12 Best Long Range Security Camera with 1000FT Zoom

A long range security camera gives you the option to identify far-off movements and details with great clarity. What to look for and the 12 best options listed below.

Our Top Picks:

1. YoLuKe PTZ Outdoor Camera 20X 5MP Pan Tilt Zoom IP WiFi Auto-Tracking Pet Cameras with 360° Rotate
2. SUNBA 25X Optical Zoom 5MP IP PoE+ Outdoor PTZ Camera
3. SUNBA Auto Tracking PTZ Camera IP PoE+ Outdoor
4. Lorex 8MP 4K IP Motorized Varifocal Zoom Bullet Security Camera LNB8973BW
5. Amcrest 4K Optical Zoom IP Camera, Varifocal 8MP
6. BOLLNG PTZ Camera Outdoor WiFi Wireless Security Camera 5MP 30X Optical Zoom
7. Urban Security Group 8MP 5-50mm Motorized Auto-Focus 200ft IR Night Vision
8. BoaVision PTZ 5MP 30X Zoom,328ft Night Vision Long Range Security Camera
9. Amcrest POE Camera Bullet, Security Camera, 2.7mm~13.5mm Lens
10. GW Security 5 Megapixel 2592 x 1920 Pixel Super HD 1920P Outdoor PoE 120FT Night Vision
11. Swann PIR Bullet Security Camera & Spotlight, 4K Ultra HD 115ft Night Vision
12. REOLINK 5MP(2560×1920@30FPS) PoE Camera 100ft Night Vision

Key elements of a long range outdoor security camera

Pixels per foot (PPF)

The most important factor when choosing a long range surveillance camera is ‘pixels per foot’. Generally speaking you need 38-40 PPF to identify facial features of known human subjects and the registration plates of vehicles. 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS, 2013) recommended a minimum 40 PPF for forensic review. Minimum 80 PPF is required for identification of facial features of unknown subjects and Automatic Numberplate Recognition (ANR) of moving vehicles.

The formula to calculate pixels per foot is PPF = the camera’s horizontal resolution/the field of view. Refer to the chart below for a break of PPF based on the resolution of the security camera.

Camera Resolution	Field of View (Length in FT)
		30	50	100
	Horizontal Pixels	Pixels per Foot (PPF)
2MP (1080P HD)	1920	64	38	19
4MP (2K)	2560	85	51	25
8MP (4K Ultra HD)	3840	128	76	38

Ultra HD Resolution: When you are looking at objects that are over 1000FT on a small lens, you want the resolution to be as high as possible. Ideally you are looking at a resolution of 40 pixels per foot.

Optical Zoom

Optical Zoom will give you long distance clarity by compromising on the field-of-view. Any optical zoom above 5X will give you decent long distance range at a 4 – 5MP resolution. If the optical zoom is in the 20 – 30X range, a 4K Ultra HD resolution will be required to support the high magnification.

A varifocal lens with a good sensor will enlarge subjects at a distance allowing you to increase the PPF by reducing the field-of-view.

Lens Size

Optical Zoom is closely tied to the lens size of the camera. The difference between the telephoto setting and the wide angle setting will determine the amount and the quality of the zoom. For instance a 2.8mm-93mm lens will give you a 25X optical zoom while a 50-150mm lens will provide a 3X zoom. However, the latter will be better at zooming in farther away due to the 150mm telephoto setting albeit at the cost of the wide angle field-of-view.

The lower number in the lens range is how wide angle your camera is. The lower the number, the wider your view. So in our example above the 2.8-93mm lens will provide a much wider view with the telephoto lens compared to the 50mm telephoto lens.

Best Long Range Security Cameras

YoLuKe PTZ Outdoor Camera 20X 5MP Pan Tilt Zoom IP WiFi Auto-Tracking Pet Cameras with 360° Rotate

A reliable PTZ wireless long range camera with an IR night vision of over 190 FT. It operates on your WiFi network and the connection depends on your WiFi range and bandwidth. If you place the camera far from your router, you will need to extend the range with a WiFi extender or repeater.

