Optics Basics
Hikvision Certified Security Associate
HCSA 1
Training Objectives
Understand basic components and concepts of lens.
Understand the key parameters of lens
Know lens selection according to different requirement
HCSA 2
Contents
Overview of Lens
Key Parameters
Lens Selection
HCSA 3
Lens
Lens is to collect optical signal and form an image on the sensor. The lens is the camera’s eye.
Lens is consisted of one or more groups of optical glasses. A lens can focus light to form an image. Different
combination of lens result in different focal length.
CCD/CMOS
sensor
Image from the lens
HCSA 4
Classification of Lens
Items Classification
Imaging size 1/3’’ 1/2’’ 2/3’’ 1’’ 4/3’’
FOV Telephoto Standard Wide angle Fisheye
(FOV≤20°) (FOV around 53°) (FOV≥90°) (FOV≥180°)
Mount CS-mount C-mount M12-mount Φ14-mount
Focal length Vari-focal lens Fixed lens
Iris Auto iris Manual iris Fixed iris P-iris
Resolution SD HD 6MP 8MP 12MP
IR IR lens Non-IR lens
HCSA 5
Contents
Overview of Lens
Key Parameters
Imaging Size
FOV
Focal Length
Iris
Lens Selection
HCSA 6
Imaging Size
Common sensor size ratio is usually 4:3.
Vertical
Horizontal
HCSA 7
Lens Imaging Size Selection
1/3 • When lens imaging size is smaller than the
" sensor, there will be black edges around the
image corners.
1/4” lens
• 1/2”lens can be used on the 1/3”camera, but
1/3 the angle of view will decrease by around
"
25%.
1/2”lens
1/3
• Choose the suitable one!
"
1/3”lens
HCSA 8
FOV (Field Of View)
FOV is the extent of the observable world that is seen.
It can be measured horizontally, vertically and
diagonally.
Factors:
Sensor size
Focal length
f v h
D V H
You can choose the lens according to the monitoring scene.
When the sensor size is fixed, longer focal length will make small
FOV.
When the focal length is fixed, larger sensor size will make large FOV.
HCSA 9
Hikvision Camera FOV Example
Sensor is rectangular, so FOV has 1.3MP
three directions as H/V/D. 1280x960 1/3" & 1/2.8"
HFOV VFOV DFOV
H: Horizontal
4X1X 2.8~12mm 98.4-30.2° 71-22.7° 131-37.8°
V: Vertical 4X1X 8~32mm 27.8-9.1° 20.7-6.86° 34.9-11.3°
D: Diagonal 2MP
1920x1080 1/3" & 1/2.8"
HFOV VFOV DFOV
4X2X 2.8~12mm 113-33.8° 59-18.9° 137-38.8°
4X2X 8~32mm 31.2-10.16° 17.4-5.76° 36-11.58°
3MP
2048×1536 1/3" & 1/2.8"
HFOV VFOV DFOV
4X3X 2.8~12mm 91.2-28.3° 66.4-21.2° 120.2-35.4°
4X3X 8~32mm 26-8.54° 19.5-6.4° 32.8-10.6°
HCSA 10
FOV
Small sensor size Small FOV Long focal length Telephoto Coverage
Large sensor size Large FOV Short focal length Wide Coverage
Fixed focal length Short focal
length
Long focal
length
HCSA 11
Lens with different FOV
FOV
Normal view
Telephoto
Wide angle
Panoramic
Normal view Telephoto view
Wide angle view Panoramic view
HCSA 12
Focal Length and Field Of View
HCSA 13
Iris
Iris
Iris (or aperture) is used to control the amount of light admitted through the lens.
F number
The amount of light through the lens is measured by F number.
F = f/D, where f is the focal length, and D is the iris diameter.
Each lens is labeled with the maximal F number, such as F1, F1.4, F2, F2.8, F4, etc.
HCSA 14
F number
Relationship among F number, iris size, and amount of light (with a fixed focal length)
f/2 f/2.8 f/4 f/5.6
F number
Iris size
Amount of light
f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22
HCSA 15
F number
6mm F1.4 50mm F3.0
Which lens will capture a
brighter image
HCSA 16
Manual iris
Manual iris lens
Suitable to indoor scenarios with constant lighting.
Manual iris lens is the easiest lens type. O-C ring is used to control the iris size.
With electronic shutter to compensate, it can also be used for changing lighting scenarios.
