3 Factors to Consider While Choosing CCTV Cameras

CCTV stands for ‘Closed Circuit Television’. It is essentially a video surveillance system which is mainly used for control and monitoring of a specific location.

Today’s CCTV video surveillance systems have become almost an indispensable service for both commercial and residential use. Technological progress has given many companies the opportunity for new solutions and more affordable surveillance cameras to improve their security and competitiveness.

There are different types of CCTV cameras in the security market today. To name the main types of CCTV cameras, you will have bullet cameras, dome cameras, turret cameras, PTZ cameras, and discrete cameras. Each type of camera has different capabilities and functions, as well as its pros and cons. The ideal type of camera to use in your security system will largely depend on the purpose and environment of your application.

Four factors to consider when choosing CCTV cameras:

Whether you are looking to install a CCTV video surveillance system at your residential or commercial property, there are a number of factors to consider when selecting the appropriate CCTV cameras. Here are some important considerations that you can make before selecting the cameras that best suit your needs:

1. Lens:

lens size
Understanding the lens size is fairly straightforward: the smaller the size in mm, the wider the field of view you’ll be able to see. For example, with the 2.8mm lens, you’ll get a wide view of a large area such as an outdoor car park and all normal activity, including any suspicious behavior. On the other hand, with the 8mm lens, you’ll be looking at a particular area like a cashier counter and detecting any suspicious activity. Once you have a good idea of the appropriate size for your needs, you can choose between fixed or vari-focal lenses.

Fixed and Vari-focal lenses
Fixed lenses are often used indoors Camera as they provide a normal field of view. However, they are also suitable for outdoor use, provided you prefer to have a wide view to focus on the specific details. Varifocal lenses, in contrast, are often used outdoors because the zoom and focus can be adjusted (within a range) to capture specific details.

In short, if you install a fixed lens CCTV camera in a warehouse, you will only have the option of a fixed area of focus, eg. normal activity or specific close-up, but if you install a different-focal lens CCTV camera in the same warehouse, you have the ability to adjust the area of focus to see normal activity or get a clear image of a specific area There is potential. There will be flexibility. ,

2. Sensor:

Different CCTV cameras come with sensors of different capabilities. The main types of sensors used in CCTV include CMOS and CCD. Compared to CCD, CMOS is more economical and demands less power. However, CCD is more sensitive and produces clearer images than CMOS, which can be very important for cameras used for identification. In fact, CMOS-based requires more signal processing to get a clear picture. Sensor size is also another important factor. The bigger the sensor, the better quality of image it can produce. Most CCTV cameras come in two sizes; ¼ inch and 1/3 inch. ¼ inch measures 3.2 mm x 2.4 mm while 1/3 inch measures 4.8 mm x 3.6 mm. The larger sensor covers twice the surface area as compared to the smaller one. Larger sensors can collect more light and give the DSP more time to process.

3. Output Resolution:

megapixel vs hd
HD can be considered a subset of megapixels. HD is defined by specific resolutions at specific frame rates with specific aspect ratios. Any camera with a resolution of over one million pixels is by definition a megapixel camera. The lowest resolution in the megapixel range on the security market is around 1.3 megapixels, which provides 1280 x 1024-pixel resolution (or 1.3 million pixels), and we’re already seeing security cameras with resolutions as high as 10 megapixels (3,648 x 2,752). Are. pixels). The range of megapixel cameras continues to expand to accommodate different application needs.

HD refers to cameras with a standardized resolution of 720p or 1080p. The numbers 720 and 1080 refer to the horizontal resolution. Therefore, 720p HD camera resolution provides images that are 1280 x 720 pixels (which adds up to 921,600 pixels, meaning that a 720p HD camera is not technically a megapixel camera), and 1080p HD cameras provide images that are Which are 1920 x 1080-pixels. resolution, or 2.1 megapixels.

At VP Security Solutions, we have a wide range of cameras ranging from 720p to 8 megapixels. For residences, small offices, or retail premises, customers will typically opt for 2 megapixel cameras because the image quality is sufficient for its application. For high security and sensitive locations, customers may require cameras with higher resolution. Feel free to contact us to receive sample images of the image output quality.

For professional advice on the suitable types of CCTV cameras for your requirements, feel free to send us an email at sales@vpsecurity.com.au or call 0460 894 729 for a non-obligatory consultation.