Selecting the Right Security Camera for Your Surveillance Installation in Brisbane
1. Start With Clear Surveillance Goals
Before you compare megapixels or price tags, ask one question: “What do I need this camera system to achieve—today and five years from now?” Your goals will shape every decision that follows.
Evidence gathering – Identify intruders, vehicles, or OH&S incidents.
Active deterrence – Pair cameras with sirens or strobe lights.
Operational analytics – Queue management, heat mapping, or vehicle profiling.
For a deeper dive on defining objectives, see our post Choosing the Right CCTV & Surveillance System for Your Brisbane Property.
2. Camera Placement Beats Megapixels
No amount of resolution saves a poorly positioned camera. As a rule of thumb, expect clear facial or licence‑plate identification only within 5–10 metres of the lens (daytime) and slightly less at night. Always prioritise:
Height – 2.7–3 m for residential, 3.5 m+ for commercial sites.
Angle – Avoid back‑lighting and extreme tilt that distorts faces.
Overlap – Ensure critical areas are covered by at least two cameras.
3. Match Form Factor to Environment
Turret (Eyeball) – Ideal for homes and SME premises. Offers minimal glare, flexible adjustment and a budget‑friendly price point.
Dome (IK10 Vandal‑Resistant) – Best for public areas, schools, and locations prone to tampering; the lens is shielded behind a strong, clear dome.
Bullet – Perfect for carparks, long corridors, and areas needing visible deterrence or longer‑reach optics.
4. Fixed Lens vs Varifocal vs PTZ
Fixed Lens (most installs) – Cost‑effective, fewer moving parts, quick setup.
Motorised Varifocal – Allows installers to zoom in remotely for perfect framing on poles or façade corners; designed for set‑and‑forget operation.
PTZ (Pan‑Tilt‑Zoom) – Lets live operators or AI software track moving targets in real time; always pair with fixed‑view cameras to preserve scene context.
5. Specialty & Multi‑Sensor Cameras
Multi‑Optic 360° (four/five‑sensor “one‑cable” units) – Replace up to five standard cameras with a single device; great for warehouses, bridges or poles where cabling is expensive.
Fisheye 360° – Provide full‑room coverage but often suffer from lens distortion; now eclipsed by multi‑sensor models.
Thermal & Explosion‑Proof – Monitor battery farms, refineries, or hazardous sites where heat anomalies or spark‑free housings are critical.
6. Understanding Camera Analytics
Basic Motion – Pixel‑shift alerts; high false‑alarm rate, suited only to low‑risk backyards.
Line / Intrusion – Virtual fence crossings for reliable perimeter detection and loading‑bay monitoring.
AI Object Detection – Distinguishes humans, vehicles and animals; perfect for accurate driveway or perimeter alerts.
Advanced AI – Adds demographic data, vehicle make, colour, and age estimation—useful in retail, logistics and gated communities.
Enterprise AI – Heat mapping, queue‑length monitoring, slip‑and‑fall detection—ideal for shopping centres, transport hubs and smart‑city projects.
Pro tip: Ensure your VMS or NVR can receive analytic metadata via ONVIF Profile M or a robust API; otherwise those AI features stay locked in the camera.
7. Budgeting: From Entry‑Level to Enterprise
Ajax 5 MP Fixed Turret – AUD $360 ex GST
Perfect for homes and small offices needing AI human/vehicle/Animal detection.
Hanwha P‑Series PNM‑C34404RQPZ Multi‑Optic + PTZ – just under AUD $10 k
Combines four varifocal sensors and an onboard PTZ to cover 360°—great for large industrial sites with limited cabling pathways.
Powerful onboard analytics
Excellent way to minimise infrastructure and licensing costs for enterprise VMS Solutions
Don’t forget installation and infrastructure costs.
Factor in a skilled two‑technician crew—typically around AUD $2,000ex GST per day, with variables such as roof height, conduit runs, and equipment mounting influencing labour. On top of labour, budget for the backbone that makes your cameras work: PoE switches, NVR or server hardware, secure storage drives, quality Cat6/Fibre cabling, racks, and surge‑protected power. Investing in robust infrastructure up‑front prevents costly call‑backs and ensures your Brisbane CCTV system runs smoothly for years.
Need Help Selecting the Perfect Camera Mix?
Let ProCCTV design a system that fits your goals, budget, and Brisbane property layout. Book a free site assessment or call (07) 5235 4444 today.
ProCCTV – Brisbane’s trusted partner for professional CCTV design and installation