Free CCTV System Advice Before You Buy
How to Choose the Right CCTV Camera
Choosing a CCTV camera is about more than megapixels. Camera position, lens, night vision, lighting, smart detection, cabling and compatibility all affect the final result. This guide will help you choose the right camera for your home, business or CCTV installation.
Our main ranges include Hikvision, HiLook, Dahua and Uniview, together with clearly identified Hikvision Compatible products.
If you are adding a camera to an existing system, we strongly recommend checking the exact recorder model before ordering. A camera may display video while advanced features such as audio, human/vehicle detection or smart events may require specific compatibility.
Start With These 5 Questions
Where will the camera be installed?
Consider whether it is indoors or outdoors and whether you need to monitor an entrance, driveway, room, garden, warehouse, gate or car park.
How wide is the area you need to see?
This helps determine whether you need a wide 2.8mm lens, a narrower 4mm lens or an adjustable motorised varifocal camera.
What should happen at night?
Decide whether traditional infrared is suitable or whether colour night imaging and visible white-light illumination would be more useful.
Which smart features do you need?
Human and vehicle detection, two-way audio, line crossing, intrusion detection and ANPR all require suitable hardware.
Will it work with your recorder?
Always check the camera technology and exact DVR/NVR model, particularly when adding a camera to an existing system.
1. Choose the Camera Style
Turret Camera
One of the most popular CCTV camera designs. Turret cameras are easy to position and work well for many indoor and outdoor installations.
Good for: homes, shops, entrances, gardens, offices and general CCTV.
Dome Camera
Dome cameras provide a neat, discreet appearance. Selected vandal-resistant models can also be useful where a camera may be within reach.
Good for: shops, offices, reception areas, schools and public-facing installations.
Bullet Camera
Bullet cameras have a visible, directional design and are commonly used externally.
Good for: driveways, building entrances, perimeter monitoring and longer viewing areas.
PTZ Camera
PTZ cameras can pan, tilt and optically zoom. They are typically chosen for larger areas where an operator or preset patrols can benefit from movement.
Good for: yards, warehouses, industrial sites and larger car parks.
2. Which CCTV Resolution Should You Choose?
4MP
A strong all-round resolution for many homes and commercial installations.
It offers good detail while generally keeping storage and bandwidth requirements manageable.
5MP / 3K
Provides additional detail compared with lower-resolution systems and is a popular choice for modern HD analogue installations.
8MP / 4K
Provides high image detail and can be useful where digital detail is particularly important.
Higher resolution also increases storage and bandwidth requirements.
3. Choose the Correct Lens
| Lens | Typical View | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|
| 2.8mm | Wide viewing angle | Rooms, entrances, gardens, general coverage and situations where you need to see a broad area. |
| 4mm | Narrower view | Areas where you want the subject to appear larger than with a wide 2.8mm lens. |
| Motorised Varifocal | Adjustable | Gates, entrances, car parks and applications where the viewing angle needs to be fine-tuned during installation. |
4. Choose the Right Night Vision
Infrared / IR
Traditional infrared cameras illuminate the scene using light that is generally invisible to the human eye.
In very low light, the camera normally switches to a black-and-white image.
Colour Night Imaging
Technologies such as Hikvision ColorVu, Dahua Full-Color and Uniview ColorHunter are designed to improve colour images in low-light conditions.
Smart Hybrid / Dual Light
Selected cameras combine infrared with visible white illumination.
Depending on the model and settings, the camera can use IR normally and switch to white light when a relevant event is detected.
White-Light Cameras
Some full-colour cameras use visible supplementary lighting to maintain a colour image at night.
If you do not want visible lighting operating continuously, check the illumination modes before purchasing.
5. Smart Detection & AI Features
Human & Vehicle Detection
Intelligent classification can help distinguish people or vehicles from general movement such as leaves, rain or changes in the background.
AcuSense & Similar AI
Hikvision AcuSense and comparable technologies on other brands can provide intelligent filtering and smart-event functions on supported equipment.
Line Crossing
Creates a virtual line within the image and can trigger an event when a qualifying target crosses it.
Intrusion Detection
Allows a defined area of the image to be monitored for qualifying movement or targets.
