myhometheaterpc.com

Here's a Link to my Camera 101 Powerpoint. It was written in mid-2007, so the info is slightly dated, but not much.

Here's a writeup about my CCTV setup. You'll see the camera types, costs, and example screenshots for 2 of them. They're a little grainy, but for the price I was willing to spend ($150-$200 per camera) that's about what you'd get. If I spent a little more, I could get much nicer images, but I bought these before I knew better and it's not like i'm going to be able to re-sell these for much. They're fine for my needs.

I currently have 4 different types of cameras:

1) A mini-dome camera on my front door without IR (Infrared) illumination built-in.

Most would say this is very ugly as it stands out, but to me, that's the point. No way would someone miss this, so they know they're being recorded. This is 1/3", 480TVLine lens, which is basically a middle-of-the-road camera. It's $190, part of the reason for the cost is that it's a dome.

I don't need any IR on this as I have a motion sensor light 4' above it, so if anyone comes near at night the light will come on.

I don't have a screenshot handy, i'll get one later and put it up.

3) A Vitek Bullet Camera with built-in IR illumunation.

It's a 1/3", 450TVLines model, $156.
I would *NOT* get this camera again as the built-in IR generates lots of "cloudiness" at night, as the IR bounces off everything, esp the inevitable cobwebs on/near it. If I had to do it again, i'd get a seperate IR illuminator
Link to details.
Screenshot from it.

4) A covert, motion sensor with a hidden camera.

it's a pinhole type camera, where no one would know it's a camera. This is actually hooked up to the security system, it's a fully functional motion sensor. It just also has a 2nd wire coming out of it for the camera portion. The wires are pretty small too, so not very obtrusive.

Link to details.

I typically use 2 of these baluns, one on each side of the wiring run so I can use CAT3 or 22guage/2conductor wire which is pretty small. If you look at the pic below:

all you need to do is use those screw terminals on the top, connect one wire to each terminal, plug the "tail" with the connector into the camera on one side, and your DVR on the other side, and you're done. How simple is that :-)