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Guide to Choosing The Right Swann Camera for Your Application
Purchasing the best video security for your home or small business starts with selecting the right cameras to fit your unique requirements, although there is an almost inexhaustible range of product and technical information that you could research, the simple 5 step guide below will help anyone make an informed purchase decision.
STEP 1:
B&W OR COLOR?
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B&W cameras offer better imaging in lower light (such as in a restaurant with soft lighting) and a very economical price. |
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Color cameras are more suitable to being used where color information is required for identification such as color of clothing or of a vehicle. |
STEP 2:
AREA TO BE MONITORED?
All Swann® cameras will provide clear images under normal (day) lighting conditions and include a (non-replaceable) 3.6mm lens which offers a 50° wide angle lens that is ideal for indoor or outdoors surveillance application.
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Day/Night Cameras are ideal for outdoor surveillance of driveways or indoor surveillance without the need to leave the lights on. Built-in infrared illumination automatically provides from 6ft (2 metres) to 165ft (50 metres) of area illumination depending on the model you choose.
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If you have a specific focus point within an area you want to monitor (i.e. a cash register or
door) you can use a Long view lens type or if want the freedom to define a focus point after
installation, select a camera which offers an Optical Zoom (Varifocal). |
Pan/Tilt/Zoom cameras enable you to electronically control the camera view. These cameras are designed to work with observation systems and Digital Video Recorders can provide P/T/Z camera control.
Observation systems and accessory cameras have the option of audio monitoring between cameras and the display monitor. Audio monitoring is ideal where fast human intervention is desired.
STEP 3:
VISIBILITY OF CAMERA?
The type of camera you choose has a lot to do with how visible you want your security surveillance to be. For example, professional cameras are rather ‘boxy’ and obtrusive, which can make them better at deterring crime. Indoor Dome cameras blend into most decors. Bullet cameras offer the best of both worlds, a small unobtrusive camera that still looks and operates like a heavy duty security camera.
STEP 4:
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS?
The quality of the video image captured by the camera (resolution) is determined by the size of the image sensor and the type of sensor being used. Most Swann® cameras feature a large 1/3†or 1/4â€CCD image sensor - the best sensor for the best video image!
Since security cameras are only part of a surveillance system, you’ll want to make sure that the cable connectors supplied with the camera are compatible with the equipment it will be connected to. All Swann® Pro series cameras are supplied with RCA and BNC connectors, so they are ready to connect to virtually any CCTV system.
STEP 5:
DO YOU WISH TO RECORD?
Record video to your VCR or a Swann® digital video recorder (DVR). DVRs can be set to record on movement, alarm activation or set for permanent recording and many have features that allow many different levels of recording quality. Many DVRs can also be viewed from a remote location via the Internet.
STEP 6:
DO YOU WISH TO VIEW REMOTELY?
Use the Swann® DVR4Net Plus or PC Security Guardian to view over the web or your
network. You will need a broadband connection to optimise your viewing. | 
