5 features to look out for in a home security camera - ACT

One of the most important devices in a home security set up is the networked security camera. Home security cameras come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and they have an array of features that can make choosing the perfect home camera rather difficult. Here is a list of some of the more important and common security camera features you should consider before purchasing a home security camera.

1. Video Quality

   One of the most important features of a security camera is the quality of its image. Security camera capabilities have lagged far behind recording resolutions seen on common video cameras for years, generating slow refresh rates of choppy, pixelated video. Many modern surveillance cameras provide at least 720p resolution, and for recording and downloading, many also provide as high as 1080p.

2. Motion Sensing

   It is not possible to overstate the importance of motion sensing for security cameras, particularly if you want to record any suspicious activity that may continue while the camera is running. Instead of recording 24-7, which can fill up a local or cloud storage drive quickly, you can pause recording before something moves in the frame with motion sensing. On your device or phone, you will also get warnings if anything moves when it shouldn't.

3. Low Light Output

   Low-light cameras use image enhancers to amplify very small amounts of ambient (visible light and produce a substantially clearer image with discernible data. This is the same equipment used in night vision goggles, but it often comes with limitations. Namely, if there's no visible light around the light amplification camera won't see something. Many cameras using this technology can emit near-infrared energy to try to increase the performance of the camera at night without drawing.

4. Two Way Audio

   Two-way contact between the person watching the video stream and the person in front of the camera is possible with speakers on a surveillance camera. Through this, whether you're home alone or out, you could interact with a person banging on your front door or you could also alert an intruder that law enforcement is on their way and that they've been caught on video.

5. Recording and Storage

   A surveillance camera that doesn't save or record what it captures is not very effective particularly if you're trying to prosecute an intruder. That's why most surveillance cameras provide either local storage or cloud storage. Local storage is a sure way to catch anything that happens.

If you are looking for a home security camera, you can read more about ACT’s home camera and it’s features here.