| Although the application of CCTV security has | | | | lens selection flexibility, but are likely to |
| not changed very much over the past years, | | | | be weatherproof, some will have infrared |
| the tools and equipment have significantly. | | | | light built-in and most of all they are |
| Surveillance cameras became smaller, cheaper | | | | relatively easy to implement. Bullet cameras |
| and better, but the major breakthrough | | | | usually come with 3.6mm lens witch are |
| happened in recording equipment. Therefore | | | | considered to be suitable for most standard |
| many customers shopping for complete CCTV | | | | installations (good for covering small to |
| monitoring and recording systems are confused | | | | medium size room or equivalent). For larger |
| by such a verity of available products. Goal | | | | rooms or longer distances, cameras with 6mm |
| of this article is to guide buyers toward | | | | or higher lens may be required. They are |
| best possible and most economical type of | | | | great choice for any do-it-yourself |
| CCTV equipment, based on intended | | | | installation. Board cameras in contrast are |
| implementation and requirements. | | | | widely used in covert camera installations, |
| | | | sometimes called Spy Cameras. Many wireless |
| Selecting the right surveillance cameras. | | | | cameras are basically board cameras with |
| | | | built-in transmitter. We are not going to go |
| It is virtually impossible to describe all | | | | into wireless cameras right now, as this |
| types of available CCTV cameras in this short | | | | would be enough material for completely new |
| article. We will focus our attention on most | | | | article. Board cameras are sold as plain |
| popular and widely used camera types instead. | | | | circuit board, for integrating into hidden |
| | | | camera devices. They are also available in |
| CCTV security cameras produce images using | | | | dome housing, as vary popular Dome Camera or |
| CMOS or CCD (Charge Couple Device) chips. | | | | integrated with Smoke Detector, Motion |
| Tiny, very low price CCTV cameras usually use | | | | Detector, Exit Sign and so on. Most board |
| CMOS technology, produce poor quality images | | | | cameras also come with 3.6mm lens although |
| and have very poor light sensitivity. Decent | | | | some will allow lens to be replaced. Over the |
| quality CCTV cameras use CCD technology. The | | | | time, most practical design has been Dome |
| size of the CCD chip is normally 1/4", 1/3" | | | | Camera with its esthetic appearance it blends |
| or 1/2". As a rule of thumb, the larger the | | | | into surroundings, especially with drop down |
| size, the higher the quality of the image | | | | sealing, great for use in stores, lobbies, |
| produced and the higher the price. However, | | | | gas stations and other public places. |
| higher density 1/4" and 1/3" CCD chips can | | | | Practical solution for covert installation |
| now produce as good an image as many 1/3" or | | | | are also, Motion and Smoke Detector cameras, |
| 1/2" chips. The number of TV lines in the | | | | they are absolutely not substitute for your |
| security camera image is a measure of picture | | | | security alarm or fire protection. Cameras |
| resolution (sharpness). The larger the number | | | | should always be selected based on the |
| of TV lines, the better the resolution and | | | | location of the camera (inside/outside), |
| hence, overall picture quality. Standard | | | | distance from the monitoring object, light |
| resolution camera may have 350-380 lines, | | | | condition and budget. When shopping for |
| over 400 TV Lines is generally considered | | | | security cameras, customers are faced with |
| good resolution while over 500 TV lines is | | | | the fact that they will need to select one or |
| considered high resolution. B/W chip cameras | | | | another recording device. The days of |
| produce greater resolution and better light | | | | well-known CCTV time-lapse VCR recorder are |
| sensitivity, therefore suitable for use in | | | | almost over. Although some customers still |
| dark areas where light conditions are poor | | | | prefer this old fashioned recording solution, |
| most of the time. On the other hand color | | | | it is well worth to invest some extra money |
| cameras offer more realistic and natural | | | | to purchase a good quality digital video |
| picture. | | | | recorder (DVR). Digital recorder transfers |
| | | | analog camera video feed into digital format, |
| CCTV cameras are usually divided into | | | | and stores it on hard drive. There are two |
| different types based on the body of the | | | | major types of digital recorders on the |
| camera used. | | | | market right now. |
| | | | |
| Professional grade cameras. | | | | PC Based CCTV Systems. |
| | | | |
| Have box type body with the ability to use | | | | A special board and software installed on the |
| different types and size of lenses. | | | | computer will allow camera inputs and store |
| Exchangeable lenses enable this camera, to | | | | video on the hard drive. Many people are |
| monitor objects from virtually any distance. | | | | under the misconception that personal |
| Although for indoor use, they can be used for | | | | computer with additional hardware installed, |
| outdoor when combined with weatherproof | | | | will do the job. This explains the hundreds |
| housing. They are considered to be the most | | | | of companies that have hung up a sign, taken |
| flexible and widely used by professionals for | | | | out some ads and begun working out of |
