Many Axis cameras come with a varifocal lens which means the user can adjust the focus on the camera to get the right distance and clarity. Most of the time, these types of cameras allow zooming in and out as well. These adjustments can be manually, or even remotely if the camera is equipped with a motorized lens.
In this guide, we will show how to adjust an out-of-focus Axis camera. The procedure is simple and can be done physically on the camera or via the web browser (if the camera utilized a motorized piece).
As you can see, the image below shows an out of focus camera. The picture is blurry and unclear which demands the focus piece to be calibrated accordingly.
How to focus Axis cameras?
Note, the Settings button on the bottom right of the screen. This option gives you the option to access the camera’s menu and adjust all the necessary settings. Well, before we access the menu, let’s try to adjust the focus manually.
Manually adjust the focus on Axis cameras
If your camera uses a varifocal lens, you can adjust the focus manually by opening up the camera and locating the control pins on the lens block.
An example is shown below. There are two pins (depending on the camera model), one for zooming in and out, and the other for focusing.
Inspect the labels on the piece and find out which is for zoom and focus. Once you’ve located the focus pullers, move the pins until the picture on the screen (where the camera is hooked up) clears up and looks sharp.
Adjust Axis camera focus via web browser
You can further improve the focus by accessing the settings of the camera. Access the camera via the web browser and log in using your credentials.
Then click the Settings button (shown on the first image) and then navigate to Image > Focus and click the Fine-Tune button. A new window will pop out.
Once you hit the button, the camera will start to automatically adjust the focus. Usually, it takes 1-2 minutes for the camera to find the correct position that offers the best clarity. Basically, just wait until the process is done.
You’ll know that the focusing is done because the camera will show a message on the top right of the screen (it reads “Fine-Tune: Done”).
And that’s all there is, the camera is focused and the image is clear and sharp. However, if you’re not happy with the image, you can continue to adjust it manually until it looks good.
Sometimes the adjustments are dependent on installation conditions, camera placement, angle, and height. You may need to find the sweet spots that work better for the camera’s installation spot.
