How to Buy A CCTV Security Camera
Analog security cameras, known as CCTV, comes in two forms classified by the build of the image sensor. They are either CMOS based, which is cheaper and produced lower quality images than the CCD camera.
To determine the best security camera for your needs, you must first determine what your needs are. A camera that can single out faces in an outdoor crowd on a cloudy day is very different from a camera that is used to monitor general activity inside an office lobby.
There is a difference in cameras designed for indoor versus outdoor use. There are additional durability standards that the camera would need to ensure it survives the harsh conditions, unlike an indoor security camera.
Other things that will directly impact your buying decision include your budget, for the entire system as well as per individual security camera, as well as the size of your entire security system and the number of cameras you required. The number of cameras you require depends on the number of areas you wish to monitor.
One of most important consideration is lighting of the area you want to monitor. If you plan on installing an outdoor security camera to protect your detached car garage from thieves but buy a high quality day camera that isn't designed for low light environments, your video feed will be different shades of black frames.
In low light settings, black and white cameras are the best. They have lower light requirements to deliver image quality than regular colored cameras. There are also cameras that can sense the lighting levels of the enirvonment and transform from a day camera to a night camera.
There are also dedicated night vision cameras for true low light recording. The minimum amount of light required for the camera to record properly is measured by the LUX rating. A camera of lower LUX rating requires less light and a rating of 0 means the camera is designed for complete darkness.
When it comes to the sharpness of the image, this is measured in resolution. Higher resolution cameras will produce higher quality images. Entry level cameras will have resolutions of about 330 lines and up to 400 lines in higher end cameras.
There are more advanced monitoring systems that allow for panning and zooming the camera but for many a standard recording device will suffice. Most people will use a digital video recorder, or DVR to record directly onto a harddisk.