TYPES OF CCTV CAMERAS. HOW TO CHOOSE A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA?

What are CCTV cameras, how to choose them correctly and avoid common mistakes when the selected cameras show poorly or do not have those functions that are necessary at your facility in your video surveillance system. In this article I will help you understand this issue, tell you not only mat part but also give useful tips that will help you not to face the problem of throwing away money when buying a system of CCTV cameras for your object. Also in this article I will give advice on specific models to make it easier for you to make your choice.

And so what are the different types of CCTV cameras there are

1. Dome and cylindrical.

Dome cameras are mainly placed indoors, cylindrical cameras outside. But this is not the rule, if you want, you can put on the street and dome cameras, look only at its temperature mode of operation, because there are dome cameras that are made exclusively to work in the heat, and there are those that are not afraid of frost or precipitation. Also, if desired, you can easily put a cylindrical camera for the street inside the visit, it is a matter of design.

2. Cameras with 3.6mm lens, 2.8mm lens and fish eye cameras.

Cameras with a fish eye lens in 99% of cases is a bad idea to buy, because such cameras distort the picture and at a certain angle the person in the frame does not look like himself, which will greatly complicate your identification procedure.

The only task under which such cameras are suitable for is monitoring an elderly relative where you do not really care about the quality of filming and it is important to understand in which part of the room is a person and how active he is. Also such cameras are sometimes put in the ceiling in shopping centers for counting visitors and general control of the situation, but such cameras are always duplicated by cameras with a normal lens.

The main disadvantage of cameras with a 3.6mm lens is a relatively small viewing angle of 60 to 80 degrees on average, depending on the sensor.

The 2.8mm lens is currently the most popular lens, it gives cameras an angle of view of 90 to 120 degrees without distortion, making it the most popular lens for 95% of applications. We will talk about varifocal lenses later in a separate question.

3) Cameras without the function of viewing from a smartphone, cameras where there is such a function, cameras with support for 3g/4g, cameras with the function of viewing from a smartphone but supporting not all Internet operators.

The function of viewing from a smartphone allows you to view the picture online from your phone, there are also models that have the option to remotely view the archive for example for yesterday, as well as listen to the sound, turn the camera or zoom, if such functions in the camera provided.

If you do not need this function, you can choose the first option, if your facility does not have wired Internet and the Internet is distributed through a SIM card, you need the second option, but be sure to look at the description of your system was written to support exactly 3g/4g Internet, because there are special IP addresses, with which not all cameras and recorders do not work.

Well and the last point I specifically highlighted, because in the budget price segment there are often cameras and recorders that have a function of viewing from a smartphone declared, but to get it in practice will have to dance with a whirlwind in search of an operator with which it will still work. It is better to clarify this point and sellers before buying or choose a manufacturer that works with all telecom operators, for example ISON brand.

In order to generally not particularly bother in the matter of the Internet for their cameras and choose only from the options that work with all providers I recommend you to make a selection through a special configurator, which will automatically pick you out of 1700 different models of exactly what you will fit, you only need to specify what you have an object and what features you need.

4) Cameras without zoom and cameras with zoom.

As is clear from the name of the camera with a zoom has the ability to zoom, i.e. zoom in on objects, such cameras see many times farther, but cost at the same time 30-40 percent more expensive. I will also note that cameras with zoom always have a much more powerful night shooting, which shines as a rule 2-3 times farther compared to cameras without zoom.

 

Recently, people are buying more and more zoom cameras for their objects and the share of sales of cameras with zoom has already approached the 50% mark.

Zoom in turn in CCTV cameras are 2 types: mechanical 4-fold is the so-called variofocal lens, 2.8-12mm, and motorized 5-fold.

Mechanical zoom can be controlled only on the camera itself with a screwdriver or hexagon, i.e. it is convenient only when you need to use the zoom only once during installation, for example, to zoom on the gate or along the fence.

