| CCTV Cameras come in a variety of shapes and | | | | cameras. |
| sizes. There are several factors that determine the | | | | Day/Night Modes |
| correct camera at a given location and for specific | | | | An important factor in cameras is the lighting at night. |
| applications. One size does not fit all in security | | | | Are there parking lights? Is it pitch dark? If there is |
| cameras, and the proper design takes into effect | | | | limited lighting, a Day/Night camera is your choice. Its |
| lighting conditions, location, and the view, or views | | | | color during good lighting, and switches to B/W for |
| required. Place a standard color camera in a low-light | | | | low-light views. The key technical spec on lighting is the |
| condition and you will find a poor video, "grainey and | | | | LUX rating. The lower the better! Standard color indoor |
| noisey" as the camera struggles to see. | | | | dome camera may have a LUX of 0.1 and a Day |
| Video security cameras are either standard color | | | | Night will have a .001 or better. Go read/search for |
| cameras, Day/Night cameras, or in infrared cameras. . | | | | details. |
| They also come in fixed, meaning they view one | | | | Infrared Cameras |
| specific location, or Pan-Tilt-Zoom cameras that allow | | | | Infrared (IR Cameras) are all the rage in camera |
| the operator to move the camera in a 360° area | | | | introductions. 2nd only to IP Megapixel cameras. Having |
| and optically zoom in on specific locations. A standard | | | | the ability to see both day and night, IR Cameras have |
| retail environment will have both indoor and outdoor | | | | IR LEDs that are beyond what the human eye can |
| cameras, fixed and PTZ, with exterior and interior | | | | see, but the camera picks up the IR light flashes the |
| doors entrys and exits covered. | | | | constant Flashlight allowing you to see in total |
| Its A Resolution | | | | darkness. |
| Analog cameras are measure in the number of "TV | | | | PTZ Cameras |
| Lines" meaning the horizontal lines that make up the | | | | Got to have one! A fixed camera is like having a |
| camera video on the screen. The more the better. | | | | one-eyed guard stand watch. He never blinks, never |
| Typical cameras 5 years ago measured 380-420 TVL | | | | stops watching. A PTZ robotic camera is like having |
| as the typical resolution. Today, 540 TVL is a standard | | | | the same guard but he can move around and has a |
| resolution for analog CCTV Cameras. IP Megapixel | | | | set of binoculars to get close-up shots. |
| cameras are breaking this barrier with horizontal lines | | | | There is a difference in a $50 camera and a good |
| measure in "Megapixels." A 3.1 megapixel camera has | | | | quality $250 camera in many cases. IP megapixel |
| over 2000 lines! The price is the determining factor | | | | cameras at $800 or so, will be a distant memory |
| (surprise) as IP Megapixels are today, MegaBucks! | | | | hopefully soon as volumes increase. Whether its an |
| So, if you have a big budget, spring for a few | | | | economical or professional purchase, choose the right |
| Megapixel Cameras, for all of the other cameras | | | | camera for your application. |
| focus on 540TVL and above resolution CCTV analog | | | | |