How To Choose A Home Security Camera System

Features to Look For in a Security Camera

Reolink Argus three, Argus Eco, and Argus ii

Every bit you set your sights on the many cameras options out there, yous might get overwhelmed with such a wide range of choices. But trust united states of america, it doesn't take to exist painstaking finding the right security camera. Also, the broad choice helps to ensure you get the right production, with the right features – and the peace of listen you demand to feel condom in your home.

For us, we e'er take a close look at the features and tech behind each camera to help narrow downwardly our pick. We do this, primarily, by asking a series of questions as we go through our tests, like: How's the app? How's the night vision? Does it include batteries? Is it weatherproof? Tin can I install it myself?

The answers vary with each camera. So to help you lot make sense of it all, here are a few features we consider essential in habitation security cameras:

Fast Movement Activation

You desire a camera that works fast and doesn't hesitate. Part of this depends on the force and speed of your Wi-Fi signal, but a good photographic camera will always "wake upwards" the moment motion occurs to send y'all alerts on your phone. In our review of the SimpliCam, SimpliSafe's defended indoor photographic camera, we recall lighting-fast performance, and nosotros recommend this camera often as a solid option for folks on a upkeep.

SimpliCam with Mookie

SimpliSafe is 1 of the nearly DIY-forwards systems out there, with equipment that can be mounted and set with no elbow grease required. In the SimpliCam, we got a bones, no-frills device, maxing out at 720p resolution, which sounds kind of mediocre until you think 1 of import bespeak: Lower-res video volition run more smoothly over Wi-Fi than pricier competitors like Arlo and Google Nest,3 as they require less bandwidth to run and won't overload your network.

So, all this is to say: Don't underestimate the importance of "fast," particularly if you've got a arrangement with multiple cameras.

And if you're curious, SimpliSafe really includes their SimpliCam (or its outdoor camera and video doorbell counterparts) gratis with most of their whole-home kits. Bank check out our total SimpliSafe system review for more.

Intuitive Smartphone App

Every security photographic camera comes with an app these days, and like the cameras themselves, we've always found them relatively easy to learn. The all-time apps we've used present the camera's features in an intuitive, logical way, so when we want to bank check on what fourth dimension our kids' school bus arrived dwelling house, it takes us just a few swipes to locate the footage.

FYI: In addition to helping with everyday tasks similar monitoring the kids and pets, our camera's mobile app is also a lifeline. If an intruder should show upward on our property, we'll be notified about instantly, from anywhere.

The Blink app'southward feed does a good task in this area, fifty-fifty automatically producing a highlight reel each day with short spurts of activity that occurred in our dwelling. We recommend Blink'southward cameras and packages as a super-easy entry-level organization, which isn't everyone'south cup of tea simply definitely impressed us in functioning despite beingness pretty inexpensive; paying under $100 for a battery-powered Glimmer Outdoor camera is nil to sneeze at, later on all.

Blink App – Video History

Flexible Video Resolution

You'll see an overwhelming number of security cameras that claim 1080p video resolution as you start comparison options. Only this, too, can be a fleck misleading. Many cameras volition only reach that 1080p benchmark under the almost platonic conditions, like when your Wi-Fi bespeak is running at full forcefulness.

But with our sometimes-less-than-perfect Wi-Fi connexion, we didn't always encounter the ideal 1080p quality we were hoping for, fifty-fifty amongst the top-rated brands that are known for recording infrequent video. From fourth dimension to time, our picture was pretty grainy.

But we might be a flake hyper-observant about this factor. As experts, we tend to pay extra attention to video quality in all of our reviews, as we know that resolution is one of the most important qualities people look for in a security camera. Equally an case, take a expect at our view from the Blink Indoor Camera.

That is a 720p picture, which is still pretty articulate!

That'southward why your all-time bet is to go with a photographic camera with flexible, or fluid, resolution. Every bit a whole, D-Link does this well; check out our comprehensive D-Link camera review for more info.

Truth be told, virtually days we don't even notice these fluctuations; equally long as the camera is working, we figure we're already getting what we demand out of it, or at least the basics.

Dark Vision

We've seen some spectacular night vision images from our tests of security cameras. We've owned our habitation for a footling over three years at present, and we had no idea that so many deer showed up in our lawn on a nightly basis until nosotros started checking out the night view from our new Ring Floodlight Cam. Take a await beneath!

