In the recent times, CCTV has become an indispensable gadget in almost every household and/or commercial space. There are a lot of varieties in CCTV. With so many types of CCTV cameras in the market, there is now more choice and a variety of solutions for every industry. Selection of the ideal CCTV depends on the need and the requirement of the individual or the company. Each variety of the CCTV cameras with lots of features to offer. Let us have a look at them.
There are almost 9 Different types of CCTV Cameras & most noted or prominent, user friendly CCTV Cameras in the market. These are also the most commonly used CCTVs.
1. Bullet CCTV Cameras
These CCTV cameras have been designed in a way that it is highly visible. These CCTVs have a cylindrical shape and are designed to observe and monitor long distances. The Bullet CCTV type of cameras are most commonly placed outdoors hence their casings or the outer covering is made of a material which is resistant to dust, dirt, and water.
They have a long list of benefits to count on. They are:
a.The casing provides protection against rain and are glare resistant.
b.This variety has a good coverage and hence can provide surveillance over long distances
c.The visibility is quite good. Due to its high visibility, it also acts as a deterrent to criminals.
d.Due to its shape and structure it provides the much-needed resistance to dirt even in the most challenging environments.
These bullet cameras are used in most of the places as they record very good quality pictures as well as they provide a message to the trespassers that the premises is being monitored and is under surveillance. These CCTVs are often used outdoors and are visible to the outsiders hence acts as a deterrent. It is used in a range of industries such as property management, manufacturing units, farming, and many more. Due to its clarity and reach of monitoring it has traditionally been categorized as one of the best CCTV for outside operation.
2. PTZ Pan Tilt & Zoom Cameras
In a PTZ (Pan Tilt & Zoom) CCTV camera the security team can have complete control on what is recorded. It is an easy-to-use CCTV, which provides the service just at the touch of a button. As the name is suggestive the camera lens can pan all around, i.e., left and right, it can tilt up and down or can be even zoomed in and zoomed out. It needs a person to monitor it for a live video feed on site. It is an ideal choice of CCTV if there is a person to handle it.
The benefits of the Pan tilt and Zoom cameras or the PTZ as is popularly known is no less. It has many attractive and unique features. Let us have a look at these,
a.Due to the feature of the optical zoom on these CCTV cameras they can be used for focusing closer on the subjects or objects.
b.These Pan and tilt CCTV cameras are enabled with the feature of providing an all-round vision, i.e., it provides a complete 360-degree field of vision.
c.Due to the high resolution of the camera, the image quality is usually impeccable so there is a clearer picture depicting the facial features accurately.
d.As there is continuous monitoring the security team will have full control of recording and can handle effectively the live situations.
The PTZ CCTV cameras are by far one of the best in the market for remote viewing. This is one of the most opted and extremely popular in large retail environments. It is considered as the best CCTV for business premises which have valuable objects to protect. This CCTV camera can be programmed to pan to a particular entry or exit point when there is a movement detected. This works well even when it is not being controlled remotely. This camera can cover a very large area and also do the job of several static cameras very well.
3. Dome CCTV Cameras
As the name is suggestive the dome CCTV camera is encased in a dome-shaped casing. Like the other CCTV cameras this CCTV camera also deters the criminals, though these CCTV cameras are relatively discreet in appearance. Due to the dome casing coverage, it is difficult to be aware as to which direction or angle the camera is focussing. This can to a large extent create an amount of uncertainty for the thieves or miscreants from making an entry from any direction.
Let us have a look at some of its merits:
a.Unobtrusive design means it is easy to fit
b.It is an ideal CCTV solution for both the indoor and outdoor usage.
c.Due to its dome shape design, it can also be acknowledged as vandalism resistant dome. Though not impossible, it is quite difficult to interfere or tamper with the camera.
d.An all-round capture, i.e., the 360-degree rotation of the camera making it cover all angles provides more accuracy.
The dome CCTV camera is the best suited type of camera for shops, hotels, restaurants, casinos, etc. The dome design allows wider angle monitoring of the premises. The dome CCTV camera is considered to be the best choice for indoor CCTV camera. Due to its shape and structure, it can be placed at a point of the ceiling enabling it to cover all the angles of the particular place.
4. Wireless CCTV Cameras
Wireless CCTV camera is a different type of CCTV Cameras which provides an aesthetic look, as it makes the appearance of the camera much tidier with no visible wires. It brings in a sense of tidier, classy look. The wireless CCTV cameras also reduce the installation time as they are wireless.
Some of the unique features of the wireless CCTV cameras are:
a. Easy installation in comparison to any other variant of CCTV system.
b.The CCTV footage can be transmitted over the internet and hence can be viewed anywhere.
c.Provides for a classy, tidy, discreet appearance with less obtrusive fitting
d.The storage of the footage is more secure and has an easy access of the archive footage.
Wireless CCTV cameras are like any of the other variants a great security option. Due to their discreet appearance, it can be either camouflaged or made to blend well into the interior. Due to the fact, that they are wireless there is lesser set up cost and lesser camera maintenance. The CCTV footage can be transferred via the internet to other storage gadgets for easy convenient access.
