How do you go about selecting the most appropriate camera for the job?
 

In practice, it's often easier to think in terms of which camera is most unsuitable for a given set of operational objectives. After all, they all produce pictures but some are far more suited to particular applications than others.

For example, low cost miniature Dome and Bullet cameras fitted with a wide angle lens, are really only intended to be short range devices suitable for identification of targets up to a few metres, and general observation at near distance.

They are generally built down to a price, and as such have fairly basic lenses that are often barely adequate for even the most basic situations ( e.g. watching a door, counter, display case etc.).

Cameras fitted with Varifocal lenses can generally be optimised for viewing targets a bit further away, although that is of course dependent on the quality, capability and set up of the lens.

Cameras with interchangeable C or CS mount lenses, can usually be applied to most tasks, but their size or cost may be restrictive in some situations. That said, they are extremely flexible given the huge range of quality lenses that are readily available in the marketplace.

Remote control cameras will normally need to be selected on the basis of the operating environment, along with other factors such as 'deterrent' ability and cost, given that there is such a huge variance in their designs.
 

Hopefully the following 'matrix' will help to simplify some of those often difficult decisions.

On close examination, the camera selection matrix above does somewhat compromise in places, in terms of trying to define a particular cameras suitability for a range of varying applications.

Whilst it's easy to say that a Class 8 ANPR camera is ideal for snatching images of vehicle number plates, that is after all what it was originally designed for!

That said, you can see from the chart above that certain other designs of camera are also quite capable of being used in this role, albeit that they will require some degree of expertise in setting them up correctly.

Similarly, facial recognition can be equally challenging given that a cheap fixed Dome camera is quite capable of capturing a persons image clearly at short range ( for example if fitted in a stationary cupboard to capture a phantom paper clip thief ), but equally a box camera fitted with an appropriate telephoto lens can also capture a facial image at 50 metres, if it is set up correctly.

The ratings above are intended to give an indication as to a particular design of cameras suitability for use in varying everyday situations, but they may not necessarily be appropriate for use in all cases; and therefore the matrix is intended to provide a guide only.
 

As such, "unsuitable" is obviously self explanatory ...
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A single • suggests barely useable, through to ••••• which should be highly effective, provided of course it's applied and operated correctly!

So for example, a MegaPixel fixed position Dome camera may be very useful in a large retailers loading bay ( e.g. a DiY warehouse ), but equally a standard definition PTZ Dome camera may be best suited to use on the shop floor, to monitor both the aisles and the till area.

Bottom line is that as with all aspects of CCTV work, it's the profiling and operational objectives which should always dictate what is required, and not simply an affordable shopping list of questionable technology, which may look great on paper, but later proves to be less than effective when deployed on site.

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Doktor Jon's "CCTV Camera Selection Matrix" - original content November 2012 - updated 18th April 2015

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