Troubleshooting | Resolving Focus Drift in NC Series Cameras

Fix focus drift issues in NC Series cameras.

Updated at August 14th, 2024

Affected Products

Hardware Model/Series
NC Series Cameras
Software
 

Problem | Symptoms

An issue has been observed using NC Series cameras where focus drift occurs as the camera tracks. 

The focus drift happens consistently during camera tracking but worsens when a trigger zone is engaged. even when autofocus is enabled. the camera fails to maintain proper focus, leading to significant image quality degradation. 

The video below provides a clear example of the problem.


Causes | Verification

Root cause of this issue is under investigation. The information below has proven to restore functionality.


Solution | Workaround

  1. Autofocus Calibration (Primary Fix)
    • Re-calibrate the autofocus settings to address the focus drift issue. The recommended approach is to use the PTZ recalibrate feature. Start by zooming all the way in or out to reset the focus compensation, then set the AutoFocus sensitivity to low. PTZ recalibration can also be performed each time the camera comes out of privacy mode if needed.
  2. Firmware Update (Advised)
    • Ensure that the cameras are running the latest firmware. Outdated firmware might have bugs or issues that have been resolved in more recent updates. While this is not the primary fix, it is recommended to keep the firmware up to date for overall system stability.
  3. Reset Focus Compensation (Advised)
    • Zoom all the way in or out to reset the camera's focus compensation.
  4. Adjust Autofocus Sensitivity (Final Step)
    • Adjust the autofocus sensitivity settings.
      • Start with setting to LOW