Tips to Buy CCTV Cameras

There has been substantial progress in CCTV technology and features in the last decade, but they are not a cornerstone of every person’s life. So scanning through the latest CCTV technologies, features, and types of CCTV security cameras can be overwhelming. These days many CCTV camera manufacturers have provided manuals to go through and look for features. Furthermore, consulting a marketing consultant may be a waste of time. Such consultants usually use the most sophisticated terms to make the process more complicated.

To help you choose the best CCTV camera for your business or home, here’s a quick guide on what to look for:

• Storage: CCTV technology has advanced to the point that many of today’s CCTV cameras are CCTV systems in themselves. They are equipped with a micro-SD card slot, which enables users to insert cards of different capacities for recording, including 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB. However, there are also cheaper cameras without internal storage and that rely on the surveillance hard disk in the DVR. The majority of CCTV cameras sold in India can be upgraded up to 128GB.

• Pan/Tilt type: In modern CCTV cameras, the horizontal and vertical angles of rotation can both be adjusted to cover a large area around them. The maximum horizontal angle is called pan, and the maximum vertical angle is tilt. CCTV cameras such as the Sricam SP005 SP Series, for instance, can be panned up to 355 degrees and tilted up to 90 degrees. Some cameras can be rotated remotely through their apps. Therefore, if you would like to monitor a large area of three-dimensional space, CCTV cameras with high pan/tilt angles are necessary.

• Image Quality: There are CCTV cameras that produce video in 720p (1MP) and 1080p resolutions today. The higher the resolution, the better the video quality, but it also means you will need more storage to record 24 hours of footage. In the event you have a large internal storage capacity in terms of terabytes, you might not want to buy a high-resolution camera. However, cameras with inbuilt storage will be easily filled up. The result of this is some cameras have an overwrite function that automatically erases the micro SD card after it fills up and continues recording.

This obviously leads to recording loss issues. A 1MP camera will use about 38GB of data space on recording per day. Therefore, before choosing a CCTV camera, be sure to take into account both the storage space and the backup time in addition to the visual quality.

• Audio Sensor/ Motion Sensor: A motion sensor is an integral part of smart security cameras. Although they are not very popular in India right now for their high cost, they will definitely be found in the future of CCTV cameras. CCTV cameras with motion and audio sensors automatically alert owners about unusual sounds and movements by sending them a notification on their mobile apps. The purchase of a CCTV camera with motion and audio sensors is worth your money if you want a top-tier security system for your home or office.

• Installation: There are no cables involved in wireless CCTV camera installation, so wireless CCTV cameras are generally easier to set up and install. Installation ease is related to positioning and mounting. For a long-term installation, cameras with magnetic bases or sticky pads are easier to install, but screwing them on the wall is the most reliable method. If a CCTV camera has a good pan/tilt, it might not need precise positioning. 

They can be placed over a table or wardrobe if the mounting process requires drilling holes, hammering molding pins, and screwing, however, the installation could be complicated and require professional help.

• Video Chat uses: In addition to CCTV cameras with built-in microphones, there are also video cameras with two-way communication capabilities. This can be useful for parents who want to keep in touch with their children at home to ensure their safety.

• Waterproof: In order to monitor your shop, home, or any other outdoor space, waterproof CCTV cameras are necessary. If you’d like to monitor the area in front of your shop, home, or outdoor area, then waterproof CCTV cameras are the best choice.

• Accessories: It is important to know what content you will get when purchasing a CCTV camera. A CCTV camera will normally include installation equipment such as mounting stands, screws, cables, and power adapters. If you do not get the power adapters in your package, then you will have to purchase them separately. Make sure you buy all these as part of the package.

• Infra-red LEDs: The LEDs that provide Night Vision for night recording are located on the side of the lens at the center. If there are more LEDs, the better the night recordings will be.

• Range of Camera: A CCTV camera’s maximum range is determined by the focal length of its lens and the size of its image sensor. More range will mean that objects are clearly visible at a distance. CCTV cameras with a greater range are essential for outdoor security. A CCTV camera should have a range of at least 20 to 25 m.

• Outdoor Vs Indoor Camera: Outdoor cameras are used in areas such as grounds, outside shops, markets, airports, and roads, while indoor cameras are appropriate for offices and homes. They are compact in size and have a dome shape.

• Warranty and Price: It is pretty common for CCTV cameras to come with at least one year warranty, and the robust ones can have warranties of up to three years. The CCTV camera price is mostly in consonance with the warranty. 

With the evolution of video surveillance and the advancement of software, CCTV cameras are bringing business benefits that go well beyond security. Therefore, selecting the right system can produce more profound benefits than ever before. A VMS solution should be tailored to your needs and your business, especially for those who travel frequently or manage multiple sites. For people who do this, a VMS solution should be available from any location.

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