Amcrest 4MP Outdoor PTZ POE + AI IP Camera Pan Tilt and Zoom

Best Security Devices
15 Mar 202308:04

TLDRThis video covers the Amcrest 4MP Outdoor PTZ POE + AI IP Camera, detailing its pan, tilt, and zoom capabilities. The presenter explains the power options, including the need for an external power adapter for night use due to increased power demand. Features like presets, tours, and face detection are demonstrated, showcasing the camera's versatility. However, a limitation noted is the inability to set tour intervals to less than 15 seconds. Despite this, the camera is recommended for its professional features and functionality, making it a solid choice for security needs.

Takeaways

  • 📷 The Amcrest 4MP PTZ camera offers Pan, Tilt, and Zoom functionality for flexible surveillance.
  • 🔌 The camera is powered through a POE (Power Over Ethernet) switch, eliminating the need for a separate power supply unless extra power is required at night for infrared (night vision) functionality.
  • 🌙 Night vision requires more power, which might not be provided by some POE switches, so an additional power adapter might be needed for proper functionality during nighttime.
  • 🔧 The camera has multiple connection options, including grounding wires, audio, and alarm connections, making it suitable for professional installations.
  • 💻 The camera can be accessed via a web browser by locating its IP using the Amcrest IP configuration tool, allowing live viewing and control over movements (pan, tilt, zoom).
  • 🎯 Users can set presets for the camera to automatically adjust to specific positions, simplifying the monitoring process with predefined views.
  • 🔄 The camera supports tour mode, where it cycles through preset positions, though there is a limitation of 15 seconds as the minimum time per position, which cannot be shortened.
  • ⚙️ The camera provides a wide range of configuration options for video, audio, picture settings, and PTZ controls, allowing for customization based on different needs.
  • 🔍 The camera includes smart features such as AI-based face detection, which displays face data on the screen for more advanced surveillance tasks.
  • 👍 Overall, the user recommends the Amcrest PTZ camera for its performance, though they suggest a firmware update to improve the preset tour timing limitations.

Q & A

  • What does PTZ stand for in the Amcrest 4MP Outdoor Camera?

    -PTZ stands for Pan, Tilt, and Zoom, which refers to the camera's ability to move horizontally (pan), vertically (tilt), and adjust its lens (zoom in and out).

  • How is the Amcrest camera powered?

    -The camera is powered using a PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch, which sends power directly through the Ethernet cable. However, during nighttime, an external power supply may be needed due to the higher power demands of the infrared lights for night vision.

  • What is the limitation regarding the 'tour' function of the camera?

    -The limitation is that the minimum duration for each preset position in the tour cannot be set below 15 seconds. The user cannot reduce it to 5 or 10 seconds, which could be a drawback for faster tours.

  • How can you access the camera feed via a web browser?

    -You can access the camera feed through a web browser by using the IP address of the camera. Tools like Amcrest’s config tool can be used to detect the camera on the network.

  • What happens if the camera doesn’t receive enough power during nighttime?

    -If the camera doesn’t receive enough power during the night, it might experience issues with the infrared lights, affecting night vision. This can be solved by using a more powerful PoE switch or connecting a power adapter.

  • What are 'presets' in the context of this camera?

    -Presets are pre-configured positions for the camera. You can set specific positions (e.g., a shelf or specific area), and the camera can be directed to these positions with a click.

  • What is the 'tour' feature and how does it work?

    -The 'tour' feature is a sequence of preset positions that the camera cycles through. For example, the camera moves from preset 1 to preset 2, staying at each location for a set duration.

  • What smart AI features does this camera have?

    -The camera has AI-powered features, including face detection. When enabled, the camera can detect faces and display this information on the screen using the on-screen display (OSD) option.

  • Can you configure video and audio settings on the camera?

    -Yes, the camera offers a wide range of configurable settings, including video, audio, picture exposure, backlight, and wide dynamic range. These can be adjusted through the camera’s setup interface.

  • What is the purpose of the additional connectors on the camera?

    -The camera has connectors for grounding, audio, and alarms, which are essential for professional installations, offering more functionalities such as alarm-triggered actions or audio input/output.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Introduction to the Amcrest PTZ Security Camera

The video introduces the Amcrest PTZ (Pan, Tilt, Zoom) security camera, explaining how it moves horizontally (pan), vertically (tilt), and zooms with its lens. The camera is powered via a PoE switch, though it requires additional power for night vision. The presenter demonstrates the setup, explaining the camera's cabling, including audio and alarm connections for professional installation.

05:02

💻 Accessing and Controlling the Camera via Web Browser

The camera can be accessed through a web browser using its IP address, found through a tool like IPConfig. The presenter demonstrates how to view the live feed and control the camera's movements—pan, tilt, and zoom—using the web interface. A slight issue with the camera's autofocus is mentioned, but overall, the controls work well.

🛠️ Camera Presets and Tour Features

The camera supports preset positions, allowing the user to save specific angles and quickly move between them. The presenter shows how to create and use presets, and also demonstrates the 'tour' feature, where the camera automatically moves between presets. However, a limitation is noted: the time between presets cannot be set lower than 15 seconds.

