Camera Focusing Tutorial

Author: IPVM Team, Published on Aug 09, 2018

A camera's focus is fundamental to quality imaging. Mistakes can cause important problems.

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

* ******'* ***** ** *********** ** ******* *******. ******** *** cause ********* ********.

** **** *****, ** ******* ***** ****** *** ****** *********, covering:

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

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

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

** ****, ***** ***** **** *******, **** ** *** ** adjusting *****, *** ****** ****. ** **** ****** *** **** may *** ** ********** ** ***, ******* ****** ****** * bullet ** ****** ******* ***** ** *** ******** ** ** opened ** *** *****, ** ** *** **** ** **** dome *******, ********** ** ******* ** ** ************ **** ** way ** ******.

factory focused fixed lens

**** ** ******* **** ********** ******, *** **** ** ***** effectively ***** ** ***** *** *** ******** ** ** *********. This ***** **** ** ***** ****** *** *******, ***** **** few ******* *** ** ******* *** ******, ******* ** ****** adjustments ** *****.

********** ******* ****** *** ********* ******* **** ** ***** ****** or ******* *** ******* **** **** ***** ** **** **** focus ***********. ************, **** ****** ***** **** ****** *** ***** allow ***** **********. *******, **** ***** ********* *** ******** ** 2018.

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

*** ********* *******, ***** *** *** ******** ***** ** *****:

  • **** *****/*********:** ********* *******, ***** *** **** * ****** *** ******* the ****** ** ************* ***** ******. **** *** ** ****** via *** ******'* *** ********* ** ** **** ***** ** a ******** ****** ** *** ****** ****** (*****). ********* ** found ** **** **** *******, ********* *****, *******, *******, ***, and *** *******.

  • ****** *****:****** ***** ******** *** **** ** ********** ****** **** *** fine ***** ***** ***** ** *** ******'* ****. ****** ***** is **** ****** ** *** *******, ****** **** **** ** bullet ****** *** ***** *******, ** ****.

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

** ****, ********* ** ****** ** *** **** ******** ** varifocal *******. **********, ** *** ********** * **** ***, ******* feature. ***, ****** ***** ** ********* ******* **** ** *********** cameras, **** **************** ***** ************ ***** ** *********** ** ** ***** ***** *********-*/********** ***** *** *********** ******. *******, **** ***** ****** **** or *** ** *** ******* ** ******** ** *********, ****** manual ***** *** ********.

******* ** **** *****, ** ***** ********* **** ** **** report, *** ******* ****** *****, ** ****.

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

**** ******* *** ********, ***** *** *** ****** ********:

  • **** *****: ******* ***** ****** **** ****** ****** ** ****. These ******** *** ********* ******* **** ******* ***, * ******* Infinity (∞).
  • ****: ******* *** ****' ***** ** ****, ***** ********** ******* focus. ********* ******* * (****) ******* * (*********).

***** ******** *** ***** ** *** *** ********* ** ********* lens ****** ** ******** ** *** **** ** ****** ***** cameras. ** **** ** *********** *** *** ** *** ***** controls *****.

How ** *****

****** ***** *** *** ******* ****: ****** *** ** **** before *** *****. ******** **** ***** ***** ******** **** ******* the ******. *******, ***** *** *** ******* ***** ****** ****:

  • ********* **** *********** **** ******:**** ********* ******* ************* ***** ***** ***** **** ** ******* and ******* ********* **** *** **** ***** ******. ******* ** this, ***** *** *** **** ** ******** ******* ********* ** all.
  • **** ** ***** ** ***** **** *****:** ***** *****, **** ********* *** ****, *** ***** *** become ********* ****** *** *********** *** **** ***** *** ** difficult. ** *** ** ********* ** ***** *** *******, ** least *******, ***** ******* *** ****** ** *** ******* *****.

**** ***** ************ *** ****** ** ******* *** ***** ***** a ********* ******:

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

**** **** ***** ********* ** * ******* ******* *** ****** installation, ****** *** ***** *****. **** ********* ***** **** *** categories:

  • ******* ** ***** *****:** **** *****, *** ****** *** ** ****** ** ***** on *** ******* ****** ******* ** ** ****** *** ****/*** for *** **** ** **********. **** ** **** ****** *** box ******* **** **** **** ***** ***** ***** ** *** rough ***** *** ****** ***** ** *********, *** *** ***** in **** ********* ******* ** ****.
  • **** ***** *********:** ***** ******, *** ****** *** *** ***** ** *** desired ****** *****, ******* ******** ** **** ** ********** *******. This ** ***** ******** ** ***** ** ****** ****** ** focus **, **** ** * ****** ** **** *****, *** may ******* ****** ********** ** **** **** ***** ** **** cases.

