You should always feel safe at home, which is why so many people rely on home security cameras to keep intruders from entering. If you are looking into protecting your premises, it is important to know your options so you can decide what type of camera will work best for your needs.
The first step is to learn about the six types of security cameras that you can have installed at your home. Each type of camera has advantages and disadvantages, and it is better to learn about those from people who have used them rather than learning from your own experience.
Questions to Consider
When you are ready to have cameras installed, there are a few questions to consider:
- Will you want a wired or wireless camera?
- How many do you need?
- Do you need cameras inside or outside of your home?
- What is your budget?
- Do you want your cameras to have covert or overt placements?
- Do you want them on consistently or do you want motion detectors?
- Do you want a camera that uses voice command?
When you are ready to learn more about your home security options, you can always visit the experts at www.ApexCCTV.com.
Types of Home Security Cameras
Most cameras have names that reflect what they look like or what they do. The best cameras have a variety of features and technology that make them easy to use so you simply install them and let them do what they do.
- Box camera
This is the standard security camera. Most likely, you’ve seen these at businesses, intersections, and homes over the years. They are called box cameras because they look like boxes with lenses, but there is a bunch of technology on the inside. However, they do have low resolution, so images can be tough to see.
The latest box security cameras do look like bullet cameras, but box cameras have some advantages that bullet cameras do not have. Box cameras can be placed outside because the housings are waterproof. The lenses are detachable and because they have less technology that other types of cameras, they are easy to install and maintain.
- Bullet camera
Bullet cameras and box cameras are nearly indistinguishable from each other, but the bullet camera is slightly more cylindrical than the box version. They look like security cameras, so intruders tend to stay away from places that have them. While these cameras do deter intruders, the cameras can only look at a fixed spot, so if you do decide to have them installed, you will need several of them for full coverage.
Bullet cameras can be installed inside and outside and they fit nearly everywhere. The camera housing does offer some protection from the elements and from the glare of the sun. Some also have LED lights that capture images with low light. They come wired and wireless, so there are plenty of options available for anyone who wants this level of security.
- Day/Night camera
These are cameras that can capture light in all types of light, even the absence of it. They are often called IR or infrared cameras, because they use infrared technology to work in the evening and night. As it can be challenging to capture color images with a low-light camera, many convert night-time images into black-and-white images.
Because they capture images in all light conditions, day-night cameras are designed for indoor and outdoor installation. They can be wired or wireless. They can be box, bullet, or dome cameras, too. They can be set up with motion sensors so they only record when movement triggers them to do so.
- Dome camera
Like box and bullet cameras, dome cameras are named for their appearance. They look like domes, but they can be hidden discreetly, unlike box or bullet cameras. They can be installed indoors and outdoors, but they are most commonly placed on ceilings. If you are looking for a camera that can capture a wide angle, the dome camera is it. And, because the camera is under a dome, intruders cannot tamper with them as easily as other types of cameras.
Dome cameras can be wired or wireless. They can also have motion sensors as well as heat sensors and night-vision technology. These are high-tech cameras that are popular in businesses and homes. It is also possible to connect them to more than a closed-circuit TV, as it is common to connect them to recorders like DVR and NVR.
- IP camera
Wireless technology is becoming the norm with security cameras and IP cameras are leading the way. An IP camera uses Internet Protocol to record images rather than a CCTV. These cameras work like webcams, but they are designed for home security use rather than chatting online.
An IP camera does not require 24-7 use of a computer, but it does require 24-7 use of a network. So, if you are not using a network, you will need to keep the camera and the computer on simultaneously so you can access images. Some IP cameras can be hard-wired through ethernet cables. Others will send data through a modem and some use cellular data. The fastest connection is through ethernet cameras directly into modems. Cellular IP cameras are the slowest.
These cameras can be placed indoors and outdoors. Both bullet and dome cameras can be IP cameras. Box cameras usually do not use IP technology.
- PTZ camera
PTZ stands for pan-tilt-zoom. These small cameras use apps and software to give users the ability to control where the camera focuses. Since apps can be installed on smartphones, users can control their PTZ cameras from anywhere they can get smartphone service. PTZ cameras can be box or dome cameras, but not usually bullet cameras as their lenses are static.
With PTZ cameras, it is possible for users to look around different settings and focus in on specific items or people. It is possible to move cameras quick to pan around scenes and catch intruders faces and bodies in real time. With dome versions of PTZ cameras, some can even rotate a full 360° depending on where the cameras are installed in a room.
Some PTZ cameras have such good optics that they can zoom in on license plate numbers and small characteristics, like eye color or blemishes. These cameras can record to DVRs and NVRs as well as capturing images to CCTV systems.
Indoor or Outdoor Cameras
As you look around for the perfect camera for your home security needs, you will want to decide whether your cameras should be indoors, outdoors, or both. All of the types of security cameras can be placed in all locations, but some are better suited to being indoors or outdoors.
Infrared Vision
If you are placing cameras outside, it is important to consider if you want infrared vision for capturing images at night. Indoor cameras do not usually need infrared vision, simply because you can turn on the lights. But, outdoor cameras are often placed in areas that do not have much lighting – thus the need for security.
Weatherproof vs Weather-resistant
To be sure that outdoor cameras work properly and for the life of the camera, they need to be more than weather-resistant. They should also be waterproof, especially if they are in exposed areas, rather than under eaves and on porches. If you want an infrared outdoor camera to last a long time, it should be weatherproof and waterproof. Otherwise, your investment will need to be replaced quickly and regularly. To be sure the camera is weatherproof, it should be rated IP66 or IP67.
If you are looking for the best outdoor camera, the bullet camera is the best choice. The shape and design of the camera was created for outdoor use. Bullet cameras are enclosed in a casing that is designed to reduce glare and to keep precipitation off of the lens. Since bullet cameras have stationery lenses, they are not triggered by motion as quickly as other types of camera.
Motion Sensing Technology
If you are looking for a camera with motion sensing technology, be sure it has infrared heat technology, too. This will prevent the camera from turning on when leaves blow by and instead will trigger when humans and vehicles enter the zone. With the latest technology, you can be sure that your camera is doing what it should – preventing intruders from invading your home and capturing their faces on camera to help the authorities find them.
Your indoor or outdoor camera can also have a range of resolutions. If you are trying to get the best images from your security cameras, then you want the ones that have HD, like 4K Ultra HD. If your camera is PTZ, they you should be sure it has the best resolution so it can do its job.
Understanding what type of camera will fit your needs will save you time and money. You will be able to make the wisest decision for your security needs and keep your property safe and protected from the bad guys.
