Therefore many customers shopping for complete CCTV monitoring and recording systems are confused by such a verity of available products. Goal of this article is to guide buyers toward best possible and most economical type of CCTV equipment, based on intended implementation and requirements.
CCTV produce images using CMOS or CCD (Charge Couple Device) chips. Tiny, very low price CCTV cameras usually use CMOS technology, produce poor quality images and have very poor light sensitivity. Decent quality CCTV cameras use CCD technology. The size of the CCD chip is normally 1/4", 1/3" or 1/2". As a rule of thumb, the larger the size, the higher the quality of the image produced and the higher the price. However, higher density 1/4" and 1/3" CCD chips can now produce as good an image as many 1/3" or 1/2" chips.
On the other hand color cameras offer more realistic and natural picture. CCTV camera
Professional grade cameras.
Bullet cameras.
Bullet cameras are, as the name suggest contained inside bullet shaped housing.
Board Cameras.
Board Cameras are basically fixed lens mounted on a circuit board. These cameras may be packaged in a small case (Mini Cameras) or dome (Mini Dome) or simply sold unpackaged, for mounting by the purchaser. Lenses in these are either of a normal industry aperture or a "pinhole" lens of very small aperture. Pinhole lens cameras are often called "spy" cameras and may be mounted in a concealed way for covert surveillance purposes. The most popular examples of covert board ones are smoke detector and motion detector cameras.
Since the lenses in board cameras are pre-mounted, have a fixed iris and are usually of a short focal length (i.e. wide angle), their flexibility of usefulness is limited. However, this type of camera can provide a low cost solution in the right situation, particularly in a home environment. We have shortly described most popular types of cameras, lets now discus, how and where they mite be used.
Professional types with C/CS mount lens attachment generally offer best performance and many important futures, like lens control output, Back Light Compensation and many more...
Distance from monitoring object to the camera is not an issue, that is why ability to select different lenses, based on location is so important. Installation is bit complicated and professional installation strongly recommended. We recommend this type of security cameras for commercial installations.
For larger rooms or longer distances, cameras with 6mm or higher lens may be required. They are great choice for any do-it-yourself installation.
Board cameras are sold as plain circuit board, for integrating into hidden camera devices. They are also available in dome housing, as vary popular Dome Camera or integrated with Smoke Detector, Motion Detector, Exit Sign and so on. Most also come with 3.6mm lens although some will allow lens to be replaced.
When shopping for security cameras, customers are faced with the fact that they will need to select one or another recording device.
The days of well-known CCTV time-lapse recorder are almost over.
Although some customers still prefer this old fashioned recording solution, it is well worth to invest some extra money to purchase a good quality digital video recorder DVR. Digital recorder transfers analog camera video feed into format, and stores it on hard drive. There are two major types of digital recorders on the market right now.