The camera should always be in the plane of the finish line.
The distance back and height can vary greatly based on your camera lens and the light source available. We recommend having the camera between 10 to 15 feet from the track and 10 to 15 feet high.
Some things to consider:
- Before building any permanent structure, you should test your lens in the location you desire. Make sure that the lens works with a standard setting and doesn’t require digital enhancement to get all the lanes on the track.
- If the camera will be used under stadium lights, make sure there is enough light to reflect off the objects and back to the camera to provide readable images.
It’s also helpful to mount the camera higher so that the view of each lane allows you to see over the torso of each competitor rather than attempting to look through a solid object. As the height increases, it helps to also increase the distance from the finish line so that the hip numbers are clearly visible and not distorted from a steep camera angle.
If you have a special situation where the camera must be placed in a specific location, let our sales representative know or contact technical support and we can help determine the best lens for your facility.
Keywords: camera location, lens, finish line, height