How To Choose A CCTV Camera?
To date, video surveillance has stepped far ahead and has received strong development both in the need for application and directly in the functionality and technical characteristics of video surveillance devices.
Today we will analyze what characteristics you should pay attention to when choosing a camera and what do they mean?
1. Lens and viewing angle – how to determine?
The viewing angle directly determines where and how many CCTV Camera you will need to install to fully cover the controlled area. Remember the golden rule – the smaller the focal length, the greater the angle of coverage. BUT! the larger the angle of coverage, the shorter the range.
Lenses are monofocal (fixed focal length) and varifocal (variable focal length). Lens adjustment occurs both in manual mode and in automatic-motorized. It is also worth highlighting a separate group of cameras with a FishEye lens – ultra-wide-angle cameras with a viewing angle of up to 360 °.
2. Camera matrix – how to choose?
The video image is converted into a digital stream using a matrix. Its parameters affect the quality of the final image. The main parameter that you should pay attention to is light sensitivity. Light sensitivity is measured in Lux (Lx). It is the derivative of 1 Lumen on an area of 1 square meter. In simple words, this is the minimum amount of light that a camera needs to form a clear and high-quality image.
There is a pattern – the lower the ISO value, the later the camera switches to black and white mode and, accordingly, you get a better and clearer image.
How to choose a camera with good sensitivity? The easiest way – pay attention to the size of the matrix. The larger the sensor, the higher the sensitivity and the lower the signal-to-noise ratio.
3. CCTV Camera resolution – which one to choose?
Now most people are in pursuit of a large number of megapixels, not really understanding what they need them for. Our advice is to decide in advance on the tasks and optimally select the equipment for your tasks without overpaying for unnecessary functions.
So, what resolution should you choose when buying a camera?!
If you just need to capture the movement of objects / people without detailing, then a camera with a resolution of 1Mp (megapixel) is enough.
To solve most standard tasks without clear detail, cameras with a resolution of 2Mp are enough.
Why do we need high resolution cameras?
· For detailed shooting – when you need to clearly recognize numbers / faces at night at a long distance (30-50 meters)
· For shooting with frequent zooming – when you need to often zoom in on a certain fragment
· For shooting at long distances in open spaces – shooting at squares, sports and cultural facilities
But remember one caveat when choosing a surveillance CCTV Camera:
With the same light sensitivity and more megapixels, the image quality deteriorates!
If the amount of light is the same, but the number of pixels is greater, then there is less light per pixel.
If at long distances to choose between cameras with the same sensitivity, but different resolutions, then it is better to install two cameras with a lower resolution than one expensive one with a high one.
4. Outdoor cameras – important characteristics
If you need a camera for shooting outdoors, then consider such parameters as:
· Operating temperatures
· The degree of moisture and dust protection
· Degree of vandal resistance
When choosing an outdoor flood light security camera take into account the declared operating temperatures and focus on the peak valuesin your area. When choosing an outdoor camera, the ideal solution would be to purchase a camera with a “Cold start” function.
According to the degree of dust and moisture protection, the cameras are divided into:
· IP20 – Indoor cameras with splash protection without dust protection
· IP54 – outdoor cameras with dust and splash protection
· IP66 – dustproof chamber with pressurized moisture protection
· IP67 – dustproof camera with protection against moisture with short-term immersion in water to a depth of 1m
· IP68 – dustproof camera with protection against moisture with immersion in water for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1m
According to the degree of vandal resistance, cameras are usually classified in the following order:
· IK06 – withstand the natural impact (fall) of objects weighing up to 500 g from a height of 20 cm
· IK07 – withstand the natural impact (fall) of objects weighing up to 500 g from a height of 40 cm
· IK08 – withstand the natural impact (fall) of objects weighing up to 1700 g from a height of 30 cm
· IK09 – withstand the natural impact (fall) of objects weighing up to 5000 g from a height of 20 cm
· IK10 – withstand the natural impact (drop) of objects weighing up to 5000 g from a height of 40 cm
You can also remember that IP cameras are explosion-proof and corrosion-proof, but as a rule they are used only at large strategic special-purpose facilities.
5. IR filter – what is it and the main types when choosing a camera
IR filter – helps to avoid image distortion due to infrared rays.
They are divided into mechanical and electronic. The mechanical one is made in the form of a plate with an offset, the electronic one is in the form of spraying.
For round-the-clock video surveillance, we recommend using cameras with a mechanical IR filter; for daylight only, you can get by with an electronic one.
6. Choosing IR when buying a camera
The biggest misconception is that the stronger the IR, the better the image. IR illumination should illuminate the observation area. Please note that the longer the range of the IR illumination, the more narrowly directed its beam. If you have a wide-angle camera, then long-range IR illumination will be ineffective in this case.
Conclusion
For selecting a CCTV Camera, you need to ensure that you should get the right camera for yourself with all the necessary features so you don’t regret it later.
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