How to Select the Right CCTV Camera

Sketch a diagram of your home and yard. Place an “X” for every location you would like to surveil.

Walk around your home and determine what you want to be able to view. Stand close to where you will mount the camera and try to imagine what the camera will see. A medium focal length lens will have a view of about 45 degrees. It is often helpful to put your hands together at the wrists with your fingers extended and separate your palms at a 45 degree angle. This will help you determine if you want a wider or narrower view. This will also help you visualize what direction to point the camera. Do this for every camera location and make notes.

Circle each outdoor camera. You will have to purchase weather-proof cameras for these locations. If you place a camera at your front door, you may want to consider buying a small domed camera and mounting it at eye-level so you can see the person’s face if they are wearing a brimmed hat.

Determine which locations you will be monitoring when it is dark. Is there enough ambient lighting? A streetlamp close by typically does not provide enough lighting for a standard camera. If the area you will be monitoring does not have enough lighting, you will need to install lighting or purchase an IR camera. IR cameras will illuminate an area which is in total darkness. They are rated in feet; a rating of 30 feet will allow you to see 30 feet in total darkness, but the image will be dim. If you need to see 30 feet clearly, you should consider buying an IR camera with a range of 50 to 60 feet. You should select low light cameras for locations where you will not install IR cameras; a lux (illumination) rating of one or two will perform poorly in low light conditions. Someone with average vision can see fairly well at one lux, but a one lux camera in a one lux lighting situation will be barely usable.