Fixed or PTZ camera

Hardware
1

I’d like to purchase a Dahua outdoor WiFi camera to connect to HA. I’m unsure whether to buy a fixed or PTZ camera. Any advice? Is the PTZ camera easy to control in HA or Frigate?

2

That really depends on your use case more than if it is easy to control.

I don’t believe that ‘a’ camera is enough in any use case.

For example, I have …

  • Fixed double camera - driveway
  • Single 90 degree turned camera - front door (corridor mode) for doorbell
  • Fixed double camera - inside garage wall pointing at the doors
  • Fixed double camera - back door covering patio and stairs up to deck
  • Two PTZ cameras in the back (left and right) that move based on other cameras detecting motion
  • Fixed double camera - back of deck stairs covering back yard
  • Single zoomable camera - back of deck stairs covering deer feeder

Still needing installed …

  • Two PTZ cameras on the left and right of the front of the house corners.
    If you are talking about a specific situation, please give more info so we can reply with opinions.
3

I live on the fourth floor of a building, and I would like to check the outside of my balcony, and if possible also my car parked in the courtyard of my building.

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4

Is there anything I need to check before purchasing a Dahua WiFi camera?

5

You can do multiple fixed for price of ptz.
3 fixed cover 360 degrees or more.
Better to always see vs possibly miss for higher cost.

There are also dual camera. Same here. Multiple is cheaper.

PTZ and dual camera save on cabling. That is their benefit. 1 POE cable. Usually there is a better way.

PTZ adds reliability issue
Motor fails and such.

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