🔧 Configuration Settings and Additional Features

The camera offers extensive configuration options, including picture settings, exposure, focus, and more. The presenter explores the camera's settings, pointing out that the preset tour feature cannot be set to switch faster than 15 seconds, despite attempts to lower it. This is a noted limitation, but overall, the camera's flexibility in configuration is highlighted.

🔍 AI and Face Detection Features

The presenter demonstrates the camera’s AI capabilities, particularly its face detection feature. By enabling this feature, the camera can detect and display facial information on the screen. Though the same face is detected repeatedly in the demo, the feature works well for projects requiring face detection.

👍 Final Thoughts and Recommendation

In conclusion, the presenter recommends the Amcrest PTZ camera for its features and reliability, despite minor limitations like the preset timing. They highlight its availability on Amazon and endorse it as a good choice for those needing a professional-grade security camera.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡PTZ Camera

PTZ stands for Pan, Tilt, and Zoom, which refers to the camera's ability to move horizontally (pan), vertically (tilt), and zoom in or out. This functionality allows the camera to cover a larger area and focus on specific details when needed, making it ideal for surveillance applications. In the video, the Amcrest camera is demonstrated with these movements, showing how it can track and adjust to different viewing angles.

💡POE (Power over Ethernet)

POE is a technology that allows a single cable to provide both data connection and electrical power to devices such as cameras. This simplifies the installation process by eliminating the need for separate power supplies. In the video, the Amcrest camera is powered through a POE switch, although it requires an additional power supply during night time due to increased power needs for infrared night vision.

💡Infrared Night Vision

Infrared Night Vision allows cameras to see in low-light or no-light conditions by using infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye. This feature is crucial for night-time surveillance. In the video, the Amcrest camera's night vision is discussed, highlighting that it needs more power at night to operate its infrared lights.

💡Preset Positions

Preset Positions are predefined camera orientations that can be saved and quickly accessed. These presets allow users to set specific camera angles and zoom levels for rapid recall. The video shows how presets like 'Wide Angle' and 'Shelf' can be quickly selected to reposition the camera, making surveillance more efficient.

💡Tour Function

The Tour Function is a feature that allows the camera to automatically cycle through multiple preset positions in sequence, effectively creating a surveillance path. This feature is shown in the video where the camera moves between presets on a timed loop. The presenter mentions the limitation of the tour duration, which cannot be set to less than 15 seconds per stop.

💡AI Features

AI Features in surveillance cameras include functionalities like face detection, which uses artificial intelligence to identify and track faces within the camera’s view. In the video, the Amcrest camera’s AI is demonstrated with its ability to detect and display faces on the screen, enhancing security monitoring capabilities.

💡Web Browser Access

Web Browser Access allows users to control and view the camera's feed remotely through a web interface. This provides a convenient way to manage the camera without needing a dedicated app. The video illustrates how the presenter uses a browser to access the camera feed and control its movements via IP configuration tools.

💡IP Configuration Tool

The IP Configuration Tool is software used to find and configure IP cameras on a network, allowing users to set up and manage their devices. In the video, the presenter uses the Amcrest IP config tool to locate the camera on the network and access its settings and live view.

💡Power Adapter

A Power Adapter provides additional power to the camera when the POE source does not supply enough, especially during higher power needs like night vision. The video explains that while the camera is normally powered through POE, a power adapter is necessary at night when the infrared lights are active.

💡Professional Installation

Professional Installation refers to the camera setup involving additional connections like grounding, audio inputs, and alarm systems for enhanced security features. The presenter points out the various connections available on the Amcrest camera, highlighting its suitability for professional surveillance setups.

Highlights

Introduction to the Amcrest PTZ Camera and its key features such as Pan, Tilt, and Zoom.

Explanation of how the camera is powered via POE switch, removing the need for an external power supply.

Detailing the power issues during night time when infrared lights need more power, requiring an additional power adapter.

Mention of the camera's grounding, audio, and alarm wires, making it ideal for professional installations.

Overview of accessing the camera through a web browser using the camera's IP address.

Demonstration of controlling the camera's Pan, Tilt, and Zoom functions using a mouse.

Explanation of the camera's presets and how they can be used to quickly navigate to predefined positions.

Demonstration of the 'Tour' feature, which cycles through presets automatically.

The inability to reduce the tour's preset duration below 15 seconds is identified as a limitation of the camera.

Comprehensive overview of the camera's settings, including picture exposure, backlight, dynamic range, and day/night focus.

Highlighting the camera's smart AI features, such as face detection.

Face detection on-screen display (OSD) feature is demonstrated, showing how it works in real-time.

Acknowledgement of the camera’s reliability and recommendation for users, despite the 15-second tour limitation.

Final recommendation to purchase the camera from Amazon, emphasizing its usefulness and functionality.

Mention of potential future improvements, such as a firmware update to address the preset duration issue.