You would agree with us that Hollywood has quite the ability to glamorize a product and make it more appealing to the general public. One product that has become more sought after due to how its working and concept has been portrayed in movies is the PTZ camera.

However, if you are looking to invest in one of these, we believe it is wise to know more to ensure that whatever decision you make at the end is an informed one. This is why in this article; we will be discussing the pros and cons of PTZ cameras to help you in your decision-making. But, let us start from the beginning by explaining what exactly they are.

What exactly is PTZ Cameras?

PTZ is an acronym that means pan-tilt-zoom. It is used to describe a type of security camera that is capable of tilting upward and downward, swiveling from the right to the left, and also zooming. Typically, they are used to watch wide areas that require 180◦ or 360◦ view. They are often operated by active personnel with a remote controller.

The camera may be configured to either be motion sensitive or be pre-set to a particular schedule; these features are based on the software or the camera’s model. They are often incorporated among a larger security system where fixed cameras are used to take detailed shots and the PTZ camera can track movements.

Disadvantages of Pan-tilt-zoom Cameras

The following are some of the major disadvantages of Pan-tilt-zoom cameras:

1. Short Lifespan

For these cameras to move in all directions, they are built with several moving parts. These moving parts are often prone to failure when compared to fixed mechanisms that do not have to move about. And because of this high rate of failure, the ownership cost may eventually outweigh the initial price.

2. High Cost

As already stated, maintaining one of these may be quite expensive. Also, the initial price may be a little on the high side when compared to other products that can offer almost the same services. For instance, a fisheye camera can be programmed to cover as much space as a Pan-tilt-zoom camera. You can read this to learn more about how this is done. Not only is the initial cost of a fisheye camera lesser, but it is also not as high-maintenance as a Pan-tilt-zoom camera.

3. Limited View

While pan-tilt-zoom cameras can move in all directions, they cannot do this simultaneously. This is bad because an incident might occur in one area when the camera is busy recording some other area. This limitation is considered a major disadvantage since intruders might go unnoticed due to a brief coverage gap.

4. Malfunctioning Risks

If the camera is not installed properly, then it may lead to some legal and mechanical problems. Legally, if the camera were to accidentally record a private property, even if it were as little as an inch, both the owner and installer can get in serious trouble. Mechanically, changing weather may affect the camera’s hardware.

Advantages of Pan-tilt-zoom Cameras

All the features of this type of camera can be said to be its advantages. However, for clarity, below are some of the major advantages of PTZ cameras:

1. Zoom Capabilities

Almost all PTZ cameras have an optical zoom feature that allows them to capture objects that are considerable faraway like faces and license plates.

2. Remote Controlling

All conventional Pan-tilt-zoom cameras can be adjusted with just a remote to follow any suspicious activity. This means that you can adjust the camera’s FOV without having to go outside and do it manually.

3. Time-Based Scan

You can set your Pan-tilt-zoom camera to an auto-pilot setting that would allow it to move in tours (patterns). What this means is that you can make the camera change position based on a preset time. For instance, you might set it to tilt or pan every thirty seconds so that each area of interest will be covered from time to time.

4. Large View

These types of cameras are used to monitor large areas since they can move in all directions. However, to avoid coverage gaps, it is advisable to use it alongside any fixed camera. You may visit https://ipvm.com/reports/dealing-with-gaps-in-surveillance-coverage to learn how to deal with coverage gaps. Some models even have software that allows recorded videos to be adjusted; however, the video would end up looking grainier than normal.

Conclusion

If you are interested in getting a Pan-tilt-zoom camera then it is important that you properly understand what it entails so that you can make an informed decision. Knowing the product’s advantages and disadvantages is one of the best ways to decide if it is right for you. Therefore, in this article, we have discussed some of the basic pros and cons of PTZ cameras to help you in your decision-making.