Your choices here are quite straight forward as it mostly comes down to the environment you are installing your security cameras in. For example, bullets and full body cameras are good for exposed locations. Domes and turrets, on the other hand, are much preferred for semi protected and indoor areas. Although, this can vary for aesthetic reasons if you are going for a particular look.
When choosing a security camera for your CCTV system the main jargon people tend to get hung up on is the number of Mega Pixels (MP). Bigger is always better, right? Well not really, there are few things to take into consideration like the number of hours of recording you need. The higher the MP the more space on the hard drive they will use. Do you need a good low light picture? A 2MP will generally work better than an 8MP. On the other hand, if you are trying to capture a large area then higher MP becomes more important to allow digital zoom to maintain clarity when reviewing footage.
Frames per second (fps) this refers to how many still shots go into making your moving picture. This can make a huge difference in the smoothness of the image when reviewing a footage. A high fps will be very smooth with anything over 25fps starting to look like TV motion. However, there is a compromise as going from 15fps to 30fps will double the amount of room taken up on your HDD per second. In this case, you need to have the right NVR. It will allow you to have a variable fps. This means that when there isn’t any movement in the image it can decrease to save HDD space.
Lastly, there is the lens size. Do you want a 2.8mm or a 12mm or maybe a security camera with a variable lens? Once again this depends on the environment. Is the security camera trying to capture the letterbox at the end of a driveway or to see everybody coming through the front door? Basically the smaller the lens the shorter the focal point but also the wider the viewing angle with 2.8mm lens getting about 100° and 4mm lenses about 80°. If you are unsure or need to make fine adjustments you can get a variable lens which can then be adjusted to suit many situations. These cameras, while seemingly convenient, usually come at a higher price.
You now know the various types of security cameras that are available and and the key features to look for. You are now fully equipped to choose the right camera for you. All that’s left is which brand would you go for. Here at HCSWA we recommend Hanwha or Hikvision for their versatility, reliability and affordability.