How to Choose a Suitable Security Camera

There are many different kinds of security cameras, and many people feel overwhelmed by the sheer variety that is available in the market. A basic understanding of the various categories of security cameras can go a long way in helping you decide which type is most suitable for your specific security needs.

The following are five of the most common categories of security cameras and the advantages of each class.

1. Pro Box Cameras - The main benefit of this type of camera is that it records videos of high quality. For that reason, Pro Box cameras are commonly used in retail outlets and banks. These cameras come with interchangeable lenses, which can be used to acquire different angles of view or zoom factors. Some more specialized variations of Pro Box cameras have the ability to change from color to black and white detection depending on whether they are recording during the day or at night. That makes it possible for the cameras to capture more details in low lighting.

2. Infrared Cameras - These types of cameras are widely used in both domestic and commercial settings. They are preferred in a wide range of lighting conditions. They produce high-quality videos in daylight. In both daylight and low light, they make use of infrared illuminators to enhance the quality of the footage they capture. They are the most preferred camera type in low lighting conditions. IR cameras are capable of working properly under harsh weather conditions, which makes them useful outdoors.

3. Pan Tilt Zoom Cameras - These types of cameras can be remotely controlled using software or joysticks. They can be used to zoom in on specific details such as faces and car registration plates. The PTZ cameras are mostly used in places where proactive surveillance is required. They are relatively more expensive, and they are common in casinos and airports. A special kind of cable called CAT5 is needed to enable the remote control of the cameras.

4. Dome Cameras - This type of camera is usually covered by a hemispherical glass casing, which can either be transparent or smoked. Smoked dome cameras are meant to conceal the direction in which the lens of the camera is facing so that people are unable to identify blind spots. Dome cameras can be Pro Box, IR or PTZ. Other types of dome cameras include outdoor, indoor and vandal proof.

5. Hidden Cameras - These types of security cameras come in different shapes and forms. They are often disguised as everyday objects such as clocks, smoke detectors, and even figurines and stuffed animals. They are used in places where it is advantageous if people don’t know they are under surveillance. They are mostly used indoors, and they don’t perform as well as the other camera types under low light.

After deciding which of the five types of cameras best serve your needs, you then have to choose between wired or wireless cameras. There are more types of wired cameras than wireless ones. Wired cameras tend to produce videos of a higher quality, and they are not affected by obstructions. Wired cameras are also more durable than wireless cameras. Wireless cameras have to be plugged into a power source wherever they are located.


In cases where more than one type of camera seems suitable for installation, you can give consideration to other factors such as purchase and installation cost, maintenance cost, and the expertise needed to operate the security cameras.