Different Types of CCTV Cameras and Their Benefits
In our world today, CCTV plays a huge part in improving security.
CCTV security systems are essential for residential and commercial building.
Therefore, it is vital to select the right CCTV camera for the right location and application.
Is it Worth Getting a CCTV Camera?
Cameras make your building a less attractive target for burglars.
If a thief is sizing up your house and trying to decide whether a break-in would be worth the risk of getting caught, the presence of one or more security cameras will generally make them less willing to chance it.
Here are other reasons why you might want to consider getting a CCTV camera
- A robust security system may save you money on insurance premiums. Some insurers will charge you less for home insurance if you make your home less vulnerable to crime, for instance by installing CCTV cameras and/or other security systems.
- If necessary, you’ll be able to prove that a break-in occurred. CCTV footage of your property can serve as evidence that a trespasser used force to break into your home. This can be useful if you’re trying to make an insurance claim.
- They’re not just good for catching burglars. Your CCTV camera may capture footage of crimes that don’t involve a break-in. For example, a cyclist in Blackpool who collided with a three-year-old girl and dragged her along the pavement for several metres before fleeing the scene was caught thanks to footage captured by a family’s home CCTV camera.
If you choose to install a CCTV camera on your property by yourself, please bear in mind that you may be breaking the law if your camera is pointing at public spaces and/or other people’s private properties.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to call in an experienced CCTV installer to recommend the best system for your home.
What Is The Best CCTV Camera for My Building?
If you’re wondering which CCTV is best for your building be it a residential or commercial building you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ve summarized the benefits of each of the different types of CCTV systems below.
Use our expert guide to select a solution that is fit for purpose and provides the level of security you require, in order to safeguard your property and staff.
Different Types of CCTV Cameras
Once upon a time, CCTV cameras came in one shape: big and boxy.
In recent years technology has given us so many more types to choose from.
We’ve gone from simple to bewildering as CCTV cameras continue to dominate modern cities, and a CCTV system becomes an ever-more integral part of an organisation’s security and business operation.
Here, we run through these types of camera and what makes them unique and more suitable for some venues over others.
The most common types of CCTV cameras are
- Outdoor Cameras
- Dome CCTV Cameras
- Bullet CCTV Cameras
- C-Mount CCTV Cameras
- PTZ Pan Tilt & Zoom Cameras
- Day/Night CCTV Cameras
- Infrared/night vision CCTV Cameras
- Network/IP CCTV Cameras
- Wireless CCTV Cameras
- High Definition (HD) CCTV Cameras
- Discreet Cameras
1. Outdoor Cameras
These will be more weather resistant and include heaters and blowers to allow for environmental variances.
Here are the best outdoor cameras to choose from.
2. Dome Cameras
Dome housings are designed to conceal the orientation of the camera, with some doing a better job than others.
This is a high priority in most applications, and is our default selection as it is generally the best deterrent.
When someone can’t tell which way the camera is pointing, they often assume it is pointing in all directions.
A Dome CCTV camera gets its name from the dome-shaped casing that the camera sits in.
Whilst these are relatively discreet CCTV cameras in appearance, this doesn’t stop them from deterring criminals.
This is because the dome casing makes it really difficult for people to see which direction the camera is pointing.
This creates an air of uncertainty for potential thieves or vandals approaching from all directions
Main Benefits
- Unobtrusive design means it’s easy to fit
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
- Vandal resistant dome means it is harder to interfere with the camera
- 360-degree rotation of the camera so you can cover all angles
Ideal Uses
This is the best type of CCTV camera for shops, restaurants, casinos and hotels because the design allows you to monitor a wider angle at your premises.
Many also consider this option to be the best indoor CCTV camera as it can be placed on a strategic point of the ceiling to cover all angles of the room.
3. Bullet Cameras
We’ll call the cameras that resemble a box on a post bullet cameras, named for the sleek cylindrical shape that many of them have. Whether a small unitised design or a camera/housing combination, this clearly shows the direction of orientation and generally provides a better picture.
The front of the housing is close to the camera lens, cutting down on reflections and making it easier to keep clean.
Bullet CCTV cameras have an iconic design that is highly visible. They are cylindrical in shape and are capable of observing long distances. Bullet cameras are most commonly placed outdoors so their casings are made resistant to water, dust and dirt.
Main Benefits
- Highly visible so acts as a deterrent
- Resistant to dirt in challenging environments
- Provides surveillance over long distances
- Casing also protects against glare and rain
Ideal Uses
Bullet cameras can be used to good effect in a range of industries such as manufacturing, property management and farming.
They not only record good quality pictures but also send out a message to passers-by that your premises is under surveillance.
That’s why they have traditionally offered the best CCTV for outside operation.
4. C-Mount CCTV Cameras
C-Mount CCTV cameras are the ideal option for those who may wish to adapt the field of vision.
They are equipped with detachable lenses that can be switched around to monitor varying distances.
C-Mount cameras are typically bulky so, like bullet cameras, act as a visible deterrent to criminal activity.
Main Benefits
- Special lenses can be fitted to the camera to extend its range beyond 40 feet
- Highly visible appearance that deters criminals
- Rugged camera casing can be added to protect the camera in cold environments
- Weatherproof housing makes it ideal for outdoor use
Ideal Uses
This is the ideal camera for observing a stretch of road on the approach to your premises. It is therefore popular in the utilities and logistics industries.
