Types of Closed Circuit Television Cameras
Global safety and security is an industry worth over £400 billion. You can tell it is an incredibly complex piece of work just by analysing the numbers and going through the sheer number of products out there that are designed to keep citizens and property owners safe. Panning the magnifier towards the individual niches within, we see that each is still very layered and that there are products designed for almost every conceivable function and property. This is especially true for CCTV systems.
CCTV stands for Closed Circuit television; it is a system that utilizes video cameras to transmit live footage to a limited number of display monitors. This mode of video surveillance allows manned security to watch live footage and analyze video playback of pre-recorded footage. There are various types of security cameras out there, and each is designed specifically with certain premises in mind. This actually plays a huge role in the efficiency of a security system.
Types of security cameras
Let us explore a few different kinds of security cameras, their main features and their benefits:
Dome camera
This is thought to be the most economical of the bunch; it gets its name from the characteristic dome-shaped glass casing in which the camera lens is housed. This dome-shaped casing makes it hard for people looking at it to correctly ascertain where the lens is facing – a perfect feature that eliminates the inclination of burglars to avoid angles they know are covered. They are mostly installed on ceilings and this protects them from being vandalized. The benefits of using dome cameras are:
- They are easy to install
- They are vandal-resistant
- They can rotate and cover wide angles
- They have infrared vision
- Although used mostly indoors, they are also suitable for outdoor use
Dome cameras are best used in restaurants, retail stores, hotels, and other places where wide-angled coverage is much needed.
Bullet cameras
These cameras feature a lot in spy movies so they are the most popular of the bunch. They are designed cylindrically; one end being held by the handle to a wall and the other end being mounted by the fixed or varifocal camera lens. These cameras are used in areas where the length of view is a priority, including hallways, passageways, parking lots and alleyways. Since they are mostly used in outdoor settings, they are designed with casings that can stand weather elements, including fog, dew, dust, etc. Bullet cameras have rotational coverage too, but only in angles less than 90°. Benefits of using bullet cameras include
- They are resistant to most weather conditions
- They show high image resolution
- They have long-distance coverage
C-mount cameras
This camera type is the best for adaptable function because it comes with detachable lenses which can be adjusted to fit the desired purpose. They are fitted with varifocal lenses which can be adjusted to vary focal distance and angle view. These cameras can also give magnified vision without sacrificing much in the way of resolution and focus. They are the perfect camera type for road and traffic coverage. Benefits of using C-mount cameras include:
- Longer ranges can be covered
- Weatherproof
- Magnification is possible
- They are versatile and can be used in a lot of situations
Day/Night cameras
These are cameras that can be used all day and all night, in all degrees of illumination, against sun glare, reflections, and in poorly-illuminated areas. They do this by employing the use of sensitive imaging chips (as opposed to infrared cameras) to capture and transmit clear images, even in the dark. These cameras are the go-to solutions when places where infrared-fitted cameras fall short. They can be used to monitor business premises and construct CCTV coverage systems that need to be operative 24/7. Benefits of using them include:
- All-round surveillance
- Capture images in colour and in black and white
- Work against illumination peculiarities like glare and reflection
- Are weatherproof considering that they are mostly for outdoor use
PTZ cameras
For security protocol that incorporates the use of CCTV systems with manned personnel who monitor the images transmitted in real-time. Coverage angle ceases to be a problem with this camera type because they can be remotely controlled to PTZ (pan, tilt and zoom), giving guards an element of control. Benefits of using them include:
- They have infrared and night vision
- They can zoom in perfect resolution
- 360° coverage
- They are remotely controlled
Armed with this knowledge, you should have, at least, a vague idea of the kind of CCTV your premises needs. If you have been looking around for any of the CCTV Cardiff offers, do not hesitate to reach out to us at Total Electrical. Contact us today for your CCTV installation, design and maintenance.