If you’ve ever watched CCTV footage and realised the person you needed to see has already walked out of frame, you’ll know the frustration of blind spots. That’s where an auto tracking security camera makes a real difference. Instead of staying fixed on one view, it automatically follows movement, whether that’s someone approaching your front door or a car pulling into your driveway. In this guide, you’ll find out exactly how auto tracking security cameras work, why they’re worth considering, what features to look for, which models stand out in 2025, and more.
What Is an Auto Tracking Security Camera?
An auto tracking security camera is a CCTV camera that can detect a moving person or vehicle and automatically follow it to keep the subject in frame. Instead of staying fixed on one view, the camera pans, tilts and—if available—zooms to track movement until the event ends or a timeout is reached.
Here’s how it works in practice:
- Detection: The camera’s motion sensors pick up movement, and its smart analytics—often powered by AI—can tell whether it’s a person, a vehicle, or a pet. You can fine-tune zones and sensitivity settings to control what triggers tracking.
- Tracking: A motorised PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) mechanism (or a digital crop on wide-sensor models) moves the image to follow the subject smoothly.
- Recording and alerts: Once movement is detected, the event is recorded, tagged, and stored locally, on a Network Video Recorder (NVR), or in the cloud. At the same time, you will receive a push notification on your phone.
Because one auto tracking camera can cover a wide area and adapt in real time, it’s especially useful for open spaces like driveways, long corridors, shop floors, or car parks where a static camera would quickly lose sight of what’s happening.
Top Benefits of Auto Tracking Security Cameras
Adding auto tracking security cameras to your setup offers several advantages over fixed lens cameras. The biggest difference is that you get continuous coverage of moving subjects instead of static footage of an empty space.
Key benefits include:
- Instant, hands-free tracking: The moment a person or vehicle enters the field of view, the camera adjusts on its own. You don’t need to log into the app or take control of the lens—the tracking starts straight away.
- Continuous coverage of moving subjects: Instead of capturing just a few seconds before someone leaves a static shot, the camera follows them across the space You get one continuous video clip of the event. That saves time compared with piecing together multiple static clips from different units and angles, making review much simpler.
- Fewer blind spots with fewer cameras: One auto tracking camera can cover wide areas that normally need several fixed cameras. A camera set high up with a wide pan range can follow movement from one end of a driveway or shop floor to the other.
- Clearer evidence:Because the subject stays centred, optical zoom can kick in automatically to capture close-up, identifying details like faces, clothing, bags, or number plates. This is often more useful as evidence than a fixed wide-angle view where detail is lost.
- Smarter filtering of what matters: With AI detection, the camera can be set to track only people or vehicles. This means it reacts instantly to relevant activity while ignoring passing shadows, blowing leaves, or rain. You get more accurate alerts and less unwanted notifications.
- Visible deterrence:The movement of the camera clearly signals that activity is being monitored, which can discourage intruders or antisocial behaviour.
Altogether, these benefits make auto tracking cameras a strong choice if you want footage that captures what actually happens, rather than what was missed.
How to Choose the Best Auto Tracking Security Camera for Your Needs
Picking the right auto tracking security camera starts with knowing what you want it to do. Think about the space you need to monitor and the level of detail you want to capture. From there, these are the key points to weigh up:
Coverage and movement
Look at the pan and tilt range to make sure it can sweep across your space. For example, a camera with a 355° pan and 90° tilt can almost cover an entire front garden from one corner.
Tracking speed also matters—too slow and you’ll miss fast movement like a car pulling into the drive; too quick and it may overshoot. If the camera has optical zoom, check the range; a 3x zoom can bring a face into clear focus from around 10–15 metres.
Image quality
Aim for at least 1080p resolution for clear everyday detail. For large areas or long driveways, 2K (4MP) or 4K resolution ensures you can still pick out features at distance. A stable frame rate and HDR also make a difference in tricky lighting, such as a bright doorway against a shaded path.
Night performance
Check the infrared range and whether the camera offers low-light colour mode. A range of 20–30 metres is usually enough for most gardens and driveways.
Detection and tracking controls
Features like smart AI person and vehicle detection, custom zones, and adjustable sensitivity let you refine what the camera follows. Privacy masks are also essential to block out neighbouring property.
Power and connectivity:
- PoE (Power over Ethernet) cam: Ideal if you want a reliable 24/7 feed and don’t mind running cable. Power and data travel along one cable.
