If you are looking for security cameras, you’ve no doubt encountered a vast and confusing array of products and information online. And, camera specifications include reams of cryptic numbers and letters, making it hard to sort out what’s important and what’s not, and what would be best for your needs. In this blog, I will outline the types of cameras available, and what purposes they are best suited for.

Camera Housing Types

Box Camera

This is a standalone camera, shaped like a box with the lens on the front. It has customizable lens options, camera, housings etc. With a camera like this, it’s easy to see where the camera is aimed.

Dome Camera

As the name implies, this camera is shaped like an upside down dome. It combines, camera, lens, ceiling mount, and is suitable for dirty environments such as warehouses, factories, kitchens, etc. It’s available in indoor or outdoor housings and vandal-resistant housings. The dome lens can be clear or it can be opaque, so that it is not obvious where the camera is pointing.

Bullet Camera

The Bullet Camera combines camera, lens, and optionally, infrared (IR) illuminators in a tubular body. It is compact and self-contained, with a fairly small footprint. With IR illuminators it is useful for low light situations. Because of the way it’s designed, it is easy to tell where the camera is pointing.

Security Camera Features

PTZ (Pan, Tilt and Zoom) Camera

This type of camera contains motorized controls that allow a remote operator to control where the camera is aimed, and zoom in or out. Movement can be controlled by a joystick-type interface or via software. Movement patterns and times can be programmed via software. Some of these type of cameras can detect and automatically track movement.

IP Camera

An Internet Protocol (IP) camera is a security camera which can connect to network in much the same way as any other wired standalone network device such as a notebook, computer or printer would connect to the network. It can transmit and receive data over a network or via the internet. These cameras would typically be connected to a wired network via ethernet cable. Images from an IP camera can be viewed from anywhere there is an internet connection. These cameras can have motion detectors to alert you when there is an intruder. Some IP cameras have PTZ functionality, which can be controlled from anywhere there is an internet connection. Available for indoor and outdoor use, and for low-light conditions.

Wireless IP Camera

This is a WiFi enabled IP camera, eliminating cost of installing network cabling. It connects wirelessly to a router and is accessible over the internet.

Day/Night Camera

This camera is suitable for low-light situations as well as daytime lighting. It includes Infrared (IR) lighting for night time use.

Thermal (FLIR) Camera

This camera works similarly to the “Night Vision” cameras you may have seen on TV. Because it works by detecting heat, a Thermal Camera can “see” in complete darkness and in harsh environments such as dust, haze, smoke and fog.

Wide Dynamic Range Cameras

These are specialized cameras for use in environments for use where there is a very wide range of lighting levels in the same scene, such as people in shadows with bright sunlight behind them, or in parking lots where there may be bright headlights. Regular security cameras adjust their exposure for the brightest levels, and in the scenarios mentioned earlier, shadow detail would be lost. Wide Dynamic Range cameras can create create useable images where there is a very wide range of lighting levels in the same scene, by balancing light levels on a per-pixel basis.

360 Degree camera

360 Degree cameras, as the name implies, can provide complete 360-degree coverage of an area. Usually in a dome housing, these cameras include a number of lenses covering the entire field of view. The camera combines images from the multiple lenses into one image or video.

Analog Cameras

Also known as CCTV Camera, these older style analog cameras suffer from low resolution, and signal degradation which is influenced by length and type of cable, number of connectors used, age of the cable. They are not a particularly desirable or a viable option but they may be used to repair or extend an existing CCTV installation.

A home security system can provide you with everything from protection from intruders to saving money on your homeowners insurance. Here are the top ten reasons you should consider installing a home security system.

1. Intruder Protection- it’s no surprise that having a home security system is going to help keep unwanted trespassers away. Homes without a security system are far more likely to be targeted by burglars for obvious reasons.
2. Protect your Valuables- if intruders are kept out, your valuable possessions will be kept safe, plain and simple. A good home security system is crucial in ensuring your valuables are secure and not stolen. Thieves commonly target items such as TVs and jewellery, so it’s important to keep them safe and secure.
3. Fire Protection- home security systems are often only associated with home intrusion protection, but they also offer fire protection that is a step up from your average smoke detector. Home security systems are often outfitted with fire detection that can sense fire, smoke, and even abnormal heat and contact authorities early.
4. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Protection- just like fire detection, home security systems can also help detect the presence of carbon monoxide in your home, keeping you and your family safe in yet another way. Carbon monoxide is odourless and invisible, you cannot smell it or see it.
5. Constant Monitoring- a monitored home security system is continuously being monitored by trained security professionals. Your home and loved ones are always protected, and should an emergency arise, help is immediately available.
6. Remote Monitoring- new technology allows homeowners to keep an eye on their homes while they are away, providing even more personal assurance of security. Homeowners are able to log on to the internet and view live video feeds of their homes, allowing for constant monitoring from just about anywhere.
7. Immediate Medical Assistance- today’s home security systems can be designed to provide a homeowner with an easy means to contact emergency services. Often requested to be in the homes of elderly people or those with disabilities, an alert device commonly called a “Panic Button” will immediately summon help, should an emergency arise.
8. Reduce Energy Consumption- though not as common as other home security features, some systems come with a mobile monitoring feature that allows a homeowner to control their home’s lights and heating and cooling systems. This reduces energy consumption because you will always be able to shut these things off when no one is home.
9. Peace of Mind- one of the best things a reliable home security system can give you is simple peace of mind. Simply knowing that your home and everything in it, especially your family, is safe and secure 24 hours a day can do a whole lot to reduce your stress.
10. Save on Home Insurance- a home that is outfitted with a functioning home security system is going to come with lower homeowners insurance costs. Your home is seen as significantly safer and more secure than a home without a security system, so your insurance company is going to deem it as less of a risk.