Lens is made up of curved, ground and polished piece of glass or other transparent material used for the refraction of light. Their main function is to collect reflected light from objects and focus a clear, sharp image on the camera’s imager.  Typically, the more light that passes through a lens, the better the quality of the image. The size and clarity of the image obtained are affected by factors such as distance from the scene, focal length, desired field of view, lighting and format used.

Field of View
The field of view (FOV) is the area covered by the lens’ angle of view. Consider using a wide angle lens to get more coverage of an area.
Camera lenses can be divided into two basic types: fixed focal and varifocal (or zoom).  A fixed focal lens has a constant focal length, while a varifocal lens can change its focal length.  Focal length is simply the distance from the optical center of the lens to a focal point near the back of the lens.  This distance is written on the lens (in millimeters) and indicates the field of view produced by the lens.

Depth of Field
Depth of field is defined as the range of object distances within which objects are imaged with acceptable sharpness. This means that when you focus precisely on a subject, a certain distance in front of and behind the subject also will be in focus, although not as sharp. Depth of field increases or decreases based on the length of the lens, the lens aperture and distance from the camera to the subject.

Each of the three depth of field factors will yield the following:

Lens length
Short lens (i.e. wide angle) = longer depth of field
Long lens (i.e. telephoto) = shorter depth of field

Aperture
Wide aperture = shorter depth of field
Narrow aperture = longer depth of field

Distance to subject
Short distance = shorter depth of field
Long distance = longer depth of field

• A variable focus 1.8mm ~ 3.6mm lens is ideal for monitoring hallways, doorways, and average size rooms.
• A 5.0mm ~ 40mm lens has the ability to be used for monitoring hallways and doorways and can be easily adjusted to monitor long driveways or areas several hundred feet away.

Manual iris lenses provide an effective solution for applications where the scene and lighting requirements are relatively stable, especially when used with security cameras that are equipped with electronic shutters.
Auto focus lenses are slightly more expensive than manual lenses but it offers flexibility when used outdoor or indoor with varying light.

CCTV Camera converts the visible scene captured by a lens into an electric signal and transmit that signal to a monitor for viewing. Camera performance depends largely upon the reflected light at the scene and the quality of the cameras imager.

To select proper equipment, it is necessary to determine the minimum lighting level (day or night) that will arrive from the scene to the camera lens.  The “available” light will affect everything from picture clarity to focus.

Color vs. Black & White
Generally, color cameras requires a higher level of lighting than black & white cameras. Color cameras produce a more natural, richer image than black & white and this makes it easier to detect objects. For example, the color of the car that was seen passing your house a few times in a day. While the use of color cameras is growing, black & white cameras continue to offer some distinct advantages.  Black & white cameras are better suited for extremely low light situations. Color cameras generally cost more than its black and white counterpart. A normal color camera such as the Sanyo VCC-3954 color camera cost $152.65 and are only $20 more expensive than the Computar Ganz FCH-62 black and white camera. Normally buyers would think color cameras are better but you should not make the mistake of buying a color camera just because there’s only a slight price increase. The Sanyo VCC-3954 may offer color images but with LUX sensitivity of 0.5, it may not be able to get good image in poorly illuminated areas. If you intent to install a CCTV camera at dark areas, you should opt for the Computar Ganz FCH-62 black and white camera. It has a LUX sensitivity of 0.08. This does not mean that color cameras cannot be used at dark areas. A color camera with low LUX sensitivity value cost more. The Toshiba IK-65WDA color camera with LUX sensitivity of 0.001 can obtain good images in dark areas but cost $449.00.

Shape
Basically, CCTV cameras come in 2 shapes. Dome and bullet shaped cameras. Dome cameras make it virtually impossible for suspects to determine where the camera is pointed.
Burglars planning to break in are unable to detect whether or not the entrance they are planning to use is under active surveillance. It also offers a more attractive aesthetic appearance. The camera, lens and wiring are hidden inside the dome and this detracts the camera from the interior design.