- Battery-powered Wi-Fi cam: Handy where cabling is difficult, but only reliable with a strong Wi-Fi signal at the mounting spot.
- Battery/solar + 4G cellular cam: Best for remote locations, though tracking may be limited to save power and data.
Storage and integration
Decide whether you want clips saved to a microSD card, an NVR, or cloud storage. If you use different brands, check for ONVIF or RTSP compatibility. Encryption and two-factor authentication should be available for remote access.
Build and weather rating
Outdoor security cameras need an IP65 or higher weather rating and a temperature range suited to UK winters and summers. Look for vandal resistance if the camera is within easy reach.
Audio features
A built-in microphone can capture useful context. Two-way talk and a siren can add an extra layer of deterrence.
Best Auto Tracking Security Cameras in 2025
When you’re choosing an auto tracking camera, the most important thing is how well it reacts in real time. The picks below all lock onto people and vehicles instantly using smart AI, follow them smoothly, and deliver clear footage. Each one offers a different balance of coverage, power, and features depending on where you plan to install it. Let’s take a closer look:
eufy SoloCam S340
If you’re looking for the best outdoor auto tracking security camera, the eufy SoloCam S340 is designed for flexibility without wiring. It’s a solar-powered, battery-based PTZ outdoor camera that can pan a full 360° and tilt 70° to automatically track people or vehicles as they move across your property.
What makes it stand out is its dual-lens design: a 3K wide-angle lens captures the whole scene while a 2K telephoto lens zooms in on the detail. The two work together with 8× hybrid zoom to keep faces, number plates, or clothing sharp even at a distance.
Motion is analysed on-device with AI, which means it can focus on the things that matter and cut down on false alarms. With built-in 8GB of storage, you don’t need a subscription to record clips, and the included 2.2W solar panel keeps the battery topped up for year-round use.
Best for: Driveways, gardens, and side paths where you need wide coverage and reliable tracking without drilling cables.
What’s good:
- Automatic pan/tilt tracking with 360° horizontal and 70° vertical coverage.
- Dual-lens view (3K wide + 2K telephoto) with 8× hybrid zoom for close detail.
- Solar panel included and local storage built-in, so no monthly fees.
eufy PoE NVR Security System S4 Max
For whole-property coverage and 24/7 monitoring, the eufy PoE NVR Security System S4 Max combines the NVR S4 with four high-resolution PoE S4 cameras. Each PoE S4 cam is a 16MP Bullet-PTZ unit that uses a triple-lens setup: a fixed 4K wide-angle lens with a 122° field of view plus dual 2K PTZ lenses that can pan 360° and zoom up to 8× (including 3× optical).
With a powerful 8-core CPU for on-device AI, the system is designed to track people, cars, and pets automatically, tell strangers from family, lock onto movement, and keep subjects centred. One standout feature is live cross-cam tracking: if someone moves out of range of one camera, the system can automatically hand over to the next, so the recording continues seamlessly.
The included NVR comes with a 2TB drive and supports eight channels, expandable to sixteen with a PoE switch, making it scalable for larger homes or small business sites.
Best for: Complete perimeter monitoring where you want round-the-clock recording, automatic long-range tracking, and a central hub to manage everything.
What’s good:
- Box includes 1× eufy NVR S4 (2TB) and 4× PoE Cam S4.
- Powerful 16MP Triple-lens cameras: 4K wide-angle plus dual 2K PTZ with 360° pan and 8× hybrid zoom.
- Dynamic tracking, auto-framing, AI face recognition, and cross-cam handover for continuous coverage.
- NVR supports 8 channels out of the box, expandable to 16 with PoE.
Alternative: If you love the bullet ptz camera combo yet prefer a wire-free setup, our new eufyCam S4 would be a better choice for you.
eufy Floodlight Camera E30
The eufy Floodlight Camera E30 combines lighting and tracking in a single wired unit. It’s fitted with 2,000-lumen LED floodlights that switch on with motion, paired with a 2K camera that pans 360° and tilts to keep the subject in frame.
The auto tracking uses on-device AI to identify people and vehicles, so you capture the events that matter most. With mains power and an IP65 rating, it’s built for continuous, year-round 24/7 recording without battery concerns.
You can also set patrol schedules or manually control the view from the app, while an upgraded Wi-Fi radio helps maintain a strong signal even through walls. By pairing illumination with tracking, it not only records clear footage but also deters intruders the moment they step into view.
