If you’ve been looking at camera specs lately, you’ve probably seen lens sizes like 1.68mm, 2.8mm, and 4mm thrown around a lot. And while they sound like small numbers, they make a big difference in how your camera actually performs. This isn’t just a spec sheet thing, your lens choice changes what you see, how much detail you get, and whether or not the camera actually does what you need it to.
So let’s break it down. Here’s how I explain it when someone asks me, “What’s the difference between these lenses?”
1.68mm Lens – Ultra-Wide (180° Field of View)
A 1.68mm lens gives you an extremely wide image, around 180 degrees. That means the camera can cover almost everything in front of it, wall to wall, with very little blind spot. It’s almost fisheye-level wide, but typically without the heavy distortion.
When to use it:
This lens is great when you need maximum coverage in a tight space. Think elevator cabs, small rooms, wide hallways, or a front porch where you want to see left to right edge-to-edge without needing to pan the camera. But keep in mind, you’re trading zoomed-in detail for wide-angle coverage. Things in the distance may look smaller than expected.
2.8mm Lens – Standard Wide (Around 100° Field of View)
This is what most folks would call the “default” lens. A 2.8mm gives you about a 100-degree field of view, which is wide enough to cover a decent-sized area while still giving you enough detail to identify faces or read a shirt logo within about 20 feet.
When to use it:
If you’re mounting a camera on the corner of a building, watching a driveway, or putting one above a storefront entrance, this is usually the sweet spot. It balances width and detail well, not too wide, not too tight. It’s the workhorse of most camera installs for a reason.
4mm Lens – Narrower View, More Detail (Around 70° Field of View)
With a 4mm lens, your field of view narrows down to about 70 degrees, but what you lose in width, you gain in clarity. Objects in the center of the frame appear larger, so faces or license plates at 30+ feet out are easier to make out.
When to use it:
This is perfect if you’re watching a gate entrance, alley, or hallway where you want tighter framing and better detail on what’s in the distance. It’s also great if you’re dealing with a deeper space like a warehouse aisle or parking lot exit lane.
So Which Lens Should You Pick?
It really comes down to the job. Here’s how I usually sum it up in the field:
- If you want to see everything, go with 1.68mm.
- If you want to see enough, go with 2.8mm.
- If you want to see clearly, go with 4mm.
And if you’re ever unsure, I always recommend pulling up live view while testing the angle before finalizing the mount. The right lens can make or break a camera’s usefulness.
Need help picking the right lens for your next job? Reach out to LaBass Systems and we’ll help you match the perfect camera for your space. Whether it’s wide-angle, high-detail, or somewhere in between, we’ve got you covered.