CCTV Systems and Security Camera Options

Why buy a CCTV system? Security has never been more important. With crime levels rising and life growing more and more dangerous, you need all the security you can get, both at home and at work. CCTV systems provide an additional layer of security for your home and your family by allowing you or an alarm company to monitor what is going on in your home or business when you can’t be there.

CCTV security systems are becoming an ever-more popular option for people who value security. Whether you’re purchasing a home security system or one for a retail or commercial use, the most important part of most CCTV systems is the security camera. There are many different kinds of CCTV security camera options, so it’s easy to choose exactly the one that’s right for your use.

Today’s technology has provided many different styles of security camera, each suited for a different type of use. If you’re having trouble deciding which kind of security camera is right for you, this abridged list of basic types can help you start to plan the design of your CCTV security system.

Essentially, there are three different digital surveillance camera styles – the box camera, the bullet camera and the dome camera.

Box Cameras

The most common, and the oldest, type of CCTV security camera, is the box camera. Box cameras are square or rectangular shaped housings that hold a lens and mount on hardware attached to a wall, counter or shelf. There are many different styles of box cameras available for use with CCTV systems. They include cameras with fixed and variable focus lenses and many levels of resolution. They’re the basic industry standard for CCTV cameras.

Bullet Cameras

Bullet cameras are the most versatile type of security camera available. Unlike bulky box cameras, bullet cameras can be mounted just about anywhere. There’s no need for a heavy mount or a shelf to hold the camera. Bullet cameras mount easily on the side of a house or business and just about anywhere else. The cylindrical shape is aesthetically pleasing, and denotes a strong security presence to help deter potential criminals. Many bullet cameras have infrared lenses, making them ideal for night-time security.

Dome Cameras

Dome cameras are designed to mount to the ceiling and cover a wide area. Many dome cameras can be hidden for concealed surveillance. When they’re visible, they’re unobtrusive and can serve as a deterrent for far larger areas than they actually cover because it’s impossible to tell exactly where the camera is pointed.

That’s just a very brief overview of the different types of cameras available for CCTV systems. For more information, check with your local security expert or with an online dealer of CCTV systems.

Advances in CCTV Systems

For several decades, CCTV systems made do with VCRs and VHS tapes for recording. Even now, many court systems are only equipped to view video from surveillance cameras if it comes in VHS format. But over the last ten years, DVR – Digital Video Recorders – have taken a larger and larger share of the market. Today, few people looking for CCTV systems would even consider one that’s recorded to VHS tape.

But if you think a CCTV system is up-to-date because it uses DVR technology, you haven’t been paying attention to the latest advances. While it took nearly 20 years for the security camera to evolve from recording to VHS to recording to hard disk, the advances in security systems since then have come fast and furious. The newest and highest tech systems not only record in digital format, they offer many other advances as well.

Wired or Wireless CCTV Systems?

One of the biggest advances in the CCTV industry is the loss of wires. Installing a CCTV system used to be a labor-intensive process that often included laying wire from the camera to the VCR or DVR. Nowadays, you can easily afford a CCTV camera that connects wirelessly to the recording media, giving you far more flexibility in designing and repositioning cameras.

Audio Security Cameras

You can also buy a surveillance camera that does more than watch – it listens, too. An advanced CCTV system often includes audio recording so that you can listen in as well as watch. The best systems are capable of real-time recording and seamlessly lip-sync the audio and video so that you can get a full picture of what you’re watching.

Color Recording

No more grainy black & white security recordings from the best CCTV cameras. Now you have the choice between a black & white or color security camera with your system. Color digital recordings can provide detail for daytime security recordings, especially indoors. Black & white still works best for nighttime security uses, but you’re not stuck with dimly lit security footage any more. Many CCTV camera systems include infrared lighting so that you can capture high quality footage even in low light situations.

Remote Camera Control

One of the most valuable advances in CCTV systems is the ability to control the entire system, from surveillance camera to recorder, remotely using PC software. Even small home security systems now offer this capability, which allows you to adjust focus, camera direction and even more from the office or anywhere you can access the PC on which the software is installed.

Learn more about the latest advances in CCTV systems by visiting an installer or manufacturer of security cameras and systems today.