Different types of Security Cameras and when to use them

Security cameras come in a range of shapes, sizes, and functionalities that allow them to perform in different situations and settings. Surveillance cameras can be divided into a range of categories including Movement, Size & Shape, Functions, and Housing. Keep in mind that security cameras can be organized into multiple categories and can include various features. There are several types of security cameras, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Some popular types of security cameras include:

IP (Internet Protocol) cameras:

IP (Internet Protocol) cameras are a popular choice for security and surveillance because they offer a number of advanced features and benefits over traditional analog cameras. Some of the key features and advantages of IP cameras include:

• High resolution: IP cameras are capable of capturing high-definition video, which can provide more detailed and clearer images than traditional analog cameras.
• Remote access: IP cameras can be accessed remotely through the internet, which allows you to view live footage or recorded video from anywhere.
• Network connectivity: IP cameras can be connected to a network, allowing multiple cameras to be connected and managed together. This is particularly useful in large installations, such as in businesses or warehouses.
• Advanced features: IP cameras often include advanced features such as night vision, motion detection, and audio capabilities. These features can enhance the functionality of the camera and provide additional security.
• Smart integration: Many IP cameras can integrate with smart home systems and apps, which can allow you to control and monitor the cameras from your smartphone or other mobile device.
• Scalability: IP cameras can be added, moved and adjusted to existing network infrastructure very easily, this makes IP cameras more flexible than traditional cameras.

Overall, IP cameras provide advanced features, high-resolution video, and the ability to access and manage the cameras remotely, making them a popular choice for security and surveillance.

Dome cameras:

These are a popular choice for indoor surveillance and have a dome-shaped housing that helps conceal the camera’s direction of view.

Features and Advantages of installing Dome Cameras

Dome cameras are a popular choice for indoor surveillance because they offer a number of features and advantages over other types of cameras. Some of the key features and advantages of dome cameras include:

• Discreet design: Dome cameras have a dome-shaped housing that helps conceal the camera’s direction of view, making them less conspicuous and less likely to be tampered with.
• Wide field of view: Dome cameras often have a wide-angle lens that allows them to capture a larger area than other types of cameras, making them a good choice for monitoring large rooms or hallways.
• Vandal resistance: Dome cameras are often designed with a clear, vandal-resistant housing to protect them from physical damage.
• Variety of lenses: Dome cameras can have a variety of lens options, including manual varifocal, motorized zoom, or even a fisheye lens, which gives you more control over what you want to monitor.
• Indoor use: Dome cameras are generally designed for indoor use, they are not weatherproof as outdoor cameras, also they have less noise and easy to maintain.
• High Compatibility: Dome cameras are compatible with most standard camera mountings, making them easy to install in a variety of locations.

Examples of Dome cameras available for installation in Kenya include

5MP Fisheye Dome IP Camera: This is a popular pocket friendly security camera available in the informed systems shop

In summary, Dome cameras offer discreet design, wide field of view, vandal resistance and the ability to choose the lens type, making them a popular choice for indoor surveillance, especially in areas where appearance and discrete monitoring is a priority.

Bullet cameras

These cameras have a long, cylindrical shape and are often used for outdoor surveillance. They can be weatherproof and may have night vision capabilities.

Features and Advantages of installing Bullet Cameras

Bullet cameras are a popular choice for outdoor surveillance because they offer a number of features and advantages over other types of cameras. Some of the key features and advantages of bullet cameras include:

• Infrared Night Vision: Bullet cameras can have infrared night vision capabilities which allow them to capture clear footage even in low-light or no-light situations.
• Versatile mounting options: Bullet cameras can be mounted on walls, ceilings, or even poles, allowing for a wide range of coverage options, making them ideal for outdoor surveillance
• Long-range viewing: Bullet cameras often have a long-range viewing distance, which makes them ideal for monitoring large outdoor areas such as parking lots or yards.
• High resolution: Some bullet cameras can capture high-definition video, which can provide more detailed and clearer images than traditional analog cameras.
• Long, cylindrical shape: Bullet cameras have a long, cylindrical shape which makes them ideal for outdoor use, as they are less likely to be tampered with than other types of cameras.
• Weather resistance: Bullet cameras are often weatherproof, which makes them suitable for outdoor use in various weather conditions.

In summary, bullet cameras offer weather resistance, infrared night vision, versatile mounting options, and long-range viewing, making them a popular choice for outdoor surveillance, especially in areas where weather resistance, long range viewing and tamper resistance is a priority. Examples of bullet cameras available in Kenya include:

3MP IR Mini Bullet Network Camera

You can also get a kit for the 4 cameras at Informed store normally known as:

Uniview Bullet Camera Kit with a 4-channel NVR

Wireless Cameras

This cameras doesn’t have to be connected by wires, they work with battery and have option to be connected via Wi-Fi

Features and Advantages of installing Wireless cameras

Wireless cameras, also known as Wi-Fi cameras, are a popular choice for security and surveillance because they offer a number of features and advantages over wired cameras. Some of the key features and advantages of wireless cameras include:

• Easy installation: Wireless cameras do not require any wiring, making them very easy to install in a variety of locations. This can save a lot of time and hassle compared to traditional wired cameras.
• Remote access: Wireless cameras can be accessed remotely through the internet, which allows you to view live footage or recorded video from anywhere, through a smartphone, tablet or a PC.
• Flexibility: Wireless cameras can be moved around easily and can be installed in places where it would be difficult to run wires. This makes wireless cameras a popular choice for temporary or temporary-to-permanent surveillance needs.
• Cost-effective: As wireless cameras do not require wired connection, they don’t have to spend time, labor and material to run wires, which can make them more cost-effective than traditional wired cameras.
• Smart integration: Many wireless cameras can integrate with smart home systems and apps, which can allow you to control and monitor the cameras from your smartphone or other mobile device, this can provide you with extra convenience.
• Battery-powered: Some wireless cameras are battery-powered, which can make them a good option in places where power outlets are not available. However, this could mean replacing batteries periodically or using a rechargeable battery option.

