Benefits of Home Security Cameras
Cameras offer practical benefits for security and beyond. Here are advantages to consider.
Security Benefits
Today’s security cameras record in high resolution. Many of the best security cameras in the industry have full-color night vision, allowing users to see detail in even the dimmest of spaces from their video footage. This can help you, your neighbors and the police identify a prowler or intruder. Simple security cameras capture still images when alarm systems are triggered. Advanced cameras, of course, capture video. Video security cameras can be installed indoors and out to keep your entire property safe. For efficiency, they can be set to record only when motion is detected. For better control, owners can monitor and manipulate their cameras remotely. Video clips from wireless cameras are saved online.
Types of Home Security Cameras
Home security cameras are your eyes when you can't be home. They allow you to see why your alarm was triggered, so you can make an informed decision on how to proceed. False alarms can cost you money and waste first responders' time. Other than remote viewing, many home security cameras also allow you two-way communication with the person on the other side of the camera, so it's like you're home even when you're not.
Wireless Home Security Cameras
The benefit of a top-notch wireless security camera is that you can install it wherever you want — within the confines of your Wi-Fi range, of course. You can place wireless cameras where you want. As with any security camera, consider the video quality, length of filming, field of view, and video storage.
All the cameras on our list are HD, so they will produce high-quality video. But the difference between Full HD (1080p) and the next common HD (720p) can be a drastic and frustrating difference if you need to identify someone on an outdoor camera. 1080p and 720p refer to the pixels in the resulting video, so the more pixels you have, the clearer the image will be. Among the best outdoor security cameras available today, it’s rare to find a device that records in less than 1080p (or full HD) resolution.
Some cameras give you continuous live streaming but with no recording. Others record continuously for a set amount of time, and still others will only record when you tell it to or when a motion sensor triggers. A camera that records continuously makes more sense outdoors than indoors, but you could just as easily go with a motion-triggered device. Consider where your specific camera is and why you've placed it there to determine which type of filming is best for you.
Field of view is how much of the world your camera sees. The visible area is measured in degrees. A wide-angle camera with a 180-degree field of vision will capture more than a camera with a 120-degree field of vision, but a larger field of vision isn't always better. A wide-angle lens with a large field of view allows you to see a larger area, but items on the film will appear smaller. A smaller field of vision will allow you to see much less, but what you see will be clearer and larger. Tailor the field of vision to the area you want monitored. You typically want cameras with a larger field of vision stationed outside your home, and cameras with a smaller field of vision placed inside. For more tips on where to place cameras, visit our full security camera installation guide.
Wireless cameras can store videos on a local SD card, on the cloud, or both. Video monitoring packages often include cloud storage, but you may have to purchase a cloud subscription separately.
Is There a Security Camera That Works Without WiFi?
As a newer and smarter crop of security cameras enters our testing rotation each year, we continue to see amazing tech advances on both the hardware and software side, with Wi-Fi security cameras consistently dominating the market.
For folks who would rather use their cameras without Wi-Fi, or who live in an area with shoddy internet access, this wireless camera trend does limit your choices somewhat. But we have good news: It is still possible to own security cameras that don’t need Wi-Fi to work and will get you solid video footage and peace of mind.
If you’re looking for cameras like this, we suggest targeting your search to one keyword: Hardwired. Like the best hardwired security systems, cameras that can be hardwired into your home ensure a smooth, reliable connection without the need for Wi-Fi.
Keep in mind, though, that installation is more difficult in these, which is why we typically don’t recommend cameras like this for DIYers.
You’ll need a way to route cables from the hub (usually a network or digital recorder box) to wherever you’re installing the cameras. If you’re looking for a ceiling configuration with dome or bullet cameras, Swann makes some impressive hardwired (also labeled as wired or wired CCTV) systems that are built to be installed through ceilings, floorboards, and walls. But they’re going to be more difficult to install than a Wi-Fi system, by and large.
So, you’ll clearly have more work to do to get a hardwired camera online. But if this is the setup you’re after, we’re glad to see a few solid options out there. Here’s our roundup of the best wired security cameras available.
Do Security Cameras Deter Crime?
Crime is often the number one reason people choose to add cameras. But do they really work as an effective deterrent against burglaries, trespassing, and other property crimes?
Through our team’s research and experience, we’ve found that the best way to measure the effectiveness of home security equipment against crime is by learning how criminals think. In a poll of convicted burglars conducted by the University of North Carolina, 60% said they would look for cameras before deciding to break in, and 40% said they would likely leave the area if they found cameras.
While we can’t say security cameras will prevent break-ins 100% of the time, we will say this: When it comes to deterring crime, cameras are a solid and necessary tool for peace of mind and visual protection.
Features of Home Security Cameras
What are the essentials and options with home security cameras?
Here are details about cameras and monitoring services.
Updated November 15, 2022
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