Security Cameras Cheat Sheet

We have over 20 different camera models mounted all over our building that we use to help customers visualize what to expect when they purchase a camera. The screenshot above is from one of our 4K (8MP) cameras mounted on the front side facing the street. This is a fixed dome with a 2.8mm lens. The camera is mounted about 25ft high and produces approximately 100ft of horizontal field of view.

For customers needing to identify the type of recorder they own, the four images above show the two most common types of stand alone recorders. Both offer the same basic functionality - they gather cameras together on one interface and store video. However there are some key differences to consider when shopping for a new recorder in terms of compatibility.

Things to Consider:

• DVRs use BNC connectors and "coax" cable. Sometimes called RG-59 or siamese cable.
• NVRs use RJ45 connectors and "ethernet" cable. Cat5e and Cat6 are the most common types of cable used now.
• Most DVRs older than 2018 don't provide power and require a separate power supply going to the cameras.
• Plug and Play NVRs have built in power supplies which provide power to the camera. Commonly known as PoE.
• One typically wont work on the other. One solution to combine technologies is known as a hybrid DVR.

  PTZ - Left Down Up Right

  Motorized - In and Out

  Fixed Lens - No Movement

In this section you can see the difference between the most common lens types. Lenses are commonly overlooked for other things like resolution and form factor. Sometimes the right lens is more important than the resolution of the camera. The right lens could be the difference between a positive identification and a missed opportunity.

PTZ cameras give you the ability to move the camera up, down, left, right and zoom into objects far away from the camera. In the first video you can see the camera starts in a zoomed in position and zooms out. The collision repair center is southwest from our building and about 500ft away. While a few cameras have the ability to track movement using software most PTZ cameras work best when someone is controlling them. An example is a security guard using a joystick.

The second video shows a varifocal camera sometimes called adjustable lens or motorized. A varifocal camera gives you the ability to adjust a lens by zooming it in and out manually or remotely when the camera supports remote focus. The concept is similar to a pair of binoculars which can be adjusted to focus on objects at a distance. Older cameras were adjusted manually while newer cameras have motors to let you adjust them from a computer or phone. This type of lens gives you the most flexibility when installing a camera because it allows you to point it in a general direction and then adjust the lens to fit the object in the field of view without sacrificing too much visibility.

Fixed lens or "point and shoot" cameras have no movement. These cameras are "set it and forget" cameras which come with a fixed horizontal and vertical field of view. There is no adjustment on the lens. For these reasons they are the most widely used cameras in the industry. They are also the most affordable.

Traditional IR cameras have a built in light (Ring or single LED).

This section shows the difference between traditional cameras and the new all day or 24/7 color cameras being released by camera manufacturers. A traditional camera has a light detection sensor which tells the camera to power lights once it starts getting dark. It works just like a cell phone automatically adjusting its screen brightness when you step outside.

The top two screenshots are from the same traditional IR camera at 8AM and 4AM. The bottom two images show the all day color camera at 10AM and 12AM. All day color cameras have high sensitivity sensors which are better at absorbing light than a traditional camera. This is the darkest part of our building however there are some strong floodlights at the front of the property which the camera uses to illuminate the scene. Even then the comparison is pretty incredible considering it was taken at midnight.

This section shows some of the most common connector types used in security camera systems. If you're having trouble identifying the kind of system you have you can use these images and compare.