Choosing and Placing Security Cameras
Types of Security Cameras
Security cameras come in several form factors, and each one serves a different purpose. Understanding the differences helps you pick the right camera for each spot around your home.
- Bullet cameras are the classic cylindrical shape you see mounted on walls. They are great for outdoor use because their shape naturally shields the lens from rain and glare. They also look obviously like security cameras, which helps with deterrence.
- Dome cameras sit flush against ceilings or soffits and have a wider field of view. They are harder to tamper with because the lens direction is not immediately obvious to someone looking up at them.
- Spotlight cameras combine a camera with a built-in floodlight. These are excellent for dark areas like backyards and side yards because the light activates on motion, improving video quality and scaring off intruders at the same time.
- Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras can rotate and zoom remotely. They cover large areas but cost more. Most homeowners do not need these unless they have a very large property.
- Indoor cameras are smaller and designed to blend into your home. Many double as baby monitors or pet cameras with two-way audio.
Key Specs That Actually Matter
Camera spec sheets are full of numbers, but only a few really affect your experience. Here is what to focus on:
Resolution: 2K (2560x1440) is the sweet spot for most home security cameras today. It gives you enough detail to identify faces and read license plates without eating up massive amounts of storage. 1080p works fine for indoor cameras where subjects are closer. 4K is overkill for most residential setups and requires more bandwidth and storage.
Field of view: Look for at least 120 degrees for outdoor cameras. Wider is better for covering large areas with fewer cameras. Indoor cameras with 130 to 160 degree fields of view can cover an entire room from a corner mount.
Night vision: Infrared night vision works in total darkness but produces black-and-white footage. Color night vision uses a small ambient light or built-in spotlight to produce color footage at night, which is far more useful for identifying people and vehicles.
Weather rating: For outdoor cameras, look for IP65 or IP67 ratings. IP65 handles rain and dust. IP67 can survive temporary submersion. Do not mount an indoor camera outside, even under a covered porch.
Storage: Cloud vs Local vs Hybrid
Every camera needs somewhere to store its footage. You have three main options:
- Cloud storage sends clips to the manufacturer's servers. It is convenient because you can access footage from anywhere, but it usually requires a monthly subscription. If your internet goes down, you lose recording capability.
- Local storage saves footage to a microSD card in the camera or to a network video recorder (NVR) in your home. No monthly fees, and it works even without internet. The downside is that if someone steals the camera, they take the footage with it.
- Hybrid storage does both. This is the ideal setup. Important clips go to the cloud as a backup, while continuous recording happens locally. Many newer cameras support this approach.
Where to Place Your Cameras
Placement makes or breaks your security camera setup. A $300 camera in a bad spot is less useful than a $50 camera in the right one. Follow these guidelines:
Front door and porch: This is the number one spot. Most package thefts and a surprising number of break-ins happen right at the front door. A video doorbell handles this, but a separate porch camera gives you a wider angle.
Driveway: Mount a camera high enough to capture license plates and faces. Aim it so headlights at night do not wash out the image. An 8 to 10 foot mounting height usually works well.
Backyard: Burglars prefer the back of the house because it is less visible to neighbors and passersby. A spotlight camera here does double duty as security and yard lighting.
Side gates and yards: These are often forgotten but are common entry points. Even a basic camera here closes a major gap.
Installation Tips
Getting a good installation does not require professional help for most wireless cameras. Keep these tips in mind:
- Mount cameras at 8 to 10 feet high. Too low and they can be easily knocked down or sprayed. Too high and you lose facial detail.
- Angle cameras slightly downward. You want to capture faces, not the tops of heads.
- Avoid pointing cameras directly into the sun or toward reflective surfaces. This causes glare and washed-out footage.
- Make sure your Wi-Fi signal is strong at each camera location. A camera with a weak connection will drop frames and miss events. If signal is weak, add a mesh Wi-Fi node nearby before mounting the camera.
- For wired cameras, plan your cable runs before drilling. Use conduit for outdoor runs to protect the cables from weather and tampering.
Test each camera position with your phone before permanently mounting anything. Hold the camera in place, check the live view, and make sure you can see what you need to see. Five minutes of testing saves hours of remounting later.