Top 10 Best CCTV Camera For Home – Review & Buying Guide

CCTV cameras have become essential for every home for added security and peace of mind. There are 100s of CCTV cameras in the market with a multitude of features to choose from, so finding the best CCTV camera in India for home, office or shop that meets your needs can be very challenging.

List of Top 10 Best CCTV Camera

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In the past, people used to have a notice board with the words “Beware of Dogs” on their gates to deter thieves.

Today, you have them with the words, “This house is under CCTV surveillance.”

Top 10 Best CCTV Camera Reviewed

1. Hikvision CCTV Camera – Hikvision DS-2CE1AD0T-IRP 2MP 1080P Full HD Night Vision Outdoor Bullet Camera

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2. CP Plus CCTV Camera – CP Plus 360 Degree 1080P 2MP Ezykam WiFi Security Camera

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3. Panasonic CCTV Camera – Panasonic PI-HPN203L 2MP Bullet Camera

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4. Dahua CCTV Camera – Dahua 2MP 1080P Bullet CCTV Security Camera DH-HAC-HFW1220SP

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5. D-Link Full HD Basic CCTV Kit

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6. Sricam SP Series SP005 Wireless HD IP Wi-Fi CCTV Indoor Security Camera

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7. ThinkValue T8855 Wi-Fi Wireless HD IP Security Camera CCTV

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8. D3D Wireless HD IP Wi-Fi CCTV Indoor Security Camera – D8810

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9. D-Link Marvel DCS-F1712 2MP HD Day and Night Fixed Bullet Camera with 30M of IR Range

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10. ProElite POD04 PTZ Wi-Fi HD Outdoor Waterproof 4X Optical Zoom 960p IP Security Camera

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What are CCTV Cameras?

CCTV stands for Closed Circuit Television. It is a TV system which captures video or images that are monitored privately. CCTV uses closed-circuit broadcast signals, unlike regular televisions that use public broadcast signals.  It mostly used for security and surveillance objectives.

The Price – Your Budget

Installing a security system is a capital investment for anyone. You have to be careful with your budget. While drawing up your budget, you should concentrate on various factors.

  • The nature of surveillance you require
  • The area of surveillance
  • Indoor or outdoor security
  • Number of cameras you wish to install
  • The brand of cameras you purchase
  • The installation and maintenance costs
  • The utility of the cameras
  • The types of cameras you want

How to Choose Best CCTV Camera as per Individual Requirements?

Below, we have listed down several factors that play a key role in selecting the right one. Make sure to read them very carefully to understand the terms and their importance.

Surveillance Technologies:

Basically, there are two surveillance technologies – analog and IP (digital). Each of these have their own set of advantages and disadvantages which we have mentioned them in detail…

1. Analog

Traditional analog security cameras capture an analog video signal. This signal will be transferred to DVR (digital video recorder) through a coax cable. The DVR will convert the analog to digital, compresses it and stores in hard drives which can be retrieved later. Features like scheduling, zooming and motion detection are available in the DVR. Monitors can be plugged to the DVR for viewing the output.

Usually, the video quality of analog cameras is of television standards. The DVR can also be set up to internet broadcasting with password and additional features. When internet broadcasting, the video is usually transmitted as a single stream (IP address). The power to the each camera is supplied from any point near the camera itself.

Benefits:

  • They are usually much affordable and more than enough for remote monitoring.
  • They come in different varieties from mini covert to large PTZ models. It might a bit easier to find the camera of your style.
  • Mix and match of cameras and brands is easier with analog versions. If you have an existing camera then it will be much easier to incorporate into your surveillance system.

Drawbacks:

  • Advance features like clear zooming is not available with analog cameras.
  • If you are thinking of a wireless security system then analog systems can have interference issues like the resulting signal cannot be encrypted. This means that someone else can also access the signal.
  • For wide areas, broad ranges and big distances, analog cameras may not be a good choice.

