Which Security Camera do I Need?

With all the different types of surveillance cameras and equipment it may become a bit confusing when trying to decide on the best solution. Whether you are in the market for home security cameras or cameras for your business there are a couple of questions to ask yourself that may help you decide. One question to answer is in the area under surveillance do you need just an overall view to see if something happens or do you need closer details to identify objects or faces. Since objects on the displayed image become smaller as the field of view of the camera expands this will determine the placement of the camera, the size of the lens needed and also whether you need more than one camera covering the same area. Another issue to consider is the lighting in the area under surveillance. Daytime or well lit areas are generally not a problem but nighttime and low light situations can cause poor image quality for many cameras. If there is poor lighting in the areas the cameras are covering you may need to consider adding extra lights or motion lights otherwise infrared security cameras will probably be needed.

Once you have selected your cameras another question is how do you get the video picture from the camera to your monitor or video recording device. For the do-it-yourself individuals installing home security cameras can be made a little easier using one of our various lengths of pre-made power and video cables with the correct connectors already attached. Each end of the length of cable has a power and video connector. At the camera location you simply mount the camera using usually 3 to 4 screws, attach the video and power connectors to the camera leads then run the cable back to the video recorder and power supply. It really is that simple however most people do not want cables running along baseboards or ceilings through their home or business. Professional installers will usually run the cables thought the walls where the cameras are located into the attic or crawl space then snake them through to the video recorder location providing a very clean look. Running cables through an attic or crawl space is not as difficult as it may sound but if that is not something you want to do and don't want to hire someone then wireless camera installation may be an alternative. However even with wireless cameras you will need to get power to the camera since batteries will need to be consistently replaced or recharged. For more on wireless cameras be sure to read our About Wireless Security Cameras page.

These are just some ideas to help you get started, you may want to check out our Questions and Technical Support page for more help. Also don't hesitate to call or email if you need further assistance, we are always happy to help and technical help is always free with any product you purchase.

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