How To Choose The Right CCTV Cameras

Choosing the right CCTV camera for your home or business property can be a daunting task on your own as there are so many options these days. As experts in fire and security equipment, we at Mercury Fire and Security in Nottingham have decided to put together a guide detailing how to work out what types of CCTV camera is right for the needs of your property. We work with various security camera suppliers to bring as many options to our customers as possible and we have the knowledge and expertise to recommend the best security camera for every property we work with. Our professional installation services always provide the right CCTV system, using either wired cameras or wireless cameras, depending on your needs.

There are many things to consider when selecting the right camera for an application and we will take you through them one by one.

Different CCTV Camera Types

We deal with three main types of CCTV cameras – turret, dome and bullet. Each have their own benefits and disadvantages and we will always work with you to determine what is the best solution for your home or business property. Let’s summarise the pros and comes of these types of CCTV security cameras.

Turret Cameras

Pros

Turret cameras discrete, compact and easy to move into initial position and lock off. They’re also vandal resistant and work very well in the rain due to only having single glass lens. Can be used as indoor and outdoor cameras.

Cons

Potential criminals can easily see where turret cameras are pointing but they’re not as obvious as a bullet camera.

Dome Cameras

Pros

The main advantage is that it’s difficult for intruders and vandals to see where dome security cameras are pointing easily and they’re well resistant to vandals. Best for use as an indoor security camera.

Cons

Water can affect image quality and leave streaks on the lens, while sunlight discolours the plastic dome over time. These cameras are also more easily damaged than a turret.

Bullet Cameras

Pros

These large cameras act as a good visual deterrent, hopefully helping to deter intruders. They also have the biggest form factor, giving the most space for powerful lighting technology.

Cons

Bullet cameras have a knuckle joint that can be snapped if the camera is struck by a criminal. Also, a bullet CCTV camera can be difficult to initially position as the knuckle joints tend to have locator notches.

Wired or Wireless Security Cameras?

One of the biggest quandaries people have when deciding on the right CCTV camera system for their property is whether to go with a wired or wireless camera. Both have their pros and cons and it may come down to weighing up whether or not the cost of a full wired system is worthwhile when considering the features each type of camera offers.

Generally, wired cameras are more reliable and we tend to recommend them for full permanent installations. They also require less day-to-day maintenance than wireless cameras but will require a professional installation service like that offered by the team are Mercury. Wired systems also benefit from being less susceptible to hacking and cannot be affected by wireless signal issues.

On the other hand, wireless security cameras have their own benefits, which often makes them the best CCTV cameras for home. Installation is quick and non-invasive (often DIY), while smart home systems can be easily controlled using apps on your mobile phone. These wireless cameras can also be easily paired with other smart technology you may have in your home, creating a smart ecosystem for your home security.

For more information on wired and wireless camera systems, please read our other guide entitled “Wired vs Wireless: Which Home Security Alarm System is Right for You?“

Cost

As with any investment, cost is always an important consideration and security cameras are no different. Generally, CCTV cameras with more features and increased resolution will come at a higher cost. A camera system that includes smart features like colour night vision, motion detection, digital zoom, two way audio and cloud storage will cost more than one without. Moreover, better video quality due to high resolution will bring clearer images but again further cost. Typically, CCTV cameras from China (Hikvision, Dahua, Uniview etc.) will be cheaper than products from western countries (Avigilon, Mobotix, Verkada). Other things to consider that influence cost are build quality (full metal / plastic construction), NDAA compliance, camera style and infra-red range.

Transmission Technology

The first thing to determine is whether you want IP cameras or analogue cameras. Analogue is an older and cheaper technology with resolutions from <1 megapixel through to around 5 megapixels. IP cameras are fully digital, where essentially each camera is a computer with resolution from 2 megapixels right through to 12 megapixels and beyond. An IP CCTV system is generally more reliable and less prone to image interference. If budget allows, this is always our recommendation.

Resolution

CCTV cameras resolutions range from <1 megapixel through to 12 megapixels and above depending on the camera type. We find a security camera with 4 megapixels is often a good balance between cost and image quality. Just remember that megapixels aren’t the only indicator of video quality as sensor size and lighting technology will also influence the image quality, particularly at night.

Light Technology

The most common forms of light technology that CCTV systems offer are infra-red and white light. More recently, we’re seeing cameras with white light technology taking some of the market share from traditional infra-red cameras. Cameras that use white light make use of LED lights, similar in brightness to a phones LED torch, to light the scene which is very beneficial in low light areas. That said, white light security cameras can be divisive for some people, as some like the security light functionality that they offer, but others are put off by the aesthetics at night.

Warnings

We’re seeing more technology packed into CCTV cameras each year and visual warnings have become a big selling point. Visual alarms such as flashing red and blue lights or audio alarms when the camera is able to detect movement from people is available on higher end cameras.

Colour

The way that the security cameras will look on your property is also important, with colour a big part of this. CCTV cameras are usually available in white but other colours like black and grey are available to help match the aesthetics of the property. The functionality of different coloured cameras is largely the same, but the availability of black and grey cameras can be a little more limited.

In Summary – How To Choose CCTV Camera

Hopefully by reading this guide you will be in a better position to work out what kind of security cameras would be best for your property. We covered the various types of cameras on offer today, as well as reviewing the differences between wired and wireless systems. We have also covered costs, colours, warning systems, lighting, transmission and resolution, all of which are key considerations whenever you’re looking are home security cameras or a security system for a commercial building. There are always other features to look out for and the best home security cameras for one property may be unsuitable for another. As such, we always recommend getting in touch with a security expert company such as Mercury.

Our services include the supply of both home security cameras and full CCTV cameras systems for commercial properties, plus home CCTV installation and CCTV maintenance and servicing. Please get in contact with us for a no obligation quote or assistance on all things CCTV. We cover the entire East Midlands area and have experience working with every kind of property you can think of. Read our case studies for examples of our good work to date.