Home security is a worthwhile investment for anyone with spending cash. However, the best fit for a home security system will vary by homeowner; depending on factors like budget and property size. Regardless of these, the single most important component of any security setup is its surveillance capabilities.
While a simple CCTV camera with monitor screen bundle might suffice for keeping track of specific rooms like nurseries, a functional security system will require more than simple recording capabilities. This article goes over the most important features to prioritise in a CCTV camera system for home security applications.
Six Essentials for Home Surveillance Systems
The determining consideration to make when selecting security cameras is whether they’re to be used in an indoor or outdoor setting. This will considerably narrow down the checklist toward model selection. The most critical features any homeowner should look for include:
For outdoor use
- Field-of-view (FOV) features: look for wide-angle lenses that provide a broader cone of vision, with variable-focus functionality allowing the camera to pan over its capture area, as well as zoom in or out to change focus.
- Weatherproofing: in order to ensure system longevity and avoid constant follow-up spending for unit or component replacement, choose cameras with a high IP rating and certified dust resistance.
- Quality enhancement: night vision, infrared (IR), or starlight technology is crucial for obtaining usable footage in properties with areas prone to low- to no-light conditions, such as premises with plenty of foliage or brush. Cameras with wide dynamic range (WDR) can control the disruptive effect of strong backlighting — such as from car headlights or sunlight — on video capture quality.
For indoor use
- Motion detection: while there may be a risk of delivery personnel or swaying trees triggering false alarms in motion detection-based cameras outside, indoor settings are another story. Once a security system is activated, sensitivity in motion-activated cameras becomes a very handy feature inside a home.
- Alert notifications: particularly when there’s a nursery or outside service personnel in the house, the ability of certain camera models to send real-time alerts to mobile or tablet devices often prove invaluable in averting mishaps indoors.
- Two-way audio: two-way audio systems allow homeowners to communicate with visitors or delivery personnel in everyday scenarios. In case of emergencies, they also allow homeowners to communicate with intruders in the house, or with loved ones from whom they’ve become separated.
Setting Up Comprehensive Security
There are some universal features that make the best CCTV cameras for home use viable, such as a balance between high capture resolutions and highly compressed output codecs. This allows for the minimisation of extra spending beyond a few 10-terabyte hard drives for storage, while still retaining usable and actionable footage for security use cases.
Beyond the basics, homeowners are best served by covering both indoor and outdoor areas of their property, which will require the use of different camera types. By making use of the right CCTV camera features, anyone can set up an effective and long-lasting home security system.
