Security Cameras for Home Security Systems

Choosing the right type of security camera for your home security system can be a difficult decision. You need to consider where the camera will be located, as well as what your goals for the security cameras are. For example, if you are looking for a simple unobtrusive camera and don't want to drill holes all over your house, you would want a dome camera with wireless transmission. However somebody looking for a cheap solution to monitor their car at night might opt for an outdoor bullet camera with night vision capabilities.

Bullet security cameras are one of the most effective and popular home security solutions available. These cameras are compact and discrete, allowing them to fit into areas where space is limited without distracting from the aesthetics of your home. Their purchase price and easy installation is a big draw for most home security camera customers.

Hidden security cameras, or "spy cams," are typically designed not as a deterrent. Owners of such security cameras are usually more concerned with being able to catch people in the act. Whether it be a neighborhood vandal or a teenager sneaking out at night, hidden security cameras are like having your own invisible informant.

Night vision cameras use infrared LEDs to enable vision in even pitch black conditions.In the right conditions, a camera without night vision capability may be able to record an event as it happened, but rarely will the picture be good enough to be useful. If your goal is to identify people at night (or even in dark rooms) night vision security cameras are a must.

The only feature important to an outdoor security camera is the casing itself. The key to a good outdoor camera is the ability to keep out any and all moisture, dust, and insects. Any of the above intruders can damage a camera beyond repair, or obscure the field of view when it is needed the most.

Most people recognize these as the cameras used in major retail chains. They provide unobtrusive security without making them "covert" or "hidden." Tinted glass can also make it difficult to ascertain the area being monitored, making the "deterrent" factor a little better than their other surveillance counterparts.

A varifocal camera is designed to be used at various distances. Security cameras with varifocal lenses are a great option for any customers, especially if they are not sure what distance or viewing angles they will be attempting to monitor.

Also known as IP cameras, these have the ability to transmit compressed data over the internet. In addition to the remote viewing capability, internet network cameras are sometimes easier to install since they do not require a separate cable run from the surveillance camera to the monitors.

Not to be mistaken for internet network cameras (which can also be wireless), some wireless security systems use alternative methods of wireless transmission. These are incredibly popular due to their ease of installation but high profile homeowners attempting to thwart more than your standard "smash and grab" thieves may want to consider sticking to secure, hard wired security systems.

PTZ Stands for Pan-Tilt-Zoom. PTZ Speed dome cameras are simply dome cameras that rotate on the axis as well as zoom in and out. Many of these cameras are programmed to move with a timer, allowing for surveillance of a larger area while maintaining the unobtrusive size of a dome camera.

High definition security systems are often only used for very specific purposes, due to cost. These are the cameras you will see in casinos, where security needs the ability to monitor people's hands and fingers closely.

The advantage of a c-mount security camera is that the lens can be changed when desired. This allows them the versatility to adapt to different situations/environments, as well as be easily updated to the newest technologies without having to replace the whole unit. New lens technologies are always available to c-mount systems before being produced as entire units.