

[iseeker]

I’m adding a camera to a side door/gate area and could use advice on placement relative to an existing light fixture, as well as the best camera model for this specific geometry.

The Site (See attached photos):

• Mounting Height: The eaves are at 10ft. You can see the metal plate where I'll run some schedule 40 down.
• Proposed Spots:
  
  • Blue Line: 4' down from eaves (~6' off ground).
  • Red Line: 5' down from eaves (~5' off ground).
• Target: the gate entrance approx. 9.5 feet from the camera placement.
• Lighting: The barn-light fixture seen in the pics is on a dusk-to-dawn sensor (ON all night).

My Gear Options:

1. IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3 (Varifocal 2.7-12mm, 4MP)
2. IPC-Color4K-T-S2 (Fixed 2.8mm, 8MP, 1/1.2" sensor)
3. IPC-Color4M-T (Fixed 3.6mm, 4MP)

My Questions:

1. Location: If I put the camera at the blue line (6 ft from ground), then it will be above the metallic light fixure which means less glare from the bulb, but maybe IR reflection crops up. If at the red line (5 ft from ground), then introduces glare from bulb.
2. Lens Choice: For a 9.5' distance to the target (though they will be walking in), is the Color4K-T (2.8mm) going to be too wide? I'm worried about wasting pixels on the brick wall/hose reel. Would I be better off with the T54IR-ZE so I can zoom to ~6mm and frame the gate tight?
   
   
   

 

[bigredfish]

Had similar at my old house.

I’d take it UP to the top of the door frame
Or even the eave. Seeing a bit the other side of the gate is helpful

3.6mm 4K-T run it in color. If you need the onboard lights they’re available.

 

[iseeker]

Had similar at my old house.

I’d take it UP to the top of the door frame
Or even the eave. Seeing a bit the other side of the gate is helpful

3.6mm 4K-T run it in color. If you need the onboard lights they’re available.

Interesting. Most of my spots I’ve got the cameras at the eaves, but that’s pretty high to then go down and try to get somebody’s face recognition which is the purpose of this camera. I would have a blind spot for about 15 feet on the other side of the fence because the camera on the corner is just pointing towards the driveway forward. Certainly would be easier to hang it in the eaves

 

[bigredfish]

Ideal, and where I had mine at both gates either side was at about 8ft

I’m just saying too low can be as bad as too high. You lose a bit of perspective.

At 9.5ft distance to target you’re not gonna need zoom past 3.6mm and you’ll lose FOV

Compromise like I did and go to top corner of the door frame

 

[TonyR]

#1 camera (probably @ min. of 2.7mm, mounted even with top of door frame.

 

[bigredfish]

3.6mm
10ft
Camera 8ft

(iPhone pic)

 

[looney2ns]

Interesting. Most of my spots I’ve got the cameras at the eaves, but that’s pretty high to then go down and try to get somebody’s face recognition which is the purpose of this camera. I would have a blind spot for about 15 feet on the other side of the fence because the camera on the corner is just pointing towards the driveway forward. Certainly would be easier to hang it in the eaves

The best game plan is to make a temporary mount for the cam, that you can move around.
Get an 8ft 2x4, 5 gal bucket, rocks or sand for ballast and test each proposed location for minimum of 24hrs prior to permanently mounting.
Things can look good on paper, but sometimes that doesn't work out in actual practice. Thus test before mounting.

 

[bigredfish]

3.6mm
10ft
Camera 8ft

(iPhone pic)

View attachment 235524

Still go with the 4K-T
Much stronger LEDs and 4K