This is the 3rd in a series of articles about getting the best possible image quality in your CCTV installation. The first article, getting the best image quality – part 1, was a synopsis of things that can go wrong. The second article, getting the best image quality – part 2, addressed lenses.

Second: The Camera. There is a common misconception that a camera is a camera. I cannot tell you how frequently a customer will install a $40.00 dome camera and then be surprised that it cannot be used to identify a complete stranger 100 feet away. It isn’t necessarily a problem of getting what you pay for; there are a lot of good cameras to be had for bargain prices. The real issue is that all cameras are not created equal. There are many different manufacturers for frames, body covers, sensor chips, wiring, lens mounts, connectors, switches, and other components. While some of these parts can be irrelevant to image quality, many of them are not.

In any case, the key to success is to use the grade of camera that fits your application. If you just want a general purpose camera to peek into the office and know when employees are standing around, almost anything will work. If you want to monitor a cash counting office with high-speed machines and lots of potential for loss, you will need to consider more capable, and expensive, options.

Grade 1 – Utility. These cameras are just fine when lots of detail is not a requirement. They give a general image of a room, but lines and edges may be fuzzy, and faces difficult to recognize, even up close. The most typical scenarios for this type of camera are situations where keeping a loose eye on things is the objective or those where basic evidence is needed regarding individuals you know and can recognize. Let’s assume you own a restaurant, and two employees are roughhousing in the kitchen. One of them falls and hits his head, then files a claim against you. This camera will probably get you by. You can review the footage, recognize the individuals involved, ask the employee to your office, show them the footage, and deal with the situation without it escalating further.

I have seen utility grade cameras with name brand CCD sensor chips for as low as $38.00 that work pretty well. So long as you know what your application is, these are a fine way to go.

Grade 2 – Quality. These cameras have well-known sensor chips, list 480 lines of resolution or higher, and are usually made in Taiwan rather than China or Korea. The applications for these cameras are numerous. You’ll see these in bars, restaurants, retail outlets, office buildings, banks, casinos, you name it.

The great thing about this category is its depth. You can find really nice cameras for not a lot of money by shopping around a bit. I can think of several cameras I paid less than $200 for that are a match for any of the name brands I have seen. To get the best bang for your buck, you need to do some testing. Set up a lab environment with a few feet of quality cable, some basic power supplies, and a very clear TV monitor and get to work. Quantity is the name of the game here. Test as many cameras as you can afford to or have time for, and carefully package and return the ones that don’t meet your standards. What you are looking for is cameras that look just as good as the ones you have bought from [Insert your favorite big-name brand here] for much less money. I’d suggest prioritizing by clarity, then price. With a little diligence you will wind up with some good domes, box cameras, IR cameras, weatherproof cameras, and vandal-resistant dome cameras that you can call on at any point for an installation. This will allow you to deliver premium quality without breaking the bank. The end goal should be to flesh out your “toolkit” with cameras you know can deliver, and stick with those cameras whenever possible. If you have a new situation that requires a different camera, try to go through the same process and determine a great fit, rather than winging it.

Grade 3 – Premium. These cameras are the best of the best. They are consistently great performers and are second to none. You can expect to pay $250 – $1,000 or more to be in this category. Some makers with long history and excellent reputation are Pelco, Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, Bosch, and many others. While these are indeed excellent performers, they don’t always offer the best value. You’ll see these not only in Casinos and Banks, but anywhere that really talented salespeople have been.

In all seriousness, I reserve the use of these cameras to specific cases where I absolutely cannot afford to have a customer that isn’t “wowed.” In general, I have my hands on a few toys from the Quality camera category that perform just as well (or so close I can’t tell a difference) and cost me much less money. Staying out of this premium category frequently lets me bid lower, make more money, and still deliver a fantastic finished product. Still, it is good to know these products and be able to converse knowledgeably about them. They are the “brand” names for a reason, and there are many customers out there who have already decided they want something specific from this list.

To be continued…