Question: Anybody recommend a good and free CCTV lens calculator?
Answer:I don't do many "cheap" installations so I basically just keep two CCTV lenses
on hand. They cover 99% of my applications. I keep a 2.8-12mm Varifocal AI
and a 5.5-33mm Varifocal AI lens on the shelf. The 2.8-12mm covers probably
95% of all applications and its pretty darned inexpensive if you shop
around. The savings to go with a fixed focal lens is more than outweighed
by the labor savings when the customer asks me to adjust the field of view.
I just hand the customer one of my GMRS radios and tell them to stand in
front of the monitor while I go get on the lift, climb the pole, setup the
ladder, or whatever. I tap in a t-connector at the camera (if signal
strength is not an issue and I use my inspection monitor so I can see what
they see. One trip up the ladder. One lens on the camera. When the
customer says ok then its OK. If they want it changed in the future then
its a billable service call because they said it was ok the way it was
before.
