CCTV Lens Selection & Field of View Calculator

Calculate CCTV lens focal length recommendations (2.8mm, 4mm, 6mm, 12mm), field of view coverage width, and DORI pixel density per target distance.

Input Parameters

Try Example:

Calculation Results

targetDistM: 8
resolution: 1080p
recommendedFocalMm: 4
recommendedLens: 4 mm (Standard Angle ~80°)
horizontalFovDeg: 80
coverageWidthM: 13.2
ppmAtTarget: 145
activeDoriLevel: Recognition (125+ PPM - Mengenali Orang Dikenal)
activeDoriLevelEn: Recognition (125+ PPM - Recognized Known Person)
doriDetailNote: Seimbang antara lebar area dan detail wajah pada jarak menengah 6–12 meter.
doriDetailNoteEn: Balanced wide overview and facial detail at medium distances between 6 and 12 meters.
doriDistances: {"detection":{"ppm":25,"maxDistanceM":46.5,"description":{"id":"Deteksi keberadaan manusia di area pantau (25 PPM)","en":"Detect human presence in the scene (25 PPM)"}},"observation":{"ppm":62,"maxDistanceM":18.8,"description":{"id":"Melihat pakaian dan aktivitas umum (62 PPM)","en":"Observe clothing details and activities (62 PPM)"}},"recognition":{"ppm":125,"maxDistanceM":9.3,"description":{"id":"Mengenali apakah orang tersebut sudah pernah dikenal (125 PPM)","en":"Recognize whether the individual is someone known (125 PPM)"}},"identification":{"ppm":250,"maxDistanceM":4.7,"description":{"id":"Identifikasi wajah positif tanpa keraguan hukum (250 PPM)","en":"Positive facial identification beyond legal doubt (250 PPM)"}}}
summaryText: Ringkasan Kalkulasi Lensa & Standar DORI CCTV – InfraCalc.id Jarak Target : 8 meter (Lebar Pandang FoV: ±13.2 m) Resolusi Sensor: 2 MP (1080p Full HD - 1920×1080) Rekomendasi : Lensa 4 mm (Standard Angle ~80°) Kerapatan Piksel: ~145 PPM (Recognition (125+ PPM - Mengenali Orang Dikenal)) Catatan DORI : Seimbang antara lebar area dan detail wajah pada jarak menengah 6–12 meter. Batas DORI EN 62676-4: - Deteksi (25 PPM) : s/d 46.5 meter - Observasi (62 PPM) : s/d 18.8 meter - Pengenalan (125 PPM) : s/d 9.3 meter - Identifikasi (250 PPM): s/d 4.7 meter

How to Use This Tool

Enter the estimated distance between the camera position and the primary target object in meters.
Select your intended camera sensor resolution (such as 1080p Full HD, 4MP 2K QHD, or 4K 8MP).
Review the recommended lens focal length (2.8mm, 4mm, 6mm, or 12mm), scene coverage width in meters, and DORI level.

Worked Example: Cashier Counter / Retail Room (4m Distance, 1080p)

Worked example: A target object at 8 meters on a 1080P sensor produces a recommendation for a 4 mm (Standard Angle ~80°). At this range, horizontal scene width spans ±13.2 meters with an effective density of ~145 PPM (Recognition (125+ PPM - Recognized Known Person)). Maximum range for positive identification (250 PPM) reaches 4.7 meters.

Example Input

{
  "targetDistM": 4,
  "resolution": "1080p"
}

Calculated Output

targetDistM:: 4
resolution:: 1080p
recommendedFocalMm:: 2.8
recommendedLens:: 2.8 mm (Ultra Wide ~103°)
horizontalFovDeg:: 103
coverageWidthM:: 9.6
ppmAtTarget:: 200
activeDoriLevel:: Recognition (125+ PPM - Mengenali Orang Dikenal)
activeDoriLevelEn:: Recognition (125+ PPM - Recognized Known Person)
doriDetailNote:: Cocok untuk pantau ruangan luas/kasir/parkir dekat. Identifikasi wajah tajam hingga ±4-5 meter.
doriDetailNoteEn:: Ideal for wide rooms/cashier/parking. Crisp facial identification up to ±4-5 meters.
doriDistances:: {"detection":{"ppm":25,"maxDistanceM":32,"description":{"id":"Deteksi keberadaan manusia di area pantau (25 PPM)","en":"Detect human presence in the scene (25 PPM)"}},"observation":{"ppm":62,"maxDistanceM":12.9,"description":{"id":"Melihat pakaian dan aktivitas umum (62 PPM)","en":"Observe clothing details and activities (62 PPM)"}},"recognition":{"ppm":125,"maxDistanceM":6.4,"description":{"id":"Mengenali apakah orang tersebut sudah pernah dikenal (125 PPM)","en":"Recognize whether the individual is someone known (125 PPM)"}},"identification":{"ppm":250,"maxDistanceM":3.2,"description":{"id":"Identifikasi wajah positif tanpa keraguan hukum (250 PPM)","en":"Positive facial identification beyond legal doubt (250 PPM)"}}}
summaryText:: Ringkasan Kalkulasi Lensa & Standar DORI CCTV – InfraCalc.id Jarak Target : 4 meter (Lebar Pandang FoV: ±9.6 m) Resolusi Sensor: 2 MP (1080p Full HD - 1920×1080) Rekomendasi : Lensa 2.8 mm (Ultra Wide ~103°) Kerapatan Piksel: ~200 PPM (Recognition (125+ PPM - Mengenali Orang Dikenal)) Catatan DORI : Cocok untuk pantau ruangan luas/kasir/parkir dekat. Identifikasi wajah tajam hingga ±4-5 meter. Batas DORI EN 62676-4: - Deteksi (25 PPM) : s/d 32 meter - Observasi (62 PPM) : s/d 12.9 meter - Pengenalan (125 PPM) : s/d 6.4 meter - Identifikasi (250 PPM): s/d 3.2 meter

