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WHAT MAKES ONE CAMERA BETTER THAN ANOTHER?
| | | Color vs. Black & White | |
While color has been a standard feature in televisions for decades, cameras with black and white output are still made. While we can all agree that in most cases a color picture looks better than a black and white one, under some conditions black & white models perform better.
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In general, black and white cameras have more lines of resolution, which makes the picture sharper. They also have lower lighting requirement, formally known as the LUX rating. More about these two items will be discusses later. Lastly, black & white models are less expensive than color, a big consideration if you are investing in multiple units.
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| | | Weatherproof vs. Indoors | |
 We realize that most of you want a camera to observe the outdoor areas of your home. In some cases, there are compelling reasons to have a camera covering your driveway, backyard, or the front of your home. We offer cameras that can withstand the effects of rain, snow, wind and wide ranges of temperature changes.
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 In most cases when you see a "weatherproof" rating it means the camera can withstand most types of moisture, it does not mean the camera can tolerate being submersed in water. Weatherproof cameras have special gaskets to keep the effects of the environment from damaging the camera's pickup element and electronics. When indoor-only cameras are used outdoors, the camera will likely fail in two to five years (even if it is mounted under an eve or soffit.) If you find a camera that you like and it is not rated for outdoor usage, we have an Aluminum Outdoor Housing that the camera can be installed into and be protected from the weather.
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| | | Wired vs. Wireless | |
 The purpose of the camera is to provide a continuous picture to a monitor, television, or VCR. There has to be a link between the two and that where you have to plan for wiring. In some cases, it is not practical to run a cable between the camera and the monitor, so we offer wireless cameras. Let me make one point here: wired cameras will be more reliable, provide a better picture, and cost less than comparable wireless models. Wireless cameras are available in both black & white and color outputs. We have them in weatherproof cases and in concealed designs. Most of the wireless models will need to be plugged into electricity near the camera's mounting location. The camera will then transmit the picture over a radio frequency (433MHz, 900Mhz, or 2.4GHz) to a receiver that outputs the picture to a monitor or VCR. The distance the signal can travel is generally between 100 to 300 feet. Disclaimer alert! When manufactures give you range estimates for wireless devices it's the ideal conditions for that device. As I like to say, that range figure is between two hilltops in the middle of Kansas on a sunny day, your 'actual mileage' will vary. We do have a Wireless Audio/Video Transmitter and Receiver System that can take a signal from a wired camera and send it several hundred feet to a receiver. This kit will work with nearly all of our cameras.
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| | | Light Sensitivity | |
I mention earlier that all cameras come with a rating to indicate how sensitive the camera is to light. This figure is called the LUX rating. One lux of light is the amount of light from a candle measured from one meter away. The lower the lux rating on a camera, the less light it needs to 'see' properly. Most folks will not be lighting the outside of their homes like a television studio, so the lux rating on a camera is very important. In general, black & white cameras will have a lower lux rating than will color models. If the camera is being used outdoors, like to monitor a backyard pool, a color model will look great during the day, but come nightfall, it will be totally back and the picture will be unusable. An equivalent black and white model will provide a decent picture will only a porch light turned on. Since the lighting outdoors can vary, we suggests using a black & white camera.
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 Some of the black and white models have the ability to operate in total darkness. Black and white cameras have the ability to pickup light that humans can't see. Some cameras like theses have infrared illuminators built into the camera:
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Weatherproof Wireless IR Camera
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MultiCam Security Television Camera
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2.4 GHz Wireless B&W Monitor/Camera System
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 The illuminators will shine out infrared light a few feet (typically 12 feet) so that in total darkness the area being covered by the camera will appear fully lighted. The Ir light will not be perceptible to humans and is not harmful in anyway. This is the same technology used on the dark rides at theme parks all over the world. We also offer the Indoor/Outdoor IR Illuminator that will come on automatically when dark and flood an area up to 40 feet long and 56 degrees wide with invisible Ir light. Color models are not sensitive to Ir light, so it's best to choose a black and white model with the Ir Illuminator.
