What are the different types of home security cameras?

Home security is a very serious matter. That is exactly why there are so many different types of home security cameras that homeowners can acquire for professional home security systems. Knowing how to choose the right camera for your system can be of vital importance. With this in mind, join us as we explore everything the home security companies can offer today.

Why do I need a home security camera?

Adding a camera to your home, standalone, or as part of your security system is a good idea. These cameras can help you identify potential threats, they can record what is happening in and around your home, and are overall amazing pieces of hardware to have. Most of the time, you will be using the camera footage to create memories so they are money well-spent in either case.

Furthermore, camera footage can come really useful in criminal investigations in case your home does get burgled. And the presence of cameras inside or outside your home can deter numerous crimes on its own.

Ok, but how many security cameras are needed?

This depends on a variety of factors. Two of the most influencing ones are the size of your home and the desired amount of security. The minimum camera number is one, of course, and we recommend it be placed near the main entrance of your home, on the ground floor. Ideally, you will want to utilize outdoor security cameras on any ground floor entrances you might have. As you might imagine, an apartment needs only one outdoor camera whereas a larger home may require several.

You can also install a few cameras in your place of residence if you are not worried about any privacy issues.

Different types of home security cameras

Just as there are a plethora of home security systems, there is an astounding variety when it comes to different types of home security cameras. Here’s a full list, which we will soon break down based on camera types:

• Indoor cameras
• Outdoor cameras
• Video doorbells
• Wired cameras
• Wireless cameras
• Wi-Fi connected cameras
• Analog cameras
• DVR cameras
• NVR cameras
• Bullet cameras
• Dome cameras
• Pan, tilt, or zoom cameras
• Box cameras
• Hidden cameras

As you can see, there will be a lot to go through. But knowing about each camera type will provide you with all you need to make an informed purchase. With that in mind, let’s get into these gadgets.

Cameras based on location

Based on their location, the cameras include:

• Indoor cameras. These will usually set you back around $100 and are ideal for the ground level of your home. You may not want to place them inside a bathroom or the bedroom but the front hallway or any area that is central to your home will work. These cameras are usually plug-in, which may limit their placement to walls with outlets.
• Outdoor cameras. Outdoor cameras cost about double the price of indoor cameras, usually going for around $200. The reason for the price increase is their resilience. Outdoor cameras are built to withstand large temperature ranges, come in water-resistant cases, and can “survive” even if immersed in liquids. These cameras also tend to be wireless, due to most homes having fewer outdoor outlets.
• Video doorbells. You use video doorbell cameras in one place of your home: the front doors. They usually include a chime or a selection of chimes and replace traditional doorbells. These cameras allow the homeowners to see who is ringing on their doorstep.

Cameras based on power type

Based on the power type, we can observe the following cameras:

• Wired – The main advantage of wired cameras is the fact that you do not need to replace any batteries. If you have a large number of cameras in your home, you might as well purchase a few of the wired variety, due to the less hassle required.
• Wireless – Wireless cameras have the benefit of being rather easy to install. But they do require a battery to function. However, as the standard battery life is around a year, you will not need to replace them every now and then. Most of these cameras have rechargeable batteries but you may need to replace the batteries altogether in some models.

Cameras based on connectivity

• Wi-Fi connected cameras – Most security cameras that are utilized in homes today are connected through wi-fi. This allows you to use an app to control the camera, view footage, etc. Smart security cameras can even connect to the internet for easier uploading!
• Analog cameras – If you live in a home that does not have access to wi-fi, your only choice is to get an analog camera. Most of these cameras will record on their own micro-SD card. Some even have hard drives included.

Cameras based on recording type

According to the recording type, we can observe the following two varieties:

• DVR cameras – These cameras are usually analog, meaning that they do not have access to WiFi. You find these in most wired security systems and they connect to their hard drive via a coaxial cable.
• NVR cameras – NVR cameras are, in most cases, connected to WiFi. They are also known as IP (Internet Protocol) cameras. You can find this camera type in both wired and wireless versions.

In a nutshell, cameras that have DVR capability process the footage in their recorder (which is usually a hard drive), while NVR cameras process the data in the camera itself before streaming it to the recorder.

Cameras based on their shape

Some people want to choose their cameras by their shape. No one says that your security system can’t look exactly how you like, after all! With this in mind, we can find the following different types of home security cameras:

• Bullet cameras – Bullet cameras are usually wireless and provide great coverage if you place them in the corners of the room. By being bullet-shaped, they can be far less intrusive than dome cameras, if placed correctly. Plus, they are one of the easiest cameras to install.
• Dome cameras – The main advantage of dome cameras is that they are extremely hard to steal, as you usually place them on a ceiling. The dome shape offers these cameras a wider field of view than regularly-shaped cameras, due to the spherical design.
• Pan, tilt, or zoom cameras – In situations where you simply cannot compromise on the camera’s field of view, you get one of the pan, tilt, or zoom ones. The best cameras of this type can pan all the way around them, providing for ultimate coverage.
• Box cameras – The box camera looks pretty much how it sounds. It is a camera that is shaped like a box, simple as that. These cameras are slowly going out of circulation, though, as they are not frequently utilized in modern home security systems.
• Hidden cameras – If you do not want to even notice a camera, you opt for the hidden variety. Iconic examples include a teddy bear camera and a pen camera. It is even possible to DIY a teddy bear camera of your own! But, really, you can pick up a camera that looks like almost any everyday object. The main purpose of these cameras is to remain unnoticed, after all. However, they are not effective as a deterrent, as burglars and potential home invaders will not even notice them.

A few things that concern security cameras that you might want to think of

The first question you need to ask yourself is: Do I need a hard drive for my security cameras?

To answer this question, you need to figure out which camera type to go for. Smart, WiFi-connected cameras, for example, will not require a hard drive, as they can simply upload the footage directly to the internet. But for analog cameras, you will definitely want a hard drive. You can get by with only the micro-SD card on the camera but getting a hard drive is highly recommended.

Camera features and durability

As for security camera features, you want to consider which camera features are the most important to you. For example, opt for wireless cameras if you don’t have accessible wall outlets. Or you might choose your camera based on durability. If you are going to be using your camera outside of your home, durability is a very important factor to consider.

Video quality and night vision

Then there’s the video quality. Most smart security cameras of recent make feature 1080p HD resolution, with older cameras featuring 720p. There are even more advanced cameras, of course, offring 2k or even 4k resolution. The visual clarity comes with a hefty increase, though. You might want to think twice before purchasing a camera with 4k capabilities.

For outdoor cameras, night vision is going to be extremely important. Cameras come in two-night vision types: Infrared, and bright white. Infrared cameras produce black and white footage while bright white create a recording in color.

With so many different types of home security cameras, you really need to set your priorities straight before you go camera shopping. Discover even more information about the camera’s role in the home security system by browsing Consumer Opinion Guide, and also find all the top home security companies in the same place! An informed customer is a happy customer, after all.