What varifocal zoom will get me to 300-400'

[keeperofthecode]

I'm wanting to get a general view of this area just to see what is going on, not ID someone. To get to that area they will pass several other cameras close up for ID purposes. That area starts at 300' away from where camera will be mounted. I know a 12mm zoom will not do, so I was thinking 32mm probably will. What is your opinion and do you have any camera suggestions? NVR is Dahua and lot is lit fairly well at night.

 

[CanCuba]

I use this calculator. I play around until I find the focal length I want based on distance and height of camera.

75mm focal length gets you to identification quality.

Lens Calculator

www.jvsg.com

 

[digger11]

These are from an IPC-HFW5241E-Z12E 5-60mm zoom at max zoom at a distance of 377 feet.
Night time image is with no illumination other than the onboard IR, and with default image settings.
I haven't tweaked it at all as it's just temporarily mounted.
Next week it will move to a spot 25' off of the road where it can be aimed at where ever along ~300' of road gives me the best results.
Here's @EMPIRETECANDY 's Amazon store listing for the camera..

https://www.amazon.com/Loryta-IPC-HFW5241E-Z12E-Starlight-Network-English/dp/B07RJQT9NB

 

[wittaj]

If you end up deciding you only want to be able to IDENTIFY at night, only a powerful PTZ will do. Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/EmpireTech-SD5A425XA-HNR-Starlight-Auto-Tracking-IVSEnglish/dp/B08GKQSK2W/ref=sr_1_18?imprToken=eNnu.Pmf5hsW5hcTVECAQg&linkCode=w61&m=A329YQ83EBQGJF&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1670001716&redirect=true&s=merchant-items&slotNum=0&sr=1-18

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804722001979.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_groupList.8148356.8.3d2c4c5dO9E5G0&pdp_npi=2%40dis%21USD%21US%20%242%2C130.00%21US%20%242%2C023.50%21US%20%242%2C023.50%21%21%21%21%402103255b16700019622905560e80c3%2112000030981388005%21sh&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US

The 5241-Z12E is a great camera, but you cannot get IDENTIFY at night much past 120 feet without additional infrared. The image above is at default settings, so with motion it will be a blur.

The 5442-Z4E at 32mm focal length is the same price as the 5442-Z12E at 64mm focal length, so I would go for the higher focal length.

 

[digger11]

Here's the motion blur that @wittaj is talking about. Depending on how much light "fairly well lit at night" is you might see better results.
My cam is planned for license plate captures, so I expect it to end up focused and zoomed at a much closer distance, with the image settings tweaked specifically for LPR.

 

[wittaj]

Yeah the Z12E set up for LPR can reach are far longer distance than trying to use it for IDENTIFY at longer distances of people or outlines of vehicles.