Special cameras for special needs can also be found such as the GV-BCC Waterproof Color CCTV Camera. Other than its normal indoor and outdoor application, it’s also designed for under water application. It is resistant to a lot of environmental elements making it a very good camera for rough environment.

Manufacturers are also tapping into the power of the internet by offering wireless color cameras such as the 73900C1 camera that you can connect to through the internet. This makes remote surveillance possible. You can monitor your home from your office.

A single camera kit for those who wants basic surveillance without the hassle of having to source for the right camera for different area of your home can opt for the XCam2 wireless camera kit. It’s an all-rounder with a price tag of only $79.99 and good for normal surveillance.

A Closed Circuit TeleVision (CCTV) is a video magnification system consisting of a monitor interfaced with a video camera. Video magnification is achieved in two ways – the electronic conversion from the small camera imager to the larger display screen and the optical effect of the cameras zoom lens. The CCTV system provides high contrast, inverse video display, gray scale, false colors, natural colors, and/or control of contrast level and brightness.

A CCTV system allows you to monitor the interior and exterior of your house anytime of the day and you may want to consider it as a supplement to your home security system. Such a system includes a surveillance camera or cameras, lenses specially selected to watch particular areas of the home, and a recorder that records what the camera or cameras see. It comes in hardwired or wireless form.

A home CCTV system can be used in many ways. Depending on the size of your home, you may need as little as 1 camera for your system. You can install just one in front of your front door if you just want to see who is at your front door. It can be recorded while you are away and you can check the recorded video to see who dropped by and identifying burglars before they strike. While you are at home, you can use it to watch over your child’s playtime while you are doing your chores. The use of a CCTV system is limitless but before getting one, follows these steps:

CCTV security systems are not expensive by itself. The common thinking is that CCTV security systems are for the rich and most commonly installed in big houses. That is where you are wrong. With the number of manufacturers increasing, the price of CCTV security systems has dropped drastically over the years. A package that includes a monitor and 4 black and white cameras can be bought at less than $500.

Automated CCTV Security system
An automated CCTV security system does not require human intervention. Not so long ago, this type of security system is normally associated with the hiring of security guards to constantly monitor the monitors for intruders. Now, CCTV systems can be fully automated and is capable of detecting intruders on its own. All it needs is to be connected to sensors such as motion sensors. If the motion sensor is triggered, the alarm will sound and the CCTV recorder will start recording video.

Modern CCTV security system even has remote surveillance capability.
Using the internet, it allows the owner to view the video stream from remote location such as the work place.
An example of how this type of system operates:

With advancement in image processing, intelligent software connected to the CCTV cameras is able to tell whether the image obtained by the cameras show an intruder. It is an alternative to using the sensors.

Automated CCTV security system will significantly reduce the cost of a security system by eliminating the need to hire security guards. It also offers peace of mind because you don’t have to monitor the cameras all the time or worry whether your guard is sleeping on the job.

Summer is here and you can’t wait to go on your holiday but is your house well protected while u are away? According to FBI statistics, most communities across the United States will experience a 10 to 18 percent in home burglaries during the months of June, July, and August, with most tending to occur in August. A significant number of break-ins could be prevented with simple precautions. According to the Insurance Information Institute, 9 out of 10 home break-ins could be prevented if homeowners knew how to burglar-proof their homes.

Here are some of the home security tips to follow before going on a vacation.

1) Interior lighting is important to show signs of life and activity inside a residence at night. A darken home night-after-night sends the message to burglars that you are away on a trip.

2) Don’t tell other people the dates you will be on vacation. Keep it on a need to know basis. Only inform people that you trust like your trust worthy neighbor so that they can help you to watch after your house when you are away.

3) Put your newspaper on hold. Burglars will know that nobody is at home if they see newspaper piled up in front of the main door.

4) If possible, leave a car parked in the driveway. This will simulate the impression that somebody is home.

