A lot of security experts will say “security cameras and pets” are the best way to keep your home safe from thieves and other people who aren’t supposed to be there.
However, “security cameras” are a broad term that includes many different types of cameras. There are millions of camera models made by thousands of companies, and it can be hard for most people to sort through the bad ones to find the good ones.
Do not worry. We’ve spent thousands of hours in research at a huge number of security cameras to give you the most complete information on these devices.
We also listen to what’s going on in this constantly changing field so we can give you the newest and best. For example, did you know that Ring just released a dashboard camera? Or has SimpliSafe made changes to its cameras? All of that and more is what we’re here to share.
But there is so much new technology on the market that it can be hard to figure out what to buy. Even though cameras are getting easier to use, it can be hard to make a choice because there are so many features, options, and price plans to choose from.
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about security cameras. We’ll talk about what you should look for, some of the best models, the most important features, and why you need cameras in the first place. We’ll talk about everything you need to know about this very competitive field, and you’ll have a much better idea of how to keep your family and home secure.
Why Do You Need a Security Camera?
First things first. Why do you need cameras to monitor your house? The short answer is that they are one of the best ways to keep people from committing crimes. Break-in artists, thieves, and people who break in without permission will think twice if they see you watching them.
Some people we know have bought and set up a video doorbell just to keep people from breaking in. It’s a good start, but you should always buy a camera that is specifically designed to deal with a specific threat or concern.
You might be one of many people in the US who shop online to save time and maybe even money. But packages left on porches or stoops are easy targets for thieves. If you have a good security camera, you can keep an eye on your front door and stop this from happening. If it does happen, the camera can also help you get your packages back.
In light of this, you should make a list of your property’s weak spots and places where trouble could happen. That will help you figure out what kind of security camera you need to keep yourself safe. The good news is that you will almost certainly be able to find a camera that fits your needs in every way. Let’s get to the important stuff now.
Viewing Your Home Through The Eyes of a Burglar
You can easily find trouble spots by looking at your home through a burglar’s eyes. Think about it: “How would I break into my house if I were a thief?” Think about what thieves are looking for, and check to see if your home has any of those weak spots. There should be little to no lighting in certain areas at night, places where someone could hide while sneaking in, and paths that thieves can use without being seen.
You can choose a security camera that will make trouble spots less of a problem once you know where they are. Are you worried about a dark spot in your backyard? The Ring Spotlight Cam can be used to monitor a possible hiding place. Would you like to enhance your experience? Buy their Spotlight Cam Pro, which has 3D motion detection and can keep track of someone’s movements around your property.
There have been dozens of situations like this one. Luckily, we’ve never been burglarized, but experts have been warning for years that finding out that a stranger has been in your home and going through your things can be very upsetting and devastating. A simple and low-cost way to avoid this is to use security cameras.
Features to Consider Before Buying a Security Camera
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you are looking for security cameras for the for the first time. It’s not just that there are lots of brands and models to choose from. Each camera has its own set of features, and it can be hard to sort them all out and choose which ones you need the most.
Having many choices is good in the long run, though. It means that no matter what your security needs are, you can find a device that will work. Let’s talk about a few of the most popular camera features these days to give you an idea of what we mean.
Friendly Smartphone App
Today, almost every security camera you buy will have an app. And each one has its own pros and cons, just like the cameras. When it comes to apps, the best ones make it easy to understand and use the camera’s features and settings. On the other hand, the worst ones have UIs that are hard to navigate.
The Blink app’s feed does a good job in this area. It even makes a highlight reel every day with short clips of action that happened in our home. We suggest Blink’s cameras and packages as a very simple way to start. Sometimes “entry-level” means “lightweight,” but Blink really impressed us with its performance, even though it was pretty cheap. We got a battery-powered Blink Outdoor camera for only $100, which is a great deal.
Video Resolution
There are many security cameras that say they record in 1080p. But even this can be a little wrong. There are a lot of cameras that can only reach 1080p when everything is perfect, like when your Wi-Fi signal is strong. Because our Wi-Fi connection wasn’t always stable, we didn’t always get 1080p quality, even with the best brands that are known for recording great video.
