Camera Focusing Tutorial

By: IPVM Team, Published on Oct 14, 2019

Camera focus is fundamental to quality imaging. Mistakes can significantly reduce details, making cameras less effective.

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In this guide, we explain focus issues and proper procedure, covering:

Fixed vs. Varifocal Cameras
Auto vs. Manual Focus
Two Fundamental Lens Controls
How to Focus
Using Autofocus
Potential Autofocus Issues
Manufacturer Focus Control Differences - Avigilon, Axis, Hikvision
Manual Varifocal Lenses
Manual Iris Lenses

****** ***** ** *********** to ******* *******. ******** can ************* ****** *******, making ******* **** *********.

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** **** *****, ** explain ***** ****** *** proper *********, ********:

***** **. ********* *******
**** **. ****** *****
*** *********** **** ********
*** ** *****
***** *********
********* ********* ******
************ ***** ******* *********** - ********, ****, *********
****** ********* ******
****** **** ******

[***************]

Fixed ***** ****** *******

***** ***** ****** *******, with ** *** ** adjusting *****, *** ****** used ** ************ ******* today. ** **** ****** the **** *** *** be ********** ** ***, whether ****** ****** * bullet ** ****** ******* which ** *** ******** to ** ****** ** the *****, ** ** the **** ** **** dome *******, ********** ** shrouds ** ** ************ with ** *** ** access.

Factory Focused Fixed Lens

**** ** ******* **** accessible ******, *** **** is ***** *********** ***** in ***** *** *** intended ** ** *********. This ***** **** ** focus ****** *** *******, users **** *** ******* but ** ******* *** camera, ******* ** ****** adjustments ** *****.

********** ******* ****** *** specialty ******* **** ** multi ****** ** ******* may ******* **** **** focus ** **** **** focus ***********. ************, **** legacy ***** **** ****** may ***** ***** ***** adjustment. *******, **** ***** instances *** ******** ** 2019.

Auto ****** ****** *****

*** ********* *******, ***** are *** ******** ***** of *****:

**** *****/*********:** ********* *******, ***** may **** * ****** and ******* *** ****** to ************* ***** ******. This *** ** ****** via *** ******'* *** interface ** ** **** cases ** * ******** button ** *** ****** itself (*****). ********* ** found ** **** **** factors, ********* *****, *******, turrets, ***, *** *** cameras.

focus control inside dome

****** *****:****** ***** ******** *** user ** ********** ****** zoom *** **** ***** using ***** ** *** camera's ****. ****** ***** is **** ****** ** box *******, ****** **** dome ** ****** ****** may ***** *******, ** well.

Autofocus *** **** ******

** ****, ********* ** common ** *** **** majority ** ********* *******. Previously, ** *** ********** a **** ***, ******* feature. ***, ****** ***** is ********* ******* **** to *********** *******, **** as************** ***** ************ ***** ** *********** or ** ***** ***** imager***-*/********** ***** *** *********** lenses. *******, **** ***** models **** ** *** in *** ******* ** shifting ** *********, ****** manual ***** *** ********.

******* ** **** *****, we ***** ********* **** in **** ******, *** discuss ****** *****, ** well.

Two *********** ********

**** ******* *** ********, there *** *** ****** controls:

**** *****: ******* ***** itself **** ****** ****** on ****. ***** ******** are ********* ******* **** through ***, * ******* Infinity (∞).
****: ******* *** ****' angle ** ****, ***** indirectly ******* *****. ********* labeled * (****) ******* T (*********).

***** ******** *** ***** in *** *** ********* of ********* **** ****** or ******** ** *** lens ** ****** ***** cameras. ** **** ** differences *** *** ** use ***** ******** *****.

How ** *****

****** ***** *** *** general ****: ****** *** to **** ****** *** focus. ******** **** ***** after ******** **** ******* the ******. *******, ***** are *** ******* ***** impact ****:

********* **** *********** **** moving:**** ********* ******* ************* track ***** ***** **** is ******* *** ******* autofocus **** *** **** stops ******. ******* ** this, ***** *** *** need ** ******** ******* autofocus ** ***.
**** ** ***** ** check **** *****:** ***** *****, **** adjusting *** ****, *** image *** ****** ********* blurry *** *********** *** zoom ***** *** ** difficult. ** *** ** necessary ** ***** *** refocus, ** ***** *******, while ******* *** ****** to *** ******* ***** of ****.

