Micromark Twin Security Camera

Author's product rating:   

Advantages:	Great Value For Money
Disadvantages:	Picture quality isn't the best

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

These camera's use a standard CMOS lense so your not going to get the same type of picture quality as you would with CCD lenses.

However don't let that put you off. If you want a cheap budget twin camera system you do get good value for your money.

You get two camera's with audio, about 20m of cable for each camera, a switcher unit to display both cameras onto a standard tv or vcr and all the brackets and fixings you need, oh plus the power supply.

The units are really easy to set up and require no previous experience or electrical knowledge. Just fix the camera to the wall, run the cable back to the switcher, plug it all in to the mains and the tv or vcr and your up and running with your own CCTV system. See who's at your door or keep an eye on the kids or your car.

If you want to use it in low light i'd recommend having a movement activated security light as the camera's won't see far in the dark. The black and white camera's will work better in lower light rather than the colour version.

You should be able to pick up this twin system from around the £60 or so mark depending if you go for colour or b/w.

The switcher won't allow you to see both camera's on the screen at once, but gives you a couple of options -
1) lock onto one camera and show just that (if you need to see the other you can press the button and it'll stay on that one till you change it back)
2) select the auto switch option and the camera's will show first one then the next and keep alternating. you can set the time it stays on each camera from about 15 to 45 seconds.

Overall they are a great starter option but not top of the range overall.

Additions from comments recieved;

The difference between CCD and CMOS is basically (in my understanding at least) is the amount of tv lines that appear on the tv screen from the camera. Hence the more lines that appear the better the image. A CCD camera will give more tv lines than a CMOS hence providing a better image.

Also these units are not too discreet. They would act more as a deterent to someone looking to break in (similar to an alarm system). On the other hand a thief may think you have something in there to hide, so good and bad points. Also remember as they are not too discreet they'll need mounting at around ten feet at least or so to stop anyone nicking them.