5) Make sure no valuables are visible outside of your house. If a passerby can see your belongings, so can burglars. Normally you would do this by closing all curtains but try to keep some shades or blinds up and curtains open to keep a normal appearance, provided that valuables are not visible through the uncovered window.

6) Make sure all doors, windows and other possible entrances that burglars can use to gain access to your house locked and fastened. Double-check before leaving the house.

7) Never leave a message on your answering machine saying you are on vacation. A burglar can easily obtain your phone number through the phone directory. They can call your number while standing right in front of your house and imagine the joy they will be in when they hear your message.

And, of course, the best way is to install a home security system. It provides peace of mind when you are away on your trip but do remember to activate it.

The bottom line is, try to keep it from being obvious that there’s nobody at home. The last thing a burglar wants is to come face to face with the occupant.

Apartments and other high-rise homes are at risk of burglaries as houses. Don’t assume that it’s less risky under the pretext that there are security guards at the entrance to your building. It’s not wise to solely rely on someone else to protect your home. Here are some of the home security tips that you can follow to make your apartment safer.

1) Change your apartment locks when you move in. This will prevent the previous occupant or whoever else that has hold on to the keys before from entering your apartment. This way, you will have a piece of mind that the only person that have access to your home are you.

2) Parking tags used in most apartments and condominium should not identify the unit that the parking lot belongs to. Make sure the tag does not have the unit number on it as potential burglar can use it to identify whether the owner is home.

3) Install peepholes. It provides a way for you to identify the person at your door step before opening the door. Without a peephole, a burglar can just knock on your door and when you open the door, all he has to do is push the door and it will knock you off your feet. This will put you in a great disadvantage and unable to protect yourself.

4) Beware of tailgating. Tailgating is the practice of following an authorized resident through the open gates before it closes. If you notice someone doing this, inform the management or security guards. The person tailgating you could be a burglar or just a friend of an occupant, but it’s a risk that you should not take. You could have done your part in preventing your neighbors from being robbed. You would want them to do the same thing.

5) Get to know your neighbors so that you know who is not supposed to be in the premises. Most apartment buildings are located in cities and because of the hectic schedule of city living, it does not exactly encourage interaction between neighbors. This is a big mistake. You should take the effort to get to know your neighbors. They will play a part in helping you to protect your home and you on theirs.

6) Make sure the building’s public areas are properly lit. Properly lit areas enable you to identify threats easily and prevent dark areas from being used as a hiding place for staging surprise attack. Inform the management if you find any lights that are out.

Follow the home security tips below to see if you miss out on any of the precautions that you need to take. The majority of burglaries are committed during the day when most people are at work or at school, so that the burglar does not bump into anyone.
Home targeted for burglaries are usually marked and monitored for days before any action is taken. They will monitor for the time of the day when the house is empty. So watch out for people wandering around your home.

But beware of opportunity thief that will strike when an opportunity present itself like unlocked doors. Around 20 – 30 percent of break-ins occur through open doors and windows and they don’t even have to use force. Most burglars are looking for things that are small, expensive and can be easily carried out of your house.

Look at your home through burglar’s eyes and ask yourself this:
How would you get into your house if you were to lose your keys?
If you can find a way to get in, so can a burglar.
Most of the times, the simplest and cheapest precautions can make a lot of difference. Below are some of the most common home security tips that will help you ensure a better security for your home.