6. Built-in Microphone or Two-Way Audio?
Built-in Microphone
A camera with a microphone can record sound when supported and configured correctly.
A microphone alone does not mean the camera supports two-way communication.
Two-Way Audio
True two-way audio normally requires both a microphone and speaker, plus compatible recorder, network and mobile-app support.
Check the exact product specification if this feature is important.
7. Outdoor Cameras & Weather Protection
IP66
Common outdoor protection rating offering dust protection and resistance to strong water jets under defined test conditions.
IP67
Provides dust protection and resistance to temporary water immersion under specified test conditions.
8. Do You Need Number-Plate Recognition?
If reliably capturing vehicle registration plates is important, consider a dedicated ANPR / LPR camera.
A normal high-resolution CCTV camera may record a vehicle but does not automatically provide reliable number-plate recognition.
ANPR performance depends on factors including:
Distance & Lens
The plate needs to occupy a suitable part of the image.
Camera Angle
Excessive horizontal or vertical angles can reduce capture performance.
Vehicle Speed
Faster vehicles require appropriate camera performance and configuration.
Night Conditions
Headlights and reflective registration plates require suitable exposure and illumination control.
9. IP Camera or HD Analogue Camera?
IP / PoE Camera
Connects over an Ethernet network, normally using Cat5e or Cat6 cable.
- Normally used with an NVR
- PoE can carry data and power on one cable
- Wide choice of smart and high-resolution cameras
- Ideal for many new installations
HD Analogue Camera
Normally connects to a DVR through coaxial cable using BNC connectors.
- Ideal for many existing coax installations
- Very good image quality at competitive prices
- Technologies include TVI, CVI and AHD
- Useful when upgrading existing analogue CCTV
10. Check Compatibility Before Ordering
This is especially important if you are buying a camera to add to an existing CCTV system.
Compatibility can depend on resolution, firmware, PoE support, audio, smart events, encoding and manufacturer-specific functions.
ONVIF can allow compatible IP cameras and recorders from different manufacturers to communicate, but it does not guarantee that every advanced function will work.
11. Which CCTV Brand Should You Choose?
Hikvision
Extensive range covering IP CCTV, HD-over-coax, ColorVu, AcuSense, Smart Hybrid Light, ANPR and specialist cameras.
HiLook
Cost-effective CCTV range offering both IP and HD analogue options for residential and commercial installations.
Dahua
Broad CCTV range including IP cameras, HDCVI, Full-Color and intelligent surveillance technologies.
Uniview
Strong IP CCTV range including PoE cameras, NVRs and smart technologies such as ColorHunter on selected models.
Quick CCTV Camera Selection Guide
| Requirement | Good Starting Point |
|---|---|
| General home CCTV | 4MP turret camera with 2.8mm lens |
| Wide entrance or garden | 2.8mm lens |
| Narrower / more focused view | 4mm or varifocal lens |
| Colour image at night | ColorVu, Full-Color or ColorHunter type camera |
| Reduce unwanted motion alerts | Human / vehicle classification |
| Speak through the camera | True two-way audio model |
| Existing Cat5e / Cat6 cabling | IP / PoE camera |
| Existing coax cabling | Compatible HD analogue camera |
| Gate or number-plate capture | Dedicated ANPR / LPR camera |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Buying on Megapixels Alone
Resolution is important, but the wrong lens or poor camera position can make even a high-resolution camera unsuitable.
Ignoring Recorder Compatibility
Check the exact DVR/NVR model before purchasing additional cameras.
Choosing Too Wide a Lens
A wider image does not necessarily give better identification detail at distance.
Assuming Microphone Means Two-Way Audio
A microphone records audio. Two-way audio also requires appropriate speaker and system support.
Ready to Choose Your CCTV Cameras?
Browse our camera ranges or contact us if you would like help checking which camera is suitable for your system.
Not Sure Which Camera to Buy?
Contact our team with a brief description of the area you need to cover. If you already have a CCTV system, send us the exact model number of your DVR or NVR and we can help check suitable options.
Main: 0161 312 7477 | Alternative: 0161 694 4192
WhatsApp: 07305 398061 / 07870 565644
Email: sales@discountcctvsupplier.co.uk
