Selecting the right cameras for your projects isn’t easy. There are many solutions to choose from, and numerous vendors to evaluate. Choosing the right cameras requires choosing the right vendor as well. Choosing the right vendor means one that not only delivers on your expectations for quality equipment and advanced features, but a partner who will provide the support you need throughout your project, and ensure your cameras are operating optimally.
Knowing what mistakes to avoid when talking to timelapse camera vendors will help you decide which cameras are the best fit for your job, and which vendor will be the best partner throughout your project.
1. Inadequate Market Research
Primarily, it is important to consider your reasons for installing cameras, and what kind of features you are looking for. Inadequate research leads to missed opportunities later. Without knowing what exactly you are looking for will lead to vendors confusing you with different projects, and trying to sell you products that do not cater to your needs. For conducting proper market research, one can start with reading online reviews.
2. Higher Cost
The higher-end doesn’t necessarily mean a better image or image quality. Just because something is special right now doesn’t mean it’s the right camera for you. Choosing a price range should be one of the prior things in your mind but it shouldn’t make you compromise with the features you are looking for in a camera. Some camera vendors have hidden costs. Make sure the cameras you purchase include all the necessary hardware and cabling to install them, and if you are using the solar route, find out if the panel, battery, and battery enclosure are also included. Don’t forget about the software. Timelapse solutions include software and some vendors tack on additional fees for upgrades or support that, over time, can add up and throw your project off-budget. Find out if you’ll be charged to add on new features as they become available, or if you’ll have to pay extra for media hosting or ongoing support.
3. No Weather Resistance
The construction site is more prone to adverse conditions compared to any internal or normal location. The use of an IP-rated weatherproof camera guarantees its resistance to rain and difficult conditions. Climatic conditions are an important factor for time-lapse cameras to function. It is necessary to protect the camera from the weather so as not to damage the equipment. While purchasing a timelapse camera, you have to make sure to choose one that has high strong weather resistance.
4. Buying an offline camera
Offline time-lapse cameras are unnecessary and a total waste of money. If something goes wrong with your camera, you won’t notice until your next visit which will result in losing all the work done in between the visits. It is important to buy an online system. An online system helps in saving time, finding out about issues before they become a problem, and helps in remote site monitoring. Live streaming and offline storage on the cloud are the features that should be considered as well.
5. Lack of Support Services
Despite the reliability of advanced camera solutions, there are cases where you’ll need support. Perhaps a camera is damaged during construction, or you need help getting up to speed on new software features while shooting a timelapse, or maybe you need a different type of camera in one location and want to swap out the existing one. The level of support your vendor provides will be critical to helping you move your project forward. Post-purchase support services are something that most people don’t consider but are one of the most important things to consider when purchasing a camera.
Why is photo documentation important in construction?
