Security cameras: Types, tips and which one to buy for home
Home security and surveillance cameras
Nowadays, having a video surveillance system or security cameras is an optimal solution to keep thieves away and protect the home and its inhabitants. The constant progress of technology has led the security sector, especially in recent years, to offer the market increasingly efficient products, for all needs and at very competitive prices.
We can satisfy our security from a simple surveillance camera that we can buy at an affordable price to really complex systems that stand out for their efficiency and home automation.
In this article, we are going to try to break down what home security cameras we can find on the market, their different types, and how we should choose them. It is a complement to the article on security measures to prevent theft at home.
Although first, we would like to see where thieves enter homes (Chalets, flats, offices, warehouses … ect) so we leave the following infographic that can give us an idea of the weak and unsafe points of our home.
What advantages do surveillance cameras provide?
Alarm systems have a double function: First, it is to dissuade intrusion into the home and, if it occurs, to be able to detect it and notify the appropriate person as quickly as possible, but also:
- Although it may seem unbelievable, the psychological aspect is important, since this anti-theft system provides “peace of mind” to the users of the house, recognizing that they can be warned while trying to enter the house.
- Discourage possible theft since they are really visible.
- They are relatively cheap and the price range for sale in the market is wide.
- Surveillance cameras are extremely useful as they allow you to monitor the activities of people visiting your home and office, as well as events. We have a record of what happens.
- Collect evidence of possible crimes – robberies that are practiced in the home.
- It can help you make correct and fair decisions when it comes to resolving disputes, both at home and professionally. we have pictures to resolve disputes.
Everything is not so pretty, it must be said that there are some disadvantages such as; privacy problems, complex installations are not cheap, theft cannot be stopped “in situ” but rather it is a warning and registration measure, and being an electronic system, in the worst case, we have hackers.
Of interest is the article on how cities watch and spy on us, we can be surprised!
types of security cameras
With technology, the market offers us a wide range of possibilities, from the most modern with Wi-Fi to those that are simply for show, and the different types of surveillance cameras according to their functions and capabilities:
1.- Indoor cameras
They are the simplest that we can find on the market and the cheapest since they do not need as many mechanisms and protections as those used abroad.
2.- Cameras with movement and zoom
They are usually used in large spaces with a security center where a person monitors and watches the cameras. These robotic cameras have the properties of movement on pan, tilt, and zoom.
For example, the most modern ones can do the…
3.- Infrared cameras or night vision
These types of instruments are used in surveillance where there are spaces with poor lighting. Normally they record all day and at night they automatically turn on their infrared with a black and-white vision. They are the most expensive on the market for LED night vision.
They are used as video surveillance cameras within a CCTV installation … What is a CCTV system? They are the acronym for closed circuit television, which forms video surveillance technology to monitor a variety of activities and environments where its components are linked to each other.
A CCTV installation will allow the images received from one or several cameras to be viewed on a monitor and stored on a recording device. An example of a CCTV system in schematic format would be:
Scheme video cameras closed circuit television – Via Leroy Merlin
4.- Hidden cameras
They are the so-called spy cameras to monitor and monitor a house, office, or business, going 100% unnoticed. They are introduced inside some objects how; motion sensors, smoke detectors, plugs…etc.
5.- IP cameras
The IP camera, are those that connect directly to the Internet showing the image it displays. They are the most used and sold on the market since they currently also incorporate Wi-Fi and you can manage them and view the images they capture from your computer, smartphone or tablet.
The main advantage of the IP camera is that it is a video surveillance device allowing images to be seen in real time remotely, through a connection with an Internet IP address.
We can find them for sale with technical specifications for normal consumption, for home, or more developed for professionals.
As we can see in the following image, there are a lot of shapes and models, which also include other functions such as a wifi ip camera :
6.- Vandal resistant cameras
They are used in public transit areas vulnerable to theft and possible aggression. It is mounted on a fixed and resistant housing. It is often used a lot in warehouses, parking lots, nightclubs, public roads, and in general in any outdoor space.
7.- Wi-Fi or wireless cameras
They are those that are not directly connected by a cable. They usually have a battery that makes them work and they transmit data via WiFi.
They are used inside the house, for example, to see how the children or the baby are doing, and technology has also been incorporated into IP cameras to work directly with internet monitoring.
Wi-Fi Security Cameras – Via Lenovo
8.- Exterior cameras
These types of cameras are designed to resist weather actions (rain, wind… etc.) and are used in outdoor spaces. When we buy an outdoor camera, the price is usually more expensive, mainly because of the protective casing.
9.- All-in-one cameras
With the advances in technology, there has been a reduction in the type of camera that you can find in a store, so they have been incorporating different elements so that they can have more functions.
For example, there are models that are both indoors and outdoors, that use Wi-Fi and monitoring is through the Internet, either on a computer or mobile. In the end, we can have a secure installation with cameras as complex as we want and more if we use home automation in the home installation.
In addition, surveillance cameras are sold in kit format, for example:
Example of a security camera kit
They are also classified and distinguished according to their shape, which can mainly be the following, although currently, the imagination goes very far in their designs:
- Cube cameras (For the interior)
- Box cameras (For interior)
- Bullet cameras (For exterior)
- Dome cameras (For interior and exterior)
Differences between analog and IP camera
What is the difference between an analog camera and an ipe? Analog cameras communicate with a video recorder, they need a physical device to record what happens. On the other hand, IPE cameras communicate by the network, that is, some direct to a “web ipe” where the recording is stored or the most modern ones, by Wifi, which, for example, information is recorded for a while on our mobile.
Although in the next section, we analyze the image quality in different monitoring systems. The following table shows the notable characteristics between analog and IPS:
Comparative image quality surveillance cameras
What security camera to buy?
Before buying a video camera surveillance system, you should think and plan well what you really need to recognize which areas you have to monitor and what economic budget you have. We can follow the next steps
- What functions do you need?… Decide if you want to prevent only intrusions or also use the system in case of robbery, medical emergencies or to control the entrance of people (relatives, children, employees, etc.)
- We have to determine the type of control we need. Yes, we only want the images to be recorded or we want to see what is happening through the mobile or another device.
- To set up a security system it is important to point out the weaknesses of the house on a small scheme – sketch, that is, the main accesses; doors, windows, garage, balconies…
- Look at possible camera locations. For example, if there are places that can be accessed but there is nothing of value (A shed in the junk garden or an independent garage)… You should think about whether you really need security in these spaces.
- You must consider the number of users of the home. The installation must be practical and its activation or deactivation also; be it with remote control, by voice, keyboard, by mobile…etc.
- Look at the quality of the image, better if it is HD 1080P.
- Finally, you must determine the degree of action, that is, if a robbery occurs, how will I be notified. Whether by SMS to the mobile, by means of an audible alarm, or a system connected to a CRA (Alert Reception Center)that connects the police.
Surveillance camera models for home. Home automation, alarms, and security cheap prices
And remember to look at the following image to see where to place the security camera …
And of course, with the recordings, we always have to be careful with Data Protection. We provide the following scheme on data protection regulations in surveillance cameras .
How to install a security camera
Although we should leave this issue in the hands of a professional, it is true that today we can already buy the surveillance camera kit that is prepared so that the user can mount the security installation without getting too hot.
First, we should recognize the components and parts of a security camera that are:
Diagram of components and parts of a surveillance camera – Vía Prevent
For its installation, it is best to leave a video to see how we can mount an alarm system with cameras :
Security in our homes is important and even more so in response to the new concept of smart homes. The investment or the price of a surveillance system, nowadays, is not expensive if we want an average model with decent functionalities, so take note!