HCSA 17
Auto iris
Auto iris lens
Suitable to scenarios with changing lighting, such as outdoor environment
Two major types
• VIDEO-drive: Lens has • DC-drive: Control the iris by
amplifier which is used to camera’s DC voltage. This lens
control the iris by the video requires the camera has the
signal. amplifier.
HCSA 18
P-iris
P-Iris
Better depth of field
More precise adjustment
Control the lens’ stepping motor by camera
algorithm so that the iris is adjusted precisely
and stays in the optimal position. Optimal
image quality is achieved.
HCSA 19
Depth of Field
Depth of field refers to the distance in front of and
beyond the point of focus where objects appear to be
sharp and clear simultaneously.
Bigger iris, smaller depth of field;
Longer focal length, smaller depth of field.
F number Focal length Object
distance
Depth of + - +
Field
HCSA 20
Lens with Different Mounting Types
ZOOM 12mm
Motor FOCUS
Motor
14mm
Zoom camera lens Φ14-mount lens M12-mount lens CS/C-mount lens
PTZ dome camera bullet camera, dome small dome camera, box camera, capture
camera, etc. small bullet camera, camera, etc.
etc.
HCSA 21
CS/C-mount lens
Diameter of screw thread = 1 inch (25.4mm. Screw pitch is around 0.79mm
Difference between CS-mount and C-mount: the flange focal distance is different. CS-mount =
12.5mm, C-mount = 17.526mm
Application: box camera, capture camera, etc.
HCSA 22
CS/C-mount lens
C-CS adaptor ring with depth of 5mm is
required when C-mount lens is used on CS-
mount camera.
5mm adaptor ring
HCSA 23
Contents
Overview of Lens
Key Parameters
Lens Selection
HCSA 24
Monitoring Distance vs. Focal length
Distance between the camera and object
Focal length
HCSA 25
Focal Length Estimation
Estimation (suitable to lens with more than 4mm focal length)
A person is 10m away from camera
To see face clearly, using 20mm lens
To see human feature, using 10mm lens
To see human actions, using 5mm lens
Distinguish Distinguish Distinguish
Focal length(mm) details features (human behavior (human
(human face) profile) activity)
X X/2 m Xm 2X m
After estimation, if there is no such lens with exact the same focal length,
usually choose the smaller focal length to have a larger FOV.
Sensor size
Object Estimate
(determines
distance focal length
FOV)
HCSA 26
Fixed-Focal Lens VS Vari-Focal Lens
Fixed-focal lens Vari-focal lens
For camera with Without changing the
electronic shutter camera position, focal
length can be changed
Suitable for fixed to some extent.
monitoring in indoor
surveillance.
HCSA 27
Fixed-Focal Lens
Wide-angle lens, mainly used for poor lighting
Short focal length environment and scenarios requiring wider
coverage.
Middle focal length Standard lens, focal length depends on the
sensor size
Telescope lens, narrow coverage but suitable
Long focal length for long distance surveillance.
HCSA 28
Vari-Focal Lens
Manual vari-focal
Electric vari-focal
HCSA 29
Megapixel Lens
Megapixel camera should go with Megapixel lens.
HCSA 30
IR corrected Lens
ICR camera must have IR corrected lens.
Non-IR corrected lens
IR-corrected lens
HCSA 31
Aspheric Lens
Aspheric lens is able to correct spherical aberration, distortion, etc, resulting in better image quality.
Glass aspheric lens, instead of plastic one, is used in surveillance industry.
High cost.
Sphere lens Aspheric lens
HCSA 32
Special Lens
Special type or special function requires special lens.
Example: fisheye camera, pinhole camera, etc.
Fisheye lens Pinhole
camera
HCSA 33
Naming Rule
Hikvision lens ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦
H V 1 1 4 0 D - MP IR
T： 1/3”or 1/2.7”
H： 1/2” or 1/1.8” IR： Infrared light
M： 2/3”, 3/4”or 1”
S： 4/3”
F： Fixed focal length
V： Manual zoom MP： Mega pixel
Z： Electric zoom
Focal length starting
XX： DC auto iris
point (Zoom lens) D：
04： 4mm ··· ···(Prime lens) P-Iris
P： Manual/Electric
XX：
Focal length ending M： iris
point (Zoom lens)
14： F1.4 ··· ···(Prime lens)
HCSA 34
Thanks
HCSA 35