• - Back door and garage door are the easiest to get into and the most common tools for entry are credit card, pliers and a screwdriver. Some just use the “kick in the door” method. It is often successful because strike plates are usually installed with half-inch screws instead of 3-inch screws or the dead bolt throw is not an inch long.
• - Sliding doors are secured by latches not locks and are easily broken into as the aluminum latches can become worn after some time and can be easily pried to lift the latch. The sliding door can also lifted out of its track. A few simple methods can be used to prevent the sliding from being used as a point of entry. Wood or metal block can be used to keep the door from being pried open. Keeping the door rollers adjusted and in good condition plus the installation of a pin that extends through both the sliding and the fixed portion of the door will keep a burglar from lifting the door out of the frame.
• - Sliding window also poses the same risk as sliding door. Window can also be prevented from being lifted out of its track by installing screws into the upper track of the movable glass panel.
• - Keep your valuables away from being seen easily from the outside of your house. This will only attract burglars. It’s not a good idea to place small and expensive valuables like jewelries, purse and fancy electronics near windows. These items could be easily snatched and carried away.
• - If security bars or window grills are used as a second line of defense if windows are broken, make sure it’s not permanently sealed. It must have at least a portion that can be opened like a window so that it can serve as an escape route in case of fire.
• - Remember to keep all possible access to your house locked. If windows are locked with locks, remember to keep the keys near the windows and can be  easily seen and reachable from the INSIDE of the house and at the same time, it must not be easily seen or reachable from the outside of the house. This is because locked windows are an alternative escape route in case of emergency. Locked windows are meant to block intruders and not a death trap to the owner.
• - Plant rosebushes or cactus in front of windows. It makes even getting close to such windows an unappealing prospect. One of the most common way of breaking in is through windows as a burglars can work on such windows easily but doing it while standing in the middle of a thorn bush is not a pleasant experience.
• - Coat safety-coating on the most vulnerable windows. Safety coat is an adhesive plastic sheeting that makes breaking windows difficult. Instead of being broken with just a pop, a burglar will have a hard time breaking the glass and will stop if it’s taking too long or even unbreakable. It can be quite expensive but it does provide serious burglar protection.

• - Do not leave keys under the mat. It’s a common practice that will only invite troubles. Burglars know about all these commonly used hiding places.
• - Do not leave house keys in the car. If a burglar gain access to your car, he will gain access to your house too.
• - Do not stick or engrave anything on your keys that can match that set of keys to your house. If you lose your keys and if somehow it falls onto the wrong hand, that person will know where your house is and will have easy access to your home.
• - A barking dog, whether inside the house or in the yard is proven as the best deterrent to burglars.  It doesn’t have to be a godzilla-sized dog, even a smaller yappy dog serves as an early warning system. Even if barking does not deter the burglar, a bite will. And there is no such thing as a stranger intimidating a dog into silence. The truth is a dog, even a small one, inside a house is not something a burglar wants to deal with. Getting bit is not fun.
• - Make sure security system is activated. It’s only useful if it’s activated. Test it regularly to make sure it’s in good working condition. Imagine your belongings gone when you reach home and then to find out that the alarm didn’t go off because it’s spoilt.
• - Never put documents containing important information like personal identification numbers into thrash unshredded. It can provide another way for thief to steal your belongings other than breaking into your house. Electronic theft is on the rise now that more and more people are using the internet to do transactions and this is an easy step that can be taken to prevent identity theft.
• - Use light timers. It’s inexpensive and can be found everywhere. They should be used on a daily basis and not just when you’re away. For best effect, use light-timers near the front and back windows. It will simulate occupancy.
• - Secure your garage. Garage provides an access to the rest of the house and since it’s likely to be unoccupied during the night, it’s a favorite target for thieves. Even if the thieves do not plan to enter the house, there are other valuables that they can choose from like your car, bicycle and tools.

If you return home and find that your house has been burglarized, don’t touch or move anything. Leave the house immediately and call the police as the burglar could still be inside the house. Do not try to be a hero and try to apprehend the burglar as the burglar may be carrying a weapon.

Webcam surveillance is starting to emerge as alternative home security system to conventional system of sensors and CCTV cameras. A webcam surveillance system can be easily installed and at only a fraction of the cost of a traditional security system.

