Move 4K Autotracking Reference Guide

What is Auto Tracking?

All G3 PTZOptics cameras have an auto tracking feature. This feature allows users to turn their camera into its own camera operator. The autotracking on PTZOptics cameras can select a human target and pan, tilt, and zoom to keep that target in frame.

This article covers all the autotracking settings and features available on the PTZOptics Move 4K. Different camera models have different tracking features, so the information in this article may not apply to other camera models.

Ready to Configure This?

See the Move 4K Autotracking How-To for step-by-step instructions.

Move 4K Auto Tracking Features

The Move 4K has the following features:

• Auto Tracking
• Auto Framing
• Presenter Lock Mode
• Horizontal and Vertical Composition toggles
• Tracking sensitivity toggle
• Tracking zoom level toggle
• Time Delay
• Tilt Lock
• Start and Stop Tracking Locations
• Target Loss Timeout

Auto Tracking

The Auto Tracking feature allows the camera to automatically follow and capture the movement of a single subject within the frame.

Auto Framing

Auto Framing adjusts the camera's composition to keep all subjects well-framed.

Presenter Lock Mode™

Presenter Lock™ automatically follows and captures the movement of a selected subject within the frame. This feature allows users to focus on a specific presenter, even while others are in the frame, ensuring precise and dynamic tracking. Seamlessly switch between presenters using directional arrows or the number pad for a professional experience.

• Off: No bounding box will be displayed around the tracked target.
• Select Target: Momentarily displays a green bounding box around a newly acquired target, allowing users to confirm the selected subject. Users can seamlessly switch between targets by moving left or right using the directional arrows on the IR remote, VISCA commands, joystick controllers, or the web interface.
• Multi-Target: Displays numbered bounding boxes around multiple subjects on the web interface video feed. Users can switch between targets using the directional arrows or by entering the box number on the number pad. The Home button will refresh and reassign the boxes around the subjects.
• Debug: Includes the functions of Select Target, with an additional red bounding box displayed around all tracked and untracked targets for advanced troubleshooting and analysis.

Horizontal Composition

Horizontal Composition refers to the horizontal positioning of the subject within the camera frame during tracking.

• Left: The subject is positioned towards the left side of the frame.
• Center: The subject is positioned in the middle of the frame.
• Right: The subject is positioned towards the right side of the frame.

Vertical Composition

Vertical Composition refers to the vertical positioning of the subject within the camera frame during tracking.

• Top: The subject is positioned towards the top side of the frame.
• Center: The subject is positioned in the middle of the frame.
• Bottom: The subject is positioned towards the bottom side of the frame.

Tracking Sensitivity

The Tracking Sensitivity toggle controls how sensitive the camera is to the movement of the subject. Think of this like there is an imaginary box around the subject — when the edge of that box touches the edge of the frame, the camera will move to keep the subject in the specified composition. At the lowest sensitivity, imagine the box is very small, so the subject has to be very near the edge of the frame for the camera to react. Conversely, at high sensitivity, the box around the subject is much larger, so when they move slightly left of center, the larger box may already be touching the side of the frame and the camera will react.

• Low Sensitivity: The camera tracks with reduced responsiveness to target movements, resulting in a slower tracking speed.
• Medium Sensitivity: Strikes a balance between responsiveness and stability. Tracks with moderate speed and accuracy, capable of following moderately fast movements without instability.
• High Sensitivity: Offers quick and precise response to even subtle target movements.

High Sensitivity

Fast target movements at high sensitivity might lead to jittery or sudden camera adjustments.

Tracking Zoom Level

• Dynamic Zoom: Enables tracking while allowing manual zoom control.
• Medium Close Up: Frames the subject's head and shoulders.
• Medium Shot: Frames the subject from head to waist.
• Long Shot: Frames the subject's full body from head to feet.

Time Delay

The Time Delay feature allows the user to set a delay between when tracking is toggled on and when the camera actually starts tracking. This delay can be set between 0 and 60 seconds.

Tilt Lock

Tilt Lock

Tilt Lock does exactly what you would expect — it locks the camera's tilt function so that the camera cannot tilt.

Tracking Start and Stop Location

This feature allows the user to select where they want the camera to go when tracking starts, and where they want it to go when tracking stops. You can also mix and match — for instance, you could set the camera to go to preset 5 when auto tracking is turned on, and go to the home position when tracking is turned off.

• Home: Sends the camera back to its home position when tracking starts/stops.
• Track Now: Begins tracking wherever the camera currently is and will not change the location or cause the camera to move.
• Presets: Calls a specific preset that you, as the user, must specify for when autotracking is turned on/off. You can choose any of the camera's 254 presets.

Target Loss

This setting determines what the camera does when it cannot find the subject/target it was actively tracking. This can happen if the subject leaves the room or is blocked from the view of the camera by an object or other people.

• Target Timeout: Enables users to set a specific time duration, from 6 to 60 seconds. If the camera loses track of the subject being followed during tracking within this defined time, the camera will automatically activate a user-defined preset to reposition itself.
• Target Loss Preset: Specifies which preset the camera should call when the target timeout occurs.

Not the Same as Time Delay

Target Loss Timeout (6–60 seconds) is a separate setting from Time Delay (0–60 seconds) — Time Delay controls when tracking starts, while Target Loss Timeout controls how long the camera waits after losing its target before repositioning.

For a full walkthrough with step-by-step configuration examples, see our dedicated Configuring Target Loss guide (e.g. Move 4K or Move SE).