CCTV Camera Lens Size Comparison

Security camera lens size determines the field of surveillance view and zoom level that the camera provides. The larger the size of the lens, the more narrow and zoomed in the field of view is. Some of our fixed lens cameras come standard with a 3.6mm or 6mm lens.

Here are some sample still photos that were taken using different lens' settings from these HD box security cameras focused on a garbage dumpster 90 feet away from where the camera is installed.

2.8mm Lens

This pic was captured with the camera lens set at 2.8mm. You can see that the 2.8mm setting provides an approximate 95-degree field of view. The garbage dumpster in the background is located 90 feet away from where the camera is installed.

5mm Lens

The image was captured with the 5 to 50mm lens of the AHD-BX3-5 set at the widest setting - 5mm. The 5mm setting provides an approximate 66-degree field of view. The garbage dumpster in the background is located 90 feet away from where the camera is installed.

12mm Lens

This image was captured with the camera lens set at 12mm. The garbage dumpster is still 90 feet away.

50mm Lens

This pic was captured with the AHD-BX3-50 camera lens set at the most narrow / zoomed in setting - 50mm. You can see the huge difference in the field of view / zoom when you compare the other images to the 50mm settings. The garbage dumpster is still 90 feet away but appears as though it is right in front of the camera because the lens has been adjusted to bring the view much closer.

180 Degree Fisheye Lens

This image was captured using a specialized 180 degree Fisheye Lens security camera. It is a 2.5mm fisheye which makes the view ultra-wide. The person is standing almost directly below where the camera is mounted.