Best practice to using a PTZ as an operator.

[Numb-nuts 1]

Fitting a PTZ camera is one thing, but utilizing PTZ to best advantage is quite another.

My own PTZ at home is no better than a static camera at night when I don't attend it, this suits me fine as I have it set to motion detection recording and use 16 different presets, most of which are not viewable at night. I also have the privacy screens set up to protect myself against accusations of voyeurism where I do not look anyway. (never been an issue)

 

You may notice that I do not utilize any alarm inputs at the moment, mainly because there is only one preset I wish to monitor for activity during the night and that is pitch dark. I do intend to add floodlights (IR or white) and a PIR trigger at some time in the future.

 

What if any are good sound techniques for using such a system?

I have learned for instance, to follow individuals, it does not pay to be zoomed in.

A wider view is required. Close-ups are best captured from a static target. Using presets to get to specific locations is the fastest and most accurate method, using the controller to adjust the view from there. for each location, I have a zoomed in and a wider view preset.

 

I know that a lot of people will want a 3d control stick, I am no different but I am beginning to think a button based zoom in/out might be better.

 

What are your tips for using PTZ.

[rory 0]

is your yard that big

[ljarrald 0]

Fitting a PTZ camera is one thing, but utilizing PTZ to best advantage is quite another.

My own PTZ at home is no better than a static camera at night when I don't attend it, this suits me fine as I have it set to motion detection recording and use 16 different presets, most of which are not viewable at night. I also have the privacy screens set up to protect myself against accusations of voyeurism where I do not look anyway. (never been an issue)

 

You may notice that I do not utilize any alarm inputs at the moment, mainly because there is only one preset I wish to monitor for activity during the night and that is pitch dark. I do intend to add floodlights (IR or white) and a PIR trigger at some time in the future.

 

What if any are good sound techniques for using such a system?

I have learned for instance, to follow individuals, it does not pay to be zoomed in.

A wider view is required. Close-ups are best captured from a static target. Using presets to get to specific locations is the fastest and most accurate method, using the controller to adjust the view from there. for each location, I have a zoomed in and a wider view preset.

 

I know that a lot of people will want a 3d control stick, I am no different but I am beginning to think a button based zoom in/out might be better.

 

What are your tips for using PTZ.

 

 

my dvr is in the cellar. the PTZ cameras can be controlled directly from the keyboard or through the dvr. mine are controlled through the DVR.

in the living room i have 'hacked' a scart connector so that the DVR can be seen through the scart input BUT if/when a camera goes into alarm (say for example, someone gets into the shed) and the TV is on, regardless of what you are watching, the tv switches to the scart input to confirm the intruder, and then you phone the police (alarms also sound throughout the house)

there is also a keyboard in the living room, the advantage of the PTZ control going through the DVR is that i can also control the DVR from the keyboard. if someone asks to see footage, i do not need to take them down to the cellar. i have the same setup in my room. i have 2 keyboards in total, one with a 3 axis joystick, and one with up/down/left/right buttons. both keyboards have zoom buttons and stuff too so the joystic one is just quicker for the PTZ but it is easier to control the DVR with the non joystick one.

sorry for going off on a tangent, didn't really answer your question but thought i'd share part on my setup

[Numb-nuts 1]

is your yard that big

 

I wish it was Rory I wish it was. Stragely enough I have no presets that look

within my boundary. All other them are on the street outside or in the alley to the side of my house. These are locations where youths gather often, or trouble has been known to erupt.

Remember I said for each location, I have saved a wider and a zoomed preset. Doesn't take long to use them up.

My Camera has 124 presets but I doubt I'll ever need that many.

It's difficult enough to remember them all with just 16 presets.

 

Maybe I'll print out a Google Earth aerial shot, with my preset numbers superimposed on it? Whadda ya think?

[ljarrald 0]

is your yard that big

 

I wish it was Rory I wish it was. Stragely enough I have no presets that look

within my boundary. All other them are on the street outside or in the alley to the side of my house. These are locations where youths gather often, or trouble has been known to erupt.

Remember I said for each location, I have saved a wider and a zoomed preset. Doesn't take long to use them up.

My Camera has 124 presets but I doubt I'll ever need that many.

It's difficult enough to remember them all with just 16 presets.

 

SNAP!

Maybe I'll print out a Google Earth aerial shot, with my preset numbers superimposed on it? Whadda ya think?

 

good idea, or label the buttons

[hardwired 0]

Get the PIR inputs going. The best residential system I've done had three Pelco PTZ domes, controlled by a matrix switcher that had alarm inputs to call PTZ positions, and twelve wireless PIR's in various locations to call the presets as someone walked through, as well as several fixed cameras with tight shots on doors.

 

Otherwise, the system is going to be limited by your response time (and that's going to be a lot longer if you are not home, as well!).

[Numb-nuts 1]

Labelling the buttons is NOT going to work as I am already into double figures so for preset 12 I'd have to type 1, 2, preset. A printed list would be better and my google earth picture with the preset numbers on will work quite well for me I think.