2023 Best PTZ Camera Reviews and Step-by-Step Setup

PTZ is short for pan tilt zoom in the video security industry, which represents the Omni-directional (up and down, left and right) movement of the pan-tilt and lens zoom control. Therefore, the PTZ camera is a camera with the above functions. But the PTZ camera is not limited to a dome camera, such as a bullet camera with an electric zoom lens and zoom functions. It can be a PTZ camera too.

PTZ camera integrates color security camera, pan tilt, waterproof, intercom and other functions. It is easy to install, simple to use but powerful. It is widely used in open areas such as scenic spots, construction sites, factories, and squares. and also can be widely used in indoor and outdoor small and medium scenes such as hotels, hospitals, schools, complexes, amusement parks, office buildings, factories, clubs, farmer’s markets, etc. With the popularity of pan tilt zoom cameras and the reduction of the cost, PTZ has entered the ordinary household use.

And this post, we are talking about the PTZ security cameras for home and small business use with reviews and step-by-step setup.

The PTZ camera can save the camera’s relevant parameters, such as horizontal angle, tilt angle, camera focus length of the pan/tilt in the current status. So you can quickly call these parameters when needed, and the camera will back to the position wherever you want.

Some preset points can be programmed into the auto-cruise queue in the required order by pre-programming, and they can be automatically set in order by an external command.

You can set the PTZ camera’s left limit and the right border in advance. After setting, it can automatically scan back and forth at a proper speed level between the left and right limit positions.

The camera can continuously record the trajectory of the user’s rotation and lens operation for a certain period, and you can cycle the operation process automatically through the operation command. The industry also refers to this as self-learning or intelligent memory.

When you leave the camera for a while, it will automatically back to a position or execute an action, like automatic scanning, pattern scanning, or auto-cruising.

The system defaults to autofocus. You can adjust the focal length to get a more clear video or image when the lens zoom-in or zoom-out. The camera automatically focuses on the center of the scene view to maintain a clear picture; in individual cases, you can manually focus on achieving the desired vision.

There are different optical zoom lenses, such as 4X, 5X, 10X, 18X, 30X, 33X, 36X.

The camera has automatic backlight compensation. In the strong light background, it can compensate for the darker target for brightness automatically. We are lighting a bright background. Avoid a situation where the intensity of the environment is too high, the whole picture is shining, and the target is indistinguishable due to darkness, thus achieving a clear view.

The camera will automatically flip 180°, and then turn up, and the scene on the back can be directly viewed, thereby achieving continuous 180° vertical monitoring.

When the focus distance is long, the high-speed response of the dome makes the slight touch of the joystick may cause the screen to move quickly, resulting in loss of picture.

When the focus distance is long, the high-speed response of the dome makes the slight touch of the joystick may cause the screen to move quickly, resulting in loss of picture.

Different bracket types should match different installation places. Generally speaking, there are two installations for ordinary households, one is for wall-mounted, and the other is ceiling-mounted.

From the signal system division, the PTZ Camera is divided into ordinary IP network PTZ camera and analog PTZ camera; the analog camera needs BNC cable and DVR to use. The IP network PTZ camera is divided into POE PTZ camera, wifi PTZ camera, and solar-powered PTZ camera.

Here we want to introduce the connection for the POE PTZ Camera.

There are four ways to connect to this camera.

1. Via Normal DC12V 2A Power Supply;

2. Via POE Adapter(support IEEE 802af/at 10/100/1000M bps, I/P: AC 100-240V 50-60Hz 0.6A; O/P: DC 48V, 0.5A);

3. Via POE Switch(IEEE: IEEE802.3af/at 1/2+3/6-; PSE Output: +52V-2.3A 120W, Power in: AC110-240V);

4. Via a POE NVR or Normal NVR

Note:
PoE+ injector/switch required (802.3at) 24W;
Conventional PoE (802.3af) only delivers 15.4W and will cause underpower!

For an analog PTZ camera, if you want to use it for video surveillance, you must have a monitor, a DVR, and some BNC cables. But for the IP network PTZ cameras, you only need one router, one computer(or smartphone), and one ethernet cable. As to the wireless IP PTZ camera, you even do not need the ethernet cable.

Any of the PTZ cameras, as long as it is an IP network one, you have these steps to build your own surveillance system.

Step 1: find out the IP address for the camera that has completely connected to the internet.

Step 2: Login to visit the IP PTZ camera
If you want the remote view or remote control for the camera, then you can go to

Step 3: Download and install a free APP of the camera or install a “Client Management Software” to your computer.

Auto-tracking means the camera can automatically track the moving objects, meanwhile auto zoom in/out and incorporating the auto-focus to get the clear image and video.