2. IP (Digital)

The main difference between the analog and IP cameras is the quality of the video. High resolution and quality video are the two major benefits of an IP security camera. A high quality video ensures a better facial recognition, ability to zoom distances of 100+ feet and license recognition. Actually, the resolution is 2 – 3 times higher than a normal analog camera.

In IP CCTV surveillance system, each camera in the network captures an analog signal which will be immediately converted to digital video inside the camera itself. Digital processing like compression and motion detection also happens in the camera itself.

NVR (network video recorder) functions same as DVR in the analog version cameras. NVR will capture signal form each camera, compresses and stores it. The built-in software of NVR will also has features like intelligent search, zoom and others. NVR will combine video signals from all the cameras and broadcasts it over the LAN and internet for both remote and local viewing.

The power to each cameras is suppled through an Ethernet cable via POE (power-over-Ethernet) adapters. Most of the old style IP cameras don’t have in-built POE so they have to add POE adapters additionally.

Digital videos are much more compatible with wireless than other. Wireless analog systems are available, however the videos has to be converted in to digital before broadcasting over the IP network 802.11. If not, then can be overcrowded over the saturated frequencies and encounter interference in most of the cases.

Benefits:

  • IP surveillance systems are best for wireless reception. As they have encryption built-into them, they are much more secure than analog systems. Interference is also not an issue with IP systems.
  • As IP based cameras act as their own network system, you can use existing wiring network to connect them within your home.
  • They are best suited for remote surveillance requirements.

Drawbacks:

  • They are a bit high in price when compared to analog systems.
  • They require a higher bandwidth than analog cameras.

Different CCTV Camera Types

There are basically 5 different types of CCTV cameras:

1. Dome CCTV Camera

This is the most common type of CCTV cameras. It makes it difficult for onlookers to tell which way the camera is looking, which is the best feature of this design.

Pros:

  • Easy to install
  • Vandal Proof
  • Compact Size

Cons:

  • Not that high resolution compared to other types

2. Bullet CCTV Camera

These are the most ideal for outdoor use. They are long and cylindrical in shape.

Pros:

  • Easily mountable
  • Adaptability- can be used indoor or outdoor
  • High-quality image resolution
  • Has more protective casings hence mostly are weatherproof

Cons:

  • Not that flexible in camera angles unlike the dome

3. C-mount CCTV Camera

The most flexible CCTV when it comes to changing the lenses. It can cover a longer range than that of the standard CCTV. This type can do beyond 40 feet by using special lenses on it.

Pros:

  • Highly flexible in technology changes

Cons:

  • Bulky in size

4. Day/ Night Camera

These are highly operational both in well and poor lit environments due to their more sensitive imaging chips. These cameras are ideal for outdoor surveillance.

Pros:

  • Records in both color and black & white
  • Wide array of sizes
  • Infrared capability

Cons:

  • Can be a bit costly than other standard types

5. PTZ Camera

PTZ which stands for Pan, Tilt, Zoom cameras allows lenses to be zoomed closer and farther. These are what usual security specialists used operating at live surveillance.

Pros:

  • Pan and tilt rotation
  • Effective tracking features
  • Powerful zoom focus

Cons:

  • It can’t see everything at once, only focused on where the viewer focuses it

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it easy to set up and install CCTV cameras?

Installing the latest wireless cameras is easy. However, you need expert assistance to install the complete security surveillance systems comprising of multiple cameras and DVR, and so on.

If the memory card got full, will it stop recording?

No, it will just overwrite your old files.

Can I install an outdoor camera indoors?

In most of the cases, it is a “YES”. Though it is not completely recommended, sometimes, a CCTV camera with outdoor qualifications can be helpful to use indoors. Such situations or areas include, a factory where chemicals, condensation or similar things happen, indoor warehouses, a prison or schools.

Conclusion

Whether you want the highest quality video resolution, the easiest access to your camera feeds, the smartest motion detection or just the best value for money, the Top 10 Best CCTV Camera For Home are listed above with the best brand available.

About the author

Mark Cook

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