How to choose security cameras

1. What you want to see

Watching a garden is different from identifying a face at the door or reading a number plate. First define each camera's purpose, then choose the model.

2. Resolution and lens

Higher resolution lets you zoom into detail, but field of view and distance matter just as much. A wide-angle lens sees a lot but with less detail at distance.

3. Night vision

Infrared cameras see in black and white in the dark; colour night vision needs some light. The surrounding lighting is key.

4. Backlight

Entrances with strong outside light need WDR (wide dynamic range) so you don't just see silhouettes.

5. Mountain climate

The camera must be rated for low temperatures, snow and rain, and properly protected when installed.

6. Wired and PoE

Wired PoE cameras are more reliable than wireless ones.

7. Recording

• Local (recorder or NAS): footage stays on the property.
• Cloud: off-site copy, but dependent on the internet and an external service.

8. Smart detection

Person and vehicle detection cuts false alarms from animals, shadows or vegetation.

Camera types and where to use them

• Bullet: long and visible, with good range. For perimeters, façades and car parks; its presence is a deterrent.
• Dome or turret: compact and discreet, more vandal-resistant. For entrances, indoors and low mounting heights.
• Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ): rotates and zooms. Useful over large areas with an operator or programmed patrols.
• Panoramic or fisheye: covers a whole room with one camera, with less detail at a distance.

Where to place them

• At choke points: doors, garage ramps and corridors.
• At a height that shows faces, not just the tops of heads.
• Not pointing straight at floodlights or the sun.
• Without covering the public street or neighbouring property more than strictly necessary.

How much storage is needed

It depends on the number of cameras, resolution, how many days you want to keep and whether recording is continuous or motion-triggered. Current codecs such as H.265 greatly reduce the space required. We size the recorder for the retention you need, within the maximum retention periods that apply.

The camera network

• Network cable with PoE: stable image and no power sockets.
• A dedicated VLAN for video, separate from the work network and guest WiFi.
• Remote access through the manufacturer's app or a VPN, never by opening recorder ports to the internet.

Maintenance

• Clean lenses and check focus once or twice a year, especially after winter.
• Check the recorder is recording and that date and time are correct.
• Update firmware and change default passwords.

Common mistakes

• Many low-quality cameras instead of a few well-placed ones.
• WiFi cameras outdoors with a weak signal.
• Finding out the disk was full or faulty on the day you need the footage.