Good surveillance cameras should have these 6 features
When we talk about surveillance cameras these days, we no longer just mean the large electronic devices used outside on the street. Modern, smart surveillance cameras are also perfect for home surveillance. They give you a quick overview of your premises without having to worry about burglars. Furthermore, modern, smart surveillance cameras offer other useful services in the home – for example, as an intercom for the front door or as an alternative to baby monitors. Or have you ever experienced a situation where you asked yourself: "Did I close the windows and turn off the lights or not?" With a practical, smart surveillance camera, you no longer have to worry about that.
However, there are many smart surveillance cameras from different brands and different types, all with different features and at different prices. Which camera is best for you? What makes a good surveillance camera? In this guide, we want to show you why a good surveillance camera should have these 6 important features.
1. A large field of view
If you only want to monitor the entrance area, a narrower field of view of 90 to 140 degrees is sufficient. However, this field of view is usually very limited. If you want to monitor your garden or a very large room, you need a wider field of view to better monitor the entire area. Ideally, the camera should be able to move its lens in all directions. This way, it can capture almost everything within a 360-degree radius.
Such a camera, which rotates automatically and has a wide field of view , saves you the hassle and expense of setting up multiple cameras in one room.
2. Qualified protection class for outdoor cameras
The protection class is primarily important for surveillance cameras. The protection class of a camera is specified in the combination IPxx, where the first value indicates protection against dust ( protection against contact and foreign objects ) and the second indicates protection against the ingress of water ( protection against water ). The abbreviation IP stands for International Protection. The term Ingress Protection is also common, which translates as protection against ingress ( source ). For example, IP65 means that the camera has complete contact protection and is protected against water jets from all directions. In addition, its housing is completely dustproof.
Outdoor surveillance cameras must be protected from rain, dust, vandalism, cold, and heat. In winter temperatures, it's especially important to protect the camera lens from fogging or icing. Outdoor surveillance cameras are most commonly rated with IP65 or IP66 protection classes. This means they are fully protected against dust and water jets ( source ).
Indoor cameras don't need such a high IP rating, as high-quality protection against water or fine sand dust isn't required indoors. Therefore, indoor surveillance cameras with an IP20 rating without moisture protection are sufficient for dry living spaces.
3. Recording even in the dark: Night vision
For those who want 24/7 surveillance, a good security camera should provide high-quality footage both day and night and offer some sort of night vision capability (built-in lighting) . Instead of just seeing shadows and barely noticeable features, night vision actually allows you to see enough detail to assess what's going on. For example, you can determine what's making a noise outside or knocking over a trash can in your yard.
The night vision feature is also especially helpful for mothers and pet owners. Imagine not having to get up immediately when you hear your baby crying in their sleep. Or not having to immediately leave the room to investigate when you hear your pet knock something over. Instead, you can simply stay in bed, pick up your phone, and view the situation via the smart app . This way, you can keep an eye on your home and your loved ones even in the dark.
4. Secure recording and storage: Data protection
There are various recording options via cloud or memory card.
There are surveillance cameras with memory cards . Some users also use their own PC or hard drive to store the surveillance camera videos. Let's take the Chuango PT300Q Indoor Camera as an example. With the built-in microSD card slot, you can record up to 128 GB of video footage around the clock. So you don't have to watch everything in real time, motion-triggered events are highlighted. However, one drawback is that the recordings can be lost if the camera is destroyed or stolen. ( Source )
Many surveillance camera providers advertise that they store recordings in the cloud , making them accessible from any location and any internet-enabled device. This feature seems good at first glance, but please check before purchasing whether the live stream and video storage are encrypted. Encrypted data transmission between the surveillance camera and the cloud storage server is important to prevent criminals from hacking the camera and gaining access to the surveillance footage. ( Source )
To further protect your privacy, our Chuango PT-300Q indoor camera offers an additional "privacy mode." In private mode, the camera lens is mechanically covered so that no recording can take place.
5. Detection of human movements by AI algorithms
A popular feature of a video surveillance camera is motion detection. Surveillance cameras can detect motion in three different ways: through motion detection , through a PIR sensor , and through AI algorithms .
Motion detection is a software solution that is either part of the camera software or can be installed externally on the computer. In contrast, the PIR sensor is a component permanently integrated into the camera. It detects movement based on temperature changes. Therefore, it generates fewer false alarms than motion detection monitoring. ( Source )
Good surveillance cameras with AI algorithms react to relevant movements and can distinguish between moving human objects and other objects such as pets, branches swaying in the wind, or flying plastic bags. Even smarter would be if the camera didn't record continuously , but only when it detected human movement. This feature saves power and storage space and prevents you from receiving a pile of irrelevant video footage.
The Chuango PT-300Q camera has just such an intelligent surveillance function: With the app, you can not only see into the furthest corners, but also record rooms, movements, or sounds! Thanks to the device's integrated artificial intelligence, you'll automatically receive a real-time notification with up to 15-second video clips on your phone as soon as the camera detects unusual movements or sounds.
6. Two-way audio: intercom
A two-way audio system, often called an intercom or intercom function, is a combination of two microphones and speakers, one on the surveillance camera and one on the smartphone. ( Source )
A good security camera with two-way audio can also be used as a telephone (with video), doorbell, or baby monitor. You can use it to communicate with loved ones at home at any time, reassure children or pets with your voice, or communicate with visitors at the door. You can even prevent crimes by making a noise. This will deter someone who is behaving suspiciously and lingering outside your house for a long time.
Conclusion:
A good security camera allows us to monitor everything at home while away, deter burglars, and communicate with our pets at home. Before purchasing a security camera, you should check whether it actually has the 6 important features mentioned in this article.
Our Chuango PT-300Q smart camera not only has these 6 important features, it's also easy to install, affordable, and can be used together with other Chuango smart home devices. For example, the camera detects human movement and the smart light bulb automatically lights up!