Helpful Tips for CCTV Systems How (and Why) to Back-focus a CCTV Camera

One of the biggest problems encountered by people who DIY install their own CCTV systems is inconsistent focus. The most common iteration of the problem is that the image is in perfect focus in daylight, but at night, all you get is a blur. It results from a basic technical detail: during the day – or in bright sunlight –the lens iris is closed, giving you a very wide depth of field. As the light level drops, the iris opens to bring in more light. When that happens, the depth of field is decreased and images at most distances will be blurred. There is a way to combat this tendency: back-focusing your CCTV camera with the iris fully opened to provide the optimal focus for all conditions. Here’s how you do it.
Back-focusing a Fixed Lens Security Camera for CCTV Systems
Determine the distance from the camera to the scene you want to capture with the surveillance camera.
Set the physical focus of the lens to the full infinity position.
Insert a neutral density filter. This iris will open completely to allow more light and increase the depth of field to give you the most precision with your adjustments.
Set the lens focus to near and the zoom to wide.
Aim the CCTV camera at a high-contrast object that is the same distance from the camera as the scene you’ll want to capture when the camera is in place.
Turn the lens body until the object is completely in focus.
Remove the neutral filter and install the camera in place.
You should now be able to focus the camera manually to get the precise focus you want – and all of your scenes will remain in focus regardless of the lighting conditions.
Higher end CCTV systems have security camera choices with auto back focus, so this procedure is not necessary. If you’re running discount CCTV systems with a cheap surveillance camera option, you may need to fiddle with it a bit to get the settings right for optimal focus.
Need more help with setting up your CCTV camera for good focus? Most professionals who sell and service CCTV systems will be happy to answer simple questions and offer advice. And of course, if you want to be absolutely certain that everything is properly installed, you can always hire a pro to install your security/surveillance system and not have to worry about it at all.

Tips for Installing CCTV Systems in Bars and Music Clubs

Are you considering the use of a CCTV security system in your music club, bar or live music venue? CCTV systems can provide layers of security that can help you pinpoint trouble before it starts, not to mention, defend yourself in case your business is accused of wrongdoing. If you’re been looking at CCTV systems for the purpose providing security for your live music venue or dance club, consider these tips to help you decide how and where to locate each security camera inside and outside your premises.
Cover Entrances and Exits
Entrances and exit points are among the most important areas to keep under surveillance, especially outside business hours. An obvious surveillance camera pointed at the doors will help discourage vandals and burglars who might otherwise attempt to break in.
Spare a Surveillance Camera for the Door
Don’t take chances with bouncers “forgetting” to check ID when a hot babe wants in. A CCTV camera at the admission door can capture everyone entering as well as their IDs. Keeping a record of the ID checks at the door can help ensure that the bouncers stay on task and don’t let anyone underage slip by. If someone does manage to slip in on a fake ID, you’ll have a record proving that your crew did their due diligence.
Watch the Bar
Place at least one surveillance camera where it can pick up what’s going on behind the bar. Bevinco, a liquor inventory control service, estimates that shrinkage – losses due to waste, spillage and theft of your liquid stocks – can eat up to 30% of your bottom line. That’s a lot of spilled beer. It’s not all due to theft, of course – a CCTV camera will help you pinpoint inefficiency, clumsiness and drinks “for friends” as well as outright theft. One of the best uses for CCTV systems in the hospitality industry is to keep an eye on staff and make sure they’re not stealing from the company.
Cover Likely “Hot” Spots
Every bar has some out-of-the-way areas where bad things are likely to happen. It may be the pool room in the back, the alley beside the back door or a sheltered alcove on the far side of the stage, but it’s out of the line of sight for most of the staff most of the time, making it an attractive place for people who are up to no good. Aim a security camera at the dark corner or cover the pool room with a monitor somewhere it can be watched so that you can stop trouble before it starts.
CCTV systems can help protect nightclubs and other entertainment venues as long as you know the best places to locate the cameras. Even if you end up installing the system yourself, consider consulting a professional to help you draw up a good plan to cover your place of business.

Five Places to Put a Security Camera with CCTV Systems

The success of CCTV systems depends, in large part, on proper security camera placement. After all, the surveillance camera and security camera you choose are the eyes of your security system. You want them pointed in the right direction to get the information, images and date you need. These are five of the places for security camera placement suggested by law enforcement and loss prevention specialists.

Front Door

The front door of the building is the most important place to locate a CCTV camera. Position it so that it will capture the faces and up to 3/4ths of the full body of all persons entering the building. The front door camera in a security building will allow you (or your tenants) to view who is at the door without opening it. This is especially valuable if you have children who are home alone after school. They never have to open the door to check who is ringing the doorbell.

