Choosing from many brands and types of CCTV Cameras, acronym of Closed Circuit Television, can be a confusing task for most buyers. With today’s technology, a lot of types and brands and prices are coming up, and the lack of CCTV standardization creates an unclear path for buyers who need to compare one manufacturer’s products to another. To guide newbie and would-be buyers of CCTV cameras, we will tackle on how you can differentiate one product from another just by basing on one’s important security attributes.

A security camera’s most important attributes include the following:

1) The output type

2) Placement location

3) Minimum to none illumination

4) Control mechanism

Potential buyers must first consider these attributes when distinguishing one CCTV camera of one brand to another, and must select one which meets their security needs. Ask for a specialist in your area, such as in Toronto, for which security camera works best for you.

A CCTV’s Output Type

The kind of output from a security camera means the video signal that is sent from the CCTV to its display monitor. The output can either be a Digital or an Analog Output Signal. Digital signals transmit streaming videos over cables. Cameras utilized with digital signals generally have an IP address, so that the camera is easily integrated into an existing network infrastructure. Analog signals, however, continuously transmits video over a coaxial cable, which are still being used by the majority of those having CCTVs.

Placing of the CCTVC Cameras

Security cameras can either be placed indoors or outdoors. Those devices placed in the interiors are typically called Standard Box Cameras and Dome/Ceiling Cameras. The Outdoor devices, which are exposed to many types of weather conditions, are well equipped with their own casings to protect them against extreme temperatures, rain, and dust. Bullet CCTV is the most popular and common outdoor camera. It is built with a waterproof casing as well as with an Infra-Red LED.

Minimum Illumination

Minimum illumination, or minimum LUX, is needed by cameras to be able to properly capture the video. A camera’s sensitivity needs to fit the room’s illumination level. Camera used for either day or night surveillance use different minimum LUXs. Sufficient illumination, or above 0.5 LUX, is needed for day-time cameras, whereas low illumination, or below 0/5 LUX, is appropriate for day-to-night cameras.

Camera’s control mechanism

A camera would be able to adjust its own focus and angle with the appropriate control mechanism. A fixed device, however, has a fixed focus and angle that is manually set during its installation. A monitorized device, however, has built-in motors to be able to control its focus and angle.