With technological advancement, CCTV cameras have evolved substantially over the years. But it’s unlikely that everyone would remain acquainted regarding the recent upgrades in these security devices. But when you need CCTV cameras for your home or office, you may find it mind-boggling while going through the newest of CCTV technologies, features, and types of security cameras. This article aims to help you out with obtaining a brief idea on what to look for when you are looking for the best CCTV options for your home or business.
Inbuilt SD card or separate internal storage
With the advancement of CCTV technology, many CCTV cameras have turned into CCTV systems. These devices come with a built-in micro SD card slot. This feature allows you to insert memory cards for recording. Some of these models are upgradeable up to 128 GB.
Pan/Tilt
The modern CCTV cameras come with features that allow the camera to rotate both horizontally and vertically. It enables these devices to cover a large space around them. The maximum angle that a CCTV camera can rotate is known as Pan and vertically is Tilt. Some of the best CCTV cameras can pan up to 355 degrees and tilt up to 90 degrees. Some models could be rotated remotely through their apps. If you need to monitor a large portion of three-dimensional space, a CCTV camera with higher pan/tilt is essential.
Image Quality
Most of the high-end CCTV cameras produce videos in 720p (1MP) or 1080p resolution. You will certainly get better image quality with higher resolution, however, you also need bigger storage to record a day’s video if you opt for higher resolution. If you have a DVR with large internal storage, buying a high-resolution camera may not be a bad idea. But high-resolution cameras with built-in storage will easily get filled. To deal with this, some cameras come with an overwrite feature that self-erase the micro SD once it fills up. You will lose your past recordings. A 1MP camera takes approximately up to 38GB of data space on recording for a whole day. So before choosing a CCTV camera, you need to relate the resolution of the camera with the storage space and backup time instead of stressing on image quality only.
Motion and Audio Sensor
Motion and audio sensors are common in smart security cameras. Despite their higher prices, it can be assumed that these are the future of CCTV cameras. Motion and audio sensors enable CCTV cameras to detect unusual sounds and movements in the coverage area. These devices can also alert owners by sending them notification on their mobile app. If you want a top-notch security system for your home or office, buying a CCTV camera with motion and audio sensors is worth the money.
Installation and Setup
Wireless CCTV cameras are usually easy to install and setup as there are no cables involved. The cameras with magnetic bases or sticky pads are easy to mount, but for the long term, screwing the camera on the wall is the reliable way. Positioning your camera is vital if it does not have pan/tilt feature, however, you may not need to bother much about positioning, if your camera has a good pan/tilt.
You may need to seek professional help for the installation if it requires to drill holes and hammer molding pins to mount the camera. A good CCTV camera is supposed to come along with the required mounting stand and screws.
When using the camera for the first time, you might need to download an app on your phone, install it, signup and authenticate by scanning the QR code on the camera. This should not take any more than a few minutes. Overall, it is quite easy to install and set up a CCTV camera in these days.
Waterproof or not
Waterproofing is a must if you want to install the CCTV camera outdoor. If you want to monitor the space in front of your shop, home or any other outdoor space, you should opt for waterproof CCTV cameras.
In-Box Accessories
Before choosing a CCTV camera, you should check what you’ll get in the box. The contents to look for are installation gears like mounting stand, power screws, cables, and power adapters. Some low-end cameras do not come with power adapters, as a result, you may have to bear an additional expense. So make sure you get all required installation gears in your package.
Maximum Range of the Camera
The maximum range of the camera depends on the focal length of the camera lens and the size of the image sensor. The greater range helps the camera to capture distant objects. You should look for a higher range if you need an outdoor CCTV camera. You should choose a CCTV camera with at least 20 to 25 meters of range.
In-Built Hotspot
In-built hotspot in a CCTV camera allows users to access the live stream on their smartphone offline. But the user needs to seek access to the live stream from a limited distance. These cameras come with an antenna on them. This is a good feature to have in CCTV cameras installed in small shops and malls, as managers can monitor different parts of the area without being connected to the internet.
Compatibility with existing DVR
Some manufacturers sell CCTV cameras that are compatible only with their parent DVR. So if you already have a DVR, you need to check whether the camera you are buying is compatible with the existing DVR or not.
Wired or Wireless
Wired CCTV cameras are quite popular among consumers for their lower price. Besides, these cameras are more reliable than their wireless alternatives as they are hard connected through wires.
Wireless cameras, on the other hand, offer benefits in terms of mobility and scalability. They are easy to install and move around. However, a good quality wireless camera, produced by a reputed brand, is more expensive than its wired counterpart. But these variants are the way to go if you do not want to spoil the aesthetics of your office or home with wires and cables. Plus, you should have a high-quality router, reliable internet connection, and speed so that your CCTV camera can function properly.
If you have any confusion, feel free to knock out experts online or you can also visit any of our showrooms to consult with our executives so that you can pick the CCTV camera you need based on your requirements.
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