With cameras, people often weigh whether to choose a static or a PTZ (movable) camera. It sounds like a movable camera is better because it “sees everywhere”. In practice, though, there is a catch. Let us explain the difference and when each really suits.

What a static camera is

A static camera is fixed on one spot and always watches the same view. It is reliable, cheaper and, above all, always captures exactly what you aim it at. It is never “turned the wrong way”.

What a PTZ camera is

PTZ stands for pan-tilt-zoom, that is a camera that can pan, tilt and zoom, remotely or automatically. With a single camera you can thus cover a large area.

Advantages of PTZ

  • Covering a large area with one camera.
  • Zooming in on detail from a distance.
  • The option to track movement and react, if the system has an operator.

The PTZ risk you need to know

And now the important part. At any given moment, a PTZ camera watches only one direction with a narrower view. When a key situation occurs and the camera happens to be turned the wrong way, it simply does not capture it. A PTZ also needs either an operator or good programming, and its mechanics wear out over time. In other words, you can have an expensive camera that was pointing the wrong way at the decisive moment.

Why we recommend PTZ only when necessary

With a static camera you always know exactly what it captures and have the certainty that the spot is watched continuously. With a PTZ there is no such certainty. That is exactly why, for reliable and evidential coverage, we recommend more static cameras that cover all the important directions at once and continuously, rather than one movable camera that may be turned the wrong way.

When to choose PTZ

PTZ makes sense in large open areas (car parks, yards, warehouses), where an operator is available or it serves active monitoring. It works best as a supplement to static cameras, not as their replacement.

When a static one

Choose a static camera for specific key points: entrances, gates, corridors and places where you need a certain and continuous view. That is the vast majority of cases.

Recommendation

The foundation of a camera system is static cameras on key points, and add PTZ only where it really makes sense. You will find more on the design in the articles a camera system and a comparison of cameras.

Planning cameras and not sure what to choose? Get in touch, we will design the placement so it covers what matters.

This article is part of our Camera systems overview.