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| | | Resolution | |
Another important detail to look for in a camera is the resolution. This specification is given in lines of resolution where the higher the number the better the picture will be. Most color cameras have a resolution of 330 to 400 lines. One color model, Color C-Mount Camera #7682A has digital processing circuitry and high quality CCD imager that provides a whopping 570 lines of resolution in color. Black and white models will do a bit better against a comparable color models ranging from 350 to 470 lines typically.
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| | | Imager Element | |
When comparing cameras, you may notice price differences for what appears to be basically the same thing. What they rarely mention about these toy cameras are the specifications. When looking at any camera, check for the specification that lists the imager used. The imager is the device that converts the light into electrical signals. Much like a microphone converts sounds into electrical signals, cameras use an imager. Most budget models use inferior CMOS imagers. The majority of our cameras use the superior CCD imager.
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Even within CCD imagers, that can be quality differences. The larger the imager, the better the picture will be. Below are there screen captures from cameras with 1/4", 1/3" and 1/2" CCD imagers.
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Cameras that have digital signal processing will deliver a better picture than similar models that lack this DSP feature.
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| | | Lens | |
This is often an overlooked specification. All the cameras will need a lens to focus the light onto the CCD imager. Most of our cameras come with a fixed lens. Only our C-mount cameras, which are designed for commercial installations, require the purchase of a separate lens. On most of our web pages for cameras, we not only give you the field of view in the specification table, but an actual image captured from the camera is on most pages!
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A camera with a wide-angle lens will pick up a larger area than a narrow model. That is to say, a 6mm camera lens will pick up less area than a 3mm lens. The area in the center of the screen will have more detail with the 6mm model, but at the sacrifice of picking up less area overall. If you need to read a license plate from a vehicle with your camera, a camera with a narrower lens (higher mm) will be a better choice. However, if you want to cover the broadest area, like your front yard and don't care about the details of a visitor or intruders face, a camera with a wide angle lens (lower mm) will be an ideal choice. The trade off is that you will be giving up some detail to get a broader picture.
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For our C-mount cameras, we have two variable zoom lenses that can be attached. These lenses are ideal for locations when you not sure how much of an area you will need to cover. Below are two examples of different lens angles.
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Some of our cameras are built into inconspicuous devices like clocks, picture frames, and non-functional smoke detectors. The camera board in these units use a special kind of lens called a pinhole lens. The camera looks out a small hole no larger than an eight of an inch. There will be a small decrease in quality between a pinhole lens camera and a camera with a conventional lens.
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No discussion about cameras can be complete without addressing the issue of focus. When we talk to callers in our Tech Support department about cameras, the question of what will be in focus frequently comes up. All the cameras with a fixed lens will have a large depth of field. This basically means that everything from 12 inches to infinity will be in focus. Point the camera at the moon, and it will be in focus. If the camera is pointed at your nose from arms-length, it too will be in focus.
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| | | Where's the Audio? | |
If you look through our Cameras Index page, you will notice that most cameras don't have a built-in microphone. The trend in the industry has been to eliminate the microphone in cameras.
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Over the last few years, United States federal laws have been amended or interpreted by the courts to put limitations on audio 'eavesdropping' devices. It seems that while you can justifiably point a camera at your front door and see who is at the door, the camera's microphone may pickup surrounding sounds. Those people producing the sounds may not be aware that they are being monitored or recorded. One of our suppliers reported that they were 'visited' by representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice over this issue. After this event, they immediately discontinued all cameras with audio. We do have a few models with audio still for sale.
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Video surveillance cameras can be an effective way to monitor and record the activities on your property. Whenever using these devices, be sure to use good judgment on its placement. Never use a camera in a place where there is an expectation of privacy. If you have questions on our cameras, email our Tech Support staff with your questions or browse the camera pages on our website:
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Video Surveillance Products
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| updated 7/7/05 |
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