But we might be paying too much attention to this factor. Video quality is something we really care about when we review security cameras because we know that resolution is one of the most important things people look for in one. Take a look at what we saw from the Blink Indoor Camera as an example.
That is, just like with speed, resolution isn’t always the best way to see a video. For instance, you should think about the framerate and whether or not the camera uses High Dynamic Range (HDR).
That’s why it’s a good idea to buy a camera with different resolution settings. This is really well done by Google’s Nest cams. They have HDR, and the highest resolution it can handle is 1080p. However, the camera can change its resolution automatically based on the speed of the network. This means that the camera will always be recording in the best quality possible, so you will never miss anything.
Night Vision
Keep in mind, though, that most cameras have infrared night vision, so you should always be able to see your home at night. Keep in mind that getting full-color night vision always costs more. The Ring Floodlight Cam Video Quality is awesome in night.
Two-Way Audio
We expect home security cameras to have two-way audio, just like we expect them to have 1080p and night vision. Wyze, which is one of the cheapest cameras on the market, has it too. We can’t lie now. If you read our full Wyze Cam review, you’ll see that the sound quality wasn’t great in our tests. Still, it shows that these days, even very cheap cameras like the Wyze Cam have two-way audio, even if it’s not very good. These words mean that you should probably stay away from cameras that don’t have them.
This feature comes in handy a lot as a home intercom (“Time for bed, kids!”). But we really like this feature because it keeps thieves away. There’s nothing better than using our own “outside voice” to keep them from picking in our house. Plus, a lot of full-service security systems, like Simplisafe, have started teaching their professional monitoring staff how to talk to people who break into your home directly.
Video Storage
It can be tempting to buy cameras based on how high-tech they are, since some home security equipment is pretty high-tech. But don’t forget that the information your high-tech cameras give you is not free, no matter what camera you choose.
A lot of ultra-HD videos with colorized night vision and wide viewing angles can be hard to store. Eventually, the costs can get out of hand. Some users dislike this because they don’t want to spend a lot of money on storage.
Be careful here, please. Be honest with yourself: how long do you really want to spend going over your footage? You don’t have to have the cameras on all the time. Are you only looking for one that records clips and turns on when motion is detected?
It goes without saying that the second setup is cheaper. You’ll spend less on video storage because it won’t have to record everything. Not more than $10 a month, we think. As we’ve already said, the costs of keeping your home safe can add up quickly. When you figure out how much your security cameras will cost all together, don’t forget to include any monthly fees, like a cloud subscription.
Purchasing from a reputable brand such as Samsung can ensure you receive value for your money. When we reviewed Samsung’s Wi-Fi cameras, we found out that the company had recently stopped offering their SmartCloud storage service. At first, this made us sad, but we quickly got used to using the camera’s built-in microSD card to store video. We were able to save money on a system that was already cheap because it had local storage.
There are, of course, things that could go wrong if you choose the cheaper, smaller storage option. Most of the time, a loss, theft, or damage to your local storage device will leave you without any backup footage. So, if you can afford it, we suggest getting storage both locally and in the cloud. This will store your video recordings offsite in the cloud, enabling you to access them from any location at any time.
Field of View
How much your camera can see is another very important thing to think about. This is called the field of view. This number tells you the angle between the two horizontal edges of the picture the camera shows. It is given in degrees.
While this isn’t always the case, your target should be more specific, the narrower the lens. In our review of Ring’s Stick Up Cam, we discussed all the features prominently displayed on the box, including HD video, two-way talk, motion-activated notifications, simple setup, and a rechargeable battery pack. However, we didn’t talk about the camera’s field of view.
By putting the camera online, we could see that view for ourselves. If you compare the Ring Stick Up to other wireless indoor cams, its viewing angle of 110 degrees is about average. Again, it’s not a big deal, which is why we set up that camera to watch our stairwell instead of our huge living room. We were sure it had the right angle to do the job.
