CCTV security cameras are cameras that take a motion picture and forward it to a central security board (usually a computer) on a closed circuit, inaccessible by the public. CCTV cameras have been in use for several decades now, yet the idea has not changed much since their introduction. The two significant changes are their availability and their recording method. Most cameras today record the motion picture digitally, and the data is stored in digital form on a hard drive or other media. With the raising popularity of such surveillance equipment, their price has been falling steadily, making them available for small business owners as well as citizens who want to protect their home and family. This article is written for people who do not yet have experience and knowledge about security cameras.
Let’s talk about the main features of CCTV security cameras.

Wireless vs. wired
Wireless cameras use radio signals to transmit the picture to the main security board, and usually have their own built-in, rechargeable power supply. They are easy to move, and can be installed discreetly in places where installment of a wired camera would be unfeasible. Their price might be a bit higher than of wired cameras though, and a wireless camera’s feed can be easily ‘hijacked’ or even modified by an experienced hacker from a distance. You should only install wireless cameras for short-term surveillance ( less than a year).

PZT
PZT stands for Panning, Zooming and Tilting. A PZT camera can be controlled by an employee, who can use it to follow a suspicious person, or just scan a wider area. The pro is that a huge area can be surveyed by a single, well-placed PZT camera. The con is that you need a person controlling it. Installing more static security cameras is a better solution, but is more costly.

Dome cameras
Dome cameras are security cameras inside a small semi-transparent hemisphere. The basic idea is that people can’t see where the camera is pointed. It is more discreet and has a higher retentive efficiency.

Color cameras
Some security cameras record a color motion picture, which is useful when trying to identify a criminal. However in any other cases it’s pointless, and a color video takes up more storage space. Color cameras are good for not security related uses, and cost more than black and white cameras.

Fake cameras
Fake cameras offer a very cheap alternative to real cameras. They are only useful for their retentive effect. I don’t recommend using fake cameras for two reasons: they are useless for surveillance and identification, and someone will eventually find out that they are not real cameras. Fake cameras = fake security!

So these are the most common features of surveillance cameras in the market today. I hope after reading this article, you will be much more confident in choosing the CCTV security cameras that fit your needs.

This article was written by Márton Hajnal, the author of the CCTV Security Cameras hub. For more articles from this author, please visit his profile at HubPages.

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