Additional information

Tougher cameras: IP and IK ratings

These ratings mostly appear on higher-end cameras and cost more. The prices in this planner don't say which ratings your cameras have, so check the spec sheet.

Buying in India: look for STQC

Brands reported as STQC-certified

CP Plus, Prama and Sparsh are reported as STQC-certified, according to the sources below. Certification is given per model, not per brand, so check the exact model you plan to buy.

digimro: STQC-certified CCTV brands91mobiles: India's new CCTV rulesWION: rules from 1 AprilSparsh press release

How much storage do I need?

The size of the HDD or SSD depends on the number of cameras, the picture quality and how many days of video you want to keep. This planner uses the 500 GB (DVR) and 2 TB (NVR) drives from its price list, so use Hikvision's free tools to check that they are enough.

Hikvision HiTools: storage (HDD size) calculator

H.265+ encoding

Encoding (the codec) squeezes video so it takes less disk space and less network speed. A newer codec can give a smaller file at the same picture quality, so the same drive keeps more days of video.

• Both ends must support it: the camera, the recorder and the phone or computer you watch on. Older recorders may only handle H.264.
• Savings vary: the biggest figures come from the makers' own tests. A busy scene saves less than a quiet one.
• Playback: H.265 needs more processing power to play, so an old computer may struggle.
• Sizing storage: the planner's prices don't say which codec your cameras use, so check the spec sheet and see if the storage calculator above lets you choose the codec.

Battery cameras

A battery camera has no power cable. You recharge it, or pair it with a small solar panel. It is not part of the cost estimate in this planner, so add its price yourself if you plan to use one.

• Easy to place: no cable to lay, so it suits a gate, shed or rented home.
• Clips, not non-stop video: to save power, most wake up on movement and save a short clip, so they may miss what happens between clips.
• Recharging: battery life depends on how often the camera triggers. Busy spots drain it faster.
• Connection: most still need WiFi, so a weak signal means patchy video. A few use a SIM card instead (see below).

SIM card and SD card options

Only a few cameras support a SIM card or an SD card. Check the spec sheet for the exact model before you buy. The cameras priced in this planner may not have either option.

Watching on your phone or browser

Most modern recorders and many cameras can show live video and playback in a mobile app or on a web page.

• Mobile app: the maker's app for Android or iPhone gives live view, playback and alerts. You usually add the device by scanning a QR code on it.
• Web interface: type the device's address into a browser on the same network to watch video or change settings. Some older models need a particular browser or plug-in, so check the spec.
• Away from home: the device needs a working home internet connection. A maker's cloud service is the easy way, but your video passes through their servers. A VPN to your home network is more private but harder to set up.
• Do not open the device to the internet: avoid port forwarding. Change default passwords and keep the software updated (see privacy below).
• Check before you buy: confirm the app supports your exact model, and ask whether cloud storage or alerts need a paid plan.

ONVIF and RTSP

ONVIF is an open standard that lets cameras and recorders from different brands find each other and work together. If you may mix brands, look for ONVIF on both the camera and the recorder (Profile S, or Profile T for H.265). It helps, but it does not guarantee that every feature works.

RTSP is the video stream address that a camera shares, so a recorder or a player such as VLC can pull its picture. It looks like rtsp://camera-address:port/path, and the path differs by brand. RTSP is often not encrypted and may carry the password in the address, so use it only on your home network and never open it to the internet.

Alarms and event detection

A camera can do more than record. It can raise an alert when something happens:

• Movement: something moves in the picture.
• Line or zone: someone crosses a line you drew or steps into a marked area.
• Person or vehicle: smart models ignore swaying trees and passing animals.
• Sound: a loud noise, such as breaking glass, on cameras with a microphone.
• Tampering: the camera is covered or turned away.

An alert can send a message to your phone, save a short clip, or switch on a siren or light. Shadows, insects and rain can cause false alarms. The features depend on the model, and sirens and alarm devices are not priced in this planner.

Image recognition (smart detection)

Some cameras and recorders use AI to understand the picture, not just spot movement. They can tell a person from a vehicle or an animal, read number plates, or match faces against a saved list. This may happen inside the camera or recorder, or in a cloud service. Models with it built in usually cost more, so ask where the processing happens.

Privacy and safety concerns

• Aim with care: cover only your own door, gate and rooms. Keep bedrooms, bathrooms, neighbours' windows and staff quarters out of view.
• No secret recording: tell people cameras are in use, for example with a simple sign.
• Faces and number plates are sensitive: face matching is the most personal feature, so use it only if you really need it.
• Cloud or local: footage in a cloud service sits on someone else's server. Recording locally keeps it at home.
• Keep it secure: change default passwords, keep updates on, and keep cameras off your main home network if you can.
• Do not rely on alarms alone: in an emergency, call the police or emergency services. A camera alert is not a response.

In India, footage of an identifiable person is personal data under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Ordinary household use may be treated differently from a shop or housing society, but being careful is good practice either way. This is general guidance, not legal advice.

DORI: how clearly will the camera see?

DORI comes from the IEC EN 62676-4 standard. It rates a camera by how many pixels land on each metre of the scene (PPM). More pixels per metre means more detail.

Two things decide how far a camera reaches each level: the picture width in pixels (more MP is better) and the view angle (a narrower view reaches farther). It is the same idea as the View angle slider on the 3D page. The closer the person, the more detail you get.

These are planning values, not guarantees. Light, focus and movement also change what you can see.

SentryCAD DORI calculator (free, no sign-in)

To use it, enter the picture width in pixels (1920 for 2 MP, 2560 for 4 MP) and the horizontal view angle from the camera's spec sheet.