Depending on the size of the building in which a camera is being used, a zoom lens security camera can either be a benefit or a distraction. Similar to a regular camera, the zoom lens provides an overall larger image than what is seen with the naked eye in order to bring the image closer. When an image is viewed through a zoom lens security camera, everything in front of it and behind the focus of the picture also appears closer to the camera.

While a zoom lens security camera can help provide accurate identification of people and objects further away, anything that is in front of the object may not be included in the picture and objects behind it may appear larger than they really are. Typically, a business will use an 8-mm lens on cameras that are focused between 10 and 30 feet and will use a zoom lens security camera for images further away, usually in parking lots or in large warehouses.

To capture images in tighter quarters, four and six-mm lenses are often used to capture a larger part of the scene. To be really useful, a zoom lens security camera should be able to be adjusted from remote control and in addition to be able to zoom in and out, should also be able to be panned and tilted to track a subject through a large area.
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Many businesses with a threat of break-ins after they close are starting to use an infrared security camera instead of adding additional lighting to capture videos of break-ins after dark. Often referred to as night-vision cameras, an infrared security camera should not be confused with day-night cameras that count on minute light from the stars and the moon, coupled with a wide lens opening, to capture images in near total darkness.

An infrared security camera will have a series of LEDs around the camera’s lens emitting light in the infrared specter, which is invisible to the naked eye. This technology can allow the image to appear nearly as good as it would if seen in daylight. In many cases, adding the smallest bit of light, such as from a full moon, and the scene captured on the infrared security camera will look like it is in the middle of the day. Too much light, however may wash the image out, but many of the better cameras can automatically turnoff the LEDs if they are not needed.
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