Photo on Demand allows users to take pictures with the built-in cameras of the Ajax motion detectors. With this feature, you can check the situation at the facility: find out what the children are doing, check if your pet is OK, or simply monitor the state of the house. Depending on the settings, photos can be taken at any time or when the detectors are in the armed mode.
Devices supporting the Photo on Demand function
Motion detectors:
- MotionCam (PhOD) Jeweller
- MotionCam (PhOD) Fibra
- MotionCam Outdoor (PhOD) Jeweller
Other detectors do not support the Photo on Demand function.
Hubs with the OS Malevich 2.13 firmware version:
- Hub 2 (2G)
- Hub 2 (4G)
- Hub 2 Plus
- Hub Hybrid (2G)
- Hub Hybrid (4G)
Apps versions supporting Photo on Demand function
- Ajax version 2.20.1 and higher (for iOS)
- Ajax version 2.23.1 and higher (for Android)
- Ajax PRO version 1.14.1 and higher (for iOS)
- Ajax PRO version 1.14.1 and higher (for Android)
- Ajax PRO Desktop version 3.2 and higher (for macOS)
- Ajax PRO Desktop version 3.2 and higher (for Windows)
Privacy settings
OS Malevich 2.13 adds the new user right: managing privacy settings (hub settings, Privacy menu).
Privacy settings can be managed by:
- System users with admin rights (by default).
- System users without admin rights, if they were granted such a right.
By default, the Photo on Demand function is disabled for all users. Users with the right to manage privacy settings determine which users can take and view on-demand photos, and which Ajax motion detectors can take such pictures.
Privacy settings do not apply to photos taken by detectors triggered in case of an alarm. All system users who have access to the hub’s events feed can view the photos taken in case of an alarm.
Ajax PRO apps users cannot manage privacy settings, but they can take on-demand photos if they were granted such a right.
Access to on-demand photos
Users with the right to manage privacy settings determine:
- Which users or PROs can take and view on-demand photos.
- Which detectors can be used to take on-demand photos.
- When a certain detector can take on-demand photos: at any time or when the detector is armed.
A PRO Desktop users can take and view on-demand photos only from a personal account if a user with admin rights has granted them the appropriate access rights.
An example of a security system with two detectors and four users.
User 1✅ Manages privacy settings. Decides which users gain the access to the Photo on Demand (PhOD) function. |
User 2✅ Manages privacy settings. Decides which users gain the access to the Photo on Demand (PhOD) function. |
User 3🚫 Does not manage privacy settings. |
User 4🚫 Does not manage privacy settings. |
Rights distribution options
The user has access to on-demand photos at any time
Such a user can request photos from the detectors to which they have access and view all the photos from these detectors. The user also receives the notification in the hub events feed and the event push notification (if they are enabled for this user).
The user has access to on-demand photos when the detector is in the armed mode
Such a user can request a photo from the detector to which they have access only when this detector is armed. Only photos taken by the detector in the armed mode are available for viewing. If the on-demand photo is taken when the detector is disarmed, such a user can see the event in the feed but cannot view the photos. The user will also receive event push notification (if it is enabled for this user).
| On-demand photo from the disarmed detector |
 |
| On-demand photo from the armed detector |
 |
The user does not have access to on-demand photos
Such a user can see the event in the feed but cannot view the photos. The user will also receive event push notification if it is enabled for this user.
Sending on-demand photos to the CMS
On-demand photos are not sent to the security company’s monitoring station. Taking and viewing on-demand photos are not available for a company profile in the PRO Desktop app.
On-demand photos display
On-demand photos are available only to those users who, at the time of the shooting, had the right to take such photos. If they get the right to take on-demand photos, users cannot view the photos taken before this right was given. After the right to take on-demand photosis revoked, the users can only view the photos taken when they had such access.
How to grant or get the right to manage privacy settings
By default, all hub administrators have the right to manage privacy settings.
To grant the right to manage privacy settings, in the Ajax app:
- Select the facility if you have several of them.
- Go to the Devices
tab and select the hub. - Click the gear icon to go to the hub Settings.
- Select Users menu from the list.
- Select the user. Enable the Privacy Settings Management option.