Rear or Side Doors

Combine rear and side door cameras with a front door security camera to track all people entering and leaving the building. A CCTV camera record for each entrance and exit can be invaluable in situations where you need to verify who is inside a building and who has left it.

Somewhere Visible

One of the biggest benefits of CCTV systems is their deterrent effect on crime. Most criminals don’t want to perform for the security camera, so put an obvious surveillance camera in a very visible spot – and back it up with a sign warning that the property is under video surveillance.

Near the Driveway/Garage

If your driveway is out of sight of the house, a security camera can serve as a deterrent to thieves and vandals, and let you keep an eye on your wheels. It will also discourage teenage kids from taking the family car for a spin when mom and dad are asleep.

Around the Swimming Pool

Add a layer of protection around your swimming pool by covering it with a surveillance camera. A motion-activated security camera will turn on only if someone enters the pool area. Combine it with a motion-activated alarm to warn you if a child or neighborhood kid has entered the pool enclosure unsupervised. A CCTV camera at the swimming pool is more than a security enhancer. It could, quite literally, save a life.

Choosing the right place for security cameras makes CCTV systems more effective. Before you shop for cameras, figure out the best places for your surveillance. It will help you choose the best cameras for those positions.

Choosing the Right Surveillance Camera for CCTV Systems

CCTV systems work with many different types of surveillance camera types. There are hidden cameras, pin hole cameras, network cameras, analog cameras, digital cameras, PTZ cameras, dome cameras and so many more that just looking at a catalog can make you dizzy. How do you choose among them all to find the best CCTV camera for your needs?

The first step is to actually consider your needs. Each type of CCTV camera is designed to do a specific type of job. A surveillance camera, for example, is designed to capture footage to gather evidence, identify a criminal or capture an event. They tend to have higher resolution and deliver higher quality video, but are more expensive. A security camera, on the other hand, is meant to alert you to what’s happening around you in the now. They’re the right choice if you’re more concerned with being alerted to possible threats (including shoplifting and theft) so that you can intervene in some way. The video quality doesn’t have to be high, but mobility becomes more important.

Other factors you’ll need to consider when choosing cameras for CCTV systems include questions such as these:

Will the Security Camera Be Mounted Outside?

In that case, you’ll want a camera with weatherproof housing to protect it from the elements, and with a cage to protect it from vandals who’ll want to disable it before getting into mischief.

Do You Want to Deter Crime?

You’ll probably want to choose an obvious security camera, one that mounts in plain sight and makes it clear that the premises are under surveillance.

Do You Want to Record Possible Crimes?

If your intent is to catch criminals in the act, you’ll want to choose a surveillance camera that can be hidden. There are dozens of styles of surveillance cameras, ranging from pinhole cameras to nanny cameras and more.

Do You Want to Access Your Camera Feed Remotely?

Network cameras, also known as IP cameras, are set up on a network with a network video recorder and allow you to access the camera’s feed from any device that can connect to the network. They can present security risks from hackers, but the convenience may outweigh the risk.

The security camera you choose will make a big difference in how well various CCTV systems will serve your needs. Take the time to consider exactly what you expect when you install a security system and choose the CCTV camera that will serve your needs the best.

Understanding Cameras for CCTV Systems

Choosing the right security camera for CCTV systems isn’t an easy process. You’ll have to take into account the technical specifications, the application and its requirements and any physical challenges the installation site may present. There are hundreds of surveillance camera options available today, and the ever-evolving technology adds new choices to the mix every day. Making an informed decision about the right CCTV camera for your system can be a challenge unless you understand the basics of CCTV systems and CCTV camera technology. This overview provides basic information to help you in the early planning stages of your CCTV system.

The center of CCTV camera technology is the Charge Coupled Device sensor, which converts light into an electrical signal. That signal is processed by the camera’s electronics and converted to a video signal output. The way that video signal is treated depends on the type of camera you choose – analog or digital. CCTV cameras can be further subdivided by resolution, color/monochrome and day/night cameras, and further still by levels of performance.

Analog or Digital Security Camera?

Digital Signal Processing (DSP) has increased the flexibility of security cameras and enhanced the quality of the images produced by CCTV systems. Until recently, analog was the camera type of choice because it produced a good quality image at affordable prices. DSP technology has brought digital security camera choices into the affordable range. A standard DSP CCTV camera is relatively inconsistent, and provides more consistent picture quality than most analog cameras, and is a good choice for most CCTV systems. If you want better quality and more flexibility, a premium DSP security camera provides lots of added functionality, including a feature that evens out awkward lighting and ensures crisp pictures throughout the course of  the day.

Monochrome or Color CCTV Camera?

