Critter Cams

General discussion about Blue Iris
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stetzer3
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2020 12:07 am

Critter Cams

Post by stetzer3 »

I'm interested in hearing about experiences using BI and which cameras are best for getting good Critter shots. I'm using a 4 mp bullet and a 5 mp PTZ both on POE with cam at max settings.
Raccoontodd
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2019 7:00 pm

Re: Critter Cams

Post by Raccoontodd »

I do a live raccoon watching show nightly (twitch and youtube and periscope) with my 12 cam BI setup. Best camera of the 12 Ive found is the Yucheng 5mp wireless ptz I added recently. it has a 20x optical zoom with awesome night vision. I pretty much catch every critter in a 300 foot radius of my house with the 12 spread around it. I run OBS (livestream software) with a window capture of BI web interface then to broadcast it. The other cameras are a mixture of old foscam, older yucheng and fdt cameras.
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HeneryH
Posts: 678
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2019 2:50 pm

Re: Critter Cams

Post by HeneryH »

Night vision quality is the most important thing in this use case.

I had a cheapo Amcrest that I used to reposition by mounting on a 2x4 to figure out what was living in my attic (a raccoon). It got the job done by my Dahua Starlight cameras a much better night vision.
Raccoontodd
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2019 7:00 pm

Re: Critter Cams

Post by Raccoontodd »

Heres some night examples from my Yucheng cams. Overall I would say I can get 150 yards of decent night vision easy with the built in IR spots on them. They are 2 tiered, a set of them is on all the time for close stuff, and once past a zoom range on the camera the high setting IR spots come on then. That picnic table (you can still see the possum) is 305 feet away. Its at maybe 18x zoom out of the 20x in that grab.For 195 bucks you can't beat em to watch critters at night. 20x zoom full ptz, sony starlight sensor and IR that works great. My oldest of all the Yuchengs (5 of them)is going on its 4th year problem free and it gets the PTZ used all the time 24/7 at night
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ctfjr
Posts: 40
Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2019 5:43 pm

Re: Critter Cams

Post by ctfjr »

Hi Raccoontodd - nice images :)

I have an Amcrest PTZ mounted on a tree in the woods for catching critter clips. Last night I snagged my 1st bear. I am adding IR illuminators to really light up my area of interest and eliminate the 'white walker' eye look. What are you using to light up your area?
Raccoontodd
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2019 7:00 pm

Re: Critter Cams

Post by Raccoontodd »

I am just using the built in IR of the cameras. These cameras have like 8 or 9 hi intensity IR leds in them. And they adjust according to what the cameras zoomed at with the lens. I used to have those I2 volt IR spotlights back when I had my old Foscams that never had more then a 30 foot range. Ive tryed lots of cameras over the last 15 years here and I'm hooked on these cheap Yuchengs off ebay. The only bad part about them is they are not for the faint of heart new user. The manual is in Chinenglish, good luck figuring it out for stuff. But if you know what your doing its pretty kewl what they can do once you figure it out. Its a call/setmenu, punching numbers in for stuff to set it. For example I can set the IR hi spots to come on at any predefined distance I want. Say you want to have it brighter close up watching critters. I can set the IR level at what lux i want it to come on also at sunset. Plus lots more neat stuff. I really had my doubts buying the first one when my Foscam PTZ 4x dome fried on me, but Im happy as heck with them. All I use them for is critter watching. The newest one I bought is the 5mp. I have presets set on it for locations. If I hit it to go 180 degrees from where its pointed and blink, I don't even catch it turning there its so fast. I guess you can call these "good chinese junk" :) If I get bored tonight Ill set a Coke can out 50feet from the camera in the pitch black in the snow, zoom in 20x and let you read the ingredients small print on the can with the 5mp one I have :)
ctfjr
Posts: 40
Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2019 5:43 pm

Re: Critter Cams

Post by ctfjr »

Thanks very interesting!

I have this one on order:
Product Identifiers
Brand YUCHENG
MPN P03Z35LW4T20
Ean 6971644276004
GTIN 6971644276004
Model P03Z35LW4T20
eBay Product ID (ePID) 21034764586

Product Key Features
Type Dome
Connectivity Wireless
Resolution 5 Megapixels
Color Mode Color
Camera Technology IP/Network
Features Auto Motion Tracker, E-mail Alerts, Infrared/Night Vision, Audio Recording, Motion Detection
Custom Bundle No
Smart Home Protocol Infrared, Wi-Fi

I ordered it several weeks ago and was just notified that it shipped. For what it cost I thought I'd take a flyer on it :) Its a wired IP camera.

Thanks for the info I'll let you know how I make out. I have plans to put 3 small Tendelux E14 above my existing Amcrest PTZ. They are already equally spaced out on an 8' 1X2 that I am going to mount about 3' above my camera. Above that I plan on 1 or 2 stronger Tendelux units for illumination further out (>50'). My initial goal is to have the area where I might pan to be well lit out to 30-40'. I am going to add at least a couple more cameras 100' further in the woods.
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