There are a lot of CCTV camera options which look similar and can be confusing. Installing a CCTV system is a long term decision and hence before selecting a CCTV camera system for your home you should consider the following points.
1. Type Of Camera
Indoor vs outdoor – Outdoor (external) cameras can be mounted inside the home but internal cameras cannot be used externally. External cameras should be weatherproof. Most common cameras are the bullet, domes, PTZ and Covert.
Discreet vs Visible – External cameras should ideally be visible so that they can act as deterrents to intruders. Home (internal) cameras can be discreet. Bullet cameras are more visible whereas dome cameras can be more discreet . Dome cameras are more resistant to damage and hence can be installed at lower heights also.
Dome CCTV cameras
Bullet CCTV camera
PTZ CCTV camera
Covert CCTV camera
2. Resolution
Higher resolution cameras (e.g., 1080p, 4K) provide clearer images and better detail, important for identifying faces or license plates. Higher resolution helps with digital zoom without too much blurring of the image.
3. Field of View
Wide-angle lenses ( smaller focal length eg. 2.8mm) have a larger field of view and can cover more space. However, the level of detail is poor. Narrow angle lenses ( large focal length) offer greater detail and are suitable for gates etc.
See image below for better understanding ( first image has small focal length – Wide angle)
4. Storage Options
Options available are local storage (SD cards, DVRs) and cloud storage
6. Wifi vs Wired
Choose between wired and wireless connections. Wired systems are more reliable while wireless systems are easy to install. But with the WiFi CCTV system, you will need to power each camera locally. Wireless camera will typically be an analogue camera (using pure radio transmission). HD CCTV cameras will not work with this type of transmission.
We recommend creating provisions for wires and going for Wired CCTV cameras.
6. Power Supply
Check whether the cameras will be powered through standard power supply or batteries
7. Integration
Depending on your requirement check if the CCTV system needs to integrate with smart home devices for enhanced control.
FAQs
Not always. Wired CCTV systems use cables to connect cameras to a DVR. They are more reliable and stable than Wifi systems but installation is complex.
Following things should be considered while choosing CCTV camera – Type ( indoor vs outdoor), Resolution, Field of view ( wide angle vs narrow angle), Storage options, Wifi vs Wired, Power supply vs battery powered & integration options.
Top CCTV brands in India are HIKVISION, CP Plus, Bosch, Samsung, Sony, Godrej, Dahua, Pelco, Zicom, Pelco
The CCTV installation typically ranges between ₹ 8000 and ₹ 25,000 depending on type of camera, brand, number of camera and other features
4 HD camera good brand CCTV system costs approx Rs 12k-15K
6 HD camera good brand CCTV system costs approx Rs 14k-16K
Most CCTV systems ( wired or wifi) require constant supply of electricity to operate. Some CCTV systems can run on batteries & solar power but they are typically used in remote locations where power supply is a challenge.
The number of cameras needed depends on the property’s size. Typically, 2 to 6 cameras are sufficient to cover a 3 BHK home.
Yes, some CCTV cameras can record audio. CP Plus, Dahua, and Hikvision are reliable brands that manufacture CCTV cameras with audio recording capabilities.
Yes, some CCTV cameras can record clearly at night using night vision technology. Dahua, CP Plus, and Hikvision manufacture cameras with this capability.
Wired CCTV cameras are generally better than wireless ones, as they offer more reliable connectivity and a more stable connection.