Using **** *****/********* ******

**** **** ***** ********* is * ******* ******* and ****** ************, ****** are ***** ********, *** even ******** ** **** cameras. ***** ****** ********* fall **** *** ** three **********:

**** ***** *********:** ***** ******, *** camera *** *** ***** on *** ******* ****** range, ******* ******** ** near ** ********** *******. This ** ***** ******** by ***** ** ****** target ** ***** **, such ** * ****** or **** *****, *** may ******* ****** ********** to **** **** ***** in **** *****.
***** ******* **** ********* from *** ** *****:**** ******* *** ******* to **** ***** **** switching **** *** ** night **** *** **** versa. ** *** *******, focus *** ** ********* when ********* **** *** to **** **** ****** with ** ******* ** as *** ****** **** not **** ****** ***** to ******* *****. ** these ******, ** ********* disabling **** ******* ** focus ******* ** ***** as ** ** **** effective *** ** ****** focus.
******* ** ***** *****:** **** *****, *** camera *** ** ****** to ***** ** *** desired ****** ******* ** is ****** *** ****/*** for *** **** ** compensate. **** ** **** common *** *** ******* with **** **** ***** where ***** ** *** rough ***** *** ****** prior ** *********, *** may ***** ** **** motorized ******* ** ****.

*** ***** ***** ************ the ********* *******, ******* how *** ****** ******** when *** ****** ** in ******* ****** ** soft *****, *** *** three ****** ********* *****.

Auto Focus Video_Web

Manufacturer ****/***** ******** ****

****** ************* *** ********* controls *** ***** *** zoom ** ***** *******, with **** **** ******* labeled *** ******* ** use **** ******.

*** *******, ****' ******** are **** ******, ******* Near/Far *** ****/****, **** slider ******** **** *** each. **** ** ******** to *** *** ************* installers (*** ****** ********** in **** *****), *** fine ****** ***** *** be ********* ** ***** are ** ******* ***** allow *** ********* ** "step" ***** ****/*** ** slight *******.

Axis Zoom Focus Controls

******** ** ******* ** Axis, **** * **** level ******, *** ******* used ** ******* ********* and **** **** ****/*** (0/Infinity) *****, ******** ***** control ** *****.

Avigilon Zoom Focus Controls

*********'* ******** *** ********* in *** "***" ***** pop *** ** *** live **** ** *** web *********. *** ******** have ** **** ******, only *****, ***** *** be ********* *** **** users. ************, ********* ** triggered ** * ****** further ****, ***** ** named "********* *****" ** its *******.

Hikvision Zoom Focus Controls

Manual ********* ****** (**** ** ****)

** ****** ***** *******, zoom *** ***** *** located ** *** **** itself, **** ***** ** locking ***** (****** "*******") used ** ****** ****. The ***** ****** ** these ******** ****** **** lens ** **** *** is ********* ******* ** the **** *****:

Manual Zoom Fine Focus Controls

** ******, ***** ****** move *** ****** *** then ***** ** ** tighten *** **** *****/****. In ****** ****** **** manual ****** *** **** Back ***** **********, **** zoom **** ** ******** set ** *** ****, with ***** ******* ******** before ********** **** ***** in *** ******. **** adjustments ** ***** *** then ** **** **** the ******'* *** ********* (demonstrated ** *** ***** above).

Even **** ******: ****** ****

**** **** ****** ** 2019, **** ****** ******* manual ********** ** *** iris. **** ** ******** using * ***** ****/******, labeled ****, *** ********* in *** ****** ** the **** ******* ***** and ****. ********** ****** from ****** ** **** (C ** *), ********* left *** *** *** open ****** ** **** cases ** ***** ******** the ***** ******** *** camera. ******* **** *********** **** *********** ** iris *** *** ******.

****** **** ****** *** extremely **** ** ******* installs, ****** ***** *** see ***** *********** ** existing ******** ** ********* cameras.

Manual Iris Control

Camera ********* *** ******

**** ***** ****** ******* on ***** *** *** related ******. *******, ****** and ********* ******* *** decisions ** ***** ******* are ******* *** *** much **** **** ****** cover ** ******* ******* details, ******* *** ***** of **** *****. *** more ***********, ******* ****** also ***:

****** *********** ********* *****
***** ** **** (***) Tutorial
*** *** / *** Video ************ *****

[****: **** ****** *** originally ******** ** ****, but ******* ************* ** 2018/2019 **** ********** *********** on *** ******* ***** of *** ******, ************* videos, *** ****.]

Comments (14)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

08/09/18 12:25pm

*** ** *** **** with *** ** ***** issues **** *** ******** opens (****** *** *******). ?

********* *** ******* ** focusing *** **** ****** daylight **********, *** ****** goes *** ** ***** at *****

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 08/09/18 06:43pm

* ** ********* ***** was ** ******* ** neutral ******* ******* ***** used ** **** ** the ******** *******.

**** *** ***** ** daylight, *** **** ** relatively ****** ***** ********* depth ** ***** (*** amount ** ********* ** focus).

**** *** **** * neutral ******* ****** (****'** dark) ** ***** ** the ****, ** "******" the **** **** ******** it's *********, *** **** opens ******** *** ***** case *** ***** ** field. *** *** **** focus ** *** ******* target ********. ***** ***** may ** ********* *** of ***** *** *** will **** **** *** best *** ***.

****, **** *** *-****** of *** **** ***'** using (** **********) **** the ******. *** ***** (or "******") *** *-****** of *** ****, *** better *** *** ******* low ***** *********** ** well ** ********* ***** of ***** ******** ** a "******" ****.

