Therefore, you need to focus on various aspects before deciding on the ideal\u00a0CCTV camera security system<\/strong>. This buying guide endeavours to make it easy for you.<\/p>\n Before you invest your hard-earned money in purchasing and installing these security systems, try answering these five questions. The answers to these simple questions will form the base of our CCTV camera buying guide.<\/p>\n Here are various aspects you should consider while purchasing CCTV cameras.<\/p>\n Installing a security system is a capital investment for anyone. You have to be careful with your budget. While drawing up your budget, you should concentrate on various factors.<\/p>\n CCTV cameras are available in various types depending on different characteristics. We shall look into the details so that you get a better understanding of the type of camera you wish to purchase and install.<\/p>\n Before proceeding further, you should be aware of what the iris of the camera is. Have you observed a CCTV camera closely enough? You would find a slit or an eyehole through which the camera focuses on the objects in its range.<\/p>\n There are two types of iris, the manual iris, and the automatic iris.<\/p>\n You will find the manual iris on the analogue cameras where you have to set up the iris manually. These cameras have a fixed and steady position whereby it can focus on a specific area or spot. If you wish to change the point of focus, you need to shift or turn the camera towards the new object or area.<\/p>\n These cameras are useful when you have to focus on a single point or area such as the apartment gate, main door, stairway, vantage places in a warehouse where you expect thefts to take place, and so on.<\/p>\n You also find the manual iris cameras located at traffic junctions to focus on traffic violations. Banks also have such cameras focusing towards the cash cabins.<\/p>\n CCTV cameras can also cover a wide area in addition to focusing on a particular spot. Under such circumstances, the camera keeps on constantly moving while changing its angle.<\/p>\n You cannot use the manual iris cameras to cover such wide areas. You need an automatic iris camera that can change its point of focus depending on the viewing angle. These cameras are set up to tilt from top to bottom and pan from right to left.<\/p>\n These cameras are the most common applications in use today. You will find such cameras in jewellery shops, banks, offices, departmental stores, traffic signals, warehouses, factories, and so on. These cameras have a wide range of applications.<\/p>\n You have different types of CCTV cameras based on the location. These are indoor cameras and outdoor cameras. Both these types of cameras have specific characteristics to suit their functionalities.<\/p>\n As the name suggests, you have these cameras indoors. You can find them in offices, departmental stores, factories, warehouses, cinema halls, restaurants, and even inside homes.<\/p>\n The primary feature of these CCTV cameras is that they can work in\u00a0low light conditions<\/strong>. Usually, they are black and white cameras that do not have very high resolution.<\/p>\n These are standard cameras coming with a fixed lens and manual iris. Installing such cameras is easy as they require standard installing equipment such as C-clamps or S-clamps.<\/p>\n You will find these outdoor cameras in outdoor locations such as traffic signals, outside the establishments like banks, factories, departmental stores, and so on. You also have them outside the malls and at vantage locations on the roads as well.<\/p>\n These cameras are capable of covering large areas. These cameras have specific features like auto iris, and they need (National Electrical Manufacturers Association)\u00a0NEMA-rated camera housings for installation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n These outdoor cameras can distinguish between daylight and night-lighting in the output. Most of these cameras have automatic Gain function. The Gain function allows the camera to set the input lighting according to the illumination of the surroundings.<\/p>\n There are three types of cameras based on lighting and resolution. They are the high-resolution cameras, low-lighting cameras, and the infrared lighting cameras.<\/p>\n Usually, the outdoor cameras have high resolution in the range of 470 to 570 TVL (television lines). You get clear images on the high-resolution cameras because they feature more pixels or dots per inch. Such cameras can have either the manual or auto iris.<\/p>\n You find the low-light cameras in places where you expect the natural illumination to be poor. You can find them inside factory warehouses, underground parking areas, basements of buildings, and so on.<\/p>\n These cameras can produce images under extremely low lighting conditions up to 0.00001-foot candles. These cameras natural have the auto iris to adjust to the focus according to the lighting conditions. They require NEMA rated housing.<\/p>\n Infrared cameras are useful where the lighting is negligible or is absent such as during night time. These cameras have infrared LEDs that can capture accurate black and white pictures at night. You can have anything between 25 to 70 LEDs surrounding the camera.<\/p>\n These cameras are extremely useful in defence locations, in border areas, and other places where you need 24X7 surveillance activities<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are different types of CCTV cameras depending on their applications. You can broadly classify them into three types.<\/p>\n The special application cameras have a gamut of uses such as in defence establishments, underwater surveillance, and other covert operations. These cameras come with either manual or auto iris. They have a robust explosion-proof body because of the pressurized construction. Usually, these cameras have a resolution in the range of 330 to 380 TVL.<\/p>\n The black and white cameras are the most common cameras you see in homes, offices, and business establishments all over the country. These cameras are the most reasonably priced of all CCTV cameras. These cameras have infrared sensors and can function in low lighting conditions.<\/p>\n Network IP cameras use internet protocol for its functioning. At the time of the introduction in the market, these cameras were extremely expensive. Also, the quality of these cameras was poor in comparison to the other CCTV cameras.<\/p>\n Nowadays, with advanced technology, you have high-quality network IP cameras available at reasonable prices. The network IP cameras have unique features not usually observed in conventional cameras.<\/p>\n In short, we can state that the CCTV cameras are useful to the law-enforcing authorities and help them maintain law and order.<\/p>\n In spite of these disadvantages, one should install these security systems to deter unlawful activities. These security systems have helped the police department solved countless cases of theft and other criminal activity.