How to Read Security Camera Specs: A Guide for Bulgarian Shoppers

Why Specs Matter More Than Photos

Product photos of security cameras are nearly useless for comparison — most cameras look alike. What actually distinguishes a great camera from a mediocre one is buried in the specification sheet. Learning to read camera specs is one of the most valuable skills you can develop as a buyer, and it will save you money and frustration.

Resolution: More Than Just Megapixels

Camera resolution is measured in megapixels (MP) or expressed as a standard like 1080p, 4MP, 5MP, or 4K (8MP). Higher resolution means more detail, but also requires more storage and bandwidth. For most home and small business use in Bulgaria, 2MP (1080p) is the minimum and 4MP is increasingly the practical sweet spot.

Note: resolution is not the same as image quality. A well-designed 2MP camera with a quality lens and good low-light sensitivity can outperform a cheap 4MP camera in real-world conditions.

Lens and Field of View

The lens focal length (measured in mm) determines how wide or narrow the camera's view is. A 2.8mm lens gives a wide ~100° field of view — great for covering large areas but with less detail on distant objects. A 4mm lens (~80°) is a good balance for most applications. 6mm and above are for longer-distance, narrower coverage.

Low-Light Performance

Look for the minimum illumination spec, measured in lux. The lower the number, the better the camera performs in darkness. Cameras rated at 0.01 lux or below with infrared LEDs active will produce usable images in near-total darkness. Also look for the IR distance rating — how far the infrared illumination reaches.

Compression Format

Modern cameras use H.265+ or H.265 compression, which provides the same quality as older H.264 at roughly half the storage requirement. When comparing systems, prioritize H.265 to keep your storage costs manageable.

Where to Find Detailed Specs in Bulgaria

RobiCam, Видеонаблюдение.БГ, and hikvision.bg are among the stores that consistently provide full technical datasheets on their product pages. ВЕОС ЕООД and cameri.eu also offer solid technical documentation. If a store doesn't provide detailed specs, treat that as a yellow flag and contact their support for clarification before buying.