CCTV Cameras are used as legal surveillance equipment at both large companies and in the home.
Types Of Camera
There are many different types of system available on the market, but all are intended for one purpose; to keep watch on a property during periods when the property is not manned or guarded.
Fixed CCTV Cameras
Fixed CCTV Security Cameras come in two styles.
The first style of Fixed CCTV Cameras has a camera body, which contains a lens that can be one of many variations of focal length, or with fixed or variable irises. Other features that can be purchased with this type of Fixed CCTV Camera include a 'Back Light Compensation' to ensure visibility, 'Auto Iris Drive' to help with focusing, and an 'Auto Electronic Shutter'.
The other type of Fixed CCTV Camera is called a Board Camera because it consists of a circuit board with a small lens mounted in the middle. These Fixed CCTV Cameras are much smaller in size than the first style and often come in a very small case, dome or tube but can also be sold and utilised just as a circuit board for mounting by the purchaser.
There are two types of lens for this type of Fixed CCTV Camera, the normal market lens, or the Pinhole lens. Pinhole lens cameras are also known as spy cameras because of the fact they are so small and easy to conceal, which makes them perfect for spying without being seen.
The only problem with board cameras is that they are limited in range and being fixed cannot be moved at all.
You can also find Fixed CCTV Cameras with many different power outages to supply all types of power source from the home or business.
PTZ Cameras
PTZ Cameras are fitted to a motorised platform allowing complete control of the motion of the camera, which means they can be pointed in many directions allowing a larger viewing area.
The ability to zoom also makes PTZ Cameras useful for identification of an intruder as the images they capture can be blown-up.
There are three types of PTZ Cameras; the automatic, motion sensitive and manual control. The automatic PTZ Cameras can be given a set path and time to rotate around this path, allowing for a specific area to be covered that is larger than the camera could handle if it were fixed.
Motion Sensitive Cameras
Motion Sensitive Cameras have a sensor on the front that will detect motion in a certain range (which varies depending on the camera) and will automatically point to the source of the motion.
Motion Sensitive Cameras are expensive, but are also the most effective as they are completely automatic and will focus in on objects giving a clearer view without the need of someone to control them.
Manually Controlled Cameras
Manually controlled cameras usually have some form of joystick, or mouse input that must be moved by someone in order for the camera to be moved. Manually Controlled Cameras are particularly successful on streets where there is a lot of motion.
Police can use Manually Controlled Cameras to look for, zoom in on and track a potential suspect without the need for an officer nearby to watch. The policeman will then notify the nearest available officer to respond to the scene and can direct them to the assailant.
To find out about other equipment used by security personnel visit the Security Guard Equipment page.