Top Security Cameras for Home and Business
For homeowners, businesses, and everyone in-between, deciding on what security camera to purchase in today’s market can sometimes be mind-boggling. However, choosing the right system doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Once you know the features and capabilities that you require and the types of security cameras that are available in the market, then you are in a better position to compare and select the most appropriate security system. This guide will also offer recommendations on how to select the best security cameras for various environments so that you can select the one that best fits your needs.
Image Quality and Features Other issues to follow include the quality and features provided by the video image. For obtaining clear images that will enable you to recognize faces or license plates, you will need to go for a 1080p HD camera or even better. Other benefits can also be observed, including the wide dynamic range, day night vision, as well as the pan tilt zoom mechanism. While dynamic range captures sharper images in low-lighting and high-illumination scenes, day night vision enables the lens to switch to infrared monochrome mode for better nighttime vision. PTZ means that the camera can be rotated or zoomed remotely to monitor activities on a particular area.
Usually, the homeowners would suffice with 1080p resolution along side the viewing angle of 100 to 130 degrees to capture the middle to large areas. People who need the entire room or intersection recordings may opt for 180 to 360-degree panoramic cameras. Knowing which areas you want the cameras to focus on and choosing lenses that are properly oriented enhances usefulness.
Wired or Wireless Security Cameras The right camera setup also depends on your ability and desire for installing an electrical wiring system if you are to go for a wired system. Wired options can be placed in any area, and you don’t have to replace the batteries every few weeks. However, the wireless systems that have wifi or LTE capability are easier to install than the wired ones. All of them link to a router using transmission ranges of between 20 and 150 feet from the base station based on the type. Technological advancement in the manufacturing of mesh systems even expands the range of the newer systems.
When choosing between wired and wireless security cameras, some of the factors include the ease of wiring the system, flexibility in the future, and other blind spots. Anyone who would also wish to have outdoor monitoring will find the wireless systems to be of great help. Though, when placing them they should be close enough to the base station but at the same time out of the reach of the thieves.
Interior vs Exterior Security Cameras In home use, most choose indoor security cameras at doors and big living areas facing towards areas of concern. Placing them close to doors or pointing at the front and back yards still allows some outdoor monitoring during approaches to the property. Really weatherproof wireless cameras do enhance security of yards, driveways, outer doors, perimeter fences and so on.
You should look for models with IP66 weatherproof rating for cameras placed outside as they will be able to handle both extremely hot and moist conditions. Extra housing provides yet another barrier to weather and tampering. And infrared night vision till 100 feet enhances the visibility of the activity at night.
Storage Options Some considerations are necessary when storing the video recorded from security cameras. Some systems have micro SD card interfaces for local recording storage on 128GB to 512GB micro SD cards by the user. In times of occurrences, you can retrieve video that has been stored to view what happened before, during, and after an event. However, to do this, videos must be manually downloaded. It also means that specific forms of cyber threats can block access during important events or periods. Storing videos onsite is best when coupled with always on cloud storage for backup purposes.
Most of the vendors provide monthly cloud storage for 24/7 continuous recording. They cost from 3 USD per camera per month for seven days video history up to 15 USD per month for sixty days history with persons, vehicles, and animals’ detection and notification. When using multiple vendors, compare the plans to find out which one offers the required duration and level of analytics.
Smart Home Integration The best home security cameras also come with compatibility with other smart home systems such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit. This enables voice control of the cameras through a connected smart speaker without having to touch a physical button. Watch live streams on a smart display that is compatible as well if you are interested in that. And motion alerts activate an announcement through the smart assistant.
Think about how you would like to engage with the camera system when choosing integration features. Oddly enough, people already invested in an ecosystem might want to choose options that can be managed using smart home devices. However, most also feature easy-to-use smartphone applications for the purpose of receiving alerts or controlling the system remotely.
Leading Security Camera Brands Some of the leading security camera manufacturers include Arlo, Ring, and SimpliSafe which can provide a high level of performance in wired and wireless systems. Arlo wire free options include mount anywhere placement,weather resistant and has clear video even at night. Monitoring and alerts become a part of the mobile app. Ring cameras work cohesively with other Ring Alarm security devices and Alexa for the comprehensive security solution. SimpliSafe offers different equipment packages with an opportunity for professional monitoring. Products meet both home and business requirements accompanied by customer support service.
Nowadays, it is possible to find some other brands which have more reasonable prices for their packages but do not exclude the main necessary features. The manufactures like Reolink, Lorex and Zosi have similar features like sharp 1080p recording, motion alert to your phone, IR night vision and wider angles at much lower prices compared to the higher end brands. Check the sample footage and app interfaces before you make your purchase. However the savings are evident when it comes to the simplest form of indoor outdoor signal size.
The main decision criteria to consider when choosing an action camera include the quality of motion pictures, storage size, additional smart features, and the price. However, choosing security cameras does not have to be a stressful process. Combined with understanding available options, identifying how you want to leverage cameras greatly helps in narrowing down selections. Be aware of the differences between the mandatory requirements in the model and the desirables when comparing models. And to avoid this, they should not just consider the total cost of the equipment but also the TCO. Selecting the best security cameras requires some thought. However, the sense of security being offered by professional grade monitoring makes protecting your home well worth it.