A motorized or electronic zoom is more versatile in this sense and can be controlled remotely from a smartphone, tablet or computer. As in the previous point I recommend you to go to the configurator and you will be offered to choose from 1700 options simply by answering questions about your object, including the question whether you need a zoom and what kind of zoom you need. If in doubt about the choice click on the button to see all options and consider options with and without zoom.

Also often on different forums you can see the question: How do I understand whether my object needs a zoom or not? This is, as they call it, a question of choice according to budget. Those who have the budget allows, put cameras with zoom, such as popular models ison alfa pro x, kovo pro, grot, mol pro zoom max such cameras see clearer and further. Those who do not have the budget allow them to take more budget models greko pro, alfa, blik, tron pro, which also have a good picture, but may well need a little more to fully protect the perimeter. Links to all the models in this review will be in the description, go and compare the recording examples.

There are also zoom swivel cameras and this brings us to our 5th point

5) Static cameras and rotating cameras.

As is clear from the name rotating camera can turn left-right-upper-down and it is always done electronically from the phone tablet, computer or through the recorder.

There are cameras that just know how to turn and there are cameras that know how to do it smartly, for example, in such cameras you can set up patrol tours when you specify points and the camera itself rotates and scans your object in case of detection of a person begins to follow him. Recently we had a review of such a camera on our channel, the model ISON IP50SPTZ-PT7AI, it is in fact the coolest camera in this category, follows a person, has a 36x zoom, the most powerful night illumination, the best Sony sensor and so on.

To put a system of such cameras is, to put it bluntly, not a budgetary task and can be afforded only by rich people and rich enterprises. In more budgetary tasks, people often take, for example, a popular system ISON ALFA or ALFA PRO X and add one such rotating camera. And with this configuration, you achieve minimal blind spots and smart defense with full perimeter tracking.

6) Next item cameras with good sensors, budget sensors, No Name sensors, and Copies, replicas, knockoffs of famous brands.

The matrix is what is inside the camera and 90% of the camera’s shooting quality and durability depends on it. Good matrixes for today, as we have told you many times in our reviews are SONY, Smartsens, Korean K5 from HUAWEI. Such cameras have a decent picture even at medium resolution and at maximum resolution shoot no worse than the latest iPhone, if you take, for example, a 4K camera ISON IP80SAF-MBA, which not so long ago we reviewed.

Budget matrixes are Omnivision and Fullhan. The American manufacturer Omnivision could be included in the group with good sensors, but recently the production of these sensors has moved completely to China and the quality has dropped significantly. Such cameras have a simpler quality of filming and simpler reliability, but the price tag on them is lower. Such cameras can be put where it is not particularly important clarity and durability, for example, you are building a house, and you temporarily need to put a camera to watch whether there are builders on site or not.

Cameras with NO Name sensors and cameras with replica sensors, copies and fakes are 90% of all Aliexpress. Similarly to the previous point, if such cameras can be put somewhere where clarity and durability are not important.

As for cameras with replica and copy sensors, the situation is a bit more complicated. Here there is a risk to pay for a brand, and in fact get a fake. Most of these situations are related to fakes of Sony matrices, most of which again come from artisanal manufacturers of Aliexpress, some of these manufacturers openly indicate that these are Sony replica matrices, while the Sony company itself has repeatedly stated that there are no replicas of SONY brand equipment and these are not covered fakes.

In order not to encounter fakes or choose a reputable brand that does not use copies or replicas, such as the brand ISON, on our channel there are more than 300 reviews of various cameras of this brand on Sony sensors, which are produced under license from Sony. Or if you are looking at some other brand for yourself, what is called, read the reviews.

Today, there are more than 1000 video surveillance brands in the world and every year there are at least 50 more, so there are no tables of good and bad brands in nature.

7) Cameras by resolution.