Best for: Entrances, garages, and side yards where strong lighting and automatic tracking are both priorities.
What’s good:
- Automatic AI tracking with full 360° coverage and patrol mode.
- 2K video quality with bright 2,000-lumen floodlights for clear, colour night footage.
- Wired power and IP65 weatherproofing for 24/7, all-season recording.
- Improved Wi-Fi range for a stronger connection.
Installation Tips for Auto Tracking Security Cameras
Even the best auto tracking camera won’t perform well if it’s installed in the wrong place or set up poorly. Follow these tips:
- Plan the viewpoint:Mount the camera around 2.4 to 3 metres high. This height balances coverage with enough detail to capture faces. Angle it slightly down to avoid glare from the sky and to keep moving subjects centred. Make sure nothing blocks the pan path, such as gutters or fascia boards.
- Respect privacy:Keep the lens away from neighbouring windows and gardens. Most cameras let you set privacy masks or no-track zones in the app. If your camera covers public areas, put up CCTV signage and avoid storing footage longer than necessary.
- Cable and power basics:For PoE setups, use outdoor-rated Cat5e or Cat6 cable and run it through a weatherproof junction box. Leave a drip loop to prevent water damage, and avoid sharp bends. For Wi-Fi cams, test the signal at the spot before drilling. Position your router or access point to give a strong, steady connection.
- Secure mounting:Fix the camera to solid brick, concrete, or a strong soffit using proper anchors. Seal entry points to prevent water ingress. Route cables discreetly to reduce the risk of tampering.
- Initial setup:Change default login details, enable two-factor authentication, update firmware, and set the correct time zone. Configure detection zones, privacy masks, tracking limits, and a default “home” position. Set up your storage—whether that’s an NVR, SD card, or cloud service—with an appropriate retention period.
- Calibrate tracking:Test during the day and at night. Walk through the monitored area from different angles and speeds. If you need vehicle coverage, drive past to check response. Adjust sensitivity if the camera chases headlights, shadows, or passing traffic outside your property.
- Lighting and reflections:Avoid placing cameras behind glass or pointing directly at reflective surfaces. If using a spotlight, angle it so subjects are illuminated without washing out the image.
Conclusion
An auto tracking security camera gives you peace of mind by reacting instantly to movement, following the action without you lifting a finger. Whether you want the convenience of a wire-free solar-powered model, the full coverage of a PoE NVR kit, or the added protection of a floodlight camera, eufy has strong options to fit different needs. With the right setup, you can capture clearer evidence, reduce blind spots, and improve security across your home or business in 2025.
FAQs
What is auto tracking on a security camera?
Auto tracking is when a security camera use built-in sensors to detect motion and then employ motorised components to pan, tilt, and zoom automatically, so the subject stays in view. Instead of showing only a fixed scene, the camera actively follows a person or vehicle across its range. Many modern models also use AI-powered detection to recognise people or cars specifically, helping reduce false alarms from pets, animals, or shifting weather conditions.
What is the best auto security camera?
The best auto tracking security camera depends on where you’ll use it. The eufy SoloCam S340 is ideal for driveways or gardens with its solar + battery powered wireless design, 360° pan, 8× zoom, and on-device AI human/vehicle detection. For full-property coverage, the eufy PoE NVR Security System S4 Max delivers 16MP Bullet-PTZ triple-lens cameras with continuous 24/7 recording. If you want lighting and tracking together, the eufy Floodlight Camera E30 provides 2K video with 2,000-lumen LEDs for bright, clear footage at entrances or garages.
Do security cameras have trackers?
Not all security cameras have tracking built in. Standard fixed cameras simply record whatever is in their field of view. By contrast, auto-tracking cameras use motion sensors and motorised parts to pan, tilt, and zoom so they can follow a moving person or vehicle. Many also include AI-powered detection to focus only on people or cars, which helps reduce false alarms.
Are tracking cameras worth it?
Tracking cameras are worth it if you want reliable, detailed coverage without gaps. Because they move automatically, they capture the full path of a person or vehicle rather than just a moment in one frame. This gives you stronger evidence, reduces the need for multiple fixed cameras, and can act as a visible deterrent. They’re especially valuable for larger areas like driveways, gardens, or shop floors where movement would otherwise slip out of view.
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