At the heart of a webcam surveillance system is a special software that uses webcam as its eyes. It’s the brain of the webcam security system much like the control panel to conventional security system. These softwares can record the video from the webcams into the computer disk for later viewing by the user. One of the system’s main advantage is that user can connect to the webcam at home from a remote location through the internet or a local area network (LAN). Parents can check on their kids from the office to see whether the nanny is treating the kids nicely.

More advanced software has a built in motion detector. The images from the webcam are analyzed using special algorithm that is able to tell from the image whether there’s any movement within the field of view of the webcam. Softwares with motion detection capability offer the feature to only record the video when motion is detected. This can significantly reduce the amount of disk space used and also enable the user to view the video of the event directly rather than browsing through the hours of video to see if anything happened when the user is not around. What is important is the video recording of events and not when there’s nothing happening.

Depending on the software’s capability, some can even give you a call to inform you that motion is detected or send an email to you with the image attached.

The quality of webcams used plays an important role with softwares that has motion detection capability. A below average webcam will produce poor quality images and will significantly affect the capability of the software. Even so, false alarms are not as critical as false alarms caused by conventional security system. The worst that can happen is you getting a lot of phone calls from home but with conventional system, you can get fined by the authority for being a nuisance to your neighbors. Bare in mind constant phone calls from home can be very irritating when it’s caused by false alarms. So, it’s advisable to get a good webcam.

A very important factor you should take into consideration before buying one is the sensor type of the webcam. There are 2 types of sensor, charged coupled device (CCD) and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS). If you intent to use the webcam in poorly illuminated room, go for CCD sensors.

CCD vs CMOS

To help you choose a good surveillance software, check out the review of the softwares by following the link below.

Review of web surveillance softwares.

Webcams resources:
Jr.com
Bizrate.com
walmart.com

Fake cameras are used to trick possible intruder into thinking that your home is protected by a security system. It has the same effect as “Beware of Dog” sign. Even if you don’t actually have a dog, the sign would make a would be burglars to think twice about intruding. Just like the “Beware of Dog” sign, fake cameras might scare would be burglars away or they risk appearing as the star in your tape.

A home protected by a security system will make a burglar think twice about breaking in. It’s a huge risk that burglars choose not to take. For only a fraction of the cost of real camera, fake cameras can also generate the same effect on potential intruders making them think that your home is under constant closed circuit TV surveillance. Fake cameras can also be used to complement your real working cameras. By using real cameras to cover main entrances and fake cameras at the side of the house, it’s good enough to make it look as though your house is under heavy surveillance. Be careful though, some dummy cameras are not realistic enough and after close inspection, a burglar can easily tell whether it’s real or fake. So, do not simply go out and get yourself a fake camera. Compare the fake camera with real camera and get one that’s mimicking the real camera very well. The Motion-Sensing Dummy camera comes highly recommended. At only $24.99, it comes with a motion sensor. Triggering the sensor will cause the camera to flash light and when combined with a warning sign saying that your home is under surveillance will make your fake security system looks even more real. Warning signs can be bought from most security store or by following the link below.

Fake camera resources:
Spytechs.com
Smarthome.com
Homesecuritystore.com
Successdirectusa.com

Simulators are equipments or gadgets that are used to simulate the appearance of somebody are home.
Electronic equipments at home such as TV and lamps can be hook up to a home security system and be turned on and off periodically to simulate occupancy. Products such as the AudioGuard can simulate occupancy by playing everyday household sound. The last thing a burglar wants is to bump into the owner when he’s in the house.

Safe is a wise investment to keep small and valuable items like jewelries. It’s a much better alternative to hiding it as experienced burglars know where to look.

All good safes will have UL (Underwriters Laboratories) ratings and it rates the level of protection of a safe. These ratings determine how fire-resistant and durable a safe is. It also indicates whether a safe can survive a 30-foot impact, which simulates a fall of three stories. In a fire, a safe may fall through the floor, break open, and spill the contents you are seeking to protect.

Below are some of the things to take into consideration before getting a safe.

For more info on how safecracking works, click here.