UNV CUBE CAMERAS-C1L-2WN-G is one of uniview wireless CCTV camera that gives value for money, checkout it’s current price in the informed systems shop today

Overall, Wireless cameras offer easy installation, remote access, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, smart integration, and battery-powered options making them a popular choice for those who want an easy to install and flexible camera system. Ultimately, the best type of security camera for you will depend on your specific needs and the environment in which the camera will be used. It’s important to think about where the camera will be located and what you hope to achieve with the surveillance, like resolution, night vision, audio and mounting options.  

Movement:- Fixed security cameras 

Fixed security cameras typically stay in the position they are mounted for the lifetime of their deployment. Since the only way to move them is to either reposition or remount the device, fixed cameras are used to make sure that the subject in frame is perpetually on surveillance. “Fixed” can also refer to the type of lens on various types of security cameras. A fixed lens doesn’t let you adjust the focal length, angle of view, or level of zoom. Nearly all fixed lens cameras have a wide-angle lens. When it comes to security camera lenses, the opposite of fixed is varifocal.

• Applications – Fixed area of focus for continuous recording of a single area.
• Advantages – These low-cost, uncomplicated security cameras are ideal for most consumers as you can simply mount the camera and point it at a target area, with no adjustments to be made with lenses or motors.
• Disadvantages – Since these security cameras can only be moved manually, footage just outside of frame will not be able to be captured. Additionally, the only way to enlarge video footage is to zoom digitally, which can cause pixilation at lower megapixel ratings.

A manual varifocal lens has an adjustable focal length. By adjusting the focal length, you can manually select the horizontal field of view of the security camera, allowing you to narrow the field of view to gain more detail of any monitored area. These varifocal lenses can also be motorized, which we will cover next.

• Applications – Allows you to manually focus on an area from a distance when more detail is required. For example, capturing license plates and other details at an entrance when the security camera is mounted a distance away.
• Advantages – These adjustable lenses allow you to manually select the level of detail of video recording you desire, only limited by the camera’s megapixel rating and lens.
• Disadvantages – With a manual varifocal lens, you’ll have to physically take the lens off in order to manually adjust the lens to your desired focal length.

A motorized varifocal lens is sometimes referred to as a zoom lens. These motorized lenses allow you to adjust the focal length of the lens from a user interface on your video management software via your computer or smartphone. Zoom lens adjustments are typically expressed as an optical zoom ratio. For example, 30x optical zoom refers to the difference between the smallest and largest focal lengths or 4.3 mm to 129 mm.

• Applications – With a motorized lens, you’ll be able to manually, or automatically based on motion, adjust the focal length at any time. This allows you to focus on finer details of objects or people in real-time via a mobile or desktop application.
• Advantages – Zoom lenses typically have a much larger range of adjustment than varifocal lenses. A zoom or motorized varifocal lens is the next best thing to a PTZ camera, but is typically less expensive.
• Disadvantages – More expensive than a manual varifocal lens, but zoom lenses will still be hampered by a limited field of view since the security camera itself doesn’t move — just the lens.

PTZ or Pan-Tilt-Zoom security cameras

PTZ or Pan-Tilt-Zoom security cameras are able to adjust the field of view manually via a remote operator or using software applications to track movement or people. These top-tier cameras have the ability to pan, tilt, zoom and track specific subjects in real-time.

• Applications – PTZ cameras can cover a huge area but are typically used in conjunction with fixed security cameras. Most street cameras in large public spaces today are Pan-Tilt-Zoom cameras.
• Advantages – Besides the ability to cover 360-degrees of any area, there are plenty of advantages to owning a PTZ camera. These motorized devices can respond to or track intruders by whoever has access to the software. They can also be configured to do manual patterns, or tours, where they can view predefined areas on “autopilot.” Their ability to cover large areas may allow you to reduce the number of cameras in a given area.
• Disadvantages – Although one of the main advantages is coverage, PTZs are some of the most expensive security cameras and can only see and record where they’re pointing at a given time. So if you need continuous 360-degree coverage, it’s best to couple a PTZ with a fixed security camera. On top of that, these systems involve more motors, software programming, and configuration — so there’s a lot more that can go wrong.

Virtual PTZ cameras combine some of the benefits of both fixed and PTZ cameras through software. Virtual PTZ security cameras include multiple fixed lenses which are typically positioned in order to achieve a 360-degree field of view. When the operator views the live or recorded footage, each of the video streams is tethered together in order to provide one seamless panoramic image. Virtual PTZ users can use their recording software to digitally pan, tilt, or zoom in on specific subjects just like a standard PTZ. However, virtual PTZ cameras continuously record all angles of video that the lenses are capturing, even if you’re manually zooming in on a specific target.