There are 3 main types of home multi-lens cameras on the market today.
Fixed + Pan Tilt Linkage Camera
Combination of Fixed Lens Camera and Pan Tilt Camera as a single unit.
Fixed Lens Cameras use lens with smaller focal lengths to provide surveillance footage with a larger viewing angle, and Pan Tilt Cameras use lenses with larger focal lengths to provide close-ups of localized or specific targets with details. The entire camera is connected to the network as a whole device, it is viewed and operated remotely via mobile app.
Hybrid zoom camera
Hybrid zoom is a fusion of optical and digital zoom. Using two or more fixed focal length lenses in the same camera (one with a smaller focal length, such as 2.8mm; the other with a larger focal length, such as 6mm), together with the digital zoom algorithm, it realizes the change of zoom in and zoom out, which results in less pixel loss in the picture compared to full digital zoom, and a faster zoom speed with almost no delay compared to mechanical zoom.
These products are applying the smart phone’s multi-lens imaging technology to the surveillance scene, the technology is relatively mature, and there is a certain market demand.
Panoramic Cameras
The use of more than 2 sensors and lenses in a single housing, with a slight overlap of the individual frames of each sensor. After algorithm is adjusted, it provides a coherent panoramic view of approximately 180 degree. Home consumer security field of this type of product is still relatively small.
What pain points do multi-lens cameras address in home consumer cameras and can they be accepted by consumers and the market?
- Fixed + Pan Tilt Linkage Camera: Panoramic view and details are displayed on the mobile app at the same time, picture-in-picture function, multi-angle viewing without missing any moment.
- Hybrid zoom cameras solve these problems of mechanical zoom lenses: slow zoom focusing speed, easy to defocus when switching between day and night, difficult to move tracking, easy to damage the zoom structure, noise and other defects of the zoom process. There is no delay in the hybrid zoom process, the focus is fast and accurate, no defocusing in night vision, and at the same time, there is no mechanical wear and tear on the lens and no noise.
- Panoramic Cameras: Larger monitoring viewing angle, no distortion and high picture clarity compared to single lens cameras.