Color security cameras are typically more expensive than monochrome (black and white) CCTV cameras, but they’re not always the best choice for a number of reasons. While it’s easier for humans to remember an image or recognize a person when they see it in color, a color security camera doesn’t do a very good job of recording in low-light situations. A color surveillance camera is thus a good choice for store surveillance, which will nearly always be in well-lighted situations, but a monochrome security camera is a better choice for night recording or low-light situations. In addition, you can buy monochrome cameras with infrared sensitivity, which can be used with IR illumination for night surveillance.

Choosing the right cameras for CCTV systems can be a challenge. The more you know about your intended use for the system, the easier it will be to choose the right CCTV camera.

Different Uses for CCTV Systems

While most people think of CCTV systems as security camera systems or surveillance systems, there are certainly other uses for a good security camera, monitor and DVR. These are some of the more unusual – and delightful – uses we’ve seen made of CCTV systems, often with wireless access.

Coffee’s Ready!

While not technically a CCTV system, the first recorded use of a remote camera over a network was the Trojan room coffee pot, in the old Computer Laboratory at the University of Cambridge. Students working in the lab got tired of making the trip down to the coffee room only to find that there was no coffee in the pot. In 1991, Quentin Stafford-Fraser and Paul Jardetzky wrote server and client software, connected a CCTV camera to the network and turned on the world’s first webcam, whose sole purpose was to help to help people working in remote parts of the building avoid pointless trips to the coffee room.

Wildlife Camera

Thousands of people around the world get an up close and personal look at deer, squirrels and other wildlife on their property – and more exotic creatures in remote locations – thanks to CCTV systems with high-quality security camera systems mounted in wilderness, woods and other natural areas.  A night vision surveillance camera is ideal for observing and recording the wildlife that visits your garden at night, and allows you to view the natural behavior of animals that would flee if they knew you were watching.

Oven Cam

You may not have a need to watch what’s cooking inside your oven, but a large bakery that produced Danish pastries had exactly that need on a temporary basis. The pastries were fed through the oven on a conveyor belt and discharged onto wire racks to cool down and go to packing. On occasion, the pastries would jam at the transfer point, and within minutes, the bakery would have a full-fledged Danish disaster on its hands. It wasn’t bad enough that they’d lose an entire night’s production of pastries – they’d also lose several days’ production to cleanup. A surveillance camera set up inside the oven soon found the problem – one that required the congruence of several different factors that had a thousands-to-one chance of occurring just right. The bakery repaired the problem, but left the CCTV camera in place just to keep an eye on things.

Got a situation where an extra pair of unseen eyes would  be useful? Consider the benefits and flexibility of CCTV systems to help you solve your problem.

Random CCTV Systems Information for Non-Techies

From city condos to country estates, homeowners are turning to CCTV systems for security and safety in their homes and on their property. These tips can help non-techie people who are looking for information on CCTV systems, security cameras and surveillance cameras make choices about the equipment they need.

Need a Good Face Shot?

The best place to put a good, high resolution camera is at your entry areas. Those are the type of security camera you want to record good face shots of anyone entering your property. Mount the surveillance camera so that it is aimed directly at the face, making it harder for visitors to obscure their faces or hide from it. A good face shot can be extremely valuable if you need to use it for evidence in a court of law.

Use Wide Angle Cameras for Large Areas

Inside your building, choose a wide angle color security camera. The wide angle lens lets your camera capture a much wider range of area than a standard camera. You don’t need to worry so much about high resolution and focus on these cameras, since you’ll be able to identify people by the clothing they wear and their silhouettes.

Consider Dome and Bullet Security Cameras

A bullet security camera is a good choice if you want people to know that they’re under surveillance. A dome camera can be hidden in the ceiling or a wall, and makes it difficult to tell where the lens is pointed. There are many inexpensive surveillance camera options available starting as low as $80 for black and white and $150 for color.

Choose Black and White for Low Light Situations

Outdoors and in low light, choose a black and white security camera. B/W cameras often have higher resolution than similarly priced color cameras. They also can “see” in lower light, making them the ideal choice for areas where you’ll be doing most of your surveillance at night or in low light situations.

Choose a Camera with a Changeable Lens

Many cameras let you change the lens just as you would do with a traditional camera. You can choose from lens options ranging from 2.5mm up to 500mm, giving you many options for magnification. You can also find many cameras with varifocal lenses, which allow you to adjust the zoom and fucos on the camera.

PTZ Security Camera Advantages

Pan-tilt-zoon cameras allow you to look around the area you’re keeping under surveillance from a distance. The surveillance camera can pan the room, tilt up and down horizontally and zoom in on anything you choose.

Choosing the right security camera makes CCTV systems even more beneficial in protecting your property and your family. Ask for more information when you make your purchase to help you determine your needs exactly.