By CamCentral Systems Inc. · AXIS Gold Solution & Technology Integration Partner · Updated June 2026

Choosing a video surveillance system comes down to a handful of decisions: what you need to see, where the cameras go, how long you keep footage, and which software ties it together. This guide walks through each one, compares the major brands we carry, and gives concrete recommendations by use case so you can shortlist the right gear quickly.

The 6 decisions that define your system

• Resolution & detail — 2MP (1080p) is fine for general coverage; 4K/8MP and beyond when you must read faces or plates. More megapixels need more light, bandwidth and storage.
• Field of view — a fixed lens for a defined area, a varifocal for adjustable zoom, a multi-sensor/panoramic to replace several cameras, or a PTZ to actively follow activity.
• Environment — indoor vs. outdoor (IP66+), vandal-resistant (IK10), temperature range, and special cases like explosion-proof or marine.
• Low light & IR — built-in IR range, or color-at-night sensors for parking lots and perimeters; thermal where detection matters more than identification.
• Analytics — on-camera AI (object classification, line-crossing, license-plate, loitering) reduces false alarms and operator load far more than raw resolution does.
• Recording & software — an NVR for smaller sites, a server-based VMS for larger or multi-site deployments, sized for your retention (days of footage) and integrations.

Camera types — and when to use each

AXIS vs. Hanwha vs. Pelco vs. Canon

All four are professional, genuine-warranty brands we carry. The short version: AXIS for the broadest open platform and analytics, Hanwha for value-plus-AI, Pelco for rugged and mission-critical, Canon for specialized high-detail optics.

Brand	Best for	Strengths	Typical use
AXIS	Open platform & analytics	Widest ACAP analytics ecosystem, AXIS Camera Station VMS, build quality, strong cybersecurity	Enterprise, government, multi-site, anything analytics-heavy
Hanwha Vision (Wisenet)	Value + on-camera AI	Excellent price-to-performance, on-board WiseAI, WAVE VMS, deep model range	Mid-market, retail chains, schools, budget-conscious upgrades
Pelco	Rugged & mission-critical	Explosion-proof, long-range PTZ, harsh-environment housings, industrial heritage	Ports, energy, transportation, perimeters, critical infrastructure
Canon	Specialized imaging	Premium optics and low-light performance for high-detail requirements	Niche high-resolution and challenging-light applications

Recording & video management software

NVR or server-based VMS?

A network video recorder (NVR) is a turnkey appliance — ideal up to a few dozen cameras at a single site. A server-based VMS (AXIS Camera Station, Milestone XProtect, Genetec Security Center, or Hanwha WAVE/SSM) scales to hundreds or thousands of cameras across multiple locations, with richer analytics, access-control integration and redundancy.

Platform	Sweet spot	Notes
AXIS Camera Station	Small–mid AXIS sites	Tight AXIS integration, simple licensing; we are Camera Station Specialists
Milestone XProtect	Open, scalable enterprise	Vendor-neutral, vast device support, strong third-party add-ons
Genetec Security Center	Unified security	Video + access control + ALPR in one platform; government & large enterprise
Hanwha WAVE / SSM	Value Hanwha deployments	Cost-effective, easy to deploy with Wisenet cameras

How much storage will I need?

Storage depends on camera count, resolution, frame rate, scene activity, codec and retention. Modern H.265 / smart codecs cut storage dramatically versus older H.264. As a rough planning figure, a 4MP camera with smart codec at 30 days retention often lands around 0.3–1 TB per camera — but the only accurate number comes from a proper calculation. Send us your camera list and we will size it for you.

Best system by use case

Site	Recommended approach
Small business / retail	2–8 fixed domes/bullets (AXIS M-line or Hanwha Q/X) on an NVR or AXIS Camera Station; add a PTZ for the lot.
Warehouse / industrial	Multi-sensor or panoramic at intersections, PTZ for aisles/yard, server VMS; thermal on the perimeter.
Parking lot / perimeter	Color-at-night bullets + PTZ, thermal for early detection, license-plate (LPR) analytics at entries.
Construction site	Time-lapse + remotely monitored PTZ, often solar/4G; documents progress and deters theft.
Port / energy / critical infrastructure	Pelco explosion-proof and long-range PTZ, thermal, on Genetec or Milestone for unified control.
Campus / multi-building	Mixed AXIS/Hanwha cameras + access control unified in Genetec or Milestone, centrally managed.

Why buy from CamCentral

We have specified, installed and supported surveillance systems for 40+ years. As an AXIS Gold Solution & Technology Integration Partner (plus Milestone, Hanwha and Genetec accreditations) we sell genuine, warrantied equipment, and — unlike a pure reseller — we can design the system, write custom analytics, install it and support it afterwards. Prices show in CAD or USD and we ship worldwide.