Cheap CCTV for Business in Kenya

What "Cheap" Actually Means in CCTV

Cheap doesn't have to mean unreliable, but it does mean trade-offs. Here's what typically changes at a lower price point, so you know what you're accepting:

• Lower resolution — Budget cameras are usually 2MP rather than 4MP or 8MP -- enough to see what happened, less good at reading fine detail like number plates.
• Basic night vision — Standard infrared (black-and-white at night) rather than colour night vision -- still functional, just less detailed after dark.
• Shorter IR range — Fine for a small shop interior or till point; less suited to a large yard or car park.
• Fewer built-in features — No microphone, no advanced motion analytics -- the core recording function still works, extras are what's trimmed.

Common questions

Is cheap CCTV reliable for a business?

It can be, for the right use case -- a lower-spec camera watching a till point or entrance at close range works fine. Reliability comes more from correct installation and maintenance than from spending more.

What's the minimum CCTV setup for a small shop?

A single camera covering the till point and entrance is a reasonable starting point; most small businesses add 3-4 cameras to also cover the stockroom and back entrance.

Will a cheap camera cost more later in repairs?

Not inherently -- any camera can develop a fault. What matters more is buying from a source that can actually service it afterwards, rather than the price bracket itself.

Can I add more cameras later?

Yes, in most cases -- a 4-channel kit's recorder often has spare capacity, or a new recorder can be added as the business grows.