What Does Par Stand for in Design and Technology

Features to Look For in a Security Camera

Reolink Argus 3, Argus Eco, and Argus 2

As you set your sights on the many cameras options out there, you might get overwhelmed with such a wide range of choices. But trust us, it doesn't have to be painstaking finding the right security camera. Also, the wide selection helps to ensure you get the right product, with the right features – and the peace of mind you need to feel safe in your home.

For us, we always take a close look at the features and tech behind each camera to help narrow down our choice. We do this, primarily, by asking a series of questions as we go through our tests, like: How's the app? How's the night vision? Does it include batteries? Is it weatherproof? Can I install it myself?

The answers vary with each camera. So to help you make sense of it all, here are a few features we consider essential in home security cameras:

Fast Motion Activation

You want a camera that works fast and doesn't hesitate. Part of this depends on the strength and speed of your Wi-Fi signal, but a good camera will always "wake up" the moment motion occurs to send you alerts on your phone. In our review of the SimpliCam, SimpliSafe's only dedicated camera, we recall lighting-fast performance, and we recommend this camera often as a solid pick for folks on a budget.

SimpliCam with Mookie

SimpliSafe is one of the most DIY-forward systems out there, with equipment that can be mounted and set up with no elbow grease required. In the SimpliCam, we got a basic, no-frills device, maxing out at 720p resolution, which sounds kind of mediocre until you remember one important point: Lower-res video will run more smoothly over Wi-Fi than pricier competitors like Arlo and Google Nest,3 as they require less bandwidth to run and won't overload your network.

So, all this is to say: Don't underestimate the importance of "fast," especially if you've got a system with multiple cameras.

And if you're curious, SimpliSafe actually includes their SimpliCam free with most of their whole-home kits. Check out our full SimpliSafe system review for more.

Intuitive Smartphone App

Every security camera comes with an app these days, and like the cameras themselves, we've always found them relatively easy to learn. The best apps we've used present the camera's features in an intuitive, logical way, so when we want to check on what time our kids' school bus arrived home, it takes us just a few swipes to locate the footage.

FYI: In addition to helping with everyday tasks like monitoring the kids and pets, our camera's mobile app is also a lifeline. If an intruder should show up on our property, we'll be notified almost instantly, from anywhere.

The Blink app's feed does a good job in this area, even automatically producing a highlight reel each day with short spurts of action that occurred in our home. We recommend Blink's cameras and packages as a super-easy entry-level system, which isn't everyone's cup of tea but definitely impressed us in performance despite being pretty inexpensive; paying under $100 for a battery-powered Blink Outdoor camera is nothing to sneeze at, after all.

Blink App – Video History

Flexible Video Resolution

You'll see an overwhelming number of security cameras that claim 1080p video resolution as you start comparing options. But this, too, can be a bit misleading. Many cameras will only reach that 1080p benchmark under the most ideal conditions, like when your Wi-Fi signal is running at full strength.

But with our sometimes-less-than-perfect Wi-Fi connection, we didn't always see the ideal 1080p quality we were hoping for, even among the top-rated brands that are known for recording exceptional video. From time to time, our picture was pretty grainy.

But we might be a bit hyper-observant about this factor. As experts, we tend to pay extra attention to video quality in all of our reviews, as we know that resolution is one of the most important qualities people look for in a security camera. As an example, have a look at our view from the Blink Indoor Camera.

That is a 720p picture, which is still pretty clear!

That's why your best bet is to go with a camera with flexible, or fluid, resolution. As a whole, D-Link does this well; check out our comprehensive D-Link camera review for more info.

Truth be told, most days we don't even notice these fluctuations; as long as the camera is working, we figure we're already getting what we need out of it, or at least the basics.

Night Vision

We've seen some spectacular night vision images from our tests of security cameras. We've owned our home for a little over three years now, and we had no idea that so many deer showed up in our backyard on a nightly basis until we started checking out the nighttime view from our new Ring Floodlight Cam. Have a look below!

Ring Floodlight Cam Video Quality

We gave Arlo's design-forward cams high marks in this category in our hands-on Arlo camera review, too, but do remember that infrared night vision is pretty standard across cameras; you'll be able to see your home at night no matter what. Of course, we always end up spending more money if we want full color night vision, so do keep that in mind.

Two-Way Audio

Like 1080p and night vision, two-way audio has become a standard we expect in home security cameras. Even Wyze, one of the least expensive cameras on the market, has it. We consider it an essential feature, and in our full Wyze Cam review, we admit we weren't blown away with the quality of the audio in our tests. Par for the course, we say, for a super-affordable camera like Wyze Cam; when it comes down to it, all we really need is audio that works when we need instant communication with the person on the other end.

Wyze Cam Pan and Wyze Cam (V2)

We use this feature often as a convenient home intercom ("Time for bed, kids!"). But as an effective crime deterrent, this feature pleases us primarily because there's nothing like using our own "outside voice" to prevent a crook from choosing our house.

With Wyze's camera packages, we'll be upfront: The communication is a bit less crisp than the Rings and Arlos we've tested. But, again, we still got an effective two-way channel that we knew we could use in a pinch.

Video Storage

With some home security equipment boasting pretty heavy advanced tech, it can be tempting to buy cameras based on how high-tech they are. But it's important to remember that all that data you're getting from your high-tech cams is not cheap, no matter which camera you end up with.

D-Link Storage Options

The costs of storing all those ultra-HD videos with colorized night vision and wide viewing angles can easily get out of hand when it all shakes out. This can be a sticking point for some users, many of whom would rather not blow out their budgets on storage.

We advise caution here. Be realistic; how much time are you really going to spend looking over your footage? Do you really need the cameras to be running 24/7, or are you looking for a camera that records clips and is only activated by motion?

