Pan, Tilt, and Zoom cameras are advanced and have the capability to cover a larger area. They offer more control to the users and unveil intricate details. Therefore, they are often preferred for security surveillance at homes and offices.
In this article, we will discuss what Pan, Tilt, and Zoom cameras are. We will explain how they work with manual and automated control. We will also share incredible PTZ cameras to help you select the best product.
What is Pan Tilt Zoom Camera Control?
Pan, tilt, and zoom are abbreviated as PTZ. These are the special controls in PTZ cameras.
Pan refers to the horizontal, and tilt refers to the vertical rotation of the camera lens. If a camera offers a 90⁰ pan, it means it can be rotated horizontally to that extent. Similarly, there is a range of tilt. That said, the user can rotate the camera in different directions to cover a larger area than normal cameras that remain still.
The zoom in the camera allows you to zoom into the object or person. It helps you take a close-up view and capture intricate details, such as the license plates of vehicles and the facial features of a person.
The PTZ control in a camera can be manual or automated. Let’s look at manual and automated controls in detail.
Automated Control Explanation of Pan Tilt Zoom Camera
Some PTZ cameras are equipped with automatic control. It means the pan, tilt, and zoom can work automatically. It requires automatic person or vehicle detection.
Suppose a person is detected in a camera. The camera will follow its movement through pan and tilt. It will rotate up and down and right and left to capture the movement of the person in the vicinity. If the camera also has auto zoom, it will automatically zoom into the person to capture the details.
Automatic control helps in movement tracking, which is excellent for security surveillance. It allows the camera to capture a wider area without user intervention. However, users can also enjoy manual control of PTZ whenever they want.
Some PTZ cameras also have an auto-patrol option, which means they rotate automatically between the selected points.
Manual Control Explanation of Pan Tilt Zoom Camera
If there is no automatic control, the pan, tilt, and zoom in the camera should be controlled manually. It means the camera cannot change its rotation or zoom on its own even after detecting a person or moving object.
It just stays at a fixed field of view to capture videos like a normal camera until the user changes anything. The user has a control like arrow keys. With this, the camera can be rotated. For instance, if the camera is capturing the extreme left, the user can rotate it to see what’s going on the extreme right.
With the manual control, the users can see the whole vicinity. They can adjust the field of view as they like and zoom into anything within the frame.
Who is Using PTZ Camera Control?
The pan, tilt, and zoom are controlled through the camera application. Anyone who has access to the camera can control them.
There are simple controls like the arrow keys, and users can easily change the field of view and zoom of the camera remotely.
Let’s see how you can control a Reolink’s PTZ camera.
- Open the Reolink app and enter the credentials of the camera to connect to it.
- Go to the live-view page and tap PTZ. You will see all the controls.
- Press and hold the arrow keys to rotate the camera. Set the field of view you want.
- Tap the Zoom button and adjust the zoom in and zoom out.
Top Options for Pan Tilt Zoom Camera
Here are some top options for pan, tilt, and zoom cameras you can consider for optimal security surveillance.
4K Dual-Lens Wireless PTZ Camera - Argus Track
Argus Track is a dual-lens Wi-Fi PTZ camera with 355⁰ pan and 90⁰ tilt to cover a vast area. It offers 6X hybrid zoom to get a clear and close-up view of objects. It can detect persons and vehicles accurately and send instant alerts. Most importantly, it can auto-track and auto-zoom to record every moment with fine details.
Its 4K video quality is incredible, and you see clear and crisp videos with intricate details. Even at night, it offers colored and clear videos through its color night vision. It is a battery-powered camera that can also be powered through a small solar panel.
4K Dual-Lens Wi-Fi Solar/Battery Camera
4K 8MP Ultra HD, Auto-Zoom Tracking, Pan, Tilt & 6X Hybrid Zoom, Color Night Vision, Dual-Band Wi-Fi.
4K Dual-Lens PoE PTZ Camera - Reolink TrackMix PoE
TrackMix is a PoE PTZ camera that offers 4K Ultra HD video quality. Its 355⁰ pan and 90⁰ tilt cover a wider area. The best part is its dual-tracking, which auto-tracks objects in panoramic and zoomed views at the same time, and you can see both videos simultaneously.
It can detect persons, pets, and vehicles automatically. You can also talk to the person in front of the camera using two-way audio. It records clear videos at night and offers two night-vision modes. Other than that, you can enjoy time-lapse, dual warning, flexible storage, and tons of features.
4K Dual-Lens PTZ Camera with Dual Tracking
4K 8MP Ultra HD, Wide & Telephoto Lenses, Pan & Tilt, Auto-Tracking, Person/Vehicle Detection, Power over Ethernet, Two-Way Audio.
FAQs
1. What controls a PTZ camera?
A PTZ camera is controlled through a mobile application. You have to connect to the camera, and there are some simple controls. You can adjust the pan, tilt, and zoom through the app quickly. You can control it on your own and even give access to others.
2. What is the disadvantage of PTZ camera?
Due to the mechanical movement, PTZ cameras require more maintenance, and they are more prone to failure. Their PTZ mechanism can also cause a lag or delay in the live preview. Moreover, some PTZ cameras could have a limited field of view and blind spots.
Conclusion
Pan, tilt, and zoom cameras give you more control. You can rotate the camera in different directions and zoom into anything you want. These cameras can also track the motion of moving objects automatically and even zoom in for close-up videos. They are ideal for covering a larger area and offer extra features compared to normal cameras.