I’m looking for a camera to capture vehicle license plates as they approach our property. Ideally, the camera would have:
Battery and solar panel charging, but I can wire it to mains if needed
Local or internal storage
24/7 recording option
Real-time footage viewing on a phone
The distance between the camera and the vehicles would range from 10 to 100 meters. There’s only one entrance to our property, and no other traffic passes by, so capturing license plates could help in case of theft or other incidents.
100 meters is quite far. You’ll need a PTZ camera for that. The Dahua 5241-Z12E-S2 is a popular option and can read plates up to 80 meters. For distances like that, you’ll need an optical zoom with at least a 60mm focal length.
Keep in mind, no camera can focus on both near (10m) and far (100m) distances at the same time. License plate readers are usually set to focus on a specific distance, so you might need more than one camera. Also, solar/wifi cameras are generally unreliable for 24/7 recording, so I recommend going with a wired option like outdoor Cat6 and a PoE switch.
@Carla
Sounds like I need to pick a specific distance and set the camera for that. Are there any cameras that you trust to only trigger when a car or person passes, without being set off by leaves or animals? Also, do you know of any good solar options? I could place a camera in a tree to focus on the road about 10 meters away, but there’s no power source nearby.
@MysteryMaverick
I wouldn’t rely on a camera that only switches on when motion is detected, especially for vehicles that might be in the frame for just a moment. By the time the camera triggers, the car could be gone.
I always use wired cameras because wireless ones tend to be unreliable. Ethernet cables can carry power over long distances, up to 300 feet or more.
No subscription is needed, but you’ll need to buy the video storage hardware (NVR). If you want to be able to search or act on specific vehicle arrivals, that’s a more advanced setup. If you have a Windows computer, you could use Blue Iris for 24/7 recording and license plate reading. Hikvision also makes dedicated license plate readers, but they start around $500.
You may not find a camera that checks all your boxes. Reading a license plate at a distance, especially at night, requires a camera with a good sensor. You’ll likely need optical zoom or multiple cameras with different focal lengths, and they probably won’t be solar-powered.
Have you considered installing a system that wires back to a cloud-compatible recorder? You’ll get better image quality, phone access, and the ability to record continuously or trigger events when cars pass by.
@Grace
I’m fine with a fixed distance of around 20 meters if it’s wired to mains power. Most cameras I’ve seen seem designed for smaller spaces, like inside homes or yards. How can I tell which cameras can capture license plates from 20 meters away?
You’ll likely need a PTZ camera with at least 18x zoom for that distance. It might be tough to find one that’s solar-powered, but you might be able to find an 8x optical zoom option from a Chinese brand on Amazon.