8 Important Features to Look For in an Outdoor Home Security Camera

1. 8 Important Features to Look For in an Outdoor Home Security Camera Home security and surveillance was never a subject so extensively discussed as it is in the present times. Every other day we read in the newspaper about an incident of theft or burglary in a home. These incidents usually take place when the inhabitants are away from home for a day or several days. In such a situation, reliable security cameras for home seem to be the only effective remedy. A home security camera is an electronic surveillance device that keeps a watch on your house, even when you are away for work or vacation. It is an electronic eye, watching your home continuously. Studies have proved that having a security camera installed at home reduces the chances of theft or burglary to a great extent. If you are also looking to purchase an outdoor home security camera, then you should look for the following eight features in it: Low-Light Viewing Capability: The capability of a camera of viewing and recording images in low- light conditions depends on its lux rating. The lower the lux rating of a camera, the better is its low- light vision. For viewing in pitch-dark conditions, lux rating must be 0; with IR illuminators. If there is low ambient light, such as streetlights at a distance, then lux rating required would be .01 lux; while in a starlit night, the rating would be .001 lux. Minimum Wiring Requirement: The wiring requirement for a camera is a big concern, especially in case of outdoor surveillance devices. Even a wireless device would be requiring a wire for power. You should look for a model that requires minimum wiring. There are cams available today that make use of a single Ethernet wire for power input and delivering video images. Movement Capability: There are fixed vision cameras, without any angular movement, and also devices having a movement capability, which can rotate and spin to capture images at various angles. It totally depends on your requirement, which type of device you would prefer. However, it is advisable to make use of a device such as a PTZ camera in home outdoors as it extends the scope of surveillance. Visible/Hidden: There are basically two types of surveillance devices, visible and hidden. The latter ones are also referred as spy cams. Experts say that if an outdoor safety camera for home is of visible type, it works as a strong deterrent to thieves. But, if you prefer covert surveillance, then you may go for a hidden or spy device. Footage Recording: The elements such as thieves and burglars are most likely to break into your house when you are away for several days. In such a situation, a surveillance camera with footage recording capability is an ideal device. These images, which are recorded on a hard disk, DVD or on a cloud server, would later prove to be a vital resource for the crime investigation agency. Web or IP Capability: This feature complements the above feature. The web or IP capable camera allows you to see the images captured by it in real time on your smartphone or laptop from a remote location. This way, you could inform your neighbor or police in case you detect any suspicious activity around your home. Picture Resolution: Resolution is a very important thing when it comes to a surveillance cam. If you have a surveillance device with a poor resolution installed at your home, then it is of no use as its footage cannot be used by the crime investigation agencies in detecting the culprit. It is therefore better

2. to invest in a high resolution device initially, rather than repenting later. Water & Dust Resistance: The outdoor surveillance cameras for homes are greatly exposed to the outdoor elements, especially dust and water, in comparison to the indoor ones. Therefore, it becomes important to ensure that the camera has a fair degree of water and dust protection so that it remains in operation for a long time. It would be good to choose a device with an IP68 rating or at least an IP65. If you take care of the above points while choosing an outdoor surveillance camera for your home, you will surely get the best home security camera system.