Frequently asked questions

• Is the 12x zoom optical or digital?

  It is a 12x mixed zoom: the camera has two real lenses — a 2.8 mm wide and a 12 mm telephoto — and switching between them plus digital magnification produces the 12x. The optical part, through the 12 mm lens, is real and preserves detail, but it is not a pure 12x optical zoom; for a readable plate use the telephoto lens, not just digital zoom at maximum.
• Is it a PoE camera? Can I power it over the network cable?

  No. The Cruiser Z has a 100 Mbps network port for wired LAN, but it is NOT PoE: power is separate, DC 12V 1A (under 12 W). For a pole mount plan a socket or a power supply next to the camera; the network cable carries data only, not power. If you want single-cable power, the PoE model in the range is the Titan PRO (IPC-U7LP).
• Does it work with a third-party NVR or Home Assistant?

  Yes. The Cruiser Z supports ONVIF and exposes an RTSP stream, so you can add it to a Dahua/Hikvision NVR, to Synology Surveillance Station, to Frigate, or straight into Home Assistant and keep the recording on your own server. For voice control and live viewing, it officially links to Amazon Alexa and Google Home in the imou Life app.
• How far does it see at night, and is there a colour mode?

  IR night vision reaches beyond 56 m, enough for a large yard or a long driveway. Besides infrared, the built-in spotlight offers a full-colour mode and a Smart mode that switches automatically: on motion it turns on the light and goes to colour, and otherwise stays on IR to avoid disturbing. That way a face or the colour of clothing stays visible, not just a grey silhouette.
• How does the Cruiser Z differ from the Cruiser Dual or Triple?

  The Cruiser Dual and Triple use several fixed-angle sensors to cover a large area panoramically at once. The Cruiser Z works differently: one 5MP sensor with two lenses — a wide one and a 12 mm telephoto — plus a 12x mixed zoom to bring a distant detail close. Choose the Z if you need to make out faces or plates at a distance; the Dual/Triple if you want constant wide coverage.
• What memory card does it take, and how much does the cloud store?

  It takes microSD cards up to 512 GB for local recording with no subscription. In addition, through the Imou Protect service, recordings can be kept in the cloud with up to 30 days of history — handy as a backup in case the camera is stolen or the card fails.
• What alarm features does it have?

  Besides detection notifications in imou Life, the camera has two-way audio with a microphone and speaker (with echo cancellation), a 110 dB siren and the option to set up voice or alarm messages. So you can speak to someone in the yard or trigger the warning sound remotely, straight from the app.