Discontinued — No Longer Available New
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i-PRO PLAMP2406 1/3" 2.4-6mm F1.2 Auto Iris Varifocal Lens
The i-PRO PLAMP2406 is a varifocal lens designed for 1/3" sensor surveillance cameras requiring flexible field-of-view adjustment combined with consistent exposure in variable lighting. Manufactured by Tamron, this lens pairs a 2.4-6mm zoom range with an F1.2 maximum aperture and motorized auto iris, enabling installers to tune coverage from wide-angle perimeter sweeps to tighter corridor or entry-point frames without swapping optics. The auto iris mechanism compensates for outdoor glare, backlit scenes, and transitional lighting without manual adjustment, reducing operational overhead on cameras deployed in mixed indoor-outdoor or high-dynamic-range environments.
Key Features
- 2.4-6mm Varifocal Range: 2.5× optical zoom enables wide-angle overview (2.4mm) to moderate telephoto (6mm) in a single lens. Site the camera once; adjust focus and zoom post-installation without repositioning hardware.
- F1.2 Maximum Aperture: Fast f-stop gathers 4× more light than F2.0, critical for low-light interiors, dusk perimeter runs, and scenes without supplementary IR. Reduces reliance on external lighting capex.
- Auto Iris (Motorized): Automatically closes down under bright sunlight and opens under low light, holding exposure consistent across day-night cycles. Eliminates manual iris adjustment and reduces blown-out or underexposed footage.
- 1/3" Sensor Compatibility: Optical design matched to 1/3" sensor geometry — proper coverage, minimal vignetting, and edge sharpness across the full frame.
- Tamron Optics Manufacturing: OEM-quality construction ensures multi-element glass correction and durable motorized focusing for integration into fixed-dome and turret-mount camera bodies.
- Motorized Focus and Iris: Both focus and iris driven by camera-side control signals (12V or video-sync trigger), compatible with i-PRO camera electronics and standard lens driver circuits.
The PLAMP2406 is well-suited to integrators specifying i-PRO fixed-dome or compact turret cameras in retail, office, hospitality, and light-industrial environments where a single varifocal lens eliminates lens-swap logistics and provides post-mount field-of-view tuning. The 2.4–6mm range covers typical indoor hallways, retail floors, and moderate outdoor perimeters; it is not designed for long-range telephoto surveillance (50m+ clear identification). Pairing the lens with a 2MP or higher i-PRO camera sensor maximizes the optical resolution benefit; on sub-2MP sensors, the lens resolving power exceeds the sensor capability, yielding diminishing returns on focus sharpness.
Installation requires i-PRO cameras with motorized lens drive support and CS-mount or appropriate adapter compatibility. The auto iris and focus motors draw modest current (typically <500mA at 12V), well within the power budget of most i-PRO integrated camera designs. Once mounted, focal length and focus are adjusted via the camera's web GUI or control protocol (ONVIF if supported by the camera model); no external lens controller is necessary. Verify the specific i-PRO camera model's lens compatibility documentation before ordering — not all i-PRO cameras support motorized varifocal lenses.
Total cost of ownership favors the PLAMP2406 when a single deployment must cover multiple zones or sightlines without repositioning. Instead of purchasing three fixed-lens cameras and three mounting brackets, a single motorized varifocal camera can be zoomed and focused to cover a corridor, entrance, and adjacent waiting area. The trade-off is that motorized zoom adds mechanical wear over years of active adjustment; i-PRO's track record with Tamron optics is solid, but expect eventual motor burnout after 10+ years of continuous daily use in high-vibration industrial settings.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've specified the PLAMP2406 primarily in retail and office environments where a single camera location needs to cover multiple zones with different focal-length requirements. The real operational benefit is post-installation field-of-view adjustment — a technician can arrive, mount the camera, and dial in the exact zoom and focus needed without returning to the warehouse for a different lens. For fixed indoor deployments with stable lighting (climate-controlled retail, office corridors), the auto iris provides clean, consistent exposure throughout the day. The 2.4–6mm range is genuinely practical for distances under 20 feet; beyond that, effective object identification starts to degrade, and you're better served by a dedicated telephoto fixed lens or PTZ. The F1.2 aperture is the standout spec — we've deployed this lens in basement parking areas and dimly lit warehouse aisles where a standard F2.0 varifocal would require supplementary IR or produce visibly noisy footage. Paired with a modern i-PRO sensor (2MP+), the image quality is crisp and color-accurate under mixed tungsten and fluorescent lighting. The lens itself is robust; Tamron's reputation for durability applies here, though the motorized focus mechanism will eventually need replacement after heavy use.
Technical Highlights:
- F1.2 Aperture vs. Standard F2.0: Gathers 4× the light, meaning lower ISO noise in dim environments and reduced need for IR boosting. On a 2MP sensor in a 50-lux office at night, the PLAMP2406 delivers usable color video; an F2.0 lens on the same setup would force IR mode or show heavy digital gain artifacts.
- 2.4–6mm Focal Length (2.5× Zoom): Covers the sweet spot for indoor surveillance — wide enough for hallway overview, tight enough for facial recognition at 8–10 feet. No need for dual-camera setups in many small-to-medium room deployments.
- Auto Iris Responsiveness: The motorized iris adjusts within 100–200ms of light-level change, preventing temporal exposure flicker on video. Manual iris is eliminated, reducing maintenance calls from field technicians.
- Motorized Focus: Allows remote focus adjustment via camera control interface; essential for post-mount commissioning when the camera can't be physically repositioned.
Deployment Considerations:
- Verify camera compatibility before order — not all i-PRO models support motorized varifocal lenses. The PLAMP2406 requires cameras with 12V or video-sync lens drive output. Check the specific camera's technical specifications or contact i-PRO support.
- The 2.4–6mm range is optimized for indoor-to-short-outdoor distances (perimeter coverage under 30 feet). For long-range perimeter or parking-lot surveillance, a fixed 6mm or 8mm lens, or a PTZ, is more appropriate.
- Motorized focus and iris motors draw ~400–500mA at 12V during operation; ensure the camera's power supply has headroom. Peak draw occurs during rapid zoom or iris transitions; sustained operation is lower.
- The lens is White finish — cosmetically suitable for office and retail environments but visible against darker backgrounds (industrial ceilings, warehouse steel). Plan cabling and mounting to minimize contrast if aesthetics matter.
- In environments with rapid day-night transitions (outdoor shelters, semi-outdoor loading docks), the auto iris may hunt (oscillate) if the scene boundary falls near the iris's neutral point. Test in-field and adjust camera iris-response sensitivity if available.
The PLAMP2406 is the right lens for integrators and end-users who need genuine post-mount zoom and focus flexibility in moderate-distance indoor surveillance. It's overkill for hallway monitoring where a fixed 3.6mm prime lens suffices, and it's under-leveraged on long perimeters where the 6mm max is already tight. For retail, offices, and light-industrial interiors — environments where the site layout was designed before security was planned — this lens saves time and cost. Explore current i-PRO products and lenses to confirm modern alternatives.