Band Floodlight Cam Video Quality

We gave Arlo'due south design-forrad cams high marks in this category in our hands-on Arlo camera review, too, merely do remember that infrared night vision is pretty standard across cameras; yous'll be able to run across your home at dark no thing what. Of course, we ever terminate up spending more coin if nosotros want full colour dark vision, and so do keep that in heed.

Two-Way Audio

Like 1080p and night vision, 2-fashion audio has become a standard we expect in home security cameras. Even Wyze, i of the least expensive cameras on the market place, has it. We consider it an essential characteristic, and in our total Wyze Cam review, we admit we weren't blown away with the quality of the audio in our tests. Par for the form, we say, for a super-affordable camera like Wyze Cam; when it comes downwardly to it, all we really need is audio that works when nosotros need instant advice with the person on the other end.

Wyze Cam Pan and Wyze Cam (V2)

We use this feature often every bit a convenient home intercom ("Fourth dimension for bed, kids!"). Only as an effective crime deterrent, this feature pleases us primarily considering there'due south nix like using our own "outside voice" to prevent a crook from choosing our house.

With Wyze'due south camera packages, we'll exist upfront: The advice is a bit less crisp than the Rings and Arlos we've tested. But, once again, nosotros still got an effective two-way channel that we knew we could employ in a pinch.

Video Storage

With some domicile security equipment boasting pretty heavy advanced tech, it can be tempting to buy cameras based on how high-tech they are. Simply it'south important to retrieve that all that data you're getting from your high-tech cams is not cheap, no matter which photographic camera y'all end up with.

D-Link Storage Options

The costs of storing all those ultra-HD videos with colorized night vision and wide viewing angles tin easily get out of paw when it all shakes out. This tin be a sticking point for some users, many of whom would rather non blow out their budgets on storage.

We propose caution here. Be realistic; how much time are you lot actually going to spend looking over your footage? Do yous really need the cameras to be running 24/7, or are you looking for a camera that records clips and is but activated by motion?

The latter setup, naturally, will keep your costs lower; namely, you won't need to spend $10 or more than per calendar month using the cloud to shop footage. This is something we can't emphasize enough: The costs of securing your home can add together upward fast, and then exist sure to account for any monthly fees (like a deject subscription!) earlier considering the total costs of your security camera(s).

Going with a trusted brand similar Samsung, for example, could assist ensure yous get what y'all're paying for without whatsoever surprises. In our review of Samsung's Wisenet cams, we learned that the make had recently discontinued their SmartCloud storage service; while we were initially disappointed, we soon felt comfortable using the camera'south pre-inserted micro SD card to store video. With local storage, we were able to save money on an already affordable arrangement.

Of course, there could be trade-offs if y'all go with the cheaper, local storage solution. Mainly, if your local storage device gets lost, stolen, or corrupted, you'll exist left with no backup footage. That'south why if your budget allows, we recommend getting both local and cloud storage. Deject storage stores footage offsite, allowing you to access your recordings whenever and wherever y'all are.

Field of View

Another important point you lot should ever consider when choosing equipment is how much coverage you want to get out of your photographic camera – otherwise known as the field of view. Simply put, we refer to the field of view as the bending between the two horizontal edges of the camera's display.

This isn't a hard-and-fast dominion, but generally, the narrower the lens, the almost specific your target should be. In our review of Ring'southward Stick Upward Cam, nosotros noted all of the photographic camera's features displayed prominently on the box – Hd video, two-way talk, motion-activated notifications, easy installation, and a rechargeable battery pack – but no mention of the photographic camera's field of view.

Ring Stick Upward Cam

In bringing the camera online, we got a firsthand wait at that view: At 110 degrees, the viewing bending for Ring Stick Up is most average compared to other wireless indoor cams. Nothing globe-shattering, but again, that'south why we gear up that camera to monitor our stairway rather than our expansive living room… we knew it had the bending to reach the chore.

On the flip side, you'll want a wider-angle lens for monitoring large spaces. For that, a trusty Zmodo Sight 180C tested well, mostly due to a panoramic 180-caste view; it also handled well for us as a pet monitor.

