UNDERSTANDING THE SECURITY CAMERA

All Surveillance Systems Are Not Equal

Deciding to install a security camera system at your home or business is certainly a firm first step, but it is by no means the last one you'll take. There are a variety of surveillance tools available today, and knowing which one suits your need can make all the difference.

Let's have a look at several of the most common types.

Bullet Camera

 

These devices are named for their shape - sometimes as minimal as 2 inches long, their streamlined, cylindrical form says it all. They are generally mounted on ceilings or walls in a fixed position, served by a simple focal lens.

Bullet cameras tend to be inexpensive and of simple installation, but incur serious limitations in terms of image quality and coverage because of their simple construction. This is a good option for the budgeting consumer - any video surveillance is better than none, after all.

Dome Camera

 

So-called for its transparent dome-shaped housing, this camera is most often mounted on a ceiling, but can be placed on a wall as well, depending on what range of view is desired. The dome can be tinted to obscure the camera's known line of sight.

Dome cameras allow for a relatively non-invasive form of surveillance in an indoor setting. They remind the occupants of a home or patrons of a business that the area is being safely monitored without creating an aggressively monitored environment.

PTZ and Speed Dome Cameras

 

These amount to variations on the bullet and dome formats; in both cases, the standard device has been enhanced with the ability to extend its range and zoom by means of motorised adjustments in position and focus.

PTZ is the acronym for pan/tilt/zoom. A bullet camera modified in this way is able to pan left or right, tilt up and down, and zoom in or out. The speed dome camera is a dome setup with spin functionality. In either of these setups, the control can be manual or automated, as in a timed cycle.

PTZ and speed dome cameras are much more advanced than their simple counterparts, and thus carry a heftier tag. It's easy to imagine, though, the advantages they carry over fixed installations in terms of range and quality of coverage.

Covert Camera

 

While a covert camera may not always be radically different from the construction types listed above, it has a very specific purpose: to record without being noticed.

The covert camera can simply be a dome or bullet camera installed discreetly, or it can take the form of a tiny camera, such as a board camera, installed within an obscuring object. The camera within a clock or smoke detector is a good example of this.

It's important to note that while a covert camera may be exactly what you need in a given application, it is illegal in many states to record an individual without their knowledge. Keep this in mind before deciding to install covert surveillance.

Every Camera Has a Home at Eye Spy Electronics

There are more varieties of camera than this article has listed, and we'll follow up on that later this week.

Whether you're looking for an intricate and extensive public installation, or something very simple and budget-oriented for your home, Eye Spy Electronics has the solution for you.

We have dozens of possible variations on the theme, but with our experience and expertise, we'll quickly narrow it down to just the right product for your need. Visit us at our company website to see what we have to offer, or stop by our security forum for some Q&A. We're never too busy to answer your questions.

Remember, folks: your peace of mind is our business. Visit us and receive your free quote today!

Dan Parrington is a freelance content writer for a variety of small businesses across the web. He operates out of his primary business website, The Parrington Review. You can contact him at dan@parringtonreview.com.