System of Protection
Consumer-Grade Security Cameras vs. Commercial-Grade Security Cameras
There are two types of security cameras, as you’ve just discovered. Consumer-grade cameras, which normally come with 8 or 16 cameras and a video recorder and retail for less than a thousand dollars (US $), are what you’ll find in stores. Commercial-grade cameras, the second camera category, start at around $400 (US) per camera, which is much more expensive. Commercial-grade video recorders begin from about $500 (US $) and go up to $5000 depending on the amount of storage, camera connection, and image processing functions.
Quality
On the surface, these two camera categories may appear similar, but the distinctions become clear as you look inside. Consumer-grade cameras aren’t meant for high-performance applications where failure isn’t an option; commercial-grade cameras are. Consumer-grade cameras are often designed to operate well when there is lots of available light. Still, their pedigree becomes apparent when the illumination is poor or missing (think sunset or darkness). Commercial cameras outperform their less expensive counterparts because they contain larger internal video sensors and higher-quality components that can adjust to low light and capture superb footage.
Consider this: if a competent still camera costs at least $250 (US $), how can a more advanced video camera be marketed for less than $40? It’s just not adding up. Manufacturers must take shortcuts to provide such low pricing, and the final effect is subpar performance. What good is a security camera that only operates in ideal situations, such as strong sunlight? Consumer-grade cameras can be useful in some scenarios, such as nanny cams or checking up on a pet, but they typically fall short when it comes to gathering evidence of a crime.
The remainder of this post will focus on commercial-grade security cameras, as they are the greatest option for monitoring your possessions and catching criminals.
Various Lighting Situations
When coping with harsh lighting situations, commercial-grade security cameras exhibit their supremacy. For example, it is customary for a company to have a camera positioned at its front door. A tremendous quantity of sunshine will come through the doorway when someone opens it, filling the camera’s sensor. A consumer-grade camera will adjust its shutter to compensate for the increased light let into the room. As a result, the entryway seems adequately exposed, even if the shop itself now appears dark due to the camera’s mounting chamber being darker than the region of the doorway. In this scenario, the company owner ends up with a well-exposed entryway, despite an inside shot that is too dark to be functional. Meanwhile, the face of the individual entering inside the store is never caught since they are standing in the under-exposed store. Though the example described here is for a business, mixed lighting circumstances are also common in residences.
A specific light-handling function in commercial-grade cameras solves this problem. HDR, which stands for “High Dynamic Range,” is a software and hardware solution these cameras use. HDR takes an exposure of the room and an orientation of the entryway in this example then merges the two photographs to generate a properly-exposed composite image of the two locations. The picture seems to be entirely normal to everyone since the entryway and room appear to be at the same light level. Consequently, faces are appropriately exposed at the entry and throughout the store, achieving the purpose of videotaping everyone who enters. Commercial cameras now have HDR as a basic function. Unfortunately, when buyers learn their low-cost consumer camera lacks HDR, it’s generally too late because the cameras and recorders have already been installed.