Zmodo Sight 180C Indoor Wi-Fi Camera

Design and Immovability

A camera's design – how it'southward congenital as well as how it looks – often reflects the purposes information technology serves. For example, the no-frills Ring Indoor Cam has a simple, cylindrical design with no weatherproofing or protective cover, so we knew when we tested information technology that we shouldn't take a chance exposing a camera like this to our tumultuous Ohio wintertime weather.

The Band Indoor Cam is plug-and-play, and then we knew we should keep it close to a power outlet. It's too small, so we assume (rightly, in this case) that this camera uses a standard lens with a field of view under 130 degrees. This, in turn, helps us understand where the camera should go and what it should do for u.s.a.. Making sense, right?

This chain-reaction arroyo is common in our review repertoire, and it'due south helped us make the most out of our cameras and non get intimidated past their engineering science.
Knowing all this, we e'er encourage folks not to get too concerned nearly equipment impairment; the bulk of outdoor cameras are designed to protect from conditions, plus most brands now have pretty straightforward policies if something isn't correct with the camera.

Did Y'all Know: The about common atmospheric condition rating for outdoor cameras is IP-65, which means it'll protect from most damage, disallowment extreme flooding. Equally users, we call up information technology's extremely important for cameras to exist rated for conditions. After all, these devices are supposed to provide peace of mind, right?

Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ)

We beloved pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras because they're a nice, economical option for apartment dwellers and homeowners akin. We've met a few cams with some very unique PTZ builds, with mechanical lenses that rotate Exorcist-style to allow u.s.a. to encounter more than out of our space than e'er earlier. And we have to say, this tin exist a super convenient option; we know we're getting 1 camera that covers a whole lot of ground, with little else to worry about.

Numerous brands, including Reolink, D-Link, Lorex, Amcrest, Wyze, and Swann, carry their own versions of pan-tilt cameras. As we mentioned before, brands with massive selection can be confusing, so if you're looking for new and innovative features in a PTZ device, we advise giving the Amcrest ProHD a 2d wait. We did a deep dive on this cam in our easily-on Amcrest camera review, if you're interested.

Amcrest Indoor Pan-Tilt Photographic camera

Emergency Connectivity

One time used strictly by professional security systems, emergency connection is starting to pop up in standalone security cameras, likewise. But since we're talking about wireless applied science, a couple of photographic camera packages are starting to announced with a thumbprint-activated condom characteristic we can tap from anywhere.

A select few cameras we've tested take joined forces with Noonlight, a security tech startup that helps self-monitoring security camera users acceleration emergency services without having to telephone call 911.

YI Indoor Camera

We don't see this emergency connection characteristic routinely in cameras withal, but when we exercise, it really amazes u.s.. Take a look at our YI Home 3 photographic camera review, where we discovered the 24/seven emergency service in an otherwise basic $xix.99 indoor camera. Though it did involve signing on to a separate subscription, we practise remember you'll appreciate the extra layer of rubber hither. If something goes terribly wrong, the monitoring center tin dispatch 911, EMS, or Burn. Features similar this are crucial for the elderly and those who alive alone.

YI Camera – Emergency Response

When nosotros did our easily-on review of Canary cameras, we were spoiled by this characteristic, since they don't charge a separate fee across the standard Canary subscription. But we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that Canary's equipment costs are significantly higher than YI'south, so go on that in heed.

Canary Emergency Push button

AI Facial Recognition

Though not widely common notwithstanding, nosotros're seeing more and more cameras with AI-powered facial recognition. For us, buying cameras with this advanced feature comes down to a question: How smart do nosotros want our smart home to be?

In Google Nest Cams, for instance, nosotros got 1 of the most impressive characteristic sets thanks to Google's assuming embrace of facial recognition engineering science. We saw this consistently in our tests every bit the photographic camera gradually learned the faces and identities of each occupant in our home, so used the information to generate real-time Familiar Faces alerts. We couldn't help just sit down back and say, "Wow, they've come up a long way, haven't they?"

The implications, too, are worth noting; a photographic camera that knows our confront, and can immediately tell when someone "unfamiliar" is present, is the kind of technology that has the potential to salve lives. That'south pretty much priceless, if you enquire us.

Source: https://www.safehome.org/home-security-cameras/

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