IP Cameras

Learning About Uniview IP Cameras

Uniview is one of the leading manufacturers for security cameras, video recorders, and VMS servers. Their products are ideal for commercial projects, such as warehouses, apartment buildings, construction sites, and retail plazas.

What types of cameras does Uniview sell?

Uniview cameras are generally categorized by resolution and housing type. For example, a project might call for 4MP dome cameras inside the warehouse and 8MP bullet cameras on the exterior of the building.

In terms of resolution, we recommend choosing either a 4MP or 8MP camera. The resolution you choose depends on your project budget and how much detail you need to see during playback.

For general observation, we recommend 4MP cameras thanks to their affordability and excellent image quality. They also take up less bandwidth, which means you can store footage on the NVR for longer.

When you need to see clear details from a distance, we recommend choosing 8MP cameras. They have twice the number of pixels compared to 4MP cameras, which means you can digitally zoom further into the image. This allows you to pick up small details, such as the logo on a package or the license plate of a vehicle in the distance.

You can read this article for a more detailed comparison between different camera resolutions.

In terms of camera housing, turret is the most common type by a wide margin and we generally recommend choosing it as the default option.

Turret Cameras

Turret cameras are easier to install and angle the lens compared to other camera types. They are also resistant to IR reflection issues, which can affect dome cameras. Around 90% of the cameras we sell are turret style, so we highly recommend choosing this form factor.

Dome Cameras

Dome cameras are suitable for indoor use – typically where the cameras may experience a higher rate of vandalism. They have an IK10 (impact resistance) rating, which means they can take the impact of a hammer being dropped from a second storey window (12 feet).

Another benefit of dome cameras is that the lens is obscured by the dome cover. This makes it difficult for people to tell which direction the camera is facing – which can make shoplifters more wary of their actions.

Bullet Cameras

Bullet cameras are a niche style compared to turret and domes. They are generally used for outdoor, varifocal lens cameras where you need to see an object further in the distance.

Since the body of a bullet camera is larger than a turret or dome, they can be equipped with a longer lens from the factory. This allows the camera to zoom into a small area for improved details.

Generally, bullet cameras are used for reading license plates of vehicles turning into a driveway from the road. For example, this Uniview LPR camera is equipped with an 8–32mm lens that allows it to automatically recognize license plates up to about 150 feet.

Cameras with built-in microphones

The majority of cameras available from Uniview include a built-in microphone. This allows the camera to record audio, allowing you to hear what’s going on during live view and playback.

The audio quality of the microphone leaves a bit to be desired. You can watch this video to get an idea of how the audio sounds.

Still, some audio is better than nothing – and you can always disable it later if you don’t need it. So, it’s better to buy a camera with a built-in microphone and not need it, than to buy one without a microphone – only to find out you need it later.

Two-way audio cameras (Active Deterrence)

Uniview also carries a selection of cameras with two-way audio. They are also known as Tri-Guard Cameras, and they are useful for deterring trespassers or thieves from messing with your property.

For example, you can set a schedule from 10 PM to 5 AM, so anyone who walks into a certain area will be notified with an audible alert, “You are in the intrusion area. Please leave.”

By alerting people that they are being actively monitored, you will make them think twice before they try to hop over a fence or peer into your car that’s parked on the driveway.