INSTALLATION HINTS
How correct product selection can turn a good video solution into a perfect one
Choosing the right camera for the job isn’t always as easy as you might think. While generally “if it costs more, it’s objectively better” is a guideline that’s hard to fault, it doesn’t factor in your specific need. A camera that can record a mouse winking at 100 metres is obviously a very good product but if all you want to see is a wall 25 meters away it’s probably not a sensible choice. It is important to be clear as to what exactly the purpose of the camera will be. Discuss this with your customer, sometimes their expectations are not achievable or may be outside of their budget. A fisheye camera that provides excellent all-round coverage will perform very poorly at face recognition. Over the next 3 issues we will be offering some tips on how to get the most out of your video system, intercoms and access control solutions. In this issue we will be focusing on cameras; specifically, lens selection, motion detection, and physical components such as mounts and cables. The advice here is general and all manufacturers will have slightly different interfaces and processes, so you’ll need to consult specific manuals. Keep in mind, the tips below are not designed to replace training however Hills does offer a wide range
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NZSM
of comprehensive training courses on product from all our key partners. Talk to your Hills representative about available sessions and your individual training needs. Lens Selection Cameras with a focal length between 2.8 and 4mm are wide angle, without being distorted (like with a fisheye camera) and are useful for covering large areas for overview surveillance or for covering small rooms with a single camera. 6 to 12mm lenses are good for obtaining increased detail on a specific area of interest indoors, for example to give clear identification images at a doorway. Lenses of 30mm or greater are excellent for subjects at a distance, for example capturing license plates down a driveway. Tools such as field of view calculators are very useful for selecting exactly which lens is required at every location and you can find a link to IDIS calculator on the HillsIDIS microsite (https://www.hills.co.nz/idis-support). Motion Detection Motion detection is a great way to boost your security, and extend the duration of your recording. Motion detection automatically records when movement is detected however some systems will detect any movement including animals,
April/May 2021