*** ***** ***** ************ *** ********* *******, ******* *** *** camera ******** **** *** ****** ** ** ******* ****** ** soft *****, *** *** *** ****** ********* *****.

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

****** ************* *** ********* ******** *** ***** *** **** ** their *******, **** **** **** ******* ******* *** ******* ** use **** ******.

*** *******, ****' ******** *** **** ******, ******* ****/*** *** Wide/Tele, **** ****** ******** **** *** ****. **** ** ******** to *** *** ************* ********** (*** ****** ********** ** **** cases), *** **** ****** ***** *** ** ********* ** ***** are ** ******* ***** ***** *** ********* ** "****" ***** near/far ** ****** *******.

******** ** ******* ** ****, **** * **** ***** ******, but ******* **** ** ******* ********* *** **** **** ****/*** (0/Infinity) *****.

*********'* ******** *** ********* ** *** "***" ***** *** *** in *** **** **** ** *** *** *********. *** ******** have ** **** ******, **** *****, ***** *** ** ********* for **** *****. ************, ********* ** ********* ** * ****** further ****, ***** ** ***** "********* *****" ** *** *******.

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

** ****** ***** *******, **** *** ***** *** ******* ** the **** ******, **** ***** ** ******* ***** (****** "*******") used ** ****** ****. *** ***** ****** ** ***** ******** varies **** **** ** **** *** ** ********* ******* ** the **** *****:

** ******, ***** ****** **** *** ****** *** **** ***** it ** ******* *** **** *****/****. ** ****** ****** **** manual ****** *** **** **** ***** **********, **** **** **** be ******** *** ** *** ****, **** ***** ******* ******** before ********** **** ***** ** *** ******. **** *********** ** focus *** **** ** **** **** *** ******'* *** ********* (demonstrated ** *** ***** *****).

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

**** **** ****** ** ****, **** ****** ******* ****** ********** of *** ****. **** ** ******** ***** * ***** ****/******, labeled ****, *** ********* ** *** ****** ** *** **** between ***** *** ****. ********** ****** **** ****** ** **** (C ** *), ********* **** *** *** *** **** ****** in **** ***** ** ***** ******** *** ***** ******** *** camera. ******* **** *********** **** *********** ** **** *** *** ******.

****** **** ****** *** ********* **** ** ******* ********, ****** users *** *** ***** *********** ** ******** ******** ** ********* cameras.

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

**** ***** ****** ******* ** ***** *** *** ******* ******. However, ****** *** ********* ******* *** ********* ** ***** ******* are ******* *** *** **** **** **** ****** ***** ** produce ******* *******, ******* *** ***** ** **** *****. *** more ***********, ******* ****** **** ***:

Comments (12)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

08/09/18 03:25pm

*** ** *** **** **** *** ** ***** ****** **** the ******** ***** (****** *** *******). ?

********* *** ******* ** ******** *** **** ****** ******** **********, but ****** **** *** ** ***** ** *****

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

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

* ** ********* ***** *** ** ******* ** ******* ******* filters ***** **** ** **** ** *** ******** *******.

**** *** ***** ** ********, *** **** ** ********** ****** which ********* ***** ** ***** (*** ****** ** ********* ** focus).

**** *** **** * ******* ******* ****** (****'** ****) ** front ** *** ****, ** "******" *** **** **** ******** it's *********, *** **** ***** ******** *** ***** **** *** depth ** *****. *** *** **** ***** ** *** ******* target ********. ***** ***** *** ** ********* *** ** ***** but *** **** **** **** *** **** *** ***.

****, **** *** *-****** ** *** **** ***'** ***** (** integrated) **** *** ******. *** ***** (** "******") *** *-****** of *** ****, *** ****** *** *** ******* *** ***** performance ** **** ** ********* ***** ** ***** ******** ** a "******" ****.

** * ****** **** **** ***** ***, * *-**** "******" represents * **% **** ** ***** ******. *** *******, ** f1.4 **** ****** **% **** ***** **** ** **.*. ******* physicists, ****** ******* ** ** **** ** ***-******.

