When you set up a security camera system, you want to cover a particular area, right? Whether it’s for home, commercial, or social use, you expect to have no blind spots to protect your property, ensure proper workflows, and maintain order. That’s why it is crucial to know how far can security cameras see before you take any steps to purchase them.
In this article, I will answer the main question about the camera view distance and explain what affects the camera visibility range distance.
How far can an average surveillance camera see?
Security cameras are not the same. Thus, some may cover a larger view, while others will give you a glimpse into a small area.
Generally, a security camera’s vision range goes between 10 and 70 ft. However, some high-end devices and night cameras cover an area of 100 – 200 ft.
Factors that impact the view distance of security cameras
The lens size
FFirst and foremost, how far the camera sees will depend on what lens it has. Every lens has a particular set of capabilities, and it won’t be able to physically deliver more than the manufacturer defined it.
The rule of thumb says: the smaller the focal length, the wider the view field it will cover. Likewise, a larger focal length results in a narrower field of view.
The lens type
Depending on its type, the camera’s lens can either give you the option to adjust the view distance or not. There are two types of camera lenses:
- A fixed lens – has a fixed focal length (2.8 mm, 3.6 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm, 12 mm, and so on) which you can’t change.
- A varifocal lens – offers a variable focal length you can adjust to fit the installation needs.
The viewing angle
The CCTV camera range distance also relies on the viewing angle. It defines the field of view, which stands for the coverage area the camera can capture when placed at a particular angle. The wider view field results in larger area coverage. But in this case, details may suffer as objects appear to be smaller and more distant. The narrower viewing angle will give a clearer image but won’t do well with a larger distance.
Installation location
When it comes to the camera location, the distance to the monitored object and the height at which it is mounted are critical. Objects that are located at a serious distance are hard to capture. They will look distant and small, preventing effective monitoring. On the other hand, a proper height will let you set up a perfect viewing angle, covering as little or as much of the space as you want. It is also necessary to consider the possibility of dirt and bugs, so it is necessary to clean the surveillance camera regularly.
Resolution
The market is brimming with camera offers for any taste and budget. So, you will find both low- and high-resolution devices on the market.
High-resolution cameras (4K, 5MP, 4MP, etc.) will replicate more details and deliver a crisper image. They are pricier but will satisfy your need for a quality video. In addition, you need to keep in mind the data storage (records). The higher the resolution, the more storage space will be needed.
How far can security cameras see at night?
That’s another good question. Generally speaking, the distance at which the night camera covers the area depends on the following:
- The number of LEDs
- The capabilities of the infrared sensor
- Lens quality
Most cameras with night vision can see to a distance between 100 and 200 ft, with a maximum of 300 ft. These cameras will help you monitor the property not only during the daytime but also at night.