Core Concept & Engineering Notes

Selecting the correct focal length for CCTV camera optics dictates the practical efficacy of any video surveillance deployment. A pervasive pitfall in physical security installation is deploying fixed 2.8 mm ultra-wide lenses across every camera location under the assumption that wider coverage is universally superior. However, expanding the horizontal Field of View (FoV) inherently dilutes optical pixel density per meter (PPM) as distance from the camera aperture increases. A 2.8 mm wide-angle lens yields an expansive horizontal FoV of approximately 103 degrees, making it suitable for indoor retail floors, cash registers, or entrance lobbies where targets remain within 1 to 5 meters. When deployed at distances exceeding 6 meters, human facial features span insufficient pixel clusters, hindering definitive forensic identification. For medium spans between 6 and 12 meters such as parking bays or classrooms, a 4 mm lens offering an 80-degree FoV delivers an optimal equilibrium between situational awareness and facial clarity. For extended focal targets, a 6 mm lens with a concentrated 50-degree FoV is engineered for long warehouse aisles or perimeter walkways up to 20 meters. Beyond 20 meters, identifying vehicle license plates or gate visitors demands a 12 mm telephoto optic or a motorized varifocal lens. This calculator pairs focal length recommendations and scene width projections with international DORI pixel density criteria to ensure proper camera selection.

How It Was Calculated (Formulas & Steps)

Mathematical Formulas

Object Distance <= 6 m: Recommended Lens 2.8 mm (Ultra Wide ~103°, Scene Width = Dist × 2.4)
Object Distance 6–12 m: Recommended Lens 4.0 mm (Standard Angle ~80°, Scene Width = Dist × 1.65)
Object Distance 12–20 m: Recommended Lens 6.0 mm (Narrow Focus ~50°, Scene Width = Dist × 0.90)
Object Distance > 20 m: Recommended Lens 12 mm / Varifocal (~25°, Scene Width = Dist × 0.45)
Pixel Density (PPM) = Sensor Horizontal Pixels / Scene Coverage Width (m)
DORI Distance Reach (m) = Sensor Pixels / (Threshold PPM × Lens Width Factor)

Step-by-Step Calculation

1. Target Distance: 8 meters -> Evaluated heuristic focal length brackets (<=6m: 2.8mm, <=12m: 4mm, <=20m: 6mm, >20m: 12mm)
2. Selected Lens: 4 mm (Standard Angle ~80°) with ~80° Horizontal Field of View (FoV)
3. Scene Width at Target: 8 m × 1.65 width factor = ±13.2 meters
4. Pixel Density: 1920 horizontal pixels / 13.2 m = 145 PPM [Recognition (125+ PPM - Recognized Known Person)]
5. EN 62676-4 DORI Maximum Reach for 2 MP (1080p Full HD - 1920×1080):
- Identification (250 PPM): 4.7 m
- Recognition (125 PPM): 9.3 m
- Observation (62 PPM): 18.8 m
- Detection (25 PPM): 46.5 m

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the primary operational difference between 2.8 mm and 4 mm CCTV lenses?

A 2.8 mm lens provides a wide ~103° FoV capturing expansive indoor areas, but subjects appear further away with reduced facial detail. A 4 mm lens offers an ~80° FoV with roughly 1.4x optical magnification, rendering human facial features at 6–10 meters significantly sharper and easier to identify.

When should I choose a varifocal or motorized zoom lens instead of a fixed lens?

Varifocal optics (such as 2.8–12 mm) are strongly recommended when precise target distances cannot be confirmed during preliminary surveys, or on perimeter gate poles where security personnel need to tune optical zoom and focal depth directly from the NVR interface without physical ladder access.

Can a 4K (8MP) sensor compensate for a wide 2.8 mm lens over long distances?

4K resolution quadruples horizontal pixel counts, allowing deeper post-recording digital cropping than 1080p. Nonetheless, optical physics dictate that telephoto glass (6mm or 12mm) maintains superior optical MTF contrast and clarity without digital compression grain at distances beyond 15 meters.

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References & Notes

Last updated: 2026-11-06Content Status: Draft (Pending Editorial Review)

Note: Results above are mathematical estimates based on standard formulas. Always verify against official vendor documentation and site conditions before production deployment.