Pros:

• Excellent camera clarity.
• 196 FT IR night vision
• Reliable 20X optical zoom

Cons:

• Poorly written instruction manual.
• SD card slot is hard to access.
• Camera mount needs reinforcement.

SUNBA 25X Optical Zoom 5MP IP PoE+ Outdoor PTZ Camera

ONVIF compliant PTZ PoE camera – this Sunba security camera is an excellent addition to your NVR system. A 5MP Full HD resolution combined with 25X Optical Zoom. The company claims a night vision distance of 1000 FT but in real world tests, the clarity decreases significantly after 200 FT. Daytime views are much better with the 25X optical zoom performing as expected.

Pros:

• Starlight (Colour) Night Vision
• Excellent video clarity.
• Over 200 FT clear Night Vision.

Cons:

• Large size – 14” tall and weighs 9 LBS
• Clunky web interface that works on Internet Explorer
• High motion sensitivity with IR night vision

SUNBA Auto Tracking PTZ Camera IP PoE+ Outdoor

With an industrial grade build quality and 3-mode Smart Tracking, this long range security camera is one of the best on the list. You can track moving subjects at a distance of over 100 FT with line crossing – when objects cross a virtual line, perimeter tracking – track any movement within a preset polygon, and preset tracking – detect any movement in a preset camera field of view.

Pros:

• Smart 3-Mode Tracking
• RTMP broadcasting
• Extreme weather-resistant casing

Cons:

• Complicated initial set-up with limited instructions.
• Buggy OSX interface.
• Not compatible with all ONVIF-compliant NVRs

Lorex 8MP 4K IP Motorized Varifocal Zoom Bullet Security Camera LNB8973BW

With a lowest operating temperature of -22°F and an IP67 rated metal casing, this ONVIF compliant product will battle any outdoor condition.

The 4K resolution and up to 12mm varifocal lens will help you view clear details over long distances – Lorex has claimed an IR night vision distance of 250 FT. The camera is also capable of Color Night Vision which increases clarity but at the cost of viewing distance.

Video: <iframe width=”960″ height=”540″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/YFmKNuXxLgI?list=PL4UK5IbjEfv05qCPDXjjGD2obGbCPGzrn” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>

Pros:

• 2.7-12mm motorized varifocal lens.
• Excellent video clarity at upto 100 FT (38 PPF).
• 250 FT IR Night Vision.

Cons:

• Night vision needs improvement.
• No SD card support.
• ONly 4X Optical Zoom.

Amcrest 4K Optical Zoom IP Camera, Varifocal 8MP

This Amcrest device is so similar to the Lorex security camera that we had to include it for comparison. The firmware is arguably better than Lorex and Amcrest supports SD Card storage in addition to ONVIF NVR compatibility.

The 4X Optical Zoom has not been found to perform as well as advertised. A higher, better performing optical zoom to support the 4K resolution would make this a much better option.

Pros:

• SD Card support.
• Good support for firmware – regular updates.
• Extensive ONVIF compatibility.

Cons:

• 4X optical zoom underperforms in real life use.
• Untrained, overseas customer support.
• No preset zoom settings.

BOLLNG PTZ Camera Outdoor WiFi Wireless Security Camera 5MP 30X Optical Zoom

An amazing 30X optical zoom gives you one of the longest ranges of any security camera during daytime and an even better 490 FT IR night view during the darker hours.

Equipped with a Sony CMOS sensor and 10 IR LEDs, the 5MP camera will produce excellent results every time. This is supported by Smart Motion Detection, within a predefined zone, at your chosen sensitivity level.

Pros:

• 30X optical zoom 5MP camera
• Wide range of ONVIF compatibility.
• Wireless video transmission.
• Remote control and monitoring.

Cons:

• Large footprint.
• Buggy automated autofocus.

Urban Security Group 8MP 5-50mm Motorized Auto-Focus 200ft IR Night Vision

8MP resolution with a 5-50mm mechanical auto-focus lens come together to give you an excellent long range security camera. Business grade IP network security is another point in the plus column. 200 FT IR LEDs and H.265 video compression complete the package.

Pros:

• 5mm-50mm motorized optical zoom
• Excellent colour Night Vision
• Business grade IP network security.