<\/p>\n The sophisticated systems available today work at specific frequencies and are less susceptible to external interference.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n We have discussed various aspects of CCTV cameras and security systems. Here are the standard accessories that come along with the CCTV cameras.<\/p>\n The placement of the CCTV cameras is vital. Usually, you have them on the ceiling, walls, and the roof of the house. In outdoor locations, you erect specific poles for setting up these cameras. You require S-clamps and C-clamps to hold the cameras in place.<\/p>\n Ensure that your mounting equipment is strong enough to bear the weight of the camera, especially when there are movable parts in cameras that cover a wide area.<\/p>\n Outdoor cameras require specific camera housing equipment to protect them from the elements of nature. Ensure to have quality housing equipment certified by\u00a0NEMA.<\/p>\n Indoor cameras require camera stands and brackets to hold them securely. This equipment is small, but you should take care to install them correctly.<\/p>\n The camera performs its responsibility of capturing the images. You need specific video recording equipment such as camcorders and monitors to record, view, and store the footage.<\/p>\n Other than the housing and installation equipment, you need additional accessories to carry out specific tasks. These tasks include recording and storing the footage. You need memory cards or cartridges to store data.<\/p>\n Some CCTV security systems come with microphones to record audio proceedings. Wired CCTV systems require adequate cables and power cords.<\/p>\n Your CCTV security system has many recurring costs that you should include in the budget. In addition to the equipment cost, you have to incur\u00a0installation costs<\/strong>. You need regular maintenance and servicing to keep the system in proper condition.<\/p>\n Most of the security cameras come with a warranty period. It is better to enter into an annual maintenance contract (AMC) with either the manufacturers or specific service providers to ensure the systems remain in peak working condition.<\/p>\n You also need to spend on\u00a0memory cards and hard disks<\/strong>\u00a0for storing information. Regular upgrades are also necessary to keep up with technological advances.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n You should be aware of specific terms associated with CCTV cameras. Let us discuss these terms in brief.<\/p>\n The lens is a critical part of the CCTV camera. The lens helps to focus and capture the images. The type of lens depends on the area you need to cover with your CCTV camera. The lens of the CCTV is similar to the lens of any other camera.<\/p>\n The measurement of the camera lens is in millimetres. As per the principles of Physics, the measurement of the lens is inversely proportional to the focus of the camera. The smaller the size of the lens, the wider is the Field of Vision (FOV).<\/p>\n The physical distance between the centre of the lens and the image sensor is the focal length of the camera lens. The size of the image and its quality depends on the focal length. Depending on the functions of the lens there are two types of lenses.<\/p>\n The name suggests that the CCTV camera lens has a fixed focal length. Such lenses are ideal when you focus the camera on a fixed location. You need to change the focus or the angle manually if you need a different view. Analogue cameras usually have lenses with fixed focal lengths.<\/p>\n As this lens can vary its focal length depending on the positioning of the image, there is no need for setting up this camera manually. The advantage of the Varifocal lens is that its size does not affect the type of the camera. Such lenses can cover wide areas.<\/p>\n Camera lenses come in various sizes. You can select the one that suits you the best.<\/p>\n We shall list out the common lens sizes. This list is indicative but not exhaustive.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mk0kitchenarenal9dss.kinstacdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/cctv-camera-guide.jpg\")
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The Price \u2013 Your Budget<\/h3>\n
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The Types of CCTV Cameras<\/h3>\n
Based on Iris<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Manual Iris<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Auto Iris<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Based on Location<\/h3>\n
Indoor Cameras<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nOutdoor Cameras<\/h4>\n
Based on Resolution or Lighting<\/h3>\n
High-resolution cameras<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Low-lighting cameras<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Infrared lighting cameras<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Based on shape and size<\/h3>\n
Based on Applications<\/h3>\n
Special Application Cameras<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Black and White Cameras<\/strong>?<\/h4>\n
Network IP Cameras<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Advantages of Installing CCTV Security Systems<\/h3>\n
For homes and residential apartment complexes<\/h4>\n
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For offices and business establishments<\/h4>\n
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Outdoor locations<\/h4>\n
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Disadvantages of Installing CCTV Security Systems<\/h3>\n
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Which is better, Wired Security Systems or Wireless Security Systems?<\/h3>\n
Advantages of Wired Systems<\/h4>\n
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Advantages of Wireless Systems<\/h4>\n
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Disadvantages of Wired Systems<\/h4>\n
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Disadvantages of Wireless Systems<\/h4>\n
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Principal CCTV Camera Accessories<\/h3>\n
Black and White Cameras<\/strong>?<\/h4>\n
Camera Housing<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Camera Stand and Brackets<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Video Recording equipment<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Other Accessories<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nMaintenance and Servicing<\/h3>\n
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Special Features of CCTV Cameras<\/h3>\n
Camera Lens<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Focal Length<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\n<\/strong><\/h4>\nFixed focal length<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Varifocal Lens<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Lens Chart<\/h4>\n
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