Hi Stuart,
In response to your reply:
Yes, you are correct, you have to set the park position to the preset which has the most amount of activity (see below for why).
I have also seen the the DVS video which illustrates how to 'teach' the camera what amount of focus to use for different amounts of zoom in different positions, as you mentioned. I have not found anywhere in the settings of this S5 camera that allows me to do this.
Focussing hasn't been too much of a problem for this camera, it's not lightning fast but it's acceptable.
Here are my results for the S5 variant.
So to my dismay, it's not really much better. Sure, it has acusense for "Smart Events" only, but that seems to be the only difference. Even the label on the camera and the model number field on the GUI do not have "(S5)" appended to the model number which made me question if it even is a different camera. The label on the box does however mention the "(S5)" and the serial numbers match, so it definitely is the "(S5)" model. Also it runs the "(S5)" firmware.
Next, the Smart Tracking. As mentioned in my other post, there is no acusense presence in the smart tracking menu, which I was hoping for as it seems to be the obvious thing to incorporate into smart tracking in this updated model. I understand you can use VCA/smart events filtered by acusense to trigger smart tracking however this is not very helpful considering the configurable smart event areas are relatively small, meaning smart tracking can only be triggered when there is human or vehicular movement in any of these small areas.
If there is movement outside these small areas, there will simply be no tracking, because in order to realise any benefit from smart event triggered smart tracking, you must of course disable "Smart Tracking" under the PTZ section.
I can imagine the current firmware setup being satisfactory for very large, wide open spaces, but if you do not inhabit an estate the size of a small town then you might not be able to use the camera to it's full potential. On a more serious note, it's clear it was designed for more commercial environments rather than domestic environments, which is unfortunate.
As for triggering smart tracking from other cameras. There has been no advancement when compared to the non S5 version. No additional linkage methods available for smart events on other cameras. If you want a static camera to call the PTZ to a certain position and begin tracking, the first half is no problem after a short delay but the second part - tracking, a bit more of a problem because you have to first wait for the PTZ to arrive at the preset but then for the camera to realise there is something moving and you no longer want it to remain at the preset but start tracking the moving object. Suffice to say, this makes using other cameras to call the PTZ presets with the view to start tracking what is in frame at the preset, not possible.
Finally, one last thing to mention.
Smart tracking no longer searches for lost targets for a few seconds. The non S5 model used to pan and tilt a tiny bit to try and find the target once it had been lost. This camera rushes straight back to the park preset after losing the target which is quite unhelpful. I know about the park time, but that seems to only be relevant when you move the camera manually. I am also aware of the alternates to preset as a park action. But none of them make the camera do the minor scan for target then return to preset if target is not found after X amount of seconds.
Contrary to the typical technological criticism, this camera needs to be made more complicated in order to provide greater configurability, seriously, I wish it had more options.
All I can hope for is a firmware update. Or maybe for an expert.
