When you add a camera to your Iris Studio, one of the most important steps is telling Iris exactly which brand and model you're connecting. This isn't just a label — it's how Iris loads the right driver for your camera.
A driver is a configuration profile that tells Iris how to communicate with your specific hardware: how to move it (pan, tilt, zoom), what image settings are available (exposure, white balance, sharpness, etc.), the correct ports, video stream paths, and precise movement calibration.
Choosing the correct brand and model unlocks everything your camera supports. Choosing "Other" or the wrong model means Iris falls back to a basic set of commands, and you'll lose access to advanced image settings, accurate PTZ movement, and features unique to your hardware.
What You'll Need
An Iris account with access to a Studio.
A Bridge installed and connected — the Bridge discovers and communicates with cameras on your network.
A camera already discovered or configured — you need to complete the Source and Video steps of the setup wizard before reaching the Brand & Model step.
Your camera's manufacturer and model number — check the label on your camera or its documentation.
How to Select Brand and Model
When Adding a New Camera
In your Studio, click Add video source. The setup wizard walks you through several steps:
Source — Select or discover your camera from the list, then click Continue.
Video — Confirm or configure the video stream settings, then click Continue.
Driver (Brand & Model) — This is where you select your brand and model.
On the Brand & Model screen, you'll see three fields:
Camera brand — A dropdown listing all supported brands alphabetically, with an "Other - brand is not listed" option at the bottom.
Camera model — Appears after you select a brand, filtered to show only models for that brand. An "Other" option is at the bottom here too. Some models may show a "BETA" badge — this means the driver is still being tested and may have limited functionality.
Camera nickname — Auto-filled with a suggested name based on your brand and model. You can change it to whatever you like.
Select your brand, then your model, optionally edit the nickname, and click Continue to proceed.
Changing Brand and Model on an Existing Camera
You can update the brand and model at any time. Open the camera's settings, go to the Driver section, and change the brand or model. The new driver will be loaded.
When you change the model on an existing camera, the control settings are cleared and reconfigured based on the new driver. You may need to re-verify your control connection settings after switching.
What Happens When You Select "Other"
If you select "Other" as your brand or model, a confirmation dialog appears explaining that you'll miss out on model-specific image settings and movement calibrations. You can go back and select a specific model, or skip and proceed with the generic driver.
When "Other" is selected as the brand, the model dropdown is hidden entirely — a generic model is automatically applied.
One nice detail: if you change the brand and then switch back, Iris remembers the model you had selected for that brand and re-selects it automatically.
What the Correct Model Unlocks
This is why the selection matters so much:
Precise PTZ movement — Correct pan angle range, tilt angle range, zoom range, and movement speeds calibrated for your specific camera. Without this, movements can overshoot or undershoot.
Full image settings — Model-specific controls for exposure mode, shutter speed, iris, gain, white balance, sharpness, color settings, and more. Different models support different options and value ranges.
Correct communication — The right control protocol (VISCA, HTTP, etc.), port numbers, and video stream paths for your camera.
Camera type awareness — Iris knows whether your camera is a PTZ camera (with full movement), a box camera (no movement), or a box camera with zoom only. This determines which controls appear in the interface.
Calibration data — Model-specific calibration ensures smooth, accurate camera movements with tools like Cine Frame and Fast Frame.
With the generic "Other" driver, you get basic PTZ commands and a standard set of image settings — functional, but missing everything that makes your specific camera shine.
Driver Status: What Certified and Beta Mean
Certified models have been fully tested and validated for your camera. You won't see a badge — that's the default state.
Beta models show a "BETA" badge next to the model name in the dropdown. These drivers are still being tested. They should work for most use cases, but some features may be limited or behave unexpectedly.
An info tooltip next to the "Camera model" label explains: "Beta: This Driver is still under testing and may have limited functionality."