On the other hand, a lens with a wider field of view is necessary for monitoring large areas. The trusty Zmodo cameras 180C worked well for that, mostly because it had a wide 180-degree view. It also worked well as a pet monitoring cam.
However, a wider field of view on security cameras often distorts the video, giving it a fisheye lens-like appearance. It’s important to remember that having a wider field of view doesn’t always make a camera better, though. Many good brands use extra software or hardware to fix that.
Design and Durability
The design and durability of a camera often serve as reliable indicators of its intended use. For example, the Ring Indoor Cam is a simple, cylinder-shaped device that doesn’t have any weatherproofing or protective cover.
The Ring Indoor Cam requires a power outlet for operation. Additionally, its relatively narrow field of view—130 degrees in this instance—allows us to precisely position it to monitor our needs. It makes sense.
We often use this chain-reaction method when we review, and it helps us get the most out of our cameras without being too scared of their technology. Even with all of this information, we always tell people not to worry too much about damage to their gear. Most outdoor cameras are made to protect against weather, and most brands now have pretty clear policies for what to do if something is wrong with the camera.
Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ)
Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras are great because they’re cheap and good for both apartment dwellers and homeowners. There are some very interesting PTZ cameras out there with mechanical lenses that rotate, like in The Exorcist, to let us see more than ever before. Plus, this can be a very handy choice.
Lots of different companies, like Reolink, D-Link, Lorex, Amcrest, Wyze, and Swann, make pan-tilt cameras. As we have already said, brands with a lot of options can be hard to understand. If you want a PTZ device with new and interesting features, we suggest you take another look at the Amcrest ProHD.
Emergency Connectivity
Professional security systems used to be the only ones with emergency connections, but now even security cameras without any other connections are beginning to have them. But since we’re talking about wireless tech, a few camera packages are starting to show up with a safety feature that we can use from anywhere by touching our thumb.
Some of the cameras we reviewed have teamed up with Noonlight, a security tech startup that lets people who use self-monitoring security cameras call for help without having to call 911.
The ability to connect in an emergency isn’t common in cameras yet, but when it is, it is great. Read our review of the YI Home 3 camera to learn more about how the $19.99 indoor camera has a 24/7 emergency service. We think you’ll like the extra layer of safety here, even though you had to sign up for a separate service. The monitoring center can call 911, EMS, or fire if something very bad happens. This type of feature is critical for older people and those who live alone.
‘Cheap’ Cameras vs. High-End Cameras
These days, there are so many gadgets on the market that we’ve found a camera for just about every budget. You really do “get what you pay for” there, so we adjust our expectations to match.
It is still possible to spend too much on a security camera, though. We’ve reviewed a lot of different brands across a wide range of prices to get a sense of what you’re really getting with more expensive brands. For example, we looked at the new Arlo Pro 4 and the Google Nest we just talked about.
The Arlo Ultra 2 costs $300 and is part of our full review of the Arlo security camera. A 4K resolution, color night vision, an ultra-wide 180-degree field of view, and a tough design that can handle rough outdoor conditions make this camera really stand out. Not only that, but because it has batteries, this camera doesn’t require any wires. Still, it’s not really useful as a surveillance system for the whole house. Two of these cameras will cost you $600, and that’s just for covering the outside.
There are options that will cover your whole property, inside and out, for a lot less money. So, before you buy one of these high-tech cameras, you should think about whether you really need them.
Conclusion
HomeIsParadise’s team hope that this complete guide to home security cameras has given you a lot to think about if you want to keep an eye on your home. Our hands-on reviews should help you make a smarter, more cost-effective choice about your home security needs. Take the time to look at the features and technology that make these cameras stand out.
Every year, we can’t wait to see what new tech and features our favorite camera brands will come out with. We love to review the cameras for our valuable visitors. For our team, the future of home security will depend on how well they work with smart, connected homes as a whole. Most of all, people want more peace of mind. They also want more control, more integrations, and more ease of use.