Those operating in the food and manufacturing industries may also elect for this option, due to the camera’s reliability in extreme temperatures.
5. PTZ Pan Tilt & Zoom Cameras
With a PTZ (Pan Tilt & Zoom) camera, your security team can have complete control on what is recorded.
At the touch of a button, the camera lens can pan left and right, tilt up and down or zoom in and out. It’s the ideal choice if you have a security guard who is monitoring a live video feed on site.
Main Benefits
- Optical zoom on these cameras means you can focus closely in on subjects
- Pan and tilt feature provides 360 degree field of vision
- Image resolution is usually impeccable so facial features can be distinguished
- Security team have full control of recording and can react to live situations
Ideal Uses
This is the best CCTV camera for remote viewing. It is really popular in large retail environments and is regarded as the best CCTV for business premises that have a specific valuable object to protect.
For example, a museum could program the camera to pan to a particular entry or exit point when it detects movement.
So even when it is not being controlled remotely, the camera can cover a much larger area and do the same job of several static cameras.
6. Day/Night CCTV Cameras
These cameras have been built specifically to operate effectively, regardless of how well lit their environment is.
During both daytime and night-time, they will record clear video images that will not be obscured by differing light conditions.
This is achieved through their extra sensitive imaging chips.
Main Benefits
- Clear recording in low light
- They usually record in both color and black and white
- Can function despite glare, direct sunlight, reflections and poor lighting
- Casing protects the camera against the elements for outside surveillance
Ideal Uses
There are various CCTV camera types suited to outside use but the extra sensitive imaging makes this one unique.
It is therefore the ideal CCTV system for business premises that require round the clock CCTV monitoring in an outdoor environment with varying light conditions.
7. Infrared/Night Vision CCTV Cameras
As the name suggests, these cameras are designed to operate optimally in pitch black conditions. They achieve this by using infrared technology.
Infrared models are more expensive than day/night cameras and those opting for this option usually do so because night recording is vital to the security of their business.
Main Benefits
- Infrared LEDs allow clear recording even in pitch black environments
- An infrared cut filter activates in the daytime for clear images in lighter conditions
- Can capture images even in the presence of fog, dust or smoke
- Records color imagery in the daytime and black and white at night
Ideal Uses
This is the best CCTV camera for night vision functionality.
It’s therefore the ideal choice for those who need ultra-reliable recording in complete darkness.
For example, banks, farms and manufacturing plants.
8. Network/IP CCTV Cameras
These cameras share live footage across the internet so images can be easily accessed from anywhere on the globe. The bandwidth of the video is compressed, in order to make the
Online feed reliable. Archive footage is stored on network video recorders (NVRs) or on secure software for later access.
Main Benefits
- Footage can be viewed online from anywhere in the world
- Easily accessible archive footage
- Easy setup as co axial cables and a computer station are not required
- Low maintenance
Ideal Uses
A network or IP CCTV camera is the ideal choice for business owners who are often away from site and on the move. Footage can be viewed from anywhere in the world, via a PC, laptop or mobile phone.
9. Wireless CCTV Cameras
Wireless CCTV cameras were created to minimize installation time.
They also make the appearance of the camera much tidier, which may be an important factor for locations such as churches, museums or stately homes.
Main Benefits
- Easier to install than your average CCTV system
- Discreet and tidy appearance and a less obtrusive fitting
- Images transmitted over internet so can be viewed anywhere
- Secure storage and easy access of archive footage
Ideal Uses
If a spotless presentation is important in your industry, wireless CCTV cameras are a great security option. Their discreet appearance helps them to blend into the interior. What’s more, there is less set up and camera maintenance required, and footage is transferred via the internet for convenient access.
10. High Definition (HD) CCTV Cameras
HD CCTV cameras offer an unrivalled picture quality that delivers high clarity images.
Depending on your budget, they can deliver resolutions of 720p, all the way up to 4K.
Therefore, there’s no danger that the subject of recordings will ever appear grainy or distorted.
Main Benefits
- High definition pictures capture subjects in perfect clarity
- Extra clarity can also be achieved with zoom function
- Available on most CCTV models such as domes and bullets
- Crystal clear imagery provides undeniable criminal identification
Ideal Uses
High definition cameras are particularly useful for use in environments where there is a high risk of theft.
Businesses such as banks and casinos should opt for HD cameras, in order to ensure that visitors to their premises are captured in perfect clarity.
The footage recorded will be able to provide undeniable identification in the event of a crime being committed.
11. Discreet Cameras
Sometimes you want to hide the entire camera using covert or discreet housings.
These can be designed to look like something else (smoke detector, motion sensor) or nothing at all, with pinhole lenses or flush mount lenses mounted on a wall or ceiling.
These are not designed to be deterrents but are often preferred by architects seeking to achieve a certain aesthetic within a space. All types of housings can be made to be vandal resistant, a step up from weather resistant.
These types of housings (most commonly the dome type) are designed to withstand unfriendly environments while still providing a usable image.
Speak to our CCTV experts today!
Our team of expert security consultants can provide a free, no obligation quotation for your CCTV requirements.
They can also conduct a site survey to advise on the right types of CCTV cameras for your business and how to conform with Nigerian data protection laws and regulations.
Contact us today by calling +2348113677777 or message us on WhatsApp.
Alternatively, visit our commercial CCTV systems product page to find out more about the different types of CCTV cameras we have in our inventory and their cost implications.