Supported Brands
Iris currently supports approximately 29 camera brands, including AIDA, Angekis, AVer, Avonic, Axis, BirdDog, Bolin, BZBGear, Canon, Datavideo, Everet, HDKATOV, HuddleCamHD, JVC, Lumens, Marshall, Minrray, NEOiD, NewTek/Vizrt, Panasonic, PTZOptics, SalrayWorks, Sony, Telycam, Winsafe, Z CAM, and a Generic/Other option.
Each brand has multiple specific models with tailored drivers. The list is continually growing. For the latest compatibility information, check the Supported Camera Models article.
Tips and Best Practices
Always select your exact model if it's listed. The difference between the correct driver and a generic driver is significant — it's the difference between full control and basic functionality.
If your model isn't listed, select your brand and choose "Other" as the model. This is better than selecting "Other" as the brand, because Iris may still have brand-level defaults that improve the experience.
If accuracy issues arise (PTZ overshooting, image settings not responding), the first thing to check is whether the correct brand and model are selected. Recalibrating is the next step.
Contact support if your camera isn't listed. Email support@tryiris.ai with your brand and model and the team can look into adding it in a future driver update.
Test control features after setup. Try the Joystick, Cine Frame, Zoom, and image settings to verify everything is working as expected.
What Happens If…
…you select "Other" instead of your actual brand/model? Iris loads a generic driver with basic PTZ commands and a standard set of image settings. You won't have access to model-specific features. A confirmation dialog warns you about this before proceeding.
…you select the wrong model? The driver loaded will be for a different camera. Movement limits, image settings, and communication parameters may be incorrect. The camera might overshoot PTZ movements or have unresponsive settings. Fix it by changing the model in the camera's settings.
…your camera brand or model isn't listed? Select your brand and choose "Other" as the model, or select "Other" as the brand for a fully generic driver. Contact support@tryiris.ai to request your model be added.
…you see a "BETA" badge next to a model? That driver is still being tested. It should work for most use cases, but some features may be limited. Certified models (no badge) have been fully validated.
…you change the model on an existing camera? The control settings are cleared and reconfigured based on the new driver. You may need to re-verify your control connection settings.
Troubleshooting
What's happening | Likely cause | What to do |
PTZ controls don't move the camera or move it incorrectly | Wrong model selected | Open camera settings → Driver section and select the correct brand and model |
Image settings are missing or don't respond | Wrong model or "Other" selected — generic driver has fewer commands | Select your exact model to load the full driver |
"BETA" badge and some features don't work | Driver is still under development | Try a different model from the same brand, or contact support |
Model dropdown shows "Select a brand" and is disabled | No brand selected yet | Select a brand first |
Model dropdown shows a loading spinner | Model list is being fetched | Wait a moment. If it persists, check your internet connection |
Camera framing is inaccurate with Cine Frame or Fast Frame | Wrong model or needs recalibration | Verify the correct model is selected, then recalibrate from Advanced Settings |
FAQs
Does it matter if I pick the right model, or can I just use "Other"? It matters a lot. The correct model loads a driver with precise movement calibrations, the full set of image controls your camera supports, and the right communication settings. "Other" gives you only basic functionality.
Can I change the brand and model after adding a camera? Yes. Open the camera's settings, go to the Driver section, and change it at any time.
What does "Certified" vs "Beta" mean? Certified means the driver has been fully tested and validated — production-ready. Beta means it's feature-complete but still under testing. Some functionality may be limited.
Why does a confirmation dialog appear when I select "Other"? Iris is encouraging you to select your specific model for the best experience. The dialog explains what you'll miss with a generic driver.
How many camera brands does Iris support? Approximately 29, with many specific models under each brand. The list is continually growing.
What is a "driver" in this context? A configuration profile that tells Iris how to communicate with your specific camera — including PTZ commands, image settings, connection parameters, and calibration data.
Will my camera still work if my exact model isn't listed? Yes, but with reduced functionality. Select your brand and choose "Other" as the model. For the best experience, contact support@tryiris.ai to request your model be added.