Security Camera Installation: How Field/Angle of View Affects Your Costs
When it comes to security camera installation, there are a few things that are of utmost importance. Among them is the angle of view. In simple terms, the angle of view, also known as the field of view, refers to the angular extent of a scene as imaged by a security camera. From this definition, it is safe to say that the angle of view is the area you can see through your CCTV. Depending on the layout of your property, you may need a narrow-angle or a wide-angle camera to offer the best view.
As expected, the field of view has a direct impact on the cost of security camera installation. Here, we have gone into detail to describe how this is so.
What Determines The Angle Of View Of A Security Camera?
Basically, the field of view of your security camera is determined by the focal length or simply, the size of your camera lens. A camera with a larger lens produces a shorter distance and a narrow field of view. On the other hand, a camera with a small lens (commonly referred to as a wide-angle security camera) produces a longer viewing distance and a wider field of view. Additionally, the size of your image sensor and the distance of the lens from the lens also affect the field of view. Here are the common lens types and their cost considerations.
- Fixed lens
The first lens type is the fixed lens and this is where the focal length of the camera is permanently fixed and cannot be adjusted. This means that if you install a fixed lens, you will not be at liberty of adjusting the focal length and your camera will feature a set field of view. Fixed lenses for CCTV cameras are quite pricey. They are great if the layout of your premise is likely to remain the same for years to come.
- Varifocal Lens
With a varifocal lens, you can manually adjust your camera’s focal length and ultimately its field of view. The aperture of a varifocal lens determines the clarity of the image captured. The bigger the aperture number, the greater the detail captured and the less the field of view. The smaller the aperture number, the less detail captured and the wider the view. Varifocal lenses are more expensive than their fixed counterparts since they allow for more flexibility.
- Wide-angle lens
Finally, the most common premium lens for a greater field of view is the wide-angle lens. Although objects look smaller, this captures a large area within the camera image. In most cases, a wide-angle security camera is ideal for monitoring large areas. Compared to the two lenses aforementioned here, it is the most cost-effective to install. The reason is that it reduces the need to install a number of cameras in one area hence cutting down on installation and maintenance costs.
Clearly, the field of view is largely determined by the lens of your security camera. It, therefore, goes without saying that your choice of a good lens will go a long way in giving you the best field of view according to your needs.