Multi-lens Cameras

Multi lens cameras can be connected through any connection type, direct IP, uplink on with I-PRO, Hanwha, and Axis or through a gateway. However, they are added and behave a bit differently than other single lens cameras. In the web client, each lens is managed as its own camera channel, grouped under a host (root) camera. This guide explains how to add a multi-lens camera, add more lenses later, and what happens if you remove the host lens.

Before you begin

• Multi-lens is available when you add an Uplink Camera, an Uplink Gateway camera, or an IP camera using ONVIF (not RTSP Stream).

• Decide which lens is the main one — that first camera becomes the host. Other lenses are added under it.

• Have the usual camera details ready (site, credentials, and for uplink: serial number and MAC address).

Add a multi-lens camera (first / host lens)

1. Open Settings → Cameras and click Add Cam.

2. On the Connection step, choose the camera type (Uplink Camera, Directly by IP address, or Uplink Gateway).

3. Fill in the normal connection fields (site, name, timezone, and any network or uplink details).

4. Turn on Multi Lens Camera.

5. Choose the Lens number for this first lens.

6. Continue with username, password, and subscription as needed, then click Next step.

The camera is created as the host for that multi-lens group. Its name is typically shown with the lens number (for example, Lobby - Lens 1). Finish Streams, Backup, and Services as usual.

Add another lens to an existing host

After the host camera exists:

1. Go to Settings → Cameras and open the Cameras tab.

2. Find the host camera in the list.

3. Open the row’s Actions menu and choose Add lens.

4. Review the shared connection details (they come from the host).

5. Choose an available Lens number and set the name and timezone if needed.

6. Click Add lens to create the additional lens channel.

Each new lens appears as its own camera in the list, still linked to the same host.

Working with host and other lenses

If you open settings for a non-host lens, you may see a message that the camera is hosted through the host camera. To change shared connection details, edit the host camera (or use Go to host camera settings when that option is shown).

You can open each lens in Monitoring like any other camera.

Remove a multi-lens camera

Remove a non-host lens

1. Open Actions on that lens and choose Remove.

2. Confirm the deletion.

Only that lens is removed. The host and any other lenses stay in place.

Remove the host (root) lens

1. Open Actions on the host camera and choose Remove.

2. Read the warning carefully. You will see a message:

   You are removing the host camera of a multilens connection. Removing this camera will remove all other lenses connected through this camera.

3. Confirm only if you intend to remove the entire multi-lens group.

Removing the host deletes all lenses connected through that camera, not just the host itself. This cannot be undone from the remove dialog — you would need to add the cameras again.

Tips

• Add and configure the host first, then add other lenses with Add lens.

• Use clear names so you can tell lenses apart in Monitoring and in the Cameras list.

• Prefer removing individual lenses when you only need to drop one view; reserve host removal for when the whole device should leave the system.

• For IP cameras, multi-lens requires ONVIF. Switching to RTSP Stream turns multi-lens off during creation.

Summary

1. When adding a camera, enable Multi Lens Camera and pick a lens number to create the host.

2. Use Add lens on the host to add more lenses in the group.

3. Edit shared connection settings on the host, not on child lenses.

4. Removing a non-host lens removes only that lens.

5. Removing the host removes every lens in the multi-lens connection.