This is a question asked by every second customer who comes to us for a video surveillance system. Everyone has their own preferences, so this is simply SpesLab’s personal view. Let’s begin:

1. Living under cameras is not very comfortable, which is one of the reasons why we do not like traditional camera designs.

We prefer various “bird’s nest” designs and any other solutions that do not resemble traditional camera forms.

2. BUT! The biggest evil is the dome glass. Secondly, it is constantly scratched by dust and reduces visibility. First of all, its spherical shape distorts the image, which has a harmful effect on today’s AI-powered video surveillance systems.

3. For the same reason of comfort, the camera should blend into the background, meaning it should have the same color as the wall, pole, ceiling, or any other surface on which it is installed.

4. For low-mounted cameras, which are usually installed in passageways to capture faces, it is better to choose small cameras. Simply so that people do not trip over them.

Even better, it is preferable to use a form that does not look like a camera at all, so that it does not irritate people by its presence within their field of view. In the past, custom designs could be easily ordered.

For a camera to capture faces, it has to see a person’s gaze. At the same time, the person sees the camera looking at them.

We thought about this for a long time and found that the least irritating camera is the one integrated into an intercom — people are already used to it. That is why we use such small boxes for face recognition.

The button is also functional — it allows a person to report an emergency situation to security, with two-way communication support.

Well, let us highlight the main characteristic of all the cameras from our previous reviews: both video streams must have a native 16:9 resolution. Not just one stream for recording — both of them, including the live view. This eliminates distortions during human viewing and allows neural networks to work more efficiently.

Alternatively, you can use video surveillance systems that are capable of working with a single stream while maintaining the highest possible quality. For example, Videoblazer.

For a camera to capture faces, it must be able to see a person’s gaze. At the same time, the person sees the camera looking at them.

P.S.: Even though cameras are everywhere today, do not forget to respect not only the law, but also common courtesy by informing people about their presence. A properly chosen camera form factor reduces the discomfort caused by surveillance, but people should always be aware that they are being monitored.

What types of cameras do you prefer?

Daniil Grishanin
=SpesLab=

What camera form-factor should you choose?