A surveillance camera is an important tool to have in your home or business, but there are several things you should look for before committing to your resources. If you’re looking to choose the best surveillance camera possible, keep these things in mind as you shop. These will help you find the camera that meets all of your needs and fits in with your home or business’s existing technology and architecture.
Features of a Great Surveillance Camera
When picking out the perfect surveillance camera, it’s hard to know where to start. Fortunately, there are some features you should look for in a camera. They include:
Pan-Tilt-Zoom
This feature allows the camera to control the movement from a remote location. It offers a large field of view as the camera can rotate up to three hundred and sixty degrees.
Compatibility
A device that offers connectivity via wired Ethernet or wireless Wi-Fi connections should be compatible with multiple devices like smartphones, tablets, and computers.
Camera Type
There are many different types of cameras on the market. Bullet and dome cameras can be installed discreetly, making them great for indoor locations like offices, schools, and retail stores. Box-style and panoramic-style cameras can capture wide shots of outdoor spaces like parking lots or warehouses but may need a higher resolution depending on the distance from where it will view them.
Memory
Memory is arguably the most important feature of any surveillance camera. If your system doesn’t have enough memory, it will be sluggish and won’t function properly. A great way to check this is by looking at the megapixel rating. The higher the megapixel rating, the more detailed footage you will get. You need at least 1 Megapixel per camera if you want clear footage.
Night Vision
With night vision, you can see what’s happening outside during nighttime with clarity and precision. If you want the best possible picture quality at night, consider adding more infrared lights into your setup.
Weatherproofing
Look for a camera that is weatherproof or at least water-resistant. Weatherproofing is especially important if you live in an area with extreme weather. A rain cover is another good way to protect your cameras from the elements.
Resolution
If you plan on viewing your footage in real time, then 1080p is the optimal resolution to choose.
Lens Type
Fixed focal length lenses are great because they provide more zoom options without sacrificing quality. Zoom lenses usually have lower resolutions, which isn’t ideal for recording.
Field of view
When looking at surveillance cameras, the field of view is one of the most important aspects. The field of view tells you how much of your property will be visible in the image.
A wider field of view allows you to see more and can be helpful if you’re looking for people or animals on your property.
Conclusion
Considering the above specs when shopping for a surveillance camera is important. More vital for you is to find the perfect balance between your needs and what you would prefer for your business or home to be safe.