The CCTV market has been booming, with many manufacturers producing and selling a
wide range of different CCTV cameras. As such, one needs to know exactly what to look for
when shopping for CCTV solution. If that person is you or your company, these are the top 9
things to consider before buying a camera solution.
1. Know what you intend to cover.
Knowing what to cover should be the first and most important consideration when
shopping for a CCTV solution. Not all cameras come with features like motion detection,
night vision, auto tracking and ANPR. Therefore, knowing what area you intend to cover
allows you to shift the angle of options on deciding the particular system one needs to
acquire. This will also determine the key features to look for so that the CCTV solutions can
fit your need.
2. The location and other Features
Location and external features such as, weather, sunlight and the risk of physical damage
greatly impact the positioning of the camera and are also important in the design of the
solution. For example, you might consider risks such a exposure to vandalism.
3. The design of the camera
There is so much choice of cameras ranging from Bullet to PTZ cameras. The most is
important thing is to decide on what is fit for your needs, this involves identifying the risks
and external influences, advantages and disadvantages so that you will install a camera
basing on its strong operational points.
4. Cabling Options
A cable will always be needed in every camera solution that one chooses to implement,
either for power or data or both. For analogue solutions, a local power cable at the camera
and data crimps were provided and these were expensive. Then came the option of Cat5e
which was used for both data and power options but the inclusion of power splitter made it
costly. As such the best option is IP Solution which supports both power and data to be
over one cable straight from NVR which is an inbuilt solution from the factory.
5. Night Vision Features
Many CCTV solutions provide for the right focal length that is able to spot people and
objects during the day, so to be able to use night vision infrared technology should be in
play. Camera solutions vary with different ranges of infrared from 20m up to 200m and
more, the ranges determine the cost of the camera. One should take much consideration in
what ranges to be acquired.
6. Quality and Output Resolution.
Having decided the area you want to cover, the cabling options and design of the camera,
you now need to know the quality and resolution of the CCTV cameras. There are 2MP or
4MP technologies which available and these offers the best resolution. Though with
analogue systems like Hikvision Turbo HD which offers up to 1080p with their IP solutions
delivering from 1.2MP to 12MP there is a lot to choose from.
7. Lens Size and Sensor.
Another important consideration is the lens size and sensor. This involves the ability of a
camera to identify people and objects. The array of lens sizes varies greatly from 2.8mm to
unbelievable focal lengths. The difference in sensor sizes and qualities makes the lens
directly incomparable.
8. Storage Capacity.
Storage is an important part of a CCTV system as it involves the safekeeping of footage for
references when needed. Before purchasing a camera, it is necessary to consider the
storage capacity. A good CCTV system is only as good as its storage and camera.
9. Additional Features.
The features of camera solutions range widely from Motion detection, Automatic number
plate recognition up to remote viewing, and one should confirm the features of a camera
solution before purchasing to avoid disappointments after installation.
Parting Shot: Hire a Professional
After investing a lot of funds in acquiring a quality CCTV system, it is very important to
consider hiring a professional to do the final installation work. This would help take a lot of
stress off you. We are dedicated into giving you what is best for you, geared not only
towards designing and supply but also to install and maintain the camera solution to your requirements.