The higher the resolution, the better the quality of shooting in terms of detail. But it’s not by chance that I first gave you the options on matrixes, because the choice of resolution is a secondary point and often people make a mistake here, for example, choose a resolution of 8 megapixels, but on a budget or No Name matrix and get worse quality than 2 megapixels on a good matrix. Therefore it is necessary to consider both these parameters simultaneously and in this comparison we will talk only about cameras with the same sensors, in particular we will take SONY sensors as a reference.

Assuming one sensor and one lens, the parameters will be as follows: 2,3,4 megapixel it will be budget quality recording, 5 megapixel medium, 8 megapixel maximum. 700tvl, 960h 1 megapixel are long discontinued cameras that have a poor picture. By the way, despite the fact that they have long been out of production they are still actively selling, so be vigilant.

5 Megapixel is by far the most popular CCTV camera format, they account for about 40% of all CCTV cameras sold. 8 megapixels is a variant of premium class, the best quality of filming from existing options, they account for about 25% of sales, about 20% account for the budget segment 2,3,4 megapixels and about 15% of the segment, removed from production, which are bought either by tenders of those conditions which have not changed since the 90’s or bought by people who did not want to understand the characteristics and bought cameras relying on the lowest price. Be careful in this matter.

Again, analyze not only the resolution when choosing a camera, but also the sensor, because to buy a camera with high 2K or 4K resolution is not equal to buy a camera with good clarity or detail if there is a bad sensor. I will leave the list of models with real resolution and good matrixes in the description. The list will consist of models of the brand ISON – it is the brand number! In the market of ready-made video surveillance systems, if you plan to buy any other brand, you can compare as a benchmark.

8) Wired and wireless Wi-Fi cameras.

In a classic wired system, a cable runs from the camera to the recorder, where it receives power either from the power supply or from the recorder itself, depending on the model of equipment.

In a wireless system, there is no cable between the recorder and the cameras, and the data is transmitted via Wi-Fi. It sounds quite convenient, but there are some essential nuances of such connection, be sure to watch it in full, if you plan to buy such cameras, the link will be in the description.

I will voice 2 main disadvantages of wireless cameras. The first is that at the place of installation must be a socket for the camera or you need to pull the power cable, ie wireless video surveillance is not so wireless. The second is, of course, the range of signal transmission, which is limited in Wi-Fi cameras.

In the budget price segment Wi-Fi camera will work stably only in the immediate vicinity of the recorder or router, and if you start to take it behind a wall, for example, then you start dancing with tambourines with signal loss. In the professional segment there are more powerful models that work through several walls or up to 150 meters, the most powerful of which is ISON AIR PRO MAX, which we have already told about in our reviews. We will also leave a link to the review in the description.

There are also industrial wireless systems on Wi-Fi bridges that can work for kilometers, we had 3 years ago field tests of such a system, where within the quarry we tested its work at a distance of 1.5km, but it is a fairly highly specialized systems that work seamlessly only in large open sites, quarries, factories, large industrial workshops, and they cost as a wing of a boeing, for example, at the current exchange rate system for 4 such cameras will cost at least 300 thousand rubles.

From myself I can say, if you have a classical task to put video surveillance, for example in a private house and you will have up to 3 walls between the registrar and cameras, you can put a system ISON AIR PRO MAX, it will work without problems in rain and snow signal from these systems also works stably, but if you have for example an apartment building wireless video surveillance there is better not to put, because in apartment buildings in addition to the walls there is another obstacle is a lot of wi-fi routers that clog each other.

9) Wdr cameras with DWDR, non-WDR and WDR knockoffs.

WDR – This is a technology that improves the quality of shooting in poor or inappropriate lighting conditions, as well as in situations where the camera lens is exposed to light from the sun or streetlights. Wherever you put your cameras you will have at least several times a day a situation when light or shadows fall into the lens.

In my reviews I have repeatedly emphasized to you that buying a camera without WDR technology is essentially money down the drain. DWDR technology is a slightly cheaper version of the usual WDR, most often found in AHD video surveillance.

