Surveillance and Security Camera Buyer’s Guide

The applications of security cameras have not changed that much over the years; however the technology and equipment have advanced significantly. Cameras have become better, cheaper, and smaller. The recording equipment has gone through major changes and has become far more sophisticated and feature rich.

Many consumers shopping for CCTV monitoring and recording systems are confused by such a variety of available products and technical jargon. This guide is written to help you select the best possible and most economical type of video surveillance equipment for your application. It will also help you learn more about different types of cameras, lenses, Digital Video Recorders (DVR), cabling, power supplies, and other related accessories. If you have any questions as you read this guide, please do not hesitate to call our knowledgeable staff at 972-312-1713 for expert advice.

Wired VS Wireless

Wired security cameras are the optimal choice, as they provide the best video quality, zero interference, and are cost effective. They can be installed hundreds of feet away from the security DVR system. Figure 1.1 shows a typical connectivity diagram.

With wired security cameras you do not have to power the camera locally. Siamese cable provides video and power in the same cable, so you can connect your cameras to the DVR and power them up remotely. We have a comprehensive inventory of wired security cameras.

We offer Siamese cable already pre-cut and on a spool.

For runs longer than 700 Ft., we recommend using CAT5e cable and Balun connectors. Using this method, video can be transmitted up to about 1,300 Ft.

We can refer you to professional installers in your area; however, using our step-by- step installation guide, the average person can easily install our video surveillance products in a short time.

Wireless cameras are relatively expensive and are not as reliable as wired systems. Most wireless systems are Line of Sight (LOS).

Remember that wireless security cameras require power to operate. So even though you can eliminate the need of coax cable for video transmission, you still have to connect the camera via wire to a power source.

Cameras & Lenses

It is virtually impossible to describe all types of available security cameras in this short guide. We will focus more on popular and widely used camera types instead. Security cameras produce images using CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or CCD (Charge Couple Device) chips. Low-priced CCTV cameras usually use CMOS technology and produce poor quality images and have poor light sensitivity. We do not carry CMOS cameras. Decent quality CCTV cameras use CCD technology. The size of the CCD chip is normally 1/4", 1/3" or 1/2". As a rule of thumb, the larger the size, the higher the quality of the image produced and the higher the price. However, with advancement in technology, higher density 1/4" and 1/3" CCD chips can now produce as good an image as many 1/3" or 1/2" chips. The most popular size is 1/3” and you don’t see many cameras with 1/2” anymore.

Some of the more popular security camera types are dome cameras which are aesthetically more pleasing. They blend into surroundings, especially with drop down ceilings. They are great for use in stores, lobbies and other public places. Infrared cameras have become very popular in recent years. They can see in total darkness using their IR illuminators. The traditional CCTV security camera has a bulky style and is often referred to as a full body camera or box camera. They are usually sold without a lens, which gives you the advantage of being able to choose the exact lens for the application. Pan/Tilt/Zoom (PTZ) cameras are relatively expensive and typically designed for special uses such as law enforcement and casino applications. PTZ cameras can pan, tilt and provide optical zoom and are best suited when an operator is available to actively manipulate/move the PTZ camera. Spy cameras are designed for covert applications.

Most cameras have a built-in 3.6mm lens which provides roughly a 72 degree field of view. Figure 1.2 shows some popular lenses with their respective field of view:

Some cameras come with a varifocal lens, so the focal length can be adjusted. Please visit our lens selection chart to learn more about lenses and field of view.

Camera Specifications

This section will help you read camera specifications and understand their effect on the performance of the camera.

Camera resolution or picture quality is measured by the number of horizontal lines the chip in the camera provides. It is called TV lines of resolution or TVL. The higher the TVL are, the better the quality of the image. Standard image quality is 380TVL to 420TVL. High image quality is 420TVL to 480TVL. Very high image quality is 480TVL to 570TVL.

Color VS Black & White Security Cameras

Color cameras are the preferred choice for most applications, however, black and white cameras are slightly cheaper, more sensitive to light and can see better in lower light conditions.

IR security cameras turn to black and white during low light conditions and return to color in good light conditions. IR cameras have gained popularity due to this flexibility.

Indoor VS Outdoor Cameras

If you are installing a camera outside and it is not going to be mounted in a weather proof camera housing, it must be a weather resistant camera. All of our outdoor cameras are fully weatherproof.

Lux & Light Sensitivity

Light sensitivity of a camera is measured in Lux.

If a candle is one foot away from an object, it gives one foot candle of light illumination onto the object. This is about 10 “Lux,” and is an informal definition of Lux. The unit of Lux (luminance value) tries to relate the actual energy per unit area falling on a surface to what the human eye perceives.