| commercial installations. | | | | basements and garages, holding themselves out |
| | | | to be DVR manufacturers and security |
| Bullet cameras. | | | | specialists. The main problem with this type |
| | | | of CCTV recorders lies in the main component |
| Bullet cameras are, as the name suggest | | | | of it... Yes, it is a computer, designed to |
| contained inside bullet shaped housing. Most | | | | do unlimited tasks, but non well. The truth |
| bullet cameras are weatherproof and sealed | | | | is that any computer based digital video |
| without the ability to use different lenses. | | | | recorder is, and will always be vulnerable to |
| Great advantage of bullet camera is the small | | | | software crashes, hang-ups, system |
| size and integrated design, some bullet | | | | instability, virus related problems etc... |
| cameras will even have infrared LED future | | | | |
| built-in. Infrared technology is simply LED | | | | Stand Alone Systems. |
| light in infrared spectrum (not visible to | | | | |
| human eye). This light will illuminate | | | | Very similar in appearance and control |
| viewing area, making possible monitoring in | | | | functions to standard VCR recorders, are |
| complete darkness. This is great future, but | | | | truly remarkable devices. Most video |
| it only works up to certain distance (usually | | | | processing is done by hardware, therefore |
| between 10 and 50 ft. depending on model) | | | | eliminating system crashes, video is also |
| Vary simple to install and estheticly | | | | stored on hard drive in digital format. The |
| designed, bullet cameras are great choice for | | | | basic operating system, usually Linux, is |
| residential and do-it-yourself installations | | | | permanently stored on special processor, |
| where monitoring objects are within about | | | | witch is impossible to overwrite or corrupt. |
| 25ft from the camera location (with standard | | | | Designed and manufactured with single |
| 3.6mm lens). | | | | application in mind, it is by far better in |
| | | | performance and reliability to its PC based |
| Board Cameras. | | | | rival. Some DVR systems will even have remote |
| | | | monitoring capability, useful when monitoring |
| Board Cameras are basically fixed lens | | | | is required in different locations thru |
| mounted on a circuit board. These cameras may | | | | Internet or network. Most important futures |
| be packaged in a small case (Mini Cameras) or | | | | to look for when selecting the right DVR |
| dome (Mini Dome) or simply sold unpackaged, | | | | recorder are motion detection and frame |
| for mounting by the purchaser. Lenses in | | | | speed. The higher the frame speed the more |
| these cameras are either of a normal industry | | | | fluent video recording. Motion detection will |
| aperture or a "pinhole" lens of very small | | | | allow recording video from each camera only |
| aperture. Pinhole lens cameras are often | | | | when motion is detected this is great for |
| called "spy" cameras and may be mounted in a | | | | extending video recording time. Security |
| concealed way for covert surveillance | | | | Monitors. |
| purposes. The most popular examples of covert | | | | |
| board cameras are smoke detector and motion | | | | Video from Security recorder could be |
| detector cameras. Since the lenses in board | | | | displayed on regular TV monitor. It is OK to |
| cameras are pre-mounted, have a fixed iris | | | | do it this way, for baby monitoring or |
| and are usually of a short focal length (i.e. | | | | residential application, when quality of the |
| wide angle), their flexibility of usefulness | | | | picture is not that important. However for |
| is limited. However, this type of camera can | | | | professional installation, security monitors |
| provide a low cost solution in the right | | | | are as much important as cameras. They offer |
| situation, particularly in a home | | | | extended life of picture tube (necessary with |
| environment. | | | | any static picture, that can cause picture |
| | | | burnout) and much grater resolution. Cables |
| We have shortly described most popular types | | | | and wiring. Finally any camera installation |
| of cameras, lets now discus, how and where | | | | will require proper wiring. Good quality |
| they mite be used. Professional type cameras | | | | cable will prevent video degradation over |
| with C/CS mount lens attachment generally | | | | long distance runs. It is recommended to use |
| offer best performance and many important | | | | RG59 or RG6 coaxial cables as it is fully |
| futures, like lens control output, Back Light | | | | shielded and will prevent video loss up to |
| Compensation and many more... Distance from | | | | 400 ft. Coaxial cables will require BNC |
| monitoring object to the camera is not an | | | | connectors and proper installation possibly |
| issue, that is why ability to select | | | | done by experienced technician. In short runs |
| different lenses, based on camera location is | | | | plug and play non-coaxial cables with factory |
| so important. Installation is bit complicated | | | | installed BNC connectors may be used (up to |
| and professional installation strongly | | | | 150 ft.). The plug and play cables are easy |
| recommended. We recommend this type of | | | | enough to install by not experienced users. |
| security cameras for commercial | | | | Cables for CCTV cameras consist of two cables |
| installations. Most Bullet cameras in | | | | bundled in one jacket. One cable for video |
| comparison, do not offer high resolution and | | | | and one for power delivery. Conclusion. |