• Video Quality & Resolution
- Aim for at least 1080p (Full HD); that’s generally good enough to make out faces, read license plates, or see small details.
- If you want even more detail (for large yards, long distances, or clearer facial recognition), consider 2 K, 4 K or higher cameras.
- Higher resolution helps a lot when you need to zoom in on footage or capture small details. • Field of View (FoV) / Lens & Coverage Area
- A wide field of view means each camera can cover more area — fewer cameras needed overall. Good for backyards, driveways, big rooms
- For smaller or focused areas (e.g. front door, hallways), a narrower field of view might be fine and even preferable for detail.
• Night Vision / Low-Light Performance
- Many security issues occur at night, so make sure the camera offers night vision or IR (infrared) capability, or even color night vision for better clarity after dark.
- Good night-vision cameras ensure you can still identify people, objects, or suspicious movement in low or no-light conditions
- • Frame Rate / Smoothness
- Frame rate (FPS — frames per second) affects how fluid motion looks. For catching fast movement (people walking, cars driving by), a camera with 25–30 FPS tends to perform better.
- Low frame rate may result in choppy video — less useful when you’re trying to determine identity or motion direction
• Indoor vs Outdoor & Durability
- If you plan to put cameras outside — driveway, backyard, front door — pick a model that’s weatherproof (resistant to rain, dust, temperature) and suitable for outdoor conditions
- Make sure the camera housing, mounting, and power supply are appropriate for where you’re installing it. CCTV Camera World+2Defend Security Group+2
• Power & Connectivity (Wired vs Wireless)
- Some cameras are wired — connects directly to power and sometimes to a recorder/NVR — which can mean more reliability. CCTV Camera World+1
- Wireless (WiFi or battery-powered) cameras are easier to install and more flexible in placement, but you need to ensure stable power and WiFi coverage.
- Consider how easy the installation is (DIY vs professional) and whether you prefer to self-monitor or use a monitored service. • Storage & Recording Options
- Decide if you want local storage (e.g. microSD card, DVR/NVR) or cloud storage. Local storage avoids subscription fees but might have limited capacity.
- Consider whether the camera offers continuous recording, motion-triggered recording, or alert-based recording depending on your needs. • Smart Features: Motion Detection, Alerts, Two-Way Audio, Smart-Home Integration
- Smart motion detection (some even AI-powered) helps filter out irrelevant movement (like tree branches or animals) and focuses on people/vehicles — useful to reduce false alarms.
- Two-way audio can let you communicate with visitors or delivery people, or scare off intruders — handy if you’re away.
- Integration with your smart home system (voice assistants, security hub, phone app) might make monitoring easier and more seamless