Types of CCTV Cameras Explained — Which to Choose for Your Office or Shop

Analogue HD Camera

• Sends compressed HD video over coaxial cable
• Needs a separate power cable (12V DC or PoC)
• Connects to a DVR
• Resolution: up to 8MP / 4K
• Lower cost per camera, robust and simple
• Works over existing coax — no recabling if upgrading

IP Camera

• Converts video to digital data internally
• Sends data + receives power over CAT6 Ethernet (PoE)
• Connects to an NVR via network switch
• Resolution: typically 2MP to 12MP+
• Higher cost, but single cable to each camera
• Easier to place cameras far from the NVR (via network)

Resolution

2MP gives a clear image at distances up to 15m. 4MP covers 30m. 8MP/4K is for number plate or facial identification at distance. Most offices are well-served by 2MP cameras.

Night Vision

Infrared (IR) night vision shows black-and-white footage in total darkness. Colour night vision (Hikvision ColorVu, CP Plus StarLight) captures colour in very low light — better for identifying clothing. Choose colour if your area has some ambient lighting.

Motion Detection

Standard CCTV records on motion only (saving HDD space). Modern AI motion detection distinguishes people and vehicles from trees, rain, and animals — reducing false alerts.

Remote Mobile Viewing

All modern DVR and NVR systems support remote viewing via app (Hik-Connect for Hikvision, gCMOB for CP Plus). You can watch live or replay footage from anywhere in the world on your phone.

Storage (HDD)

Always use surveillance-grade HDD — Seagate SkyHawk or WD Purple. Designed for 24/7 write operations. A 2TB drive gives approximately 30 days of recording for a 4-camera 1080p system on H.265 compression.

H.265 Compression

H.265 (HEVC) compression halves the storage requirement versus H.264 at the same quality. Always enable H.265 on your DVR/NVR — it doubles your effective recording duration.

Alerts & Notifications

Push notifications to your phone on motion detection, line crossing, perimeter breach, or camera tampering. Most DVR/NVR systems support email and app alerts.

Weatherproofing (IP Rating)

Outdoor cameras need IP66 (dust-tight, water jets) or IP67 (temporary immersion) rating. An indoor camera used outdoors will fail within one monsoon season.

AI Person & Vehicle Detection

Modern Hikvision and Dahua cameras (AcuSense / Perimeter Protection series) use onboard AI to distinguish people and vehicles from background motion — dramatically reducing false alerts from wind, rain, and animals.

Face Recognition

High-resolution cameras (4MP+) with face recognition NVR can log who enters a building. Used for access control integration and attendance systems. Requires well-lit, front-facing camera placement.

Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)

Specialist cameras with high-contrast IR and fast shutter speeds capture vehicle number plates in car parks and at gates. Integrates with boom barrier systems.

CCTV + IoT Integration

Modern IP CCTV can integrate with building management systems (BMS), fire alarms, access control, and smart lighting. A door opened without access credentials can trigger the nearest camera to begin recording and send an alert.

Thermal / Temperature Detection

Thermal cameras detect heat signatures in complete darkness — useful for perimeter intrusion in unlit areas. Fewer false alarms than IR-triggered motion detection.

Cloud CCTV & Remote Backup

Camera footage stored in the cloud (in addition to or instead of local HDD). Useful where physical security of the recorder is a concern — a thief cannot take the DVR and the footage with it. Data charges in India make this viable for small camera counts.

CCTV systems fall into two main categories by recording technology: analogue (DVR-based) and IP/digital (NVR-based). Within each, cameras are classified by form factor: dome cameras (discreet, ceiling-mount), bullet cameras (long-range, directional), PTZ cameras (pan-tilt-zoom, operator-controlled), fisheye cameras (360° single-camera coverage), and box cameras (large sensor, interchangeable lens for specialised use). Most Delhi offices use dome or bullet cameras with a DVR for 4–16 camera installations.

Dome cameras are housed in a compact hemisphere mounted on the ceiling. They are discreet, vandal-resistant, and the direction they point is not obvious to people being monitored. Bullet cameras are cylindrical, wall or pole-mounted, visible from a distance, and generally have a longer range due to their larger lens. Dome cameras are preferred for indoor retail, offices, and reception areas. Bullet cameras are preferred for car parks, perimeter monitoring, and long corridors where range matters more than discretion.

A DVR (Digital Video Recorder) connects to analogue HD cameras via coaxial cable. A DVR system is cost-effective, proven, and suitable for most offices with 4–32 cameras. An NVR (Network Video Recorder) connects to IP cameras via CAT6 network cable, often powered via PoE (Power over Ethernet) from a PoE switch — a single cable handles both power and video. NVR systems offer higher resolution, easier expansion, and AI analytics, but cost more. For most Indian SMEs, DVR offers the best value for 4–16 cameras.

Key features of a modern CCTV system include: HD recording (2MP, 4MP, 8MP, or 4K resolution), night vision (infrared or colour night vision), motion detection with optional alerts to your phone, remote mobile viewing via an app, continuous or motion-triggered recording, local storage on a surveillance-grade HDD, and optional AI features like person/vehicle detection, face recognition, and number plate recognition. Higher-end systems add thermal imaging, IoT integration, and cloud backup.

A PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera can be remotely controlled to rotate left/right (pan), tilt up/down, and zoom in optically. PTZ cameras are used where a human operator or AI system needs to track movement across a large area — large car parks, factory floors, airports, and city surveillance. A single PTZ can replace several fixed cameras in the right application. They are more expensive than fixed cameras and are rarely needed in small offices.

An IP (Internet Protocol) camera converts video to digital data internally and transmits it over an Ethernet network. IP cameras connect to an NVR via CAT6 cable (often PoE-powered, so one cable carries both power and video). Traditional CCTV cameras transmit an analogue signal over coaxial cable to a DVR. IP cameras typically offer higher resolution, easier long-distance cabling, and smarter features, but analogue HD cameras (which send HD video over coax) have closed the gap in most respects and remain more cost-effective for typical office installations in India.

For most Indian offices and shops with 4–16 cameras, the recommended setup is: 2MP or 4MP dome cameras (indoor) and bullet cameras (outdoor/perimeter), connected to an 8-channel or 16-channel HD DVR, with a 2TB or 4TB Seagate SkyHawk surveillance HDD for 15–30 days of recording. This gives reliable 24/7 coverage with remote mobile viewing at the lowest total cost. For offices requiring AI analytics, multi-floor scalability, or 8MP/4K resolution throughout, an NVR + IP camera system is better suited.

Traditional CCTV uses closed-circuit analogue video transmission — the signal only travels within the closed loop of cameras and DVR, not over an open network. IP surveillance transmits digital video over a standard network (LAN/WAN/internet), enabling access from anywhere and integration with other systems. In common usage, "CCTV" now refers to both analogue and IP camera systems used for security monitoring. The practical difference for a buyer is the recording technology: DVR for analogue cameras, NVR for IP cameras.