- Repeat steps 4–5 for other users to whom you want to grant the right to manage privacy settings.
tab and select the hub.
icon to go to the hub Settings.If the system does not have a user with admin rights
A PRO user with system configuration rights can grant the right to manage privacy settings.
To grant the right to manage privacy settings, in the Ajax PRO app:
- Select the facility.
- Go to the Devices tab and select the hub.
- Click the gear icon to go to the hub Settings.
- Select Users menu from the list.
- Select a user and enable the Privacy Settings Management option.
- Repeat steps 4–5 for other users to whom you want to grant the right to manage privacy settings.
How to enable and configure the Photos on Demand function
A user with the right to manage privacy settings can enable and configure the Photos on Demand function.
To do this, in the Ajax app:
- Select the facility if you have several of them.
- Go to the Devices tab and select the hub.
- Click the gear icon to go to the hub Settings.
- Select the Privacy menu and enable the Allow Photos on Demand option.
- Select the user category:
- Users
- Installers (PRO app users)
- Select a specific user or PRO. A list of cameras, DVRs, and detectors with photo verification linked to the hub will open.
- Select the detector to which you want to provide access.
- Enable the Take & View Photos option.
- Specify when the user can take on-demand photos: at any time or when the detector is in the armed mode.
- Click Back to save the settings.
- Repeat steps 6–10 for any other detectors to which you want to provide access. The blue icon marks detectors to which the user already has access.
After saving the privacy settings, all users with access to the events feed will receive a notification with information about which user has received access rights, and which user has granted these rights.
How to adjust the resolution and number of snapshots
The user or PRO with system configuration rights can adjust the resolution, as well as the number of snapshots.
To do this, in the Ajax app:
- Select the facility if you have several of them.
- Go to the Devices tab and select the detector.
- Click the gear icon to go to the detector Settings.
- Specify the number of photos to be taken on demand.
- Specify the resolution of the photo. The specified resolution will also be used when taking photos in case of an alarm.
- Click Back to apply the settings.
- Repeat steps 2–6 for other detectors for which you want to adjust the resolution and number of photos to be taken on demand.
Delivery speed for photos on demand
Photo delivery time from MotionCam Outdoor (PhOD) Jeweller detectors
| Resolution | Delivery time |
| 320 × 176 (default) | Up to 9 seconds |
| 640 × 352 | Up to 20 seconds |
Photo delivery time from MotionCam (PhOD) Jeweller detectors
| Resolution | Delivery time |
| 160 × 120 | Up to 7 seconds |
| 320 × 240 (default) | Up to 9 seconds |
| 640 × 480 | Up to 20 seconds |
Photo delivery time from MotionCam (PhOD) Fibra detectors
| Resolution | Delivery time |
| 160 × 120 | TBC |
| 320 × 240 (default) | TBC |
| 640 × 480 | TBC |
The tables show the delivery time of one image at a signal strength of 2–3 bars between the detector and the hub or range extender. The hub is connected to the Internet via Ethernet or 4G (LTE). The delivery time when the detector is connected via a range extender is available at the link.
How to take on-demand photos
On-demand photos can be taken via the Ajax app. To do this:
- Sign in to the Ajax app.
- Go to the Devices tab .
- Click the button with the camera icon in the detector field. The button is displayed if the user can take an on-demand photo at the moment.
- After you click the button, you will see a message about sending a demand.
The photo will be taken within 2 seconds after clicking. As soon as the picture is available for viewing, a notification will appear in the events feed. An eye 
icon with a delivered images counter is displayed next to the notification. To view the photos, click the notification.
Users of the system who have enabled event push notifications will receive photo on demand notifications with the name of the user who requested the photo.
If the detector cannot take an on-demand photo(for example, if a hub or range extender loses connection with the detector), an error notification will be displayed in the events feed.
Additional features and useful links
The detectors supporting the Photo on Demand function can also automatically take pictures when other Ajax devices trigger.
Follow the link to learn more about the Ajax photo verification features
Cameras and DVRs can be connected to the Ajax security system. Seamless integration with Dahua, Hikvision, Safire, Uniview, and EZVIZ brands is supported. Connection of third-party cameras and DVRs can be implemented using RTSP.
The Ajax product line also includes detectors with photo verification, although they cannot take on-demand photos or photos by scenario.
