CCTV & Electronic Security · Halo Security WA
CCTV: what matters more than megapixels
Most disappointing camera systems are not under-specified. They are badly placed, badly lit, and retained for too short a period to be useful.
5 min read · Reviewed 2026-01-12
Resolution is spread across a field of view
A high-resolution camera covering a wide scene delivers few pixels on any single face or plate. The same camera on a narrow approach gives usable detail.
Design starts by deciding what the camera must be able to prove, then works back to placement and field of view.
Lighting decides night performance
Cameras record light. A bright light behind the subject silhouettes them; infrared illumination has a real working range, and beyond it the image is noise.
Fixing a night-time image is more often a lighting change than a camera change.
Retention is the quiet failure
Incidents are often noticed days later. If footage is overwritten in three days, the system did not fail technically — it failed in specification.
- Decide retention in days before choosing storage
- Higher resolution and frame rate consume retention quickly
- Confirm how footage is exported when it is actually needed
Residential and commercial differ
A house needs a handful of well-placed cameras covering approaches and entries. A commercial site adds car parks, service areas, multiple stakeholders and privacy obligations for staff and visitors.
Common questions
How many cameras do I need?
Fewer than most quotes assume, if each one is placed against a specific question you need answered.
How long should footage be kept?
Long enough that an incident noticed late is still recoverable. Two to four weeks is a common starting point for discussion.
Can Halo Security WA supply and install CCTV?
Yes. Halo Security WA specifies, supplies and installs camera and recording systems for homes, businesses and managed property, and can quote after discussing the areas you want covered.