Cons:

• H.265 compression doesn’t work as well.
• Slightly difficult initial setup.

BoaVision PTZ 5MP 30X Zoom, 328ft Night Vision Long Range Security Camera

An excellent camera that falls in certain key areas. Auto-tracking doesn’t work as advertised. The camera loses the subject frequently if they are moving at slightly above average speed. Data transmission speeds are slow despite installing a high-end NVR. The Zoom works great at about 100 FT at which it will identify details. Human detection is also accurate even at long distances.

Pros:

• 300 FT Night Vision
• 4.7~94mm lens with 30X Optical Zoom
• AI assisted Human Detection

Cons:

•  Narrow field of view
• Slow to send data over Ethernet.
• Auto-tracking doesn’t perform as expected.

Amcrest POE Camera Bullet, Security Camera, 2.7mm~13.5mm Lens

The 2.7-13.5mm lens gives you outstanding clarity when zoomed in. The progressive image sensor works with the 4 in-built IR lights for a crystal clear night view up to 190 FT. Pair it with any ONVIF compliant NVR of your choice.

Pros:

• 4K resolution with 113° wide angle view.
• Impressive build quality and weather-resistant casing.
• ONVIF compliant – works with a wide range of products.

Cons:

• IR Night Vision is not as clear.
• No Pan/Tilt/Zoom

GW Security 5 Megapixel 2592 x 1920 Pixel Super HD 1920P Outdoor PoE 120FT Night Vision

Falling short with ‘only’ Super HD 5MP resolution, the GW long range security camera makes up for it with A 2.8-12mm varifocal zoom lens. This gives you an excellent night vision range of over 120 FT.

Pros:

• Clear night vision – upto 190 FT
• Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) technology.
• Excellent build quality, IP66 rated.

Cons:

• Clunky web interface, works with Internet Explorer only.
• Motion detection is intermittent
• Poorly written instruction sheet.

Swann PIR Bullet Security Camera & Spotlight, 4K Ultra HD 115ft Night Vision

The two-way audio picks up normal conversation up to about 20 FT although with some ambient noise as well. The thermal sensing spotlight is an excellent feature as it avoids false alarms like moving trees and stray animals.

The night vision is extraordinary with a 150 FT view even in total darkness. We do miss an IP rating or a good weather-resistant coating as rain water tends to get inside the device.

Pros:

• Two-way audio works great.
• Thermal Heat Sensing Spotlight
• Up to 150FT Night Vision in total darkness.

Cons:

• Only works with Swann NVR system.
• Not very weather-resistant.
• No ceiling mount, wall mount only.

REOLINK 5MP PoE Camera 100ft Night Vision

A budget device that still outperforms higher priced long range security cameras. Capturing 30fps with a 5MP resolution, the camera produces excellent quality footage.

Backed by a reliable brand with responsive customer service. One main gripe is that despite being an outdoor camera, it is only IP66 rated and does not stand up to light rainfall.

Pros:

• Well built, flexible mounting joints.
• Easy to install and set-up.
• Excellent price point.

Cons:

• Not weather-resistant, needs a separate casing.
• Buggy web interface filled with Flash-based elements.
• Night vision needs improvement.

Final Words

There are several factors that affect the security camera’s ability to capture long distance video or images. Installation angle, lighting and glare, weather conditions, and motion, all play a part in the final result. Most of the cameras on our list are adept at handling a variety of issues and provide optimal clarity despite unfavourable outdoor conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the long distance range of security cameras?

Regular security cameras have a viewing distance of 30 to 70 feet. Long range wireless cameras combine a much higher resolution with optical zoom to achieve a range of over 1000ft away. Viewing distance does not mean identification of human faces or registration plates. Even security cameras with the highest resolution are unable to identify such details at a 1000 FT distance.

Which wireless security camera has the longest range?

Cameras with a high level of optical zoom can identify movement from a distance of over 1000ft. The clarity of these movements will depend on the resolution of these cameras. 4K or 8MP cameras will be able to identify the presence of humans or vehicles at 1000 FT but will still not be able to capture any identifying details – like a registration plate for instance.