There are several types of CCTV cameras available on the market today, made to fulfil a wide range of purposes in both home and commercial use. Below are some examples:
Fixed (non moveable) CCTV security cameras come in two main styles: The first style has a camera body, to which lenses of different focal lengths and/or fixed or variable irises may be attached. Features such as BLC (Back Light Compensation), Auto Iris Drive and AES (Auto Electronic Shutter) on/off are provided, as is availability in several power inputs (e.g. 12V DC or 24V AC). New technology cameras now provide an "On Screen Display" (OSD) for choosing and setting functions. Because of their flexibility of configuration, body or box cameras are widely used in most commercial video surveillance systems.
Board Camera: The second style is basically a fixed lens mounted on a camera circuit board (board camera). These cameras may come in a small case (Mini Cameras) or dome (Mini Dome) or tube (Bullet, Lipstick or Tube) or simply sold as a board, for mounting by the purchaser. Lenses in these cameras are either of a normal industry aperture or a "pinhole" lens of very small aperture. Pinhole lens cameras are often called "spy" cameras and may be mounted in a concealed way for covert surveillance purposes. Since the lenses in board cameras are pre-mounted, have a fixed iris and are usually of a short focal length (i.e. wide angle), their flexibility of usefulness is limited. However, this type of camera can provide a low cost solution in the right situation, particularly in a home or retail environment.
PTZ cameras
Pan, Tilt and Zoom cameras are fitted to motorised mountings which allow controlled pan and tilt of the camera, thus allowing it to view a wider area. Often these pan and tilt cameras will also be equipped with motorised lenses which allow controlled zoom in and out, thus allowing not only the scene to be changed but also the level of detail in the scene.
Pan, Tilt, Zoom (PTZ) Security Cameras: PTZ security cameras are able to rotate horizontally through 360°, vertically through 90° and have electrically powered zoom lenses capable of giving better than fifteen times optical zoom. Movement can be very fast and is controlled through a connected controller. In addition, PTZ cameras can be set to auto-scan or to move through a pre-defined range of pre-set positions and amounts of zoom.
New advances in technology now provide digital zoom in addition to optical zoom; day/night light sensitivity; intelligent movement that prevents too much incremental movement at bigger zoom factors and user definable movement “patterns” rather than guard tours consisting of numbers of presets.
PTZ security cameras are normally mounted in domes and when used outside, the domes are weatherproof and thermostatically cooled and heated. Vandal resistant domes are also available.
Once used almost exclusively by large corporations, governments and casinos, Pan, Tilt, Zoom (PTZ) CCTV cameras have now become much more affordable and offer better performance than just a few years
Day/Night camera
An ingenious solution to the problems caused by low light levels, these cameras produce colour images during the day, but as night approaches and light levels fall, they switch to a monochrome format to take advantage of its ability to produce clearer images in the dark.