When selecting the best possible security camera system for your home or business, it is important to select the right cameras that suit the unique needs of your situation. There are countless options and product features available.

Many packaged systems come with general-purpose security cameras. Most providers will allow you to replace general purpose cameras with more advanced specialized cameras if you need them. For example, you may have a situation where three entrances to your building need to be monitored with average quality cameras and you want to cover the parking lot with a camera that can read a license plate from 50 yards away. You can get 3 of the cameras that come with the system, and then replace the fourth with a camera that has high-powered zoom capabilities.

By going through this security camera selection guide, you will be able to identify the special features your situation requires and determine which cameras are best suited for your needs. Ultimately, this will allow you to spend your money more efficiently while getting the best surveillance coverage.

1) Will you need color or black and white cameras? Most packaged systems come with color cameras that are better than black and white cameras for identifying valuable details of a suspect, such as clothing or hair color. Black and white cameras are generally less expensive and perform better in low light than color cameras. Color cameras change to black and white in low light environments.

2) What kind of night vision capability is needed? A typical packaged color security camera will have a night vision range of 15 to 50 feet. High-power night vision cameras can have a range of 150 feet. The main factor in determining the night vision range is the amount of infrared LEDs on the camera. Most general purpose security cameras come with 15 to 30 LEDs. Remember that even color cameras record in black and white in low light situations.

3) What is the lowest acceptable image quality for each location where the cameras are installed? You may have different image quality requirements for each location. A camera can be installed at the front door just to notify people when they arrive for appointments. Another camera can be used to capture license plates of cars driving through a large parking lot. These cameras have very different image quality requirements. In general, the number of TV lines (TVL) per inch is an indicator of the image quality the camera produces. General-purpose packaged security cameras typically have between 400 and 420 TVL. Cameras that have 480-520 TVLs will give much better image quality. Also, CCD cameras generally produce a better image than CMOS cameras. https://digihomesolutions.net/

4) Wired or wireless? Understand the disadvantages of using wireless security cameras before deciding to purchase them. Many people don't realize that wireless security cameras still need power through a power cord. Wireless cameras use wireless technology to transmit a signal to a receiver that is connected to a DVR or monitor, but most cameras use a power cord to plug it into a nearby outlet. There are battery-powered wireless security cameras, but the batteries need to be replaced fairly often.

The image quality of wireless security cameras is often inadequate due to interference. The further a wireless camera is from the receiver and the more obstructions pass through the signal, the more the image quality will suffer. That said, there are many, many applications where wireless security cameras are ideal. Many of the available wired systems have video and power supply wiring (also known as Siamese wiring). This means that all power requirements can be managed from the same location as the DVR or monitor.

Author's Bio: 

There is a wide variety of security camera options available today.