Lenses

Lens
The function of a lens is to collect light reflected from the
scene and focus it onto the camera sensor. Selecting a lens
for a camera involves three factors: target size, object
distance, and camera format. Each of these factors must
identified before selecting a lens.

Target Area Size?

Object Distance?

Camera Format?

Target Area Size

Define the size of the area to be viewed. Is general or
detailed coverage required?
Also, because CCTV
cameras use a 4:3 aspect ratio, the vertical view will always
be 75% of the size of the horizontal view.
General Coverage
General coverage views a wide area with a single camera.
A larger area is covered, but there is less detail and poorer
identification of subjects.
General coverage is used to
view an area for activity, not necessary to identify people.
Subject identification may occur from another camera, or
as the subject approaches the general coverage camera.
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Detail Coverage
Detail coverage views a narrow area with a single camera.
A smaller area is covered so there is good identification and
more detail, but there is less coverage of the overall scene.
Detail coverage is used to identify subjects, and may be
used in conjunction with general coverage cameras viewing
the whole area. Detail coverage cameras are usually placed
where they have the greatest chance of getting
identification.

General Coverage

Detail Coverage

Object Distance
Object distance is the distance from the camera mounting
position to the target area being viewed. The requirement
for the accuracy of this figure depends upon how critical
the target area size is. If the target area is general, this
measurement can be estimated (the more accurately
measured the better your results). If the target area is
detail, this measurement should be measured as accurately
as possible.

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For applications with small detail target areas and long

object distance distances and/or high mounting heights, the
Pythagorean theorem should be used to calculate the actual
viewing distance. For example, for a camera 30 high
viewing a target 100 away, the actual distance would be
104.4. This difference in distance should not make a
difference in lens for a camera giving general coverage, but
it would affect the lens of camera giving detail coverage,
especially of a small target area. The height (a) squared
plus the distance (b) squared equals the object distance (c)
squared.
Square the height and distance, add them
together, and then take the square root of that number for
the object distance.

c
a
b

a2 + b2 = c2
Imager Format
Camera imagers come in different formats (sizes). 1/3 is
currently the most common. Some newer cameras are
using . Some older cameras used or even 2/3
imagers. Knowing the camera format being used is critical
to proper lens selection.

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General Focal Length Rules

As the focal length number gets smaller, the field of view
of the lens get wider. As the focal length number gets
larger, the field of view of the lens gets narrow.
Examples (1/3 camera):

Standard (4mm)

Wide (2.8mm)

Telephoto (8mm)

Undefined Target Areas

Some applications have target areas that cannot easily be
defined.
Long object distances requiring coverage all
along the distance, and wide target coverage for general
observation are two common problems. Hallways are a
good example of a long object distance application. A
single camera placed at one end is expected to cover the
entire distance and give good identification.
Telephoto View

Missed target

Good I.D.

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While good identification is achieved at the end of the

target area, it is sacrificed closer to the camera.
The
narrow field of view allows subjects closer to the camera to
pass without being viewed.
Wide View

Good I.D.

Poor I.D.

By widening the field of view we now have better view of

the subjects closer to the camera, but poor identification of
subjects farther away. If the subject can pass from the
view without having to move towards the camera he will
probably not be identifiable.
Solution #1
Mid-range Target Area
Target Area

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Choose a distance halfway down the hallway to be your

object distance, and then size the lens according to the
target area at that distance.
Solution #2
Variable Focal Length Lens

Use a variable focal length lens with a range wide enough

to give close up and long range identification, then allow
the customer to chose the view he wants.
Solution #3
Multiple Cameras

Install multiple cameras with overlapping coverage. Place

cameras at each end of the hallway facing each other, or
cameras at intervals all along the hallway. Obviously this
is the most expensive solution, but it will provide the best
coverage.

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This document is part of a complete book entitled:

CCTV System Design & Installation
By Charles Aulner and Bryan McLane
COPYRIGHT 2005 Charles Aulner and National Training Center, Inc.
Used by permission of the Author
To order the complete copy of this and other books, visit
www.NationalTrainingCenter.netT
National Training Center provides the very best in training resources to the
Security professional. These resources include:
Training manuals and references
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