** * ****** **** many ***** ***, * f-stop "******" ********** * 50% **** ** ***** passed. *** *******, ** f1.4 **** ****** **% less ***** **** ** f1.0. ******* **********, ****** correct ** ** **** is ***-******.

*** ***** ********* ******* is ** *** ****** drops ** */* *** relies ** ** ** illuminate *** *****. **** a ****** **** **** color ** */* **** IR, ***** ** * focal ***** ***** *** cause *** ***** ** go ****. * ***** most ****** *** ** corrected ** ***** **** problem *** *** ***********.

Luca Fogliati

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 08/10/18 02:47am

******* ** ******* *'* rather *** * ********* night ***** (** *** focusing ** **** ** day ***** **********) ** adjusting *** ******* ***** at */**** ** */****.****** goes ** ***** *** white ****, *** **** opens ** ** **'* night *** *** *** fine ***** ** * way **** ***** **** for *** *** ***** conditions .***** ***** ** no *** ** ******** the ** ********* ***** plane *** ** ***** at **** ***** **** with ** **

Corey Vavra

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 10/15/19 10:31am

* *** ***** ***** of * ******* ******* filter, *** ***** ******* it ****** **** *** I *** ****** ** focus ******* (**** ** the ***), **** *** the **** ****. ** used * ******* ****** glass ****. $*.** ** the ******** *****. * little ****** ** **** the ***** ******* *** lens *** ** ******. Made *** ***** **** just **** ***** *** would *** * ***** focus **** ****.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 08/09/18 07:11pm

#* ******* ***** ** front ** *** **** will ******** ***** ** allow *** * ****** night *****. *** **** still ****** **** * little ****** ** ***** IR ** ********** *** scene.

***** ***, * ************ passed ***** *** ** an *** ****.

Howard Kohnstamm

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #4 | 08/10/18 05:17pm

* ******* **** **** #5 ****** *** ******* googles. *'** ****** **** out ** ** ******** classes *** *****. ****'** getting ****** ** **** as **** ******* *** gone ********** **** *******/***** that ****** *************.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 08/10/18 12:30am

*** *** ****** **** often? **** ******* *** you *****?

** **** ** ** common ******** ** *** filters ** ******'* ***** during ******** ** ******** night ****, *** ** our ******* *** ***** on ******** **** ******, we **** *** ***** it ** ** * major ******* ** ****.

************, **** (******** ****) autofocus ****** **** ************* refocus *** ****** **** switching **** *** ** night, ***** ******* ***** issues *******.

**'* ******** **** ***** may ** **** ***** issues ** ******** *****, and * **** **** autofocus **** *********, *** in *** **** ******** of ***** *'** ********** performed ** *** **** couple ** *****, ***** has **** **** ****** from *** ** *****.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

08/09/18 04:59pm

***** ********. *** ******* I ****** ** **** is **** * **** of ** ***** * brands **** ***** *** to ******* ** ****-***** on * ********* **** of *** *****. **, if *** ****-***** ** confused *** ***** ** focus ** *** ***** part ** *** *****, you *** **** * box, *** **** ***** the ****-***** ****** *** the ****** **** ***** on **** **** ** the *****.

* ******** * **** - *** **** ** different ****** **** ** perform ** ****-*****? **** is *** ***** *** have ****?

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 08/10/18 12:33am

** ******* *** ***** area ** *** ****** video, ********. *** *** thing *'* ***** *** is **** *'** **** that ***** **** *** be *********** ******* ** a ****** ** *******. It *** **** * slight **********, *** ********** if ***** ** ** far *** **** **'* having ******* ** *** full ******, * *****'* seen *** ***** **** change ****.

** *** ** ***** time, *'* *** ** ranges **** ***** *-* seconds ** ***** **. I'd *** "*******" ** probably *-*. * **** focus **** ** **** cameras *** **** ******, as ****, *** ****'* generally **** *********** ***** specific ************* ** **** re-initializing/re-calibrating * **** ** the ************* ***** ******* it.

Luca Fogliati

08/10/18 02:51am

***** ********* ** ***** be *********** ** ******* the **** **** *** camera **** ** ********* when *** ***** ** in *****.* ***** **** the **** **** (***** the ****?)** ******* **** contrast ** *** **** contrasted *****=*****. *** ***** there *** ***** ***** that * ***'* **** so ** ***** ** interesting ** *******

Charng Haw Guo

IPVMU Certified | 10/30/18 09:00am

***** *********** ***** *** fundamental ******* ** *** auto / ****** ***** setting / **********. ***********!!

Undisclosed #5

11/19/18 08:21am

***** *******.

Joshua Stanley

IPVMU Certified | 02/05/19 01:38am

**** *******. * ****** sometimes **** ** *** 36x ******* **** ** use ******** ** *** in ***** **** ****** to ***** ******** **** (36x). * *** ******* correct *** ***** ** zooming *** **** * bit *** **** **** in. * **** *** the **** ***** ***.

Chuck Vivian

07/24/20 07:41pm

***** ****** ** *** reading **********.

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