Field of View

The field of view (FOV) is the height and width of the picture size produced by a lens. FOV can be adjusted to your application using a different lens. There are two basic types of camera lenses: fixed focal (or monofocal) and varifocal (or zoom). FOV of a fixed focal lens can not be adjusted. FOV of a varifocal lens can be adjusted. Varifocal lenses are usually more expensive. Figure 1.3 illustrates the FOV of various lenses.

Knowing the object distance and the required target area, you can determine what lens is required for your application.

For example, using the chart for a 1/3-inch format camera viewing an object a distance of 50 feet and a target area of 15 feet by 20 feet, Scan down the "50 feet" column to the stated target size; scan left to see that a 12mm lens is required for that application.

Auto Iris VS Manual Iris

Auto iris lenses are a good choice for locations where light is constantly changing, such as an outside parking lot and building entrances. The iris for these lenses automatically opens and closes according to the changing light conditions. Manual iris lenses are a good candidate for areas with constant light, such as shopping centers, schools, libraries, and offices. Manual iris lenses are good for such locations, because the iris setting of the lens only needs to be set once during the installation. Manual iris lenses are less expensive than their auto iris counterpart.

Recording Equipment

With regard to surveillance and digital video recording, there are 2 main categories of recording equipment: PC-based DVRs and Standalone DVRs.

PC-based DVRs

PC-based DVRs are built around a PC running on Windows operating system. In addition to the usual components that are used to build a PC, there is also a video capture card with 4, 8, 12, 16 or 32 camera inputs. The capture card receives analog video from the cameras and converts it to a digital signal. It then compresses that digital signal and stores it on the hard disk drive for archiving and playback. The DVR software also provides live view, remote access, camera control and other administrative functions. PC-based DVRs are easier to use, more feature-rich, and usually cost more money than standalone DVR's. You can add more cameras to a PC-based DVR at a later time by adding additional video capture cards or extension cards (as available per manufacturer).

Many people are under the misconception that any personal computer with a DVR capture card will do the job. This explains the hundreds of companies that have hung up a sign, taken out some ads and began working out of basements and garages, holding themselves out to be DVR manufacturers and security specialists. Many crashes, hang-ups and system instabilities that consumers (end users) are faced with can be blamed from this.

Our PC-based DVR systems are built using name brand components like Intel-based motherboards, Intel dual core processors and Seagate hard drives. Each system is hand-built by a seasoned CCTV Veteran in our state of the art lab. A second technician performs a 23 point inspection of the system to ensure that all hardware and configuration settings are correct. The surveillance system you get from ApexCCTV comes preconfigured, Plug-N-Play and ready to go so the only thing you need to do is run the cable and connect the cameras to the DVR. After that, you are ready to go. We warranty our DVRs for one year for parts and labor.

Standalone DVRs

Standalone DVRs are computer-based machines which run on a Linux or other proprietary operating system that is design to run only one application. Standalone DVRs are not as feature-rich as their PC-based counterpart, but are a good choice for those PC-phobic clients and are more cost-effective. The embedded DVR software provides live view, remote access, camera control and other administrative functions; however some of the entry level standalone DVRs may not offer remote access.

Motion Detection

Motion detection is built into the DVR software and not a function of the cameras. DVR software analyzes the video frames coming from the camera frame by frame and when it detects change in the frame or movement it will start recording. The sensitivity of motion detection can be adjusted to eliminate false triggers. The more sophisticated DVRs allow the user to define areas where motion can be ignored, such as ignoring the movement of a ceiling fan. Other advanced features are available such as object left behind and missing object detection.

Cable Types

Most security camera video signals are transmitted using coaxial cable like RG59 and RG6. The most popular cable is Siamese Cable, which is a combination of RG59 for video and a pair of 22-gauge for power in one jacket. This design makes it so that you only need to run one cable for each camera. This type of cable is good for runs under 750 feet and comes on spools of 500’ or 1000’. Using RG6, you can achieve runs longer than 750’; however, most CCTV professionals use CAT5e and Balun connectors for cable runs over 750’.

Pre-cut Plug-n-play Siamese Cable are available from 25’ up to 150’ and are a good choice for casual installers.

Security Monitors

Depending on the type of DVR, video from cameras can be displayed on a regular TV monitor or PC monitor. Most PC-based DVRs provide both options, while most standalone DVRs use TV monitors.

Power Supplies

Each camera requires a power source. There are two types of power supplies: 12V DC and 24V AC. Most cameras operate on 12V DC.

If you have 3 or more cameras, it is advised to use a multi-port power supply. You can connect 4, 8 or 16 cameras to a multi-port power supply. Individual power supplies are a good choice for 1-2 camera projects.

We hope this guide has been helpful to you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call our knowledgeable staff at 972-312-1713 for expert advice.

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