Cameras come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. But sometimes it can be tricky to know what to buy! Let's dive at some things to have on your checklist when you look for a camera set.
Type of camera
Before even writing the checklist, you must know what cameras are available and their functions.
There are many kinds in the market nowadays that go beyond the traditional bullet and dome which are most commonly known.
Here are a couple of the types of cameras you can find:
- Dome
- Indoor
- Outdoor
- Wireless
- Bullet
- Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ)
- C-Mount
- Infrared
- Analog cameras
- Digital (IP) cameras
- PoE cameras
- Wire-Free cameras
- Box cameras
- Turret cameras
- Day/Night cameras
- Thermal cameras
- Panoramic cameras
There are many types of cameras to choose from, therefore we made it easy and answered all your questions about "What are the types of CCTV cameras".
Look for a camera set that has diverse cameras that fit your needs. You should also check whether a brand that you like has camera sets you can build
This way you might want to have diverse types of cameras in your house without having to purchase each separately.
When you are going to look for a camera set, one of the most crucial points is that it must meet your needs and space.
Specifications
The camera's abilities are an important part of what they can and cannot accomplish. So you must research before you buy and understand what all the numbers signify.
This could be the difference between good quality and a bad quality camera. So let's look for a camera set that has the ability to record flawless footage!
Quality and resolution
This is a significant number that you must know and understand. The higher the resolution and quality are, the better your camera will record.
Make sure that the camera you have your eyes on will be able to capture details of the surroundings. To further understand this, you can use an everyday website.
If you go onto YouTube and click on a video you will have the options to change resolution. They can range from 480, which is low to 720 and 1080 which are ideal.
Look for a camera set that has high resolution to allow your footage to have vivid details and be very realistic.
Power
There are different ways that a camera can be powered. Some rely on an outlet, which can limit the distance it can reach.
While others rely on batteries that must be changed every so often such as 6 months or so. However, some cameras have both.
Whether it is a power outage or something that happened to your cable, the internal battery kicks in. This can be useful as evidence in any situation that you might come across.
When you look for a camera set, make sure it has your desired choice of power. It can be very stressful to change batteries if the camera is in a hard to reach area.
Storage
Whether it was a day ago or a month, having cloud storage can keep all the recordings and allow you to have easy access anywhere at any time!
The cloud is usually paid monthly and can store a limited amount of footage before erasing the older ones and placing in the new.
The more storage you want the higher prices get. However, you can store your footage in a DVR instead.
But if you want to secure your footage, look for a camera set that can both be hooked up to a DVR or NVR as well as the cloud.
Range
The distance that you want to record should be something to look for a camera set. This is because at the end of the day you want a big area of coverage.
Keep in mind that the farther the range the less quality the footage will end up having. Therefore, look for a camera that is in between.
Having a short-range means that you will only cover a little amount to room, such as your front door, and have high quality.
This can be used as you will need to recognize the people who are standing in your doorstep, but at the same time, the space is quite restricted and small.
Consider the wide-angle degree as well as it will allow you to know how much of the space will be covered.
When covering a large area, a PTZ camera can sometimes be the best choice as they Pan, Tilt, and Zoom in the footage without distorting the image so much.
Questions to ask yourself
There are many questions you should ask yourself about your needs when it comes to a camera. So let's break it down by parts.
Needs
Before finding a reliable brand and swiping the card you must first be aware of all the specifics you are looking for in a camera.
- What type of camera best fits the job?
- What do you want the camera do achieve?
- Is recording in the dark important?
- Do you want facial recognition?
- How do you want to power your camera?
- Do you wish to control the camera through an app?
- Where will you store the footage? In the cloud or a DVR/NVR?
- Will it be installed outside or inside?
- Wired or wireless?
- How many points do you need to cover?
- What resolution and range are needed for your project?
- Are details crucial for the job?
Jotting down your answers to these questions can help when making your checking list of what to look for in a camera set!
Price and warranty
- For how long is your warranty?
- What is your budget?
- Is it worth it to have annual check-ins to make sure the cameras are working properly?
- If broken will the company replace it? Will you have to pay a portion of the price?
Brand
- Is it a well-known brand?
- Is it reliable?
- Do they have customer reviews?
- How is their customer service?
Installing
- Will installing cost extra, does the company provide it, or will you do it yourself?
- How much do all the other add-ons cost?
- Where will the DVR cost and be installed, if using one?
- Is the connection going to be through WiFi or an Ethernet cable?
Look for a camera set that fits at least the majority of your needs. And remember cameras are usually an investment to your property or business.
The bottom line
There are many types of cameras and specifications in today's world. Though it will be hard to find a camera that is your glass slipper, you can check off most of your list.
Not everyone will have the same experience with the same camera. So tell us if you found your perfect camera down below!