Security Cameras Buying Guide
Introduction
You can never be too safe these days, especially if you are running your own business.
While you would hope that your business would never be at risk of being harmed or stolen from by unsavory characters, the sad truth is that it’s a risk that all companies have these days.
Security cameras may not always stop someone from doing wrong but they can certainly give business owners peace of mind and a tool to combat crimes after they have occurred. There have been numerous legal cases decided because of the use of security cameras.
Additionally, there are some potential criminals who decide to not carry out devious plans because they see a camera watching them.
There are multiple reasons why businesses should put money into security cameras. But you are simply wasting your money if you are not investing in the right sort of camera. There are many options out there for you now but only a few will truly get the job done, deliver what you want, provide high definition footage, and fit your budget.
There have never been so many options when it comes to security cameras but this is both a good and bad thing because the sheer amount of options can feel downright overwhelming.
Here is what you should look for and pay attention to when you are buying security cameras for your business - or, really, for any location!
Don’t Forget Quality
There was a time when security cameras only recorded or broadcast their footage in grainy black and white footage.
My, how times have changed.
Now, you are able to see clear, vibrant imagery from your security camera, as long as you buy the right type.
1080p Or Higher
There is no reason for you to buy a security camera that records in anything less than 1080p. A few years ago, that sort of quality was hard to come by but nowadays it’s not and you should only put your money into a camera that will give you 1080p quality.
The higher the quality, the better it will be to see even the most minute details about people, what they are doing, what they are grabbing, and where they are headed.
The best thing about 1080p resolution is that it will look great on a large computer monitor and TV screen. Therefore, if you are watching the footage later on something bigger than a smartphone, you will be in luck.
Field Of View
You want a security camera that can capture a large area of your business. Simply grabbing one restricted angle isn’t going to be good enough.
There are many cameras that come with a large field of view, up to 130 degrees. This is an ideal field for modern security cameras. With a large amount of space covered, you are giving yourself and your business more security and safety.
But you can get an even more impressive field of view. There are now security cameras that show 160 degrees. If you have a lot of area that you want to keep tabs on, this is the right route for you and your business.
A Good Frame Rate
Modern security cameras should be providing you with at least 15 frames per second (fps). This will provide you with smooth motion in all of your videos. With smooth video and not a lot of motion blue, you will be able to get a good look at even the tiniest details of the security footage.
15 fps is the lowest frame rate that you should accept with your security camera. Ideally, you should buy a camera or set of cameras that is even more impressive. You can easily find a camera with a frame rate of 24 frames per second or even higher.
Night Vision
While you will definitely want to be monitoring security cameras during the day, it’s vital that you invest in cameras that provide great, top-of-the-line night vision too.
The night time is perhaps the most dangerous time for many businesses. That is because it is after operating hours and when nefarious people are looking to cause the most problems. With good night vision, you might not be able to stop crimes but you will have great detail about the people who committed them.
If you are needing to communicate with local law enforcement officers about a crime, you will want to provide the best footage, even if it was recorded late at night.
You Need Good Storage
Your security camera is a great way to look at what is happening inside your business at this very moment but you need to also have a way to store all the footage that is accumulating.
You will not be able to look back at the footage later if you don’t have a sound, solid, reliable amount of storage for your security cameras.
When you are investing in your camera, you need to make sure that you buy something that has at least 32 GB of storage, preferably on an SD card. The footage that you are compiling will take up a lot of space, especially if it is captured in 1080p, as it should be. Therefore, 32 GB is the bare minimum of space needed for your camera.
You can buy massive hard drives these days and it’s not hard to find one that can hold up to 1 TB or higher. The more space you have, the more footage you can hold and the further back your footage can go.
Conclusion
There has never been a better time to get a security camera. This is not only because the products have never been cheaper due to the amount on the market but it’s also because there are so many threats out there that can damage your business and its bottom line.
When purchasing a security camera, you need to be sure that you buy one that can capture the right parts of your business in the best quality and store it for the most amount of time with ease.
