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Vivotek PZ8121
Bullet Camera with N/A resolution and 48.9° field of view.
SPECIFICATIONS · PZ8121
Specifications
Verified specifications sourced from the official manufacturer datasheet.
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About the Vivotek PZ8121
The Vivotek PZ8121 is a rugged outdoor-grade bullet form factor designed to withstand exposure to weather, vandalism, and direct sunlight. Sub-megapixel resolution is suitable only for general overview footage. It is useful for movement detection but insufficient for facial recognition or license-plate reading. There is no built-in IR illuminator on this model, so it depends entirely on ambient light. In dark environments, pair it with external IR floods or white-light illuminators. A narrow field of view trades coverage area for pixel density at distance, the right choice when you need to read faces or plates far from the camera, e.g., long corridors, gate approaches, ANPR installations.
Best use cases for this camera
Long corridor & aisle monitoring
The 48.9° narrow angle is intentionally tuned for corridor work: it concentrates pixel density along the length of the hallway rather than wasting resolution on the side walls. Mount at the far end facing along the corridor.
Strengths
Considerations
- •No built-in IR, so it needs external illumination for night use
- •Narrow angle requires more cameras to cover wide areas; plan camera count accordingly
Coverage at Different Distances
| Distance | Coverage Width | Coverage Area | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5m | 4.5m | 23 m² | Entrance, corridor |
| 10m | 9.1m | 91 m² | Room, retail aisle |
| 15m | 13.6m | 205 m² | Warehouse, parking row |
| 20m | 18.2m | 364 m² | Parking row, courtyard |
| 30m | 27.3m | 818 m² | Parking lot, yard |
| 50m | 45.5m | 2273 m² | Perimeter, large area |
Field of View Visualization
Night Vision Performance
Daytime
Full N/A resolution at 48.9° field of view. Effective identification range up to 0m in good lighting conditions.
Nighttime (IR)
No built-in IR: at night it needs ambient light or an external illuminator. Switches to B/W mode for clear night footage.
Installation tips for the PZ8121
Plan cabling for multiple cameras to cover wide areas: at 48.9° you cover roughly 9 m of width per camera at 10 m distance.
Coverage geometry & DORI distances
At a 5-metre standoff the Vivotek PZ8121 covers about 4.5 m of scene width; at 10 m that grows to 9.1 m, and at 20 m to 18.2 m. Translating those numbers through EN 62676-4 pixel-density thresholds, the camera can detect a person up to 83 m, observe up to 33 m, recognise up to 17 m, and produce Identify-level detail (250 px/m in the EN 62676-4 DORI scale) up to 8 m. Effective range above the identify threshold relies on supplementary lighting or a longer-focal-length optic; the geometry above assumes the 4.2-42mm lens declared by the manufacturer.
Power & cabling
The Vivotek PZ8121 draws an estimated 5.5 W under typical load (with the IR illuminator engaged where applicable), placing it in the 802.3af (Class 3, ≤15.4 W) budget. A single switch port supplies enough power without an injector. Cabling: stick to Cat6 STP for runs up to 100 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. Even a narrowly-aimed bullet camera can incidentally record passers-by, so the Art. 13 sign at the entry point applies regardless of how tightly the lens is framed.
Installer time & cost (rough estimate)
A typical EU installer quotes 3-4 h of labour per bullet camera of this class (approximately €135-€185 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 pricing at 2024-2025 rates; actual quotes vary by region, mounting height, and site conditions. Excludes hardware, transport, permits, and VAT.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Vivotek PZ8121 suitable for outdoor installation?
Yes for the IP66/IP67-rated variant of this model. Bullet and dome bodies in the Vivotek range survive direct rain, snow and UV; check the IP / IK rating against your environment (IP66 for rain/dust, IK10 for vandal-prone locations).
What PoE class powers the Vivotek PZ8121?
The camera draws roughly 5.5 W in steady-state operation, requiring an 802.3af (Class 3, ≤15.4 W) switch port. A single Cat6 STP cable carries both data and power up to 100 m; beyond that, add an inline extender or convert to fibre near the camera.
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