Fixed vs Varifocal Lenses: Monitor the Right Part of Your Property View

2026-01-22

Fixed vs Varifocal Lenses: Monitor the Right Part of Your Property View

The Camera world has expanded over the past decade, and each new technology integration has brought us closer to capturing images that look like real ones. The pixel upgrade to CCTV camera varifocal lenses with each modernisation has ensured ease of installation and wide-area coverage. These optical lenses are robustly engineered to incorporate advanced technological features in a single lens, making it so easy to capture live images. The varifocal lenses have multiple purposes, from residential monitoring to even in the industrial sector. It is a lens with a range of apertures, allowing it to capture a wide-angle view of its surroundings.

However, compared with fixed lenses, they are slightly more expensive, but the price is totally justified for the work delivered. The purchase of CCTV camera varifocal lenses leaves no room for error, allowing the purchaser to adjust or fine-tune the aperture as needed. In this comprehensive blog, we will delve deeper into varifocal lenses, their uses, and the benefits they offer over fixed-lens cameras. Let’s start with understanding what a varifocal lens is and its properties.

Fixed vs Varifocal Lenses: Monitor the Right Part of Your Property View

What are Varifocal Lenses & Their Properties?

Varifocal lenses are a type of camera lens commonly used for security applications due to their adjustable focal length. In this, one can easily adjust the focal length, enabling a zoom-in and zoom-out feature to capture different fields of view. It can also be called a security camera lens, as its features are particularly useful when the distance to the subject may vary. Allowing easy coverage for wide-angle and close-up shots without the need to change camera positions. Due to its extraordinary features, its use is readily seen in facilities such as airports, hospitals, government offices, and warehouses.

These camera lenses typically offer an end-to-end range, covering a wide field of view. Their general lens sizes come in  2.8-12mm, 3.5-8mm, 6-60mm, and 5-10mm lenses. In this, the 2.8mm to 12mm allows capturing of a wide field of view or close-up details. While the extended size, like 4.5mm to 60mm, can capture long-distance surveillance, it allows easy capture of license plate numbers on vehicles from traffic. These indicate that the larger the aperture number, the more zoomed in the image will appear, allowing greater detail to be captured.

The CCTV camera lens allows features such as manual or motorized, allowing easy adjustments from on-site or even remotely. Their primary application lies in security applications. Thereby, the sector includes:

  • Commercial Properties: For monitoring entrances, parking lots, and large retail spaces.
  • Residential Security: In residential settings, it is used for home surveillance, allowing homeowners to adjust the camera view based on their needs.
  • Public Spaces: Used in areas such as airports and government buildings, where flexible monitoring is crucial.

Major Benefits of Choosing a Varifocal Camera Lens

There are multiple benefits of choosing a CCTV camera varifocal lenses. Here is a list of a few top ones:

1. Installation Flexibility

Unlike Fixed Camera Lenses, a wide-angle lens offers greater flexibility and freedom when choosing a CCTV camera installation location. The security camera installation for outdoor locations provides extensive coverage, including areas such as front yard, back yard, and parking lots. While installing it in front of the door can cover a wide area in front of your house. It is also widely used in the monitoring of the warehouse to protect properties in industrial settings.

2. Improved Detail Capturing

Another great benefit of a variable security camera lens is that it can capture images and videos with greater detail without distortion. With this camera, you can zoom in until you get a clearer, more precise view of the object. Therefore, zoom out as far as you can to capture a wide view of the surroundings, and the image quality will remain intact in both cases.

3. Future Proofing

The varifocal lenses are versatile, so they can be easily readjusted to fit any new environment, such as when shifting to a new house. These would have been an issue with any other camera or a fixed-lens camera, because they’re only set up once. After all the measurements and careful consideration of the angle view, coverage range, and many other factors.

4. Cost-Effective

The varifocal lenses also save a lot of money, as they cover large areas and allow zooming in and out simultaneously. These extensive properties eliminated the need for multiple camera installations, thereby saving significant money on cameras.

5. Less Installation Cost

When an individual wants to capture a different angle of view with a fixed lens, they have to reinstall it and move it. The reinstalling process involves relocation, drilling, and wiring, costing extra time, money, and energy. However, with a varifocal lens, all these reinstallation problems don’t exist, and the installation process becomes even easier if it’s Wi-Fi or PoE-enabled.

Summing It Up!

Installation of a security system is a long-term investment, and CCTV camera varifocal lenses provide justice by serving multiple purposes. While it is undeniable that fixed camera lenses are cheaper, they have their benefits and features, but their limitations are also significant. The variofacial lenses offer the versatility required for professional security, making their prices entirely justifiable. It’s advance feature and properties never disappoint and serve as a solution for one lens.

However, choosing a manufacturer also affects the quality and lifespan of cameras. The Superior CCTV ticks all the boxes, from robust engineering of multiple optical lenses to providing technical assistance. Therefore, purchasing a varifocal CCTV camera lens from Superior CCTV is the best choice.

FAQs

When should One’s choose a fixed lens over a varifocal lens?

Fixed lenses are generally used to capture a field of view exactly known to the owner. It is more compact and affordable, making it an ideal choice for general overview areas, such as a small room or standard porch. However, for more detail-oriented use cases, varying areas can be covered, such as license plates. Choosing a varifocal lens is a better option, as it delivers evidence-grade video quality.

Does Superior CCTV offer special pricing for installers and dealers?

Yes, we are a specialized brand for supporting security professionals. With our dealer program, the wholesale pricing, exclusive discounts, and priority support are accessible. You can register for a dealer account directly on our website, and the offers and discount rates will be displayed immediately upon approval.

Is technical support provided if I have trouble setting up the camera?

Absolutely. Superior CCTV prides itself on providing US-based technical support. Our professional team can assist you with everything from initial system design and product selection to troubleshooting complex installation issues or network configurations.

How can I adjust a varifocal lens? Is it supposed to do it manually?

The adjustment of varifocal lenses depends on the model you choose. However, the most modern professional camera offers by Superior CCTV features Motorized Variofocal lenses. Meaning you can adjust the zoon amd focus directly from your NVR or even through a smartphone app. Older models of varifocal lenses did require manual adjustments at the camera site, but motorized versions have made installation much easier, faster, and safer.

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About sp
SupriorCCTV is a trusted name for best-in-class optical solutions and offers the best-quality lenses. In addition to this, we also provide free consultancy about lenses. Contact Us 1213, RED STAR BUILDING 2, NO.200 PUSHANG ROAD, CANGSHAN DISTRICT, FUZHOU, FUJIAN, CHINA