The mere presence of security cameras can have an immediate impact on home security. They can be an effective deterrent against thieves and vandals, as well as an effective tool in crime prevention. With so many cameras now monitored via a mobile app, it’s easier to keep an eye on your home. In our experience, while security cameras are easier to use than ever before, purchasing the equipment itself has become more complicated, with cameras offering a wide variety of features that can be confusing to consumers.
If you’re considering purchasing security cameras, weigh all the pros and cons before investing in a security camera system.
Why do you need security cameras?
You know you need cameras, but do you know why?
Security cameras offer a simple, relatively inexpensive way to protect people and property from intruders. Installing a home security camera indoors or outdoors allows you to remotely see what’s going on in your property at any time, thanks to built-in motion sensors.
Good security cameras provide peace of mind when you’re away from home. The footage can be used to inform the police if something suspicious happens near the property or to bring the perpetrator to justice. Studies have shown that the mere presence of a camera can deter a potential burglar, who will view a home with cameras as a difficult target for break-ins and abandon their plans to break into the property.
What do burglars see?
Start by identifying the weak points of your property. Identifying the problem areas of your home can be made much easier by looking at your home through the eyes of a burglar. Ask yourself, “If I were a burglar, how would I break into my house?” Think about what burglars are looking for and check if your home has these areas adequately protected. Look for areas that are poorly lit or not lit at night. Areas that would be good hiding places and paths where thieves can get out without arousing suspicion.
Features to look for in a camera
When you look at the many camera options available, you may be surprised by the wide range of choices. Plus, the wide selection helps ensure you’re getting a quality product with effective features – and the peace of mind you need to feel safe in your home.
Here are some features we consider essential in home security cameras:
Fast motion activation
Choose a camera that works quickly and without hesitation. The camera should start recording as soon as it detects motion and/or noise and send an alert to you and/or your security team. This feature is partly dependent on the strength and speed of your Wi-Fi signal. However, a good camera will always “wake up” when motion is detected to send an alert.
Quality video resolution
This is one of the most important considerations when choosing a camera, in order to get crisp, high-quality images. When you start comparing options, you’ll find many security cameras claiming 1080p video resolution. But many cameras will only reach that 1080p benchmark under the most ideal conditions, like when your Wi-Fi signal is working at full strength. And resolution isn’t the only factor that determines the quality of a security camera’s video. It can also be determined by the frame rate and whether the camera uses high dynamic range (HDR). The higher the frame rate, the smoother the video. Video is a series of still images stitched together to create a moving image. The lower the frame rate, the less often a still image is captured, resulting in more jittery footage. Real-time metering is typically measured at 30 frames per second.
Lighting and Visibility
If you plan to use your camera indoors with lights always on, almost any camera will do. However, if you plan to place your indoor camera against a door or window, you’ll need to buy a camera with high dynamic range. In this case, the light coming from behind the subject is much brighter than the ambient light, and this will create an image where the subject appears as a shadow and cannot be recognized.
At night, to film quality video, you need alternative lighting, which is usually night vision LEDs. These infrared LEDs produce light that is invisible to the naked eye. In fact, if you look closely, they glow red, but you won’t see a beam of light coming from them. Night vision LEDs cannot be used through glass.
Two-way audio
As well as 1080p and night vision, two-way audio has become a standard that is expected from home security cameras these days. Two-way audio allows you to instantly communicate with the person at your home from anywhere.
File storage
Think about how much time you plan to spend reviewing your footage? Do you need the cameras to run 24/7, or are you looking for a camera that records video and is only activated when motion is detected? The latter setup is obviously more cost-effective. The camera won’t need to record everything, so you’ll pay less for video storage.
When calculating the dr
