Comparison Xiaomi Outdoor Camera BW500 vs Xiaomi Outdoor Camera BW300

Operating range of the backlight (see "Design and capabilities") installed in the surveillance camera. This term usually means the maximum distance from the camera to the observed object, at which it is able to provide a relatively high-quality and legible image in the complete absence of other light sources. Of course, the actual backlight range may differ from the claimed one, and these differences are most often in the direction of increase (for example, due to the presence of the same additional light sources). However, if the possibility of shooting with backlight is important for you, you should focus on the claimed range.

Camera sensor resolution in megapixels (millions of pixels).

The higher the resolution of the matrix, the higher the video resolution can be (see below), the more detailed the image is capable of providing the camera. At the same time, note that as the number of megapixels increases (without changing the size of the matrix), the size of each individual pixel decreases, which increases the likelihood of noise and deterioration in the overall image quality. Therefore, high resolution in itself is not necessarily a sign of high quality — a lot depends on other things, for example, on the size of the matrix (see above).

As for specific values, in the most modest matrices it does not exceed 1.3 MP, which corresponds to the maximum HD resolution. 2 MP sensors allow for already Full HD resolution (usually 1920x1080 or 1600x1200), 3 MP, 4 MP, 5 MP and 6 MP are capable of better resolution, but still do not reach 4K, which is typical for 8 MP.

The maximum video resolution that the camera can capture.

The higher the resolution of the video, the more details you can see on it, the less details will be blurry. On the other hand, high resolution means large volumes of video materials, which, accordingly, requires capacious media for their storage and fast communication channels for broadcasting video in real time. Yes, and this indicator significantly affects the cost of the camera.

The camera's diagonal field of view is measured from one corner of the image to the opposite, expressed in degrees. For models with variable zoom ratios, the maximum value is indicated, since it is the width of the image that is important, and when zooming in, the zoom ratio is more important, not the angle.

The diagonal viewing angle determines how much of an area of space can be captured by the camera. The wider the viewing angle, the more space the camera captures. But at the same time, the smaller the images of individual objects in the frame are. When choosing according to this parameter, it is worth deciding what is more important - the ability to view a large scene or the visibility of small details in a relatively narrow field of view.

The video compression format used by the camera.

Compression is used to reduce the file sizes of captured video; different technologies can be used for this — the so-called codecs, their list is given in this paragraph. From a practical point of view, compatibility with external recording and playback devices primarily depends on the supported codecs. If you plan to use a computer as a recorder / player, you can ignore this list: modern PCs and laptops usually support a very extensive list of formats, and in extreme cases, the missing codecs can be installed separately. But if we are talking about specialized registrars, individual players (like home media centers), etc. — codec compatibility should be clarified further. So, if the advanced modern H.265 standard is very widely supported nowadays, then the more specific H.265+, originally created for surveillance systems, is much less common even in specialized equipment.

The ambient temperature range in which the camera can be used normally.

All modern surveillance cameras normally tolerate temperatures typical for houses / apartments, offices and other premises with similar mild conditions. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to this parameter, first of all, if the device is planned to be used outdoors — or in a room where the temperature does not differ much from the street temperature or, for technical reasons, should be low (freezer warehouse, refrigerated car, etc. ). In such cases, the lower temperature threshold is especially important: for example, almost all outdoor cameras have the ability to work in cold temperatures below 0 °, but among indoor models such features are much less common. However, frost-resistant devices(with an allowable temperature of -40 °C and below) can also be found not only among outdoor cameras, but also among “internal” cameras.

As for the upper temperature limit, it is usually not lower than +40 °C, which is quite enough for using the camera in a temperate climate. In some models, this limit reaches +50 °C and even +60 °C, making them suitable even for hot countries. However, note that we are talking exclusively about use in the shade; the possibility of working under direct sunlight should be clarified separately.