Getting a new security camera can be difficult because of the number of video surveillance terms that you may run into. In order to make it easier for you to hunt for a perfect video surveillance camera and help you figure out the instruction manual, here are some terms that first time users like you may need.
Activity Dectection
This is usually used by multiplexers in order to detect video motion for relaying closre to alarms and improve the update times of video cameras. AGC (Automatic Gain Control)
This function increases the signal strength of security cameras whenever the brightness of the surroundings decreases and putting a cap on it when the surroundings are brighter. AI (Auto Iris)
This is a function that allows the surveillance camera to adjust to the variations in light levels, from sunlight to shadows. This feature closes the lens iris whenever the light changes, preventing the camera from being damaged by bright sunlight. Alarm Input
Combined with a security camera, this can provide better security because it has a sensor device that detects movement with the use of Passive Infra-red detector. A door contact detector can also be used. Both types of alarm inputs may be self-powered or may also require an external power source. ALC (Automatic Level Control)
This is a function that allows security cameras to bring out the details in dark or bright areas of an image. For example, when too much sunlight causes the image to darken, this can focus on the needed image. Angle of View
This is the available angular range for a certain image size. It becomes wider when the focal length is smaller. Aperture
This controls how much light will reach the film or digital sensor. The aperture size is controlled by the iris adjustment, allowing a series of f-stop numbers to dictate the amount of light that would pass through the lens. Having a smaller aperture means that you will have better focus on things that are outside the camera's plane of focus. BLC (Back Light Compensation)
Cameras that have this feature will automatically put more detail to darker areas when there are bright lights obscuring it. Bullet Camera
Named so because of its bullet shape, this type of security camera is just like a spot cam and has a fixed focal lens. The great thing about it is that it's small and narrow size allows it to fit in locations that may not be able to accomodate cameras with bigger dimensions. CCD (Charge Coupled Device)
This computer chip converts light energy into an electrical charge, producing an electronic image. This image can then be enhanced to form a high quality picture. Frame transfer and interline transfer are the two types of CCD in the market. DSP (Digital Signal Processing)
With the use of these chips, the video can be compressed without the need for taking up your CPU's processing power, allowing you to work on other applications and computing tasks.
Because this is just a short list of basic terms that you may encounter when reading manuals or checking our specifications, you may want to try going to http://www.video-surveillance-guide.com/glossary.htm to check out the glossary available in this site.
Because this is just a short list of basic terms that you may encounter when reading manuals or checking our specifications, you may want to try going to http://www.video-surveillance-guide.com/glossary.htm to check out the glossary available in this site.
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