There are two main applications for security cameras—namely cameras for the home and cameras for a business. There’s no real difference between them and their features are diverse depending on where they are used.
This article contains no affiliate links but does link to Canadian security camera companies, their products or their service partners.
Now, I have to admit I’m a little bias because I used a low budget, and virtually free security camera because, well, it’s free but you’re here because you need an advanced camera system. Here’s the top seven security cameras I found so far:
- GeoVision
- Axis
- Dahua Technology
- HIKVision
- Exacq Technologies
- VIVOTEK
- Avigilon
I only listed 7 because these are truly in the list of top 10 or top 20 security camera companies that Canadians have access to, and I didn’t want to overwhelm or confused you.
Note: once you choose a company, you’ll have to find a local company that installs and configures business security camera systems and set up a monthly plan for alarm monitoring.
GeoVision
GeoVision is good because they are in it to win it. They provide a massive suite of security products, including but not limited to cameras, digital signage, access control, and video management software. The drawback is that they don’t primarily focus on cameras.
Companies that have a primary focus on one particular product tend to provide a superior product. That’s not to say that GeoVision is not good—they are but there are other companies that go a little further.
Axis
Axis is similar to GeoVision in that they don’t specialize in security cameras, but they do provide a massive suite of security and access control related products. They’re big. Axis has been on the scene for a long time, and have refined their products and services and can considered a state of the art company.
As I mentioned they don’t have a primary focus, but if you visit their website you’ll see that you can find a solution for any security related need you have. Their technologies include features like Zipstream, Lightfinder, Wide Dynamic Range, Image Stabilization, and Radar technology. Their products include network cameras, video recorders, network audio systems, security accessories, video management software, access control, and even camera devices you can wear.
Axis is trust with hundreds of industries from retail and transportation to hotels and casinos but are their security cameras good? Probably.
They sell 12 different camera products which are used for different applications. Each category of cameras also has an array of styles and options that can be applied to them depending on your need.
Axis is so big that they have offices and service providers in virtually every country in the world. I can safely say visit their website and look further into them. You probably won’t go wrong.
Dahua Technology
Dahua Technology primarily focuses on security cameras and their associated supporting systems. They’re mostly provide business security solutions but they do have a suite of home security products too.
They sell network cameras, video intercoms, drones, video conferencing, machine vision cameras, and thermal cameras to name a few. Their industries include schools, corporate offices, retail stores, hospitals, bars, restaurants, and much more.
Dahua has over 16,000 employees dispersed in a 180 countries. They’re always investing in new R&D and have been since they started, so you can expect to get a quality product that’s reliable and considered next generation.
HIKVision
HIKVision does product security cameras that can be installed in the home, but their primary focus is on business security cameras for a few of industries. These include retail and education. Not much more but these do include such features as mask detection and temperature screening cameras. In today’s environment, temperature screening cameras are considered essential for various industries including those in health care and other industries where temperature screening is an essential aspect of their business.
Hikvision was established in 2001 so they have at least 20 years of innovative experience in the industry, but they haven’t been in business as long as some of the other—more popular security camera companies like Dahua, Axis, and GeoVision. That doesn’t mean they’re not good and reliable—on the contrary. Hikvision boasts to being the world’s leading video surveillance products supplier. Although this is debatable among camera companies, they do have over 7000 engineers working on R&D and were rated an A3 rated company by international credit rating agencies like Fitch, S&P and Moody’s. Here’s another company that will probably provide you with a reliable solution for your home or business security but you have to investigate which cameras would work for your particular situation.
Exacq Technologies
Exacq is actually a full-fledged manufacturer of video management system (VMS) software and servers used for video surveillance. The don’t primarily focus on security camera manufacturing, but their cameras are supported by a vast network of security related systems.
They provide their security solutions to an array of industries including schools, healthcare, retail, financial and government. They do not however appear to provide any solutions for home security. If you’re looking for a home security solution, your best bet is to look and investigate the other companies mentioned in this article.
To be honest, I would recommend researching other more established security camera companies depending on how scalable you need your system to be. Or, if you really like what they offer after reviewing their products, I would advise that you contact them before you commit. This way you can be sure they’ll be able to provide you with a solution that you truly need. Don’t take my word for it.
VIVOTEK
One good thing with Vivotek is that they do provide a home security camera solution, although it’s not widely advertised on their website. You have to call them and ask them to send you more details. They do however, provide an impressive set of specialized security cameras for various applications including but not limited to:
- crowd control
- cloud-based surveillance
- facial recognition
- license plate recognition
- retail solutions
- panoramic surveillance
They have a wide array of products including network cameras, video servers and receivers, an AI solution, cloud services, and network related products. They are still quite young—being founded in 2000—but they have quite an impressive suite of products that should be investigated by the business owner that wants a reliable solution to their security issues.
At the moment, we cannot find information on their website about whether they provide anything other than their prestigious IP surveillance camera products.
Avigilon
The last on our list is Avigilon. Avigilon can actually be considered a leader in security cameras and they provide supporting security systems including access control, AI video processing, software management, a vast array of cameras and sensors, and they have solutions that integrate with Motorola products.
They have almost 20 different cameras including the following which also come with varying styles and features:
- H4 Thermal Camera
- H4 Thermal Elevated Temperature Detection
- H4ES Camera Line
- A Camera Line
- A Explosion-Protected Camera Line
- SL Camera Line
- H4 Mini Dome Camera
- M Camera Line
- Avigilon Presence Detector (APD)
- H4A Camera Line
- H4SL Camera Line
- H4 Fisheye Camera
- H4 PTZ Camera
- H4 IR PTZ Camera
- H4 Video Intercom
- H4 Pro Camera Line
- H4 Multi-sensor Camera
- H4 LPC Camera
Another one of Avigilon’s best features is their support system—it’s massive. They have specialized support for virtually every department of their business including live chat, and customer and partner training. They only service the US and Canada, but they have locations across the states and provinces.
As they say on their website:
“Our video security, cloud and access control solutions are integrated and powered by AI to provide you with the right information at the right time — so you can take decisive action.”
The above quote basically summarizes what you can expect if you decide to purchase a camera system with them.
Who Won?
I like what GeoVision and VIVOTEK. GeoVision for because they have so many cameras, and they are not shy to make them better every year. VIVOTEK because you can find home solutions with them. Residential security is important to people too and so being able to provide solutions for both cases means the company is versatile. Versatility usually equates to more revenue which provides the opportunity for more R&D which in turn benefits the end user.
Don’t take it all from me! Research yourself. If you would like to provide details on other security camera companies in Canada, leave them in the comments below.