5. Infrared/Night Vision CCTV Cameras
As the name suggests, these cameras are for specific night-time usage. They are designed to operate optimally in pitch black conditions. This is possible with the use of infrared technology. These CCTVs are quite expensive, more expensive than their other counter parts. Most often those who opt for these have more relevance with more night-time security or night-time surveillance. They invest in these, though expensive, because it could be vital to the security of their business.
The most important benefits and features of these are:
a.Usage of infrared LED technology ensures clear recording even in total darkness, pitch black environments.
b.The infrared/night vision CCTV cameras are well equipped and can perform well even in situations where there is presence of dust, smoke, or fog.
c.It performs even during the daytime with the help of the auto filter which gets activated in daytime for clear images in lighter conditions.
d.Records colour imagery in the daytime and black and white at night.
This has been one of the best CCTV cameras for night time coverage. It is most often used in places where more tight security measures are required during the night-time. It therefore goes on to remain the ideal choice for those who need ultra-reliable recording in complete darkness.
6. Day/Night CCTV Cameras
The name is suggestive of the functionality of the day/night CCTV cameras. These cameras have been designed in such a way to operate efficiently irrespective of how dark or bright the environment is. They are capable of adapting well to daytime as well as night-time setting and provide very clear footages. The different lighting environment does not hamper the quality of the videos. They are designed with extra sensitive imaging chips.
Let us have a close look at some of its unique features:
a.No hassle clear coverage even in poor or low and dim light.
b.They most often have been designed to provide both the colour and black and white footages with extreme clarity.
c.These day/night CCTV cameras are very adaptable and can function extremely well despite adversities such as direct sunlight, reflections, glare, or even poor lighting.
d.The day/night CCTV cameras casing is designed to protect the camera against the elements for outside surveillance.
There are so many variants in the CCTV cameras each with its own unique feature. This CCTV camera has the extra sensitive imaging for the outdoor environment making it provide more clear images. Hence, in many respects this is the ideal CCTV system for business premises which require round the clock CCTV monitoring for an outdoor setting with varying light setup.
7. Network/IP CCTV Cameras
With changing technologies, newer concepts are introduced in every gadget. This Network/IP CCTV cameras can share live footage across the internet making the images to be easily accessed from anywhere on the globe. The bandwidth of the video footage would be compressed to make the online feed reliable. These footages would be stored on network video recorders (NVRs) or on secure software for a much later access as well.
The features of the Network/IP CCTV cameras are quite many, they are:
a.The footage can be viewed online anytime from anywhere in the world.
b.Easy on the pocket as this is a low maintenance CCTV.
c.Easily accessible archive footage.
d.The setup is easy as the co axial cables and computer stations are not required.
A network or IP CCTV camera provides many unique features much required for today's fast lives. It is more useful and is an ideal choice for those who could be always on the move from place to place. The feature of being able to view the footage from anywhere in the world, via a PC, laptop or mobile phone is very helpful.
8. High Definition (HD) CCTV Cameras
High-definition CCTV cameras the name suggests it all. It provides an unparalleled picture quality which has high clarity images. There is no risk of having blurry images or grainy or distorted images. Depending on our budget and the need it can be used for delivering the resolutions which ranges hugely.
This variant of the CCTVs main feature is the clarity. Let us have a look at the features:
a.Due to the HD the pictures capture the subjects in high clarity.
b.This variant is available in almost all CCTV models like the domes and bullets.
c.Due to its crystal-clear imagery, it provides an undeniable criminal identification.
d.Zooming facility provides extra clarity.
Most often the high-definition cameras are very useful in situations or environments where there is a high risk of theft. Most often banks, jewellery shops, casinos, etc., have been noted to opt for HD cameras to ensure that the footage has a clear capture of the visitors to their premises. If for instance a crime were to happen, the footage provides undeniable identification.
9. C-Mount CCTV Cameras
C-Mount is a different type of CCTV cameras which are most often quite bulky and like the bullet CCTV cameras they also act as a visible deterrent to criminal activity. This is also an ideal option for those who wish to adapt the field of vision. These CCTVs are equipped with detachable lenses which can be switched around for monitoring varying distances.
Let us have a look at some of its features:
a.Due to its bulky model, it is highly visible and hence acts as a deterrent to criminal activities.
b.Well suited for outdoor use as it has a weather proofed casing.
c.Quite adaptable as the special lenses can be fitted to the camera to extend its range beyond 40 feet.
d.A rugged camera casing can be added to protect the camera in cold environments.
This is most often suited for checking on the stretch of road on the approach to the premises. It is even ideal for food manufacturing industries due to the camera’s reliability in extreme temperatures. It is quite a popular type and used often.
Conclusion
The CCTVs have come a long way. There are so many variants each of them offering many different unique features. Each variant comes with lots of inbuilt features. It is up to us to zero in on the CCTV we need depending on our need, finance, and other factors. Each and every variant provides the much-needed safety and security solutions.