Types of CCTV Cameras and their Uses

If you look around yourself, you will probably see a CCTV camera peering at you. This technology has become a part and parcel of our life. Be it home or office, CCTV cameras always find a utility. There are different types of CCTV cameras for your needs. Wifi, no cable, indoor, outdoor anything you name it, you will have a CCTV camera model for it. If you’re planning to invest in CCTV cameras for your home or office, then you should do your homework first. There are a variety of CCTV cameras in the market and hence, in this blog, we have penned down a detailed description and utility of each of their type.

CCTV cameras and their types

Bullet Camera

The basic identifying feature of Bullet Cameras is their physical appearance. They are long and cylindrical in shape. They are ideal for outdoor use like porch gate, garage, parking lot, etc. Bullet Cameras are best for long-distance viewing with varifocal lens technology. Another feather in its hat is the high resistance against dust, dirt and other natural elements. Bullet Cameras can be mounted on the wall using a mounting bracket. They also come with IR night vision for night time surveillance, offering high-quality image.

PTZ or Pan Tilt Zoom CCTV Cameras

This type of feature allows the CCTV cameras to be moved left or right, up and down depending on the need of the situation. The lenses are also capable to zoom in or zoom out to view distant or farther objects. PTZ cameras can be operated remotely by a live guard. They are also referred to as Robos, which means robotic cameras. This type of cameras can be used in schools, colleges, hospitals, offices, railways stations, bus stops, airports, etc. In fact, PTZ cameras are also used in sporting events and media programs due to their ability to change their viewing area and angle.

Dome Cameras

Dome Camera, as the name suggests, look like a dome by its physical appearance. It is used for indoor and outdoor surveillance. Due to the bulging lens, it’s hard to tell which direction they are facing hence making it more difficult to decipher. They are usually used in shopping malls and stores since they deter theft. They can be ceiling or wall mounted depending upon the requirement. It’s easy to install dome-shaped cameras in your shops, house or institute. Dome-shaped cameras come with IR vision to capture clear nighttime images and videos. The best feature of these cameras is their vandal-resistance. Cameras installed at public places are more prone to vandalism by thieves and burglars. But the dome-shaped cameras can withstand high mechanical pressure and strain.

Fisheye Camera

Fisheye Camera provides wide viewing angles. They find utilities at public places like banks, malls, ATMs, police stations, etc. Fisheye Cameras are available with panoramic views of 180 degrees of 360-degree viewing angles. However, there is one limitation to this type of cameras. Its facial recognition feature doesn't work at long distances. They can recognize faces only up to a distance of 15-feet. Fisheye Cameras are available in both IP-based and Analog type.

Analog CCTV Cameras

Analog cameras come with CCD or CMOS sensors which capture the image and then digitize it later for processing. Before they transmit the feed, they convert it into analog so that they can be received by an analog device, like monitor or recorder. Unlike IP cameras, they have no in-built web service. Analog cameras are low maintenance.

IP-Based CCTV Camera

IP camera stands for InternetProtocol camera. As the name suggests, it is a type of digital video camera. It captures and sends the data through the internet. Unlike analog cameras, they don’t require an analog receiving device to transmit the data. They send the data to a local area network. IP cameras are usually used when the user wants to access the videos real time when they are not around the area. Most of the nanny cams or indoor cams are IP cameras.

In the present day scenario, security has become increasingly important. Crime and burglaries are becoming common; hence the onus lies with us to safeguard our territories. CCTV cameras are one way to secure our home, college, workplace by keeping everyone under constant scrutiny.

Recorders: DVR and NVR

Along with the CCTV cameras, it's important to install a recorder that records the videos captured by the cameras. There are two types of records; DVR and NVR based on the type of camera they are used with. DVR stands for Digital Video Recorder while NVR means Network Video Recorder.

Digital Video Recorder

DVR system processes the video data at the recorder. They are used with Analog CCTV cameras. There is less flexibility with the type of cameras you can use with a DVR. The CCTV camera sends an analog signal to the DVR which then processes the image. It is less complicated as compared to NVR. They are available in 4, 8, 16, 32 channel variants.

Network Video Recorder

A Network Video Recorder is basically used with IP-based cameras. The CCTV cameras are connected to the NVRs using an ethernet cable. Users can still use the IP-based cameras without using NVRs. They come with a wide variety of variants including 4, 8,16, 32,64,128 channels. There are POE-based NVRs that can supply power to the IP-based camera directly, without having to connect to a power source.

If you’re planning to install CCTV cameras on your premises, then you have plenty of options to explore in the market. They are a number of brands like Samsung, Bosch, Panasonic, Mi, Globus, CP Plus, etc who are leading in terms of quality and features.