Which security camera brand is better? What matters more than the logo

Why is the answer to the brand question in the model?

Brands such as Dahua, Hikvision, Uniview, Hanwha and Axis each offer a wide product range, from home cameras license plate recognition cameras. Under the same logo there is an entry model with a small sensor and fixed lens, and also a high-end model with a large sensor, motorized lens and analytics. If someone just gives you a brand name, ask which model they mean. Even a few letters at the end of the same model name can change the lens type, the night vision type or the analytics feature; ask for the datasheet with the full model name.

So do the comparison from the technical datasheet. The datasheet lists the lines described in the sections below and lets you put the models of two brands side by side.

How do the sensor and lens determine the image?

The sensor is the part that collects light. In the datasheet it is written as a size such as 1/2.8" or 1/1.8"; the smaller the second number, the bigger the sensor. At the same megapixels, a bigger sensor lets more light fall on each pixel, and this difference shows most at night and in dim environments. That is why a 4 MP camera with a large sensor can give a better night image than an 8 MP camera with a small sensor.

The lens determines how wide and how far the camera sees. The real measure is the number of pixels falling on the target. A 4 MP camera gives 2560 pixels of horizontal resolution. If the image covers a width of 10 meters, that is 2560 / 10 = 256 pixels per meter; if the same camera is fitted with a wide lens to cover a 20-meter area, it drops to 2560 / 20 = 128 pixels. If this number is low at the point where you want to recognize a face or plate, you need to narrow the lens or move the camera closer to the target; switching to another brand at the same resolution does not change this number.

For night image, look in the datasheet at the infrared range, color night vision and minimum illumination (lux) values. The infrared range written in the datasheet is for ideal conditions; in dusty Şanlıurfa air and on reflective surfaces it can be shorter in practice.

What affects compression and disk capacity?

The camera compresses the image before sending it to recording. At the same image quality, H.265 generally produces less data than H.264, which means longer recording on the same disk. Brands add their own smart compression modes on top of this under their own names.

A camera's smart compression mode may not be usable if the recorder does not recognize that mode, and the system falls back to the standard mode. If the camera and recorder are from different brands, ask about this before installation. To calculate how many days of recording you will keep, you can use the disk calculator on the tools page.

What does ONVIF compatibility provide, and how is it verified?

ONVIF is a standard created so that cameras and recorders of different brands can work together. Compatibility is defined through profiles. According to ONVIF's own description, a profile is a fixed set of features that a conformant device and client must support; a device and client that support the same profile are expected to work together. Profiles S, T, G and M are used in video systems.

You can check whether a product is really ONVIF conformant by searching ONVIF's conformant products database by manufacturer and profile name. ONVIF describes this database as the source that determines whether a product is officially conformant, and states that conformance applies to a specific software version.

In practice, when different brands are connected with ONVIF, the basic image and recording usually come through without problems. Analytics events such as person and vehicle classification, audio alerts or some PTZ settings may not work in every pairing. If you will use mixed brands, have the feature you need tested before buying.

Expert note: It is not enough for the datasheet to just say “ONVIF”. Check which profile it states and search for the model in ONVIF's conformant products list.

Why do the distributor and service in Türkiye matter?

When a camera fails, replacement or repair goes through the company that brought the product to Türkiye and the brand's official service network. If the brand has an official distributor and authorized service in Türkiye, the process is clear. For products imported outside the official channel, the fault process depends on the company that brought the product in.

Ask the company giving you a quote through which distributor the camera comes to Türkiye, where the device will be sent in case of a fault, and whether a temporary device will be installed in the meantime. In institutional purchases, ask for this information to be written in the quote; even if you cannot reach the person who prepared the quote when a fault appears a few years later, the process stays in the document. We explained the differences on this subject in detail in our article on authorized dealers and service.

How do you check software updates and password security?

Every camera connected to the network is like a computer open to the internet, and the manufacturer closes security holes over time with software updates. Before buying, look at the model's software files on the manufacturer's support page: when was the last update published, is the model still supported?

At installation, the following items should also be applied:

• The default password is changed on installation day
• The camera and recorder are delivered with current software
• Unused remote access services are turned off
• The administrator password and monitoring account are handed over to you
• Who will do updates, and how often, is discussed

How do you make the comparison?

First write down what you want to see at each camera point: the face of a person passing through the door, a plate at 15 meters, or a general view of the garden. Then take the sensor, lens, night image, compression and ONVIF profile lines from the datasheet of the model in each quote and put them in a table. In the last row add the distributor in Türkiye and the date of the latest software update.

Desa Bilişim is a Dahua authorized dealer, with authorization through Cede, Westa, Decon, Fujitron and Okisan; whichever brand we propose in a quote, we can review the model datasheet and these lines together. You can reach us at 0 (414) 312 33 72.

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