Need help on a new camera - PTZ or something else?

[Jake1979]

I am currently using the Dahua SD49425XB-HNR from @EMPIRETECANDY , it has the built in tracking. It works great during the day but harder to work with at night seeing license plates due the lower light that I have and the IR bounce.

I have a Hikvision ColorVu DS-2CD2347G1-L 4MP Outdoor Network Turret (from 2019) that I had on our front porch at our prior house and it worked great at night. I am not using it at the moment at our new house because our front yard is hughe compared to what we had and the PTZ 30x zoom comes in handy.

I want to move the current PTZ to the back of our house, we have a huge field and I want to watch the barn, garden, etc. Nothing special but just want to watch it.

I need to decide if a PTZ is needed out front, if so, either a newer one that does a little better at night with plates or use that Hikvision in a different spot for the plates.

Example:

 

[bigredfish]

A PTZ is the wrong equipment for plates

If you want to get good reliable plate captures, you should buy a dedicated camera for that purpose.

Here's two
What many of us use for plate capture at ranges out to 150+ft

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 SMD 3.0

empiretech01.com

If not as much distance is needed say up to 60ft

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 SMD 3.0

empiretech01.com

 

[wittaj]

+1 above. A PTZ is not the right choice for LPR.

Unlike fixed cams, you cannot set a focus number on a PTZ, so it would require you to essentially turn the PTZ into a fixed cam at night about an hour before sunset so that the camera has the ability to fix on a focus point.

And you would then need to set the PTZ settings up specifically to read plates.

The IR bounce you are seeing is because you don't have the shutter fast enough to read plates. We need the IR bounce in order to run the faster shutters to get the freeze frame captures.

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, and it appears you don't either. 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):

See the LPR subforum for more details.

 

[Jake1979]

LPR really isn’t a huge priority, more of a nice to have. Ideally I’d like to have better night image quality. I’m not going to add more lights so I may need to consider adding my turret for the better night quality.

 

[Flintstone61]

PTZ's have their place esp in an actively monitored Security setting Like a Casino. but for unmonitored home use they are mostly for fun. But if you want dedicated coverage. a fixed position camera or cameras will give you better data. they will not get confused at night.

 

[Flintstone61]

getting the coverage I need here with no PTZ's. The neighbors backyard next door is his place of peace and privacy. So no cams on that side of the house. They did recently up their security 100% with a doorbell cam.
But i have 2 more idle z12 bullets that keep looking at me longingly from the shelf in the garage.

 

[bigredfish]

Andy has a number of the more popular ones. For an average backyard that first one might work, especially if you can add some floodlights. Most really don’t do great at night until you get well up the $$$ ladder

PTZ Camera | EmpireTech

EmpireTech PTZ cameras provide extensive coverage with exact clarity. Anti-corrosion and explosion-proof models serve specific requirements. Proven for dependability and productivity in various industries, such as transport, government, and city surveillance, plus extreme settings like Mt. Everest.

empiretech01.com

 

[Jake1979]

Our PTZ detects motion and follows it, it works great during the day. It is not 100% needed out front, the standard coverage of the upper drive way is what it stays on 99% of the time unless I'm moving it manually to look for an animal. The PTZ would be better served out back to watch the field (mostly fun but also to keep an eye on escaping pigs, etc).

We don't have an average backyard, it's about 8 acres.

 

[bigredfish]

Our PTZ detects motion and follows it, it works great during the day. It is not 100% needed out front, the standard coverage of the upper drive way is what it stays on 99% of the time unless I'm moving it manually to look for an animal. The PTZ would be better served out back to watch the field (mostly fun but also to keep an eye on escaping pigs, etc).

We don't have an average backyard, it's about 8 acres.

Night is a whole new ballgame.

Oh then figure on a $1800-$2500 PTZ (maybe multiple) and figure out how to get light where you need it.

The laser IR models can throw light out quite a ways. I’m not sure if they’re still making them?

An example of the reasonable prices cameras see this thread. Problem is it needs open uncluttered ground and peters out at around 400ft

Thread 'PTZ5A4M-25X Tracking issues - Dahua SD5A425GA-HNR'

Jul 18, 2025

Having horrible tracking issues with this PTZ.

Any suggestions? I had a 6 series there for 4 years that had AWESOME tracking, but with the 1/2,8" sensor it just really began to suck in low light (and I think weather may have gotten to it)

The image on this PTZ5A4M-25X / SD5A425GA-HNR is far superior with the 1/1.8" sensor, but if it can't track better than this, it doesn't really matter

SD5A425GA-HNR - Dahua International

SD5A425GA-HNR

www.dahuasecurity.com

...

• bigredfish
• Replies: 184
• Forum: Dahua

•