The latter setup, naturally, will keep your costs lower; namely, you won't need to spend $10 or more per month using the cloud to store footage. This is something we can't emphasize enough: The costs of securing your home can add up fast, so be sure to account for any monthly fees (like a cloud subscription!) before considering the total costs of your security camera(s).

Going with a trusted brand like Samsung, for example, could help ensure you get what you're paying for without any surprises. In our review of Samsung's Wisenet cams, we learned that the brand had recently discontinued their SmartCloud storage service; while we were initially disappointed, we soon felt comfortable using the camera's pre-inserted micro SD card to store video. With local storage, we were able to save money on an already affordable system.

Field of View

Another important point you should always consider when choosing equipment is how much coverage you want to get out of your camera – otherwise known as the field of view. Simply put, we refer to the field of view as the angle between the two horizontal edges of the camera's display.

This isn't a hard-and-fast rule, but generally, the narrower the lens, the most specific your target should be. In our review of Ring's Stick Up Cam, we noted all of the camera's features displayed prominently on the box – HD video, two-way talk, motion-activated notifications, easy installation, and a rechargeable battery pack – but no mention of the camera's field of view.

Ring Stick Up Cam

In bringing the camera online, we got a firsthand look at that view: At 110 degrees, the viewing angle for Ring Stick Up is about average compared to other wireless indoor cams. Nothing earth-shattering, but again, that's why we set up that camera to monitor our stairway rather than our expansive living room… we knew it had the angle to accomplish the task.

On the flip side, you'll want a wider-angle lens for monitoring large spaces. For that, a trusty Zmodo Sight 180C tested well, mostly due to a panoramic 180-degree view; it also handled well for us as a pet monitor.

Zmodo Sight 180C Indoor Wi-Fi Camera

Design and Durability

A camera's design – how it's built as well as how it looks – often reflects the purposes it serves. For example, the no-frills Ring Indoor Cam has a simple, cylindrical design with no weatherproofing or protective cover, so we knew when we tested it that we shouldn't risk exposing a camera like this to our tumultuous Ohio winter weather.

The Ring Indoor Cam is plug-and-play, so we knew we should keep it close to a power outlet. It's also small, so we assume (rightly, in this case) that this camera uses a standard lens with a field of view under 130 degrees. This, in turn, helps us understand where the camera should go and what it should do for us. Making sense, right?

This chain-reaction approach is common in our review repertoire, and it's helped us make the most out of our cameras and not get intimidated by their technology.
Knowing all this, we always encourage folks not to get too concerned about equipment damage; the majority of outdoor cameras are designed to protect from weather, plus most brands now have pretty straightforward policies if something isn't right with the camera.

Did You Know: The most common weather rating for outdoor cameras is IP-65, which means it'll protect from most damage, barring extreme flooding. As users, we think it's extremely important for cameras to be rated for weather. After all, these devices are supposed to provide peace of mind, right?

Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ)

We love pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras because they're a nice, economical option for apartment dwellers and homeowners alike. We've met a few cams with some very unique PTZ builds, with mechanical lenses that rotate Exorcist-style to allow us to see more out of our space than ever before. And we have to say, this can be a super convenient option; we know we're getting one camera that covers a whole lot of ground, with little else to worry about.

Numerous brands, including Reolink, D-Link, Lorex, Amcrest, Wyze, and Swann, carry their own versions of pan-tilt cameras. As we mentioned earlier, brands with massive selection can be confusing, so if you're looking for new and innovative features in a PTZ device, we advise giving the Amcrest ProHD a second look. We did a deep dive on this cam in our hands-on Amcrest camera review, if you're interested.

Amcrest Indoor Pan-Tilt Camera

Emergency Connectivity

Once used strictly by professional security systems, emergency connection is starting to pop up in standalone security cameras, too. But since we're talking about wireless technology, a couple of camera packages are starting to appear with a thumbprint-activated safety feature we can tap from anywhere.

A select few cameras we've tested have joined forces with Noonlight, a security tech startup that helps self-monitoring security camera users dispatch emergency services without having to call 911.

YI Indoor Camera

We don't see this emergency connection feature routinely in cameras yet, but when we do, it really amazes us. Take a look at our YI Home 3 camera review, where we discovered the 24/7 emergency service in an otherwise basic $19.99 indoor camera. Though it did involve signing on to a separate subscription, we do think you'll appreciate the extra layer of safety here. If something goes terribly wrong, the monitoring center can dispatch 911, EMS, or Fire. Features like this are crucial for the elderly and those who live alone.

YI Camera – Emergency Response

When we did our hands-on review of Canary cameras, we were spoiled by this feature, since they don't charge a separate fee beyond the standard Canary subscription. But we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that Canary's equipment costs are significantly higher than YI's, so keep that in mind.

Canary Emergency Button

AI Facial Recognition

Though not widely common yet, we're seeing more and more cameras with AI-powered facial recognition. For us, buying cameras with this advanced feature comes down to a question: How smart do we want our smart home to be?

In Google Nest Cams, for instance, we got one of the most impressive feature sets thanks to Google's bold embrace of facial recognition technology. We saw this consistently in our tests as the camera gradually learned the faces and identities of each occupant in our home, then used the data to generate real-time Familiar Faces alerts. We couldn't help but sit back and say, "Wow, they've come a long way, haven't they?"

The implications, too, are worth noting; a camera that knows our face, and can immediately tell when someone "unfamiliar" is present, is the kind of technology that has the potential to save lives. That's pretty much priceless, if you ask us.

What Does Par Stand for in Design and Technology

Source: https://www.safehome.org/home-security-cameras/

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