*** ***** ********* ******* ** ** *** ****** ***** ** B/W *** ****** ** ** ** ********** *** *****. **** a ****** **** **** ***** ** */* **** **, ***** is * ***** ***** ***** *** ***** *** ***** ** go ****. * ***** **** ****** *** ** ********* ** solve **** ******* *** *** ***********.

Avatar

Luca Fogliati

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 08/10/18 05:47am

******* ** ******* *'* ****** *** * ********* ***** ***** (if *** ******** ** **** ** *** ***** **********) ** adjusting *** ******* ***** ** */**** ** */****.****** **** ** black *** ***** ****, *** **** ***** ** ** **'* night *** *** *** **** ***** ** * *** **** works **** *** *** *** ***** ********** .***** ***** ** no *** ** ******** *** ** ********* ***** ***** *** to ***** ** **** ***** **** **** ** **

Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 08/09/18 10:11pm

#* ******* ***** ** ***** ** *** **** **** ******** night ** ***** *** * ****** ***** *****. *** **** still ****** **** * ****** ****** ** ***** ** ** illuminate *** *****.

***** ***, * ************ ****** ***** *** ** ** *** show.

Avatar

Howard Kohnstamm

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

* ******* **** **** #* ****** *** ******* *******. *'** passed **** *** ** ** ******** ******* *** *****. ****'** getting ****** ** **** ** **** ******* *** **** ********** with *******/***** **** ****** *************.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 08/10/18 03:30am

*** *** ****** **** *****? **** ******* *** *** *****?

** **** ** ** ****** ******** ** *** ******* ** welder's ***** ****** ******** ** ******** ***** ****, *** ** our ******* *** ***** ** ******** **** ******, ** **** not ***** ** ** ** * ***** ******* ** ****.

************, **** (******** ****) ********* ****** **** ************* ******* *** camera **** ********* **** *** ** *****, ***** ******* ***** issues *******.

**'* ******** **** ***** *** ** **** ***** ****** ** specific *****, *** * **** **** ********* **** *********, *** in *** **** ******** ** ***** *'** ********** ********* ** the **** ****** ** *****, ***** *** **** **** ****** from *** ** *****.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

08/09/18 07:59pm

***** ********. *** ******* * ****** ** **** ** **** I **** ** ** ***** * ****** **** ***** *** to ******* ** ****-***** ** * ********* **** ** *** scene. **, ** *** ****-***** ** ******** *** ***** ** focus ** *** ***** **** ** *** *****, *** *** draw * ***, *** **** ***** *** ****-***** ****** *** the ****** **** ***** ** **** **** ** *** *****.

* ******** * **** - *** **** ** ********* ****** take ** ******* ** ****-*****? **** ** *** ***** *** have ****?

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 08/10/18 03:33am

** ******* *** ***** **** ** *** ****** *****, ********. The *** ***** *'* ***** *** ** **** *'** **** that ***** **** *** ** *********** ******* ** * ****** of *******. ** *** **** * ****** **********, *** ********** if ***** ** ** *** *** **** **'* ****** ******* on *** **** ******, * *****'* **** *** ***** **** change ****.

** *** ** ***** ****, *'* *** ** ****** **** about *-* ******* ** ***** **. *'* *** "*******" ** probably *-*. * **** ***** **** ** **** ******* *** take ******, ** ****, *** ****'* ********* **** *********** ***** specific ************* ** **** **-************/**-*********** * **** ** *** ************* which ******* **.

Avatar

Luca Fogliati

08/10/18 05:51am

***** ********* ** ***** ** *********** ** ******* *** **** that *** ****** **** ** ********* **** *** ***** ** in *****.* ***** **** *** **** **** (***** *** ****?)** working **** ******** ** *** **** ********** *****=*****. *** ***** there *** ***** ***** **** * ***'* **** ** ** would ** *********** ** *******

Charng Haw Guo

IPVMU Certified | 10/30/18 12:00pm

***** *********** ***** *** *********** ******* ** *** **** / manual ***** ******* / **********. ***********!!

Undisclosed #5

11/19/18 11:21am

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

Joshua Stanley

02/05/19 04:38am

**** *******. * ****** ********* **** ** *** *** ******* PTZs ** *** ******** ** *** ** ***** **** ****** to ***** ******** **** (***). * *** ******* ******* *** issue ** ******* *** **** * *** *** **** **** in. * **** *** *** **** ***** ***.

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