Amazing features make the Ring doorbell really stand out! This nifty gadget does more than just look good; it serves as the watchful eye for your doorstep. With sharp senses, it can spot anyone coming close from as near as 5 feet to as far as 25 feet. That's like having a superhero guarding your front porch! Picture this: you can see who's at your door without peeking through the blinds. It's no wonder folks love how it combines style with real smarts. Dive into the world of clever technology with the Ring doorbell and experience what true security feels like.
In this article, we have gathered all the necessary information you need to know – from the doorbell’s Field of View (FOV) to how you can improve it to minimize potential security risks.
How Far Can a Ring Doorbell See?
A Ring doorbell has two primary sensors that work together: the camera and the motion detector.
The cameras can see as far as they want to, but the doorbell is only triggered whenever its motion sensors pick up any unusual activity.
The range at which these sensors trigger is between 5 to 25 feet away from the sensor.
Things That Could Affect a Ring Doorbell's Vision Field
Technically, cameras can detect anything as long as there are no obstructions in their line of sight. However, objects that are too far away may not be interpreted accurately.
Several of the following factors contribute to how accurately a camera can capture objects.
Camera Resolution: Cameras with a higher resolution will generate sharper and clearer images. Therefore, videos and images on a higher resolution (1080p) will always be better than a lower resolution (480p). However, all Ring doorbell devices record in 1080p HD resolution, so they can achieve excellent picture quality.
Camera Lens: The lens used in a camera can affect its field of view. There are different lenses including wide-angle, ultrawide-angle, and telephoto. They are best for specific applications where some can zoom in on distant objects while others have a wider field of view. The cameras used in Ring doorbells utilize a wide-angle lens that captures 155 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically.
Environment Conditions: Physical obstructions and lighting conditions can also affect the camera's FOV. Obstacles such as walls, fences, and even cars can limit how far and wide the camera can see, especially when it's dark outside.
Ensure Your Ring Doorbell Gets Maximum Coverage
Since these Ring doorbells have a wider field of view than most conventional cameras, you should always make the best of it. Try setting up your Ring doorbell in such a manner that it can cover a wider area and minimize potential blind spots.
However, try to avoid the mistake of setting it up in a way that the doorbell becomes overly sensitive, for instance, it starts detecting and recording anything that passes by.
This helps avoid storing redundant footage that takes up a huge amount of storage space, power, and internet data.
When thinking about the right position for your doorbell, try to consider some of the following parameters:
Height from the Ground: The optimal height is 48 inches above the ground. However, the placement height may change depending on your circumstances. Regardless, make sure you don’t install it too high above the ground as the camera has a 90-degree vertical FOV.
Viewing Angle: The Ring Video Doorbell has a front-facing camera with a 110-degree horizontal FOV. Although that is a very generous amount, it can be severely underutilized if you angle it incorrectly. We recommend installing an adjustable mount if the front-facing angle cannot cover the critical blind spots near your front door.
Adjusting the Coverage & Detection Settings
Sometimes, when a Ring doorbell is placed too high above the ground or too close to the street, it might pick up passing cars and pedestrians all the time.
Fortunately, you can adjust the range and detection area of the motion sensors and fine-tune them, so that the doorbell won't start recording whenever there's a car passing by.
In this guide, we will show you how to adjust the coverage/detection settings of your Ring doorbell.
- First, open the Ring app and tap on the Menu icon in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.
- Then from the side menu, tap on Devices.
- After that, a list of all your Ring devices will show up. Select the Ring doorbell you need to configure.
- The device's dashboard will show up. From this menu, tap on Motion Settings.
- After that, tap on Motion Zones.
- A new menu will pop up, showing a live feed of your Ring doorbell with a blue outline that represents the sensor's detection area. Use the slider to adjust this area as you see fit.
- You can even tap the left, center, and right of this blue region to switch on and off certain zones.
- After you've adjusted the region to your liking, click on Continue or Save.
Different Ring Doorbells Produce Different Results
Ring provides a variety of different models that each have different benefits for its owner. There are some affordable low-end models whilst others are high-end and packed with features.
In this section, let's compare the video resolution, motion detection angle, and the camera's field of view in each of these Ring doorbell models.
Ring Video Doorbell 3: This basic version features a full HD 1080p resolution along with 155 degrees of horizontal FOV. The motion sensors feature infrared heat detection with a field of view of 180 degrees.
Ring Video Doorbell Elite: This model is one of the more mid-range options on the market. This doorbell provides the same 1080p HD resolution with a field of view of 180 degrees for the sensors. However, they've upgraded the camera's field of view to 160 degrees horizontal and 90 degrees vertical.
Ring Video Doorbell Pro: The same 1080p HD resolution along with the usual 160/90 degree horizontal/vertical FOV for the cameras. The main difference in this model is the lack of infrared sensors. Instead, they use the same camera with computer vision algorithms to detect people and other objects.
Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus: This is the top-of-the-range model. Although they use the same computer vision to detect motion instead of infrared sensors, it uses 1536p resolution (the highest one yet) with a 160/160 degree horizontal/vertical FOV.
Video Coverage at Night
If you are worried about your Ring doorbell's performance at low light levels, don't panic as almost all of Ring’s current doorbells have a night vision feature.
These models use infrared light to flood its immediate vicinity and recollect the reflected IR light to create a black and white image that will show you what's happening in the dark.
It still offers visibility at night and uses the second type of infrared light which is able to detect and confirm finer details that might not be spotted by the primary sensors.
Furthermore, you can also attach additional features such as the Ring's Spotlight Camera or Stick-Up Camera to provide additional lighting to capture minute details easily.
Like most things using infrared sensors, glass can reflect the light back towards the device so images may become distorted or blurred should you try recording through a window at night.
Common Questions Relating to How Far Can a Ring Doorbell See
How far can a Ring doorbell camera see?
Answer 1The cameras have a maximum range of 30 feet. However, it doesn't trigger until the sensors detect any movement in front of the sensor.
Do Ring doorbell cameras have night vision?
Yes, almost all recent models of Ring doorbells do come with night vision. It uses IR to develop black and white images.
Can I customize the areas where the doorbell detects movement?
Yes, in most newer models, you can customize and specify different zones where the Ring Doorbell detects movement. It is often used to minimize false alarms such as passing vehicles and pedestrians. You can also set up a privacy zone where the doorbell will block out a specified region in the video feed.
Do Ring video doorbells record audio?
Yes, all Ring video doorbells have a microphone and a speaker built into the doorbell. You can record audio whenever there's movement and you can also communicate with whoever's on the other side.
The Verdict
Ring doorbells have several sensors built in to maximize security and efficiency. The camera and motion sensor work hand in hand to alert you whenever it detects a significant amount of movement going on within 30 feet.
Therefore, knowing how far your Ring doorbell can see might help you find the most optimal place to mount it and keep your home secure.