Regarding fakes on WDR and DWDR the situation is the same as with fakes for Sony matrixes. Unscrupulous manufacturers mainly from China in order to cheapen the camera equip it with their version of this technology, which is of no use. The problem has become so large that many bona fide manufacturers began to write in the characteristics of their cameras REAL WDR, i.e. real WDR.

As in the previous paragraphs I recommend that you make a selection through the configurator at the link in the description, with its help you can choose from 1700 popular models of ready-made CCTV camera systems among which there are no variants with fakes as WDR and matrixes.

On the forums you can also often meet a question from newcomers and how much WDR technology costs, ie to understand how much you have to pay extra for such a pleasure. The answer is simple: nowadays most quality cameras are made with real wdr technology already on board, i.e. you don’t pay anything extra for it, you just need to choose cameras from a quality manufacturer.

10) IP and AHD cameras.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of both of these formats and give you our recommendations. IP video surveillance is better in terms of detail and pixel clarity. By 20-30%, but it is also more expensive by the same 20-30%.

AHD video surveillance is also quite popular due to its lower price and now the sales share of AHD video surveillance is around 50%.

Personally, I would choose IP video surveillance for myself primarily because of the FPS difference. In 2K and 4K video surveillance IP significantly wins in terms of frames per second. FPS in this format will be at least twice as much. If for example compare 2 identical systems AHD and IP segment ISON GREKO PRO and ISON ALFA, at first glance they may seem the same, and there and there 5 megapixels 2k, both systems have SONY matrixes, the same set of features but FPS in GREKO 15 frames per second, and in ALFA 25 frames per second.

A picture with fps 25 frames per second is more pleasing to the eye, because it is uninterrupted and smoother and also such FPS will help if your object will be a fast moving object such as a car or for example will be running person. On a small FPS the picture will be blurred in a freeze frame, and on a good fps will be good detail.

It is usually accepted in favor of IP video surveillance to tell that there are opportunities for deep analytics, server connection, fiber optic connection for a kilometer, but 95% of users do not need it and just need a good video surveillance with a good picture, motion sensors, viewing from a smartphone and hemoroynoy operation, and it is now in both of these formats.

About 5 years ago there was a situation that IP video surveillance was more difficult to connect, because you had to write ip addresses on each camera. But then there were ready-made video surveillance kits ISON with auto-start function, which became connected as well as AHD, i.e. take out of the box plug into the socket and everything else happens automatically.

Recently we had review of connecting cameras over long distances on our channel, and we tested connected ISON brand IP cameras over 600 meters. Let’s put here this as an advantage of IP video surveillance, it can be connected up to 600 meters and AHD only up to 100 meters. Once again, I will note that we tested ISON cameras and recorder on the original ISON cable, if you buy another brand, there these figures may be different, most manufacturers have about 80 meters of length on IP video surveillance and about 100 meters on AHD, ie this advantage can be in the other direction.

There are manufacturers who write that AHD cameras will work at 300 meters, but on such promises do not fall for such promises, because work AHD cameras at such distances will be in terrible quality and in black and white mode, in which any AHD camera will go automatically at a cable length of more than 100 meters.

I recommend you to consider equally AHD and IP cameras and choose by example of recording, because buying a more expensive option will certainly solve most problems, but not everyone has such an opportunity.

In conclusion, I will debunk one more myth that still roams the forums that the function of viewing from a smartphone is supposedly only on IP video surveillance. This was really the case 15 years ago, now the functions of AHD video surveillance are practically as good as IP standard.

And of course, the mat-article: IP video surveillance is a twisted pair cable, AHD video surveillance is a coaxial cable. You can connect AHD cameras on twisted pair cable with the help of baluns, but IP cameras on coaxial cable you can not connect.

We have dealt with all the main types of CCTV cameras: Of course, you can go on and on about the difference of rare 20-milimiter varie lenses or the difference of processors or different light sensitivity, but in most cases you will be more than enough knowledge that you have gained from this article in order to make the right choice of CCTV camera system for your object.