Consumer vs Commercial-Grade Cameras

Spot the differences

All security cameras are not built the same. How can you spot major differences?

Constant sales hype combined with the wide range of technical performance issues makes for a confusing selection process. Columns of numbers, degrees, angles, symbols and unfamiliar abbreviations may look impressive but end up being useless without comparison to other CCTV cameras.

At SCW our commitment to sales integrity and matching customers with the best choice from our commercial-grade equipment has made us a trusted source for more than ten years.

Getting what you pay for in an IP security camera

Don’t judge a camera by its cover. Most look the same anyway. The features are on the inside and it’s up to you to determine what you may be purchasing. Those enticing, low-priced cameras may at first seem to offer the solution but knowledgeable investigation could reveal otherwise. More than getting what you’re paying for, it’s important to know what you’re paying for.

Apples to oranges--more like lemons

Consumer ignorance is the favored tool of unscrupulous retailers. Technical, electronic equipment is fertile ground for taking advantage of unsuspecting buyers.

That security camera advertised as “wireless” that you are planning to install on an outbuilding may only be referring to its wireless Wi-Fi signal. When it arrives in need of an electrical outlet for plug-in or needs to be hardwired into your power system, its bargain price becomes moot.

Outdated analog cameras continue to be marketed when much better quality IP security digital ones are comparably priced and offer a greater range of performance. Meanwhile, motion alarms are being set off by every flying insect that passes by or snowflakes falling too close to some cameras’ lenses even with the sensitivity level set as low as possible.

Advertisers are not always forthcoming in mentioning that their equipment is not sophisticated enough to work with a 5GHz router, or that it doesn’t sync with an android telephone. Omitted as well is the frequent lack of technical support after the sale, or their weak, one-year warranty prevalent across the industry. All SCW branded NVRs, TVI DVRs, IP security cameras, POE switches, and TVI cameras are warrantied for three years, minimum.

Important features to compare

Resolution: It’s all about the pixels. And more is definitely better. You won’t find an SCW IP security camera with less than 1080P (1920 x 1080 pixels). From there, our CCTV cameras go up to 4K resolution because what good is a security system without outstanding image quality? A few moments to educate yourself on what to expect from varying camera resolutions will be time well spent.

Digital versus analog: Digital recording overtook analog technology years ago. Unfortunately, many companies continue to market analog cameras to cut costs and attempt to grab sales based entirely on price points. This consideration goes back to the earlier comments regarding getting what you pay for. SCW proudly offers only the finest digital IP security cameras. Our pictures prove it.

Storage: Where is your new surveillance camera going to send its recordings? To an NVR? A DVD? The cloud? Does it have an onboard SD card, and if so, how much capacity does it offer? Will your camera continue to record in case of a power outage? Storage, and ultimately retrieval, are crucial elements of a successful security system.

Weather resistance: Outdoor security cameras are exposed to the elements year-round. Any compromise on structural integrity means a greater likelihood of equipment failure. SCW’s outdoor cameras are a minimum of IP66 rated with most being IP67 rated. That means full protection from dust, rain, snow, dew, frost, and sprinklers. You can even submerge them for a few minutes. Many competitors’ cameras don’t match up to such high standards. Remember, the higher the IP number, the better the camera’s weather resistance.

Field of view: How much can your camera see? It’s not like your eyeball with an extended field of view, plus peripheral vision. One of the CCTV cameras we recently reviewed has a narrow, 64-degree field of view. That means that even two of those surveillance cameras, side-by-side, would not take in as wide a field of view as SCW’s EufyCam2 with its 140-degree field of view.

Audio: If your new IP security camera is going to be mounted at a front entrance, audio is a feature of great benefit. More than simply having the ability to listen, look for two-way audio features on cameras that will allow you to communicate with unfamiliar individuals outside your door--delivery persons, salespeople--without having to first open your door. And look to see if the CCTV camera specifies its audio range.

Power supply: Seeing “Wireless” boldly attached to the advertising associated with a security camera has misled more than one customer into thinking they were getting a battery-operated camera. Often the wireless label is a reference to the CCTV camera’s Wi-Fi communication abilities. While some surveillance cameras are entirely battery-operated, others come with an electrical cord and plug, in need of a nearby outlet. Others may require hard-wiring into your home or business’ electrical power system, adding greatly to installation costs. Most SCW IP security cameras are PoE (power over ethernet), meaning that a single cable provides both power and signal transmission between your cameras and NVR (network video recorder).

SCW also offers a truly wireless CCTV security camera system known as EufyCam2. These Wifi cameras offer quality imagery, easy installation, and unlike the competitors’ battery-powered cameras, the EufyCam2 only needs charging once a year.

Warranty: All SCW NVRs, TVI DVRs, IP cameras, POE switches, and TVI cameras are warrantied for three years. We even offer an extended five-year warranty on many products. Compare that industry-leading standard to the typical one-year warranty on most of our competitors’ cameras. That vital information is often tucked away toward the bottom of their product descriptions.

Color: The color of your new security camera may seem like little more than a style issue. Instead, much of its performance hinges on that color factor. All of SCW’s IP security cameras are white for a reason--summer temperatures. White camera housings help reflect much of the summer sun. Black and other dark colors absorb that heat and the internal temperature accumulation can have disastrous effects on CCTV security camera performance, even to the point of failure.

Other features: Many security cameras come with infrared (IR) night vision but ranges can vary greatly. Lux ratings for infrared capture can only be used to compare cameras within that specific brand’s line because providers use various means of calculating lux values.

All come with motion detection but not all offer the added benefit of PIR heat detection. Commercial-grade cameras’ means of motion detection are far superior to retail-store CCTV cameras that record snippets of often useless video.

More sophisticated models include AI smart tech, which differentiates objects from humans, reducing false alerts.

The additional feature of customizing areas in which motion detection takes place ensures receiving only relevant alerts.

And perhaps you might choose Smart Home integration--for comprehensive control over your security, connect your devices to Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, or Google Assistant.

Dollars and sense

If your single motivator is the lowest dollar amount, expect disappointment. Surely you’re not one of those people who buy electronic devices at the Dollar Store and truly think they will perform.

Cheap CCTV cameras are cheap--cheaply made, poor performers, and generally a headache over their entire short lifespans. Quality components and commercial-grade performance may cost more initially, but they provide the clear imagery you need for years. You end up paying less over time and also get the service you expected.

SCW believes in the quality of our IP security cameras enough to include a three-year warranty with each one. Extend it to five years if you’d like. And take a look at the comments from some of our clients, the ones who have given us more than 4,000 five-star reviews over the past ten years.

We’d be overjoyed to include you as another satisfied member of our SCW security family.