There are dozens of camera system offers on the market, and technical parameters on the packaging tell you very little. Let's look at what really matters when choosing one: and where extra charges are simply unnecessary.
Before comparing cameras based on specifications, ask yourself what the system is actually meant to address. A warehouse needs a different setup than a family home with a garden and driveway, or a company reception operating around the clock. The purpose determines the number of cameras, their placement, and which type of detection makes sense. Only then is it worth considering resolution or night vision.
Higher resolution does not automatically mean a better system. To identify faces at the entrance or read a vehicle registration number, you need sufficient detail in the area of interest, there it pays to use a camera with higher resolution or zoom. For an overall view of movement in the yard or car park, lower resolution with a wider field of view is sufficient. A common mistake we see is using one universal camera to cover the entire yard and read the number plate at the gate, then neither task is done properly.
Most cheaper cameras switch to black-and-white images with infrared illumination at night. They work reliably, but detail in the dark is limited and you cannot identify colours (such as a vehicle's colour). Cameras with colour night vision, thanks to a more sensitive sensor and white light illumination, can produce colour images even in darkness. They are suitable where you need to distinguish details, not just the outline of a figure. At entrances and car parks, where reading number plates is crucial, high-quality night vision is one of the few items where it really does not pay to save money.
A camera without recording is just a window. You see what's happening now, but nothing can be reviewed later. Recordings are typically saved to an NVR recorder directly on-site, or additionally to remote storage with the service provider as a backup against theft or equipment damage. How much space the recordings take up depends on the number of cameras, resolution and how long you want to keep the footage. We cover this in more detail in in a separate article on systems with recording.
Appearance and resolution are often the first things people look at, but how a camera is connected and powered is equally important. Cameras linked by cable to a recorder are more reliable and independent of wireless signal quality. They pay off wherever cabling is even slightly feasible. A wireless solution makes sense for retrofit installations where running cables is not possible, but expect transmission quality to depend on signal range and potential interference. For outdoor cameras, also verify the protection rating against moisture and dust and the operating temperature range, cheaper cameras without adequate protection often lose image sharpness or stop working altogether after a few winters.
For businesses and operational facilities, the key requirements are often person and vehicle detection during night hours, logging movement across shifts, and frequently the need to monitor multiple properties simultaneously. For a detached house, the focus is more on monitoring the driveway, garden and front door, where a smaller number of cameras suffices, but simple mobile control and reliable alerts when someone is near the property while it should be empty become even more important. We describe person detection in both contexts in our article about difference between AI detection and conventional cameras.
Instead of selecting from a catalogue, we will visit for a free inspection, assess the property and its risks, and only then propose the number and type of cameras, detection scenarios, and recording method. For driveways and car parks, we also handle ANPR straight away, see more in the article about SPZ reading for car parks and drivewaysYou will receive a price and technical solution tailored to your needs, not an estimate based on square metres.
Free inspection and custom camera system design in Prague and surrounding areas.