A CCTV camera wide angle lens has a shorter focal length, which allows it to capture a broader area. With this lens, you can significantly increase the coverage area and improve the overall security. Wide-angle lenses are very efficient in covering a wider field of view, with coverage ranging from 60 to 110 degrees. You would require a multiple-camera setup to get this coverage from standard lenses. As a result, a wide-angle CCTV lens can help you replace multiple cameras. This replacement provides a couple of benefits:
- Saves you from the expenses of installing and maintaining multiple CCTV Cameras
- Significantly reduced number of blind spots that helps you to enhance security surveillance
Because of all these benefits, a CCTV camera wide angle lens is popularly used in security monitoring. These lenses are used in retail stores, huge parking lots, open spaces like stadiums, and other personal or commercial spaces. Along with the security needs, wide-angle lenses are also used in professional photography. Photographers and videographers use these lenses to capture more scenery in a single frame. Wide-angle lenses also provide an aesthetic point of view with curved corners and a unique perspective.
Ideal Situations To Use a Wide-Angle Lens in CCTV Cameras
Wide angle lenses improve security monitoring and offer the convenience of capturing a broader view of the property with a single camera. However, this lens might not be ideal for capturing details and objects at a distance from the camera. That is why it is best to choose a CCTV camera lens after carefully studying your requirements. The following points will explain to you the ideal situation and places to use a wide-angle lens for security monitoring:
- The primary benefit of using a wide-angle lens is the broader coverage. However, this coverage comes with distortion and reduction in details. So it is best to use this lens when you need to cover a large area and do not require detailed imaging.
- Wide-angle lenses are also popularly used to monitor the gathering of many people. It includes stadiums, concerts, parks, and commercial parking. CCTVs with wide-angle lenses offer you the advantage of capturing a larger number of people as compared with standard lenses. These lenses are mainly used to cover the entry and exit points of crowded spaces to monitor any suspicious activity.
- A single wide-angle lens can cover the area equivalent to multiple standard lenses. Therefore, you can use a CCTV camera with a wide-angle lens to replace multiple cameras. This will help you avoid the extra expenses of installing and monitoring multiple CCTV cameras. Therefore, you should pick a wide-angle lens to cover a wider area, but have a limited budget.
- A CCTV camera wide angle lens is used in airports, stadium entrances and exits, commercial and personal parking spaces, retail stores, and warehouses. Because these lenses cannot capture details, they are not used in high-security areas.
Are Varifocal Lenses better than Wide Angle Lenses?
The short answer is yes, varifocal lenses are better and more advanced than wide-angle lenses. A Varifocal CCTV camera lens can adjust its focal length according to the situation. While a wide-angle lens can capture a wide field of view, it cannot focus on distant objects and lacks detail. On the other hand, you can adjust the focal length of a varifocal lens. It allows you to capture a broader field of view and change the focal length to zoom into distant objects. Varifocal lenses come with a powerful optical zoom, which provides enhanced magnification. This helps in the better identification of vehicles and suspects. However, there are also disadvantages to using a varifocal lens over a wide-angle lens. The key factor here is to choose the lens according to your situation.
Consider the following points before choosing between a Varifocal and a Wide-angle Lens:
- Size Constraints
- Generally, a varifocal lens is bulkier and takes up more space than a fixed focal length lens. Therefore, if you don’t have enough space to place a bulky CCTV camera, you should stick to wide-angle CCTV cameras.
- Limited Budget
- Varifocal lenses are technologically more advanced and have features like optical zoom and adjustable focal length. This is exactly why these lenses are more expensive than wide-angle lenses. If you have a limited budget and details are of no concern, then you should opt for a wide-angle camera lens for CCTV.
- Detailed Imaging
- Varifocal lenses provide optical zoom that helps you capture detailed images of objects with high-quality magnification. On the other hand, footage recorded by wide-angle lenses lacks details and is distorted around the edges.
- High-security Places
- In high-security spaces, detailed imaging is required as it helps with better identification of suspects or vehicles. That is precisely why a CCTV Camera Varifocal Lens is used in such spaces, as they fulfill all the requirements.
Wide Angle or Fisheye Lens for CCTV Camera for Security?
Fisheye lenses are just an extreme version of wide-angle lenses, and you can classify them as ultra-wide-angle lenses. With a fisheye lens, you can cover up to 180 degrees, and there are lenses available that take this range to 270 degrees. Therefore, using a fisheye lens for CCTV camera can provide a significant advantage when capturing an even wider field of view. Due to their extremely wide field of view, fisheye lenses are primarily used in door cameras.
Crucial Tips From SuperiorCCTV to Improve Security Coverage
The following tips will help you improve security monitoring with CCTV cameras:
- Choose an Appropriate Lens
- There are different lenses available for CCTV cameras. Each lens comes with unique specifications and qualities. You need to choose the lens according to the requirement to ensure effective coverage. For example, you need a wide-angle lens for a large warehouse, as it will help you cover a wider area. For narrow spaces or if you need powerful zoom, choosing a telephoto lens is a better option.
- Better Camera Placement
- Along with choosing the right camera lens, placing the camera at the right spot and height is also equally important. Usually, corners are the preferred place for CCTV cameras however, it is best practice to select the place according to the requirement. Placement is also very significant for a multiple-camera setup. In the absence of proper placement, a multiple-camera setup can leave blind spots, compromising the security severely.
- Using High-quality and High-resolution Lens
- High-quality lenses help you get clear and detailed imaging. It also enhances security monitoring with better identification and zooming capabilities. Having a CCTV camera with a high-resolution lens performs significantly better in low light
- Regular Maintenance and Checks
- Regular maintenance and checking of CCTV cameras and their footage are very important. They help remove obstructions blocking the camera’s field of view and significantly reduce the chances of CCTV malfunctions.
The experts at SuperiorCCTV will help you with everything mentioned above. We provide you with the best-in-class quality lenses, which will help you enhance your security and monitoring. Our customers trust us because of our consistency in quantity and quality. Because of this, we can satisfy orders in bulk without compromising quality. Our lens assembly includes a C mount CCTV lens, an automotive lens, a fisheye lens, an infrared lens, and a telecentric lens.
We are a customer-focused organization, which is why we offer free consultation regarding lenses and other optical components. Our experts will help you clear your doubts and answer your questions without any cost. Let us be your trusted partner for lenses and provide you with optimized optical solutions.
Conclusion
Wide-angle lenses can capture a broader field of view without needing multiple cameras. These lenses are popularly used for security monitoring and professional photography. However, they are primarily used for security and surveillance. Their ability to cover a wider field of view allows the user to monitor a larger area with a single camera. A CCTV camera wide angle lens also eliminates the need for multiple CCTV cameras. As a result, it saves you from the expenses of installing and maintaining different CCTV cameras. Along with a wide-angle lens, there are many different lenses available for security and surveillance.
It is best to choose the lens based on what you need to capture and the surroundings you need to record. Many different factors, including placement and lens quality, can enhance the effective coverage of CCTV cameras. If you are confused about this, you can contact SuperiorCCTV for an experience-based consultation at no cost.
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