How To Select Perfect CCTV Security Camera Systems - Complete Guide

CCTV- Closed Circuit Television or video surveillance market has become the fastest growing segment of the security industry today. Whether it is used in a business or a residence. There are many types of cameras available in the market like Dome, IR, PTZ, Bullet etc. of different technical specifications. These cameras can be classified into two main categories, 1. Analog cameras and 2. IP Cameras also known as digital camera. Sometimes it's not an easy task to select right cctv camera. So for these reasons I am going to explain How To Select Perfect CCTV Security Camera Systems and its components so you can improve customer relations and increase job profitability.

Step 1. Sketch and Make a Note

First of all make a sketch of your site where you are planning to work. After that, make note of some important points like which areas are important to cover, any specific door to cover etc. Just make a simple note. This time, don't think about distance, height, darkness etc. Simply do your first step.

Step 2. IP or Analog Camera

The analog cameras transmit an analog signal which requires digitization by DVR and IP CCTV cameras transmits digital signal over an IP network and doesn’t require digitization process for recording. IP cameras transmit digital signal video and image quality is much better than analog CCTV cameras. But these are highly expensive.

So, if you are securing any home in an inexpensive way, then analog might be an option.. If you’re securing any business and have an expansive area to secure, you might find IP a better solution.

Step 3. Fixed or Variable Camera

Both types have its own value. This type of camera remains focused on one field of view. While variable cameras, PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) Camera can pan (move left and right), tilt (move up and down), and zoom in or out. These cameras can rotate in 360 degree. PTZ cameras can also provide automatic touring from one end to the other.

Step 4. Indoor or Outdoor

Its very simple step to decide indoor or outdoor cameras as its name is suggesting itself. Outdoor cams are all whether proof cameras. Bullet cams are used for outdoor.

Step 5. Selection of Lighting Issues

a). IR (infrared)-   

Very popular in domestic and small commercial CCTV applications. When light levels drop below a certain level the camera's infra red LED's allow the camera to continue recording in black and white color footage even in complete darkness.

b). Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) - 

Image noise is interference in the video signal that shows up as grainy specks. It can be caused by low lighting situations, a nearby power interference, heat, or device algorithms. Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) removes noise artifacts from signal, improving the performance of motion detection.

c). Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) -

When there are both very bright and very dark areas simultaneously in the field of view of the camera, then object will not be clear as it needed. So, with WDR, you can get clear images.

  

d). Digital Slow Shutter (DSS) -  

Digital Slow Shutter (DSS) technology improves the light sensitivity of the camera and extends its usable range. 

e) Lux Value 

LUX is used to describe the capability of a camera in low light. The amount of light is defined by LUX (lumens per square meter). One LUX is the amount of light cast by one candle at one meters space. 

• Full sunshine 10,000 LUX
• Well- lit office 500 LUX
• Comfortable reading 300 LUX
• Cloudy 100 LUX
• Twilight 10 LUX
• Dusk 1 LUX
• Full moon .1 LUX
• Quarter moon .01 LUX
• Complete darkness 0 LUX

6. Resolution 

Resolution is the "Overall picture sharpness" and it's measured by counting horizontal lines (horizontal resolution) and vertical lines (horizontal resolution) of an image. TVL  is  measurement of analog cameras and pixels is measurement of digital or IP cameras.

TV Lines (Analog) vs Pixels (Digital Resolution)

Resolution (TVL or TV lines) is a monochrome specification that states how many black and white lines can be seen in a given area.

NTSC Analog Video

An NTSC analog video picture is composed of 480 active horizontal lines. When the picture is sent to a monitor or another receiving device, the first field of 240 even-numbered lines is sent, and then the second field of 240 odd-numbered lines is transmitted. This occurs at a rate of 60 fields per second.

The odd and even fields are offset one line apart, so when they are viewed in rapid succession (60 fields per second), they slot into one another to give the illusion of the complete picture-also called a frame, which is made up of 2x240 (or 480)lines. This is called interlaced video.

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