Category Archives: video surveillance cameras

When you are in the market to purchase a CCTV kit, it can be inundating because there are a multitude of options and features available. Camera choice is probably the most time intensive and tricky task to deal with, but with some basic knowledge, you will be able to make a decision on what features are vital and what to stay away from for your particular use.

Box and Bullet CCTV Cameras
The primary benefit of box and bullet cameras is the narrow angle of vision. An example of this is the need to monitor an area such as a main doorway entrance. The narrow landscape can be the ideal condition for a box or bullet camera. A narrow field of view will lead to greater detail and sharper video quality.

Different than the dome cameras, box and bullet cameras offer a more rectangular or cylindrical shape. The form between these two versions doesn’t affect performance, but is really a matter of aesthetic appeal.

Box cameras are mainly used inside buildings and for business applications such as banks. However, as a step toward the future, CCTV companies are beginning trends toward bullet cameras because of their more appealing design.

Dome CCTV Camera

a dome camera has a round exterior. The direction the camera is facing can be hidden because dome cameras often have tinted casing. Dome cameras normally have wide angle vision. Parking lots, front driveways and porches are examples of wide open areas that the dome camera’s field of vision is ideal for. However, video details will be of lower quality when the angle of view is wider.

Dome cameras do tend to be sturdier and offer features such as vandal resistant coverings, which is great for areas with high vandalism concerns. These defensive casings can protect the camera from trauma suffered by swinging bats and crowbars.

The Dome camera’s casing mounts straight to a surface instead of utilizing a little bracket, which is different than the box and bullet cameras. This could be considered a drawback since these cameras are normally made to be attached vertical on ceilings or outside on poles with bulky brackets.

camera styles offer more versatility with regards to mounting position since the attached bracket gives the owner liberty to easily change the camera’s direction by simply adjusting the camera mount. One key point to keep in mind is that this could also be considered a disadvantage if a potential intruder can get behind the camera and simply point it in another direction. These cameras have to be mounted high enough so they can’t be easily bothered.
Choosing your camera style  3 core camera types you can decide from: Dome, Box or Bullet.

A dome camera is one of the best possible types of cameras to have if you have large areas to monitor. Cameras dome most often are found in retail stores and warehouses. If you are thinking of buying one for your store, you will find that there are a lot of choices to make. There are speed cameras, mini high speed cameras, laser high speed cameras, and even more. Those were just the main types!

There are a few things to think about when you want to buy a speed dome camera. First off, you need to think about available light. If you have constant light, you don’t necessarily need an IR – Infrared – camera, which is generally a more expensive option. However, if your area is in a lot of darkness, perhaps at night, or if there is insufficient lighting available, you should opt for the IR options. Do also consider the pan, tilt and zoom capabilities of your camera.

Next, you need to consider the range. The range is basically the furthest distance you want your camera to be able to reach. The bigger the range, the more zoom you may require on your camera, and the longer the IR distance you will need as well. There are also options of buying a standard dome camera with an enhance pan, tilt and zoom lens, which will allow you to manually zoom in. You should consider at least a 10 time optical zoom lens, if this is something for you.

Lastly, you need to think about how you want to record the images that your dome cameras are capturing. More often than not, cameras now have internet capabilities. This means that the data is stored online on the cloud (although you can also store it on your own computer if you so choose). One of the great benefits of this is that it allows you to have remote access to your camera, which is particularly useful if you outsource your security or if you have no overnight security team in place.

Hopefully, with these hints and tips, you will be able to find the best speed dome camera for you. There are many other things to consider, and it would be wise to speak to a specialist about your exact needs. All in all, however, these cameras are by far the best for retail stores and other larger areas, not in the least because your customers or staff will not be able to see what is being filmed.

CCTV Cameras come in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are several factors that determine the correct camera at a given location and for specific applications.  One size does not fit all in security cameras, and the proper design takes into effect lighting conditions, location, and the view, or views required.  A standard retail environment will have both indoor and outdoor cameras, fixed and PTZ, with exterior and interior doors entrys and exits covered.

Day/Night Modes:
An important factor in cameras is the lighting at night.  Are there parking lights?  Is it pitch dark?  If there is limited lighting, a Day/Night camera is your choice.  Its color during good lighting, and switches to B/W for low-light views.  The key technical spec on lighting is the LUX rating.  The lower the better!  Standard color indoor dome camera may have a LUX of 0.1 and a Day/Night will have a .001 or better.

PTZ Cameras:
Got to have one!  A fixed camera is like having a one-eyed guard stand watch.  He never blinks, never stops watching.  A PTZ robotic camera is like having the same guard but he can move around and has a set of binoculars to get close-up shots.
Its A Resolution:
Analog cameras are measure in the number of “TV Lines” meaning the horizontal lines that make up the camera video on the screen.  The more the better.  Typical cameras 5 years ago measured 380-420 TVL as the typical resolution.  Today, 540 TVL is a standard resolution for analog CCTV Cameras.  IP Megapixel cameras are breaking this barrier with horizontal lines measure in “Megapixels.” A 3.1 megapixel camera has over 2000 lines!  The price is the determining factor (surprise) as IP Megapixels are today, MegaBucks!

Infrared Cameras
Infrared (IR Cameras) are all the rage in camera introductions.  2nd only to IP Megapixel cameras.  Having the ability to see both day and night, IR Cameras have IR LEDs that are beyond what the human eye can see, but the camera picks up the IR light flashes the constant Flashlight allowing you to see in total darkness.

Video security cameras are either standard color cameras, Day/Night cameras, or in infrared cameras. . They also come in fixed, meaning they view one specific location, or Pan-Tilt-Zoom cameras that allow the operator to move the camera in a 360° area and optically zoom in on specific locations.

There is a difference in a $50 camera and a good quality $250 camera in many cases. IP megapixel cameras at $800 or so, will be a distant memory hopefully soon as volumes increase.  Whether its an economical or professional purchase, choose the right camera for your application.