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Foscam SD8EP
PTZ Camera with 8.3MP (3840×2160) resolution, 111° field of view, and 50m IR night vision range.
SPECIFICATIONS · SD8EP
Specifications
About the Foscam SD8EP
The Foscam SD8EP is a motorized PTZ chassis ideal for large open spaces — parking lots, stadiums, airports, and city surveillance. 4K (8MP) resolution roughly quadruples 1080p pixel density, pushing usable identification distance past 25 meters and giving forensic-grade digital zoom on archived footage. With long-range IR you can rely on the camera as the only night-vision source over a wide area, eliminating the cost and visual clutter of dedicated IR floods. A wide 80–120° angle covers a large room or open area from a single mounting position, making it ideal for retail floors, conference rooms, and small parking lots.
Best use cases for this camera
Outdoor perimeter & fenceline
With 50m IR reach and 8.3MP (3840×2160) resolution, this camera covers fences, yards, and approach roads in complete darkness. Mount on poles or eaves at 4–6 m height angled slightly downward.
Entrance, lobby & vestibule
The 111° field of view captures the entire entrance and surrounding waiting area from a single ceiling mount. Useful for capturing visitors as they enter and leave.
Large area patrol & target tracking
PTZ control enables operator-initiated tracking of suspicious activity, scheduled tours of preset positions overnight, and forensic zoom into recorded footage. Best paired with a wide-angle "overview" camera that triggers the PTZ via analytics.
Strengths
- •8.3MP sensor preserves detail under digital zoom on recorded footage
- •50m IR range eliminates the need for external night-time illuminators
- •111° wide field of view reduces the number of cameras needed per area
- •PTZ control enables operator-driven tracking and pre-set tours
Considerations
- •PTZ cameras only see one direction at a time — pair with a fixed overview camera to avoid blind spots
- •Higher resolution increases storage and bandwidth requirements proportionally — verify NVR capacity
Coverage at Different Distances
| Distance | Coverage Width | Coverage Area | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5m | 14.6m | 73 m² | Entrance, corridor |
| 10m | 29.1m | 291 m² | Room, retail aisle |
| 15m | 43.7m | 655 m² | Warehouse, parking row |
| 20m | 58.2m | 1164 m² | Parking row, courtyard |
| 30m | 87.3m | 2619 m² | Parking lot, yard |
| 50m | 145.5m | 7275 m² | Perimeter, large area |
Field of View Visualization
Night Vision Performance
Daytime
Full 8.3MP (3840×2160) resolution at 111° field of view. Effective identification range up to 50m in good lighting conditions.
Nighttime (IR)
Built-in IR LEDs illuminate up to 50m in complete darkness. Switches to B/W mode for clear night footage.
Installation tips for the SD8EP
Mount above 4 m on a rigid pole or wall bracket — PTZ vibrations are amplified at low mounting heights and degrade image quality during pan operations.
Avoid mounting under direct ceiling lights or behind glass — both reflect IR back into the lens and create severe glare in the image.
Position so the most important subject (entrance, cash register, gate) is in the center third of the frame — peripheral pixel density drops with wide angles.
Plan storage at roughly 33 GB per camera per day for continuous H.265 recording at 15fps — verify NVR has sufficient HDD bay capacity.
Coverage geometry & DORI distances
At a 5-metre standoff the Foscam SD8EP covers about 14.6 m of scene width; at 10 m that grows to 29.1 m, and at 20 m to 58.2 m. Translating those numbers through EN 62676-4 pixel-density thresholds, the camera can detect a person up to 53 m, observe up to 21 m, recognise up to 11 m, and produce identification-grade detail (the ≥250 px/m bar used by Polish and EU courts as evidentiary) up to 5 m. Effective range above the identify threshold relies on supplementary lighting or a longer-focal-length optic — the geometry above assumes the 3.3-10.2mm lens declared by the manufacturer.
Power & cabling
The Foscam SD8EP draws an estimated 60.0 W under typical load (with the IR illuminator engaged where applicable), placing it in the 802.3bt Type 3 (Class 5–6, ≤60 W) budget. A single switch port supplies enough power without an injector. Cabling: stick to Cat6 STP for runs up to 80 m end-to-end — beyond that, add an inline PoE extender or move to fibre with a media converter at the camera end. On outdoor runs, route through ø25 PVC or PE conduit to keep the cable shielded from UV and rodents.
Privacy & legal (GDPR / RODO)
Any camera operating in a publicly accessible area falls under GDPR (RODO in Poland) — Art. 13 obliges the data controller to post an information sign at every entry point with controller name, DPO contact, lawful basis (typically Art. 6(1)(f) legitimate interest for property protection), purpose, and retention period. The Foscam SD8EP's PTZ pan range can sweep into neighbouring properties or public roads; document allowed pan limits in the installation record and configure privacy masks (see Foscam's web-UI under "Privacy Mask") for any window or doorway you cannot legally surveil.
Installer time & cost (rough estimate)
A typical EU installer quotes 5–6 h of labour per ptz camera of this class (approximately €225–€275 excluding hardware), broken down as bracket mounting, cable termination at both ends, on-site commissioning, and a brief operator handover. Allow extra time for high mounts (>4 m), exterior installations requiring scaffolding, or sites where cable routing demands wall penetrations or conduit work.
Indicative EU 2024-2025 pricing — actual quotes vary by region, mounting height, and site conditions. Excludes hardware, transport, permits, and VAT.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Foscam SD8EP suitable for outdoor installation?
Foscam PTZ models are generally designed for outdoor use with IP66 ingress rating and -30°C to +60°C operating range. Mount on a rigid pole at ≥ 4 m to dampen wind-driven vibration that would degrade the live image during pan operations.
What PoE class powers the Foscam SD8EP?
The camera draws roughly 60.0 W in steady-state operation, requiring a 802.3bt Type 3 (Class 5–6, ≤60 W) switch port. A single Cat6 STP cable carries both data and power up to 80 m — beyond that, add an inline extender or convert to fibre near the camera.
How much storage does the Foscam SD8EP consume per day?
At 8.3MP (3840×2160) resolution, 15 fps H.265 continuous recording, the SD8EP produces approximately 33 GB per day — about 990 GB per month. Motion-only or event-triggered recording typically cuts that by 40–70 % depending on scene activity. Plan NVR HDD capacity for the longest retention period required by your privacy policy or insurance contract.
Up to what distance can the Foscam SD8EP identify a person?
Per EN 62676-4:2025 pixel-density thresholds, this camera identifies (≥ 250 px/m on the target) up to about 5 m, recognises a person up to 11 m, observes general activity up to 21 m, and detects motion up to 53 m. Identification distance assumes daylight or full IR illumination on the target — at the limits of the IR cone the effective identify distance shrinks roughly 30 %.
What network bandwidth does Foscam SD8EP use?
Typical ingest is 12 Mbps for the main stream (H.265, medium scene complexity, 15 fps) plus ~0.5 Mbps for a low-resolution sub-stream used by mobile clients. For a 16-camera installation of this class, plan a 50–100 Mbps NVR uplink and a dedicated VLAN for camera traffic.
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