Foscam IP Cams: Interchangeable Lens?

[steelgtr 0]

Hi Guys

 

Sorry if this the wrong place to ask. I just got the new Foscam 9810 720P IP Cam and the field of view is too narrrow. Can I put a wider angle equivalent lens on even if it means getting some fish eye effect?

 

Thanks,

 

Bob

[buellwinkle 0]

I've changed lenses on Foscam cameras, pretty easy, you just unscrew the lens and screw in another and turn in/out to focus. I got my lens from DealExtreme (DX). They carry a bunch of sizes from 1.8mm on up. I used 2.1mm which gave me really nice indoor coverage for a room. It's been 2 years, but on my blog I mention this when I reviewed the FI8908. I have links to some of the lenses available on the post near this one about Dahua cameras at Costco.

[steelgtr 0]

I've changed lenses on Foscam cameras, pretty easy, you just unscrew the lens and screw in another and turn in/out to focus. I got my lens from DealExtreme (DX). They carry a bunch of sizes from 1.8mm on up. I used 2.1mm which gave me really nice indoor coverage for a room. It's been 2 years, but on my blog I mention this when I reviewed the FI8908. I have links to some of the lenses available on the post near this one about Dahua cameras at Costco.

 

 

Thanks. I saw that but thought they were a different mount. Just to be clear, this style will fit the Foscam:

 

http://dx.com/p/replacement-fixed-iris-wide-angle-lens-for-cctv-camera-2-8mm-51866?rt=1&p=2&m=2&r=3&k=1&t=1&s=47018&u=51866

 

 

thx

 

bob

[steelgtr 0]

I wanted to make sure that you knew that this is the new megapixel 720P Foscam with a different sensor than the standard 640x480 cams.

 

 

http://foscam.us/products/foscam-fi9820w-megapixel-wireless-ip-camera-94.html

 

 

 

thx

 

bob

[steelgtr 0]

Can someone tell me if I will lose IR Cut filter if I change out the factory lens for the DX replacements? Please?

 

 

bob

[buellwinkle 0]

First, the FI8910W you first mentioned is not 720P, it's a VGA camera just like the Foscams of 2 years ago. They do make a 720P camera, the FI8920W. Either way, the lense from DX claim they work with 1/4 and 1/3" sensors, and I doubt Foscam went beyond 1/3" in sensor size.

 

The IR cut filter is behind the lens, it's mechanical, so the lens should not matter. Try and unscrew your lens and look at it, it should look similar to the lenses at DX except the Foscam lenses have a large edge bezzle to them to make it easier to turn and remove. A typical board lens has a small front bezel so a little harder to grip. It will take many turns to remove the lens.

[steelgtr 0]

First, the FI8910W you first mentioned is not 720P, it's a VGA camera just like the Foscams of 2 years ago. They do make a 720P camera, the FI8920W. Either way, the lense from DX claim they work with 1/4 and 1/3" sensors, and I doubt Foscam went beyond 1/3" in sensor size.

 

The IR cut filter is behind the lens, it's mechanical, so the lens should not matter. Try and unscrew your lens and look at it, it should look similar to the lenses at DX except the Foscam lenses have a large edge bezzle to them to make it easier to turn and remove. A typical board lens has a small front bezel so a little harder to grip. It will take many turns to remove the lens.

 

Above reference:

 

 

http://foscam.us/products/foscam-fi9820w-megapixel-wireless-ip-camera-94.html

 

megapixel 720P

 

thx

 

bob

[buellwinkle 0]

Did you try and remove the lens yet? That will tell you if it's replaceable.

[MaxIcon 0]

Changing the lens shouldn't affect the IR cut filter. This is almost always between the lens and sensor, especially on inexpensive cameras where they want to use off-the-shelf items like lenses as much as possible.

 

2 things to watch out for:

 

- If you're going to use it with IR, make sure the lens is IR corrected, or your focus will be off when the IR cut filter is out and the IR leds are on.

 

- You should find out what the sensor size is, as this is important when you change the lens. A 3.6mm lens for a 1/3" sensor will give a different field of view with a 1/3" sensor vs a 1/4" sensor; the 1/4" sensor will have a narrower field of view.

 

Whatever size sensor you have now, you should buy a lens for the same size. If you buy larger, it will work, but you have to calculate the new lens size based on the field of view you want.

[MaxIcon 0]

 

http://foscam.us/products/foscam-fi9820w-megapixel-wireless-ip-camera-94.html

 

My browser reported this web site as unsafe, and it was attempting to load something that looked suspiciously like malware. Other people have reported getting viruses from the foscam.us site. Just saying...

[buellwinkle 0]

Thanks for the warning on their website. The lenses are rated for 1/4" or 1/3" and for sure it will give a different viewing angle depending on the sensor size. Use a good lens calculator that takes in all the information you have and spits out viewing angle, pixel density at a certain distance, face pixels for recognition to find the appropriate lens. I find that rookies get lenses that are far too wide an angle to capture everything but that comes at the expense of being able to recognize a face because the distance to their face is too great.

[steelgtr 0]

Thanks, guys

 

I have not tried to remove the stock lens yet.

 

 

Here are some specs for the camera but I don't see a size for the sensor anywhere:

 

Model FI9820W Black

Resolution No

Color Black

Image Sensor CMOS Sensor

Display Resolution 1280*720 (1mega Pixel)

Lens f: 3.6mm, F:2.4

Mini Lumination 0.5Lux

Lens Type Glass Lens

Viewing Angle 50 Degree

 

 

I ordered a 1.8mm and a 2.5 from DX.

 

Thx,

 

bo

[buellwinkle 0]

Can't find the spec on the sensor size which probably means it's 1/4" so you should be fine with those lenses. I used the 2.1mm and it made a good difference. For one, the stock lens is f2.4, so the replacement lens should do better in lower light.

[rob2791 0]

Has anyone successfully changed the FI9805 megapixel lens? Trying to get wider view than 70 degrees. I've read that the MP lens are different. Anyone ever change it?

[MaxIcon 0]

I think there's a Foscam forum where these things get discussed in detail. Best bet is to find someone with the same model Foscam who's changed the lens.

 

However, changing an M12 lens can be easy, but there are potential problems.

 

- You need to match your lens to your sensor size - 1/4", 1/3", whatever. Otherwise, you might get dark corners (1/4" lens on 1/3" sensor) and will get a different field of view than you expect.

 

- You need to verify if the cam's got a movable IR filter, a fixed IR filter, or no IR filter. Movable IR filters are usually separate from the lens, but some daylight-only cams have the IR filter attached to the lens, and if you put a non-IR filter lens on, your daytime colors will be off.

 

- If the lens says IR, it generally means IR corrected for focus, not with an IR filter attached. The former are common, the latter fairly rare.

 

- If there's a moving IR filter, some lenses will hit it before they screw in far enough to focus. There's no easy way to tell if this will happen without trying it out.

 

- It should be MP rated, though that's a fuzzy spec, and somewhat meaningless in cheap lenses.

 

Good luck!