CCTV Key Terms

Become familiar with CCTV terms before you choose a security system for your business

Your business and your employees deserve to be protected 24 hours a day. To accomplish this, many business owners invest in closed circuit television (CCTV) systems to monitor their property inside, outside or both. Employees appreciate the added sense of security, especially when they have a need to work late or to come in on a weekend or holiday. Should vandalism or a natural disaster occur, a CCTV system provides a valuable record of what took place.

If you are thinking about purchasing a CCTV system for your business, here are some key terms that will help you make a good choice:

Night vision camera

A night vision security camera uses infrared light to capture images in the dark. Some models have a day/night mode that switches from producing color images in the daytime to black and white images at night.

Vandal proof camera

A vandal proof CCTV camera is made with a casing that has a very rugged construction. It encloses the camera inside a structure that provides protection from both physical abuse and harsh weather.

Minimum object distance (M.O.D.)

The M.O.D. is the closest distance a camera lens will be able to focus on an object. In general, the smaller the focal length, the shorter the M.O.D. Wide angle lenses have a smaller M.O.D. compared to lenses with a longer focal length.

Video motion detection

You can detect and track motion from a personal computer. Video motion detection works with many CCTV systems. Several cameras are used to provide overlapping protection of a large outdoor area.

Pinhole camera

A pinhole camera is a miniature camera with a lens that is literally the size of a pinhole. A pinhole camera is used for situations where the camera must be kept out of sight. It can be powered from an AC adaptor or a 9 volt battery.

Covert cameras

Covert cameras, also known as spy cameras, are available in models that look like ceiling fire sprinklers, smoke detectors or ceiling domes. Some types of covert cameras are designed to be placed underneath vehicles for the purpose of capturing license tag numbers.

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