How to Choose the Right Home Security Camera
If you have ever thought about installing some security cameras around you home there's no better time than now. Home security cameras are becoming more and more popular since they can help identify thieves, vandals or just whose at your front door. They also act as a deterrent to crime since criminals will generally look for the easiest target. When looking to invest in some home security cameras there are some things to consider.
The camera however is also just for seeing what is taking place using a monitor or TV. More than likely you will want to also record what is taking place for evidence later on should something happen. For this you will need to plug the camera into a security DVR (digital video recorder) or some other device such as a computer with video recording capabilities. However this article will focus on some tips for choosing the correct camera.
So first you need to decide where you want the security cameras and the field of view (FOV) they will provide. If you were only thinking of installing one camera you would probably want to put it on the front of your garage or on a porch looking toward the street. You would also want a fairly wide field of view so a camera with a 3.6mm lens would probably be best. This will provide a good overall view of someone approaching you home.
A home security camera with a 3.6mm lens provides good overall coverage, however if your goal is to get facial details of someone at a distance greater than 20 to 25 feet you would need a larger lens in the camera, either a 6mm or 8mm. The larger the lens the more detail you can see at a particular distance but your field of view will be smaller. Is is similar to looking through stronger and stronger binoculars. So you need to decide what your goal is and whether one camera will suffice or if you need 2 or more.
Lighting is also a factor for good picture quality. During the daytime pretty much any security camera will provide a good image. However at night or in low light conditions you may need to use supplemental lighting. This could be a porch light or floodlight and you could also have them be motion sensitive. If installing additional lighting is not possible or desired you would need to use infrared security cameras. These type of cameras will provide a color picture in the daytime then switch to black and white and turn on there infrared illuminators at night.
Another factor you want to consider is the video resolution the camera can provide. This is usually stated in lines of resolution or TVL. Standard analog cameras will usually state 380, 420, 480, 550 lines etc. and the higher the number the more resolution or sharper the image will appear. However there are other factors such as the quality of the lens or DSP (digital signal process) used that can make one camera outperform another so the lines of resolution are important but not the only factor.
When first looking for a home security camera to fit your needs it may seem a bit overwhelming. So by first determining what area you need to cover, where you want to place it, the lighting conditions and if it is for an overall view or a more detailed view you have a good place to start. If you really are not sure which camera is best sometimes the only way to really get started is to purchase a camera see what kind of results you get and go from there. Most retailers will offer a trial period where if the camera doesn't work for you needs you can simply return it for a different camera.
Mike Ward is the owner of Security Cams, a leading distributor of home security cameras and digital video recorders. For more information about home security cameras, please visit Security Cams
The camera however is also just for seeing what is taking place using a monitor or TV. More than likely you will want to also record what is taking place for evidence later on should something happen. For this you will need to plug the camera into a security DVR (digital video recorder) or some other device such as a computer with video recording capabilities. However this article will focus on some tips for choosing the correct camera.
So first you need to decide where you want the security cameras and the field of view (FOV) they will provide. If you were only thinking of installing one camera you would probably want to put it on the front of your garage or on a porch looking toward the street. You would also want a fairly wide field of view so a camera with a 3.6mm lens would probably be best. This will provide a good overall view of someone approaching you home.
A home security camera with a 3.6mm lens provides good overall coverage, however if your goal is to get facial details of someone at a distance greater than 20 to 25 feet you would need a larger lens in the camera, either a 6mm or 8mm. The larger the lens the more detail you can see at a particular distance but your field of view will be smaller. Is is similar to looking through stronger and stronger binoculars. So you need to decide what your goal is and whether one camera will suffice or if you need 2 or more.
Lighting is also a factor for good picture quality. During the daytime pretty much any security camera will provide a good image. However at night or in low light conditions you may need to use supplemental lighting. This could be a porch light or floodlight and you could also have them be motion sensitive. If installing additional lighting is not possible or desired you would need to use infrared security cameras. These type of cameras will provide a color picture in the daytime then switch to black and white and turn on there infrared illuminators at night.
Another factor you want to consider is the video resolution the camera can provide. This is usually stated in lines of resolution or TVL. Standard analog cameras will usually state 380, 420, 480, 550 lines etc. and the higher the number the more resolution or sharper the image will appear. However there are other factors such as the quality of the lens or DSP (digital signal process) used that can make one camera outperform another so the lines of resolution are important but not the only factor.
When first looking for a home security camera to fit your needs it may seem a bit overwhelming. So by first determining what area you need to cover, where you want to place it, the lighting conditions and if it is for an overall view or a more detailed view you have a good place to start. If you really are not sure which camera is best sometimes the only way to really get started is to purchase a camera see what kind of results you get and go from there. Most retailers will offer a trial period where if the camera doesn't work for you needs you can simply return it for a different camera.
Mike Ward is the owner of Security Cams, a leading distributor of home security cameras and digital video recorders. For more information about home security cameras, please visit Security Cams
Labels: home security cameras, infrared security cameras, outdoor security cameras
posted by Security Cams @ 10:41 AM
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