Choosing the Right Camera
Camera selection starts with the question each camera must answer. A camera that watches a parking lot entrance has different needs than one covering a cash counter. Pick the form factor, sensor, and lens to match the task, not the other way around.
Common Form Factors
| Type | Typical Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed box | Indoor, controlled scenes | Interchangeable lenses, flexible |
| Dome | Lobbies, retail, hallways | Discreet, vandal options common |
| Bullet | Building exteriors, perimeters | Visible deterrent, easy aiming |
| PTZ | Large areas, active monitoring | Pan, tilt, and zoom under operator or tour control |
| Multi-sensor | Corners, wide intersections | Several imagers in one housing |
| Panoramic (fisheye) | 360-degree ceiling coverage | Dewarping needed for usable views |
| Thermal | Perimeter detection, low light | Detects heat, not detail for ID |
PTZ cameras cover a lot of ground, but they only point one way at a time. If you need a record of everything, pair a PTZ with fixed cameras.
Sensor Size and Low Light
A larger sensor gathers more light, which matters during Canadian winters when daylight is short. A 1/1.8 inch sensor will usually outperform a 1/2.8 inch sensor of the same resolution in dim conditions. Watch the pixel size too. Cramming 8 megapixels onto a tiny sensor shrinks each pixel and raises noise at night. Many sites do better with a 4 MP camera that has good low-light performance than an 8 MP camera that smears in the dark.
Resolution and Pixels Per Foot
Resolution alone does not tell you whether a face will be identifiable. Pixel density does. Pixels per foot (PPF), also expressed as pixels per metre, measures how much detail lands on the target at a given distance. Common working targets:
- Detect: roughly 25 PPF. You can tell something is there.
- Recognize: roughly 50 PPF. You can tell a known person from a stranger.
- Identify: roughly 80 to 100 PPF. You can name an unknown person from the footage.
As the field of view widens or the subject moves farther away, PPF drops. Calculate it for the far edge of the scene, not the centre.
Lens Selection
Field of view and PPF are set by focal length and sensor width. A short focal length (wide angle) covers a broad area at low PPF. A long focal length narrows the view and raises PPF on distant targets. Varifocal lenses let you tune the view on site. For fixed lenses, confirm the angle of view against the scene before ordering.
Environmental and Conformance Ratings
Outdoor and high-traffic installs need the right ratings. IP ratings (per IEC 60529) describe protection against dust and water. IP66 or IP67 is typical for exterior housings. IK ratings cover impact resistance, with IK10 common where vandalism is a concern. For cameras facing cold prairie or northern sites, check the rated operating temperature, since many units stop at minus 40 Celsius.
ONVIF Conformance
ONVIF conformance keeps you from being locked to one brand. A camera that is ONVIF Profile S conformant should stream to a Profile S conformant recorder. Profile T adds H.265 and advanced video features, and Profile G covers on-camera recording. Confirm the listing on the ONVIF site rather than trusting a spec sheet, and test the camera with your video management software before committing to a large order.
References
Last updated 2026-06-14.