What's the difference between C-mount and CS-mount lenses?
C-mount lenses have a 17.5mm back-focal-distance; CS-mount is 12.5mm. They are not interchangeable without adapters. Check your camera body's designation before purchasing lenses. Most modern integrations use CS-mount due to smaller package size, but legacy and industrial applications often favor C-mount for larger aperture (f/1.4) telephoto options.
Can I use a motorized lens on any box camera?
No. Motorized (varifocal or zoom) lenses require 12V or 24V DC power and a control signal from the NVR or dedicated controller. Confirm your camera body has motorized lens support (usually marked in the spec sheet) and that your NVR firmware recognizes the lens protocol. Budget additional power draw (3–5W per lens) in your PoE or external power planning.
How do I choose the right focal length for my scene?
Measure the distance from camera to target and desired frame width. Use the HFOV calculation: Scene Width ≈ 2 × Distance × tan(HFOV/2). A 30-foot hallway with a required 6-foot width needs ~4–6mm focal length. For distant face recognition (50+ feet), use 25–50mm telephoto. Reference DORI distance calculations to confirm resolution and lens combo meet your actual identification requirements.
Do box cameras work in outdoor, unhoused environments?
Bare box cameras are NOT weatherproof and will fail quickly outdoors without protective enclosures. Compact housed box cameras have integrated environmental sealing and drain provisions. If using a bare box, commission a custom or off-the-shelf aluminum/polycarbonate housing with proper ventilation, drain, and thermal management. Verify IP rating (minimum IP65 for outdoor) and test condensation response in your climate.
What bitrate should I plan for a box camera deployment?
Standard 2MP box cameras typically generate 4–8 Mbps at H.264 30 fps with motion detection. Add 20–50% for WDR processing, and 50–100% more if using H.265 or 5MP sensors. Motorized zoom or high-frame-rate capture can double bitrate. Always test your target codec and compression settings in your actual network before sizing storage or NVR capacity. See bitrate and retention planning for multi-location rollouts.
Can I mix and match box cameras from different brands in one system?
Yes, provided all cameras support ONVIF or your NVR's protocol. However, Axis and Vivotek camera bodies often have different firmware update cycles, lens ecosystems, and support workflows. Single-vendor deployments simplify spare parts, firmware synchronization, and integrator familiarity. For multi-vendor requirements, confirm ONVIF interoperability and test failover behavior before production rollout.
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