One will definitely come across these two choices while making their decision for a closed circuit television or CCTV system. System armed with analog cameras or digital cameras. The former being the most standard kind whereby only one camera is being attached to a Digital Video Recorder or DVR. Analog system is well received in both residential and commercial settings as it is economically viable but offers a relatively lower resolution as compared to its digital counterpart.
CCTV systems armed with digital cameras means either Network Video Recorder (NVR) or Internet Protocol (IP) is used, in which several cameras can be connected at each time, reducing the amount of wiring required during installation. Digital cameras not only offer clearer images of higher megapixel but also images with finer details, giving users the freedom to place anywhere suitable, but at a relatively higher cost of installation plus maintenance.
Moreover, digital cameras also provide wider views and allow one to retrieve footages easily by setting it beforehand. For example, one does not need to go through the chore of screening through all camera footages when incidences like unusual motions are detected or someone is tampering with the camera, occurred.
Nevertheless, both analog and digital CCTV systems work in similar manner whereby recordings of a targeted surveillance area will be captured, processed, and sent back to a monitor or via the internet to users’ mobile phones or computers.
Another distinct different between analog and digital CCTV system one needs to know will be the former runs on one power source and there is a switch to control the signal to be sent out; the latter can be run on PoE or Power of Ethernet, which the power source and the data being sent out of the cameras are running on the same cable. This is also the reason to why digital CCTV system can take care of so many cameras at once.
On top of system, CCTV cameras also come in varies shapes, sizes, and models. While it is impossible for one type of camera to fit the needs of all, it is therefore crucial to have some background knowledge of what is available in the surveillance market, so that we will not side way too much from our ideal.
For example, the dome shape camera is more readily seen on streets. Despite its outlook, the lenses within are adjustable manually to specific direction and most of time, coming with infrared which enables non-stop capturing of footages regardless of lighting. On the other hand, there is the bullet shape camera, which is also a common sight on streets. With adjustable lenses focusing on a particular direction, bullet shape camera out win dome shape as it can give better range and zooming abilities.
It is because of the range of choices, one needs to pay even more attention to details so that they can be led to the most suitable purchase. Recognise one’s surveillance needs and consulting an expert are perhaps the best ways to get things started.