Occasionally, people asked us "why should I pay $150. $200. or more for a CCTV surveillance camera when I see some cameras selling for $49.00 and even $29.00?"

This is an excellent question; unfortunately, numerous reasons affect the cost of one surveillance camera over another. Some key factors are; type of Lenses, Resolution, Imaging Element Rating, B/W vs. Color and Construction all contribute significantly to the cost and quality of your CCTV camera.

We have listed some of the most common components that play an important role in the cost and behavior of all surveillance cameras. We have also included how they may influence your decision when selecting a CCTV Surveillance System.

Remember, focus on your particular situation, and be sure to consider lighting, distance, viewing angle & extreme weather conditions (if your unit is placed outside) when making your selection.

LENSES

If you look at our CCTV lens page you'll see three pages of diverse lenses ranging from $19.00 to $319.00. The reason for this is; the quality of the lens, if it has auto focus & auto Iris, and the milometer of the lens.

The best way to explain milometer is if you need to see an entire room, go with a smaller milometer , if you need to see the numbers on a license plate, go with a higher milometer. Other considerations are,

» Vari-Focal Lenses: Manually adjust, allows wide or narrow view.

» Manual Iris Lenses: Use when the light conditions remain constant.

» Auto Iris Lenses: Use when light conditions vary.

Your lens selection ultimately depends on how and where the camera is to be used.

RESOLUTION TOP

This is the number of horizontal TV lines. The term "resolution" refers to the amount of detail you see in an image. Cable TV delivers about 300 and VHS tapes have 250. The more horizontal TV lines the sharper the picture. The average CCTV camera is 300 ~ 400 lines. Normally, B&W cameras have a sharper resolution.

ESLI offers a color camera with 470 Lines of resolution.

CCD vs. CMOS

The imaging element is what converts light into electrical images. CCD "Charge Coupled Device"  and CMOS "Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor" are two critical components that act as the camera's "digital film." CMOS is normally used in less expensive cameras. Since the 1970s, CCD is the preferred technology and is normally found in professional cameras.

Advantages of each are...

If you require quality, we suggest CCD.

LUX RATING TOP

LUX or light sensitivity is the amount of light from a candle calculated from one meter away. The lower the LUX, the lower the light needed. Most B&W camera have a lower LUX rating then color cameras.

Also, some models come with Infrared Illuminators to help the user see in complete darkness. This is very useful for observing darkened rooms or using outdoors with a limited light source.

BLACK & WHITE vs. COLOR

This is one of the major factors contributing to the cost of your camera. Color is a more expensive form of surveillance then B&W, and we all know the advantages of color, but B&W has many advantages as well.

B&W has more lines of resolution, lower light requirement and lower cost. Normally you use a B&W camera with infrared technology, but today you can get what is called a "Day & Night" camera offering the best of both worlds.

CONSTRUCTION TOP

Most professional models (excluding dome cameras for obvious reasons) are made from either aluminum or steel while most "inexpensive" models are made from plastic. Using plastic cuts the cost down, unfortunately when using plastic cameras outdoor they have a tendency to fade, crack and not hold up as well as metal over time.