With the best home security cameras and outdoor cameras, you can monitor your home 24/7 Whether you want to see who is walking down the driveway or peek inside your home while on vacation, these cameras provide a window into your humble abode However, with so many models on the market, choosing the right model requires evaluating several factors for your specific needs

Of course, you need a security camera that captures clear, reliable recordings, but that is not the only important factor Here are five things I tell friends and family to look for when deciding on a camera From weather resistance to resolution, there are several core factors to consider

The resolution of the camera determines the clarity of the still images and video you see The higher the resolution, the more detail you can capture, such as identifying text and facial details on an object There are three common resolutions to choose from: 1080p (Full HD), 2K, and 4K cameras with less than 1080p should not be purchased

To show the difference in resolution, look at how much sharper the 4K Eufy S350 image above is than the 1080p quality of the ring pan-tilt cam below

You can see how the 1080p resolution softens the detail in textures like the raised paper letters and overhead grids

I find that 2K resolution cameras are the sweet spot for most people They are obviously sharper than inexpensive full HD cameras and can bring out plenty of detail However, they don't put as much strain on the network as 4K cameras, and they don't cost as much

Night vision performance does not necessarily affect resolution, but it does affect image quality in the dark If color night vision is needed to see the tint of a person's car paint or clothing, a model that can handle it is required Infrared night vision is a more popular choice because it can capture sharp, monochromatic images in total darkness Text, tattoos, and facial details can be easily seen, but color information is missing and the image is slightly blurred when the subject moves around

Field of view (FOV) refers to the amount of space a camera can see; a camera with a wide FOV can cover a larger area I consider 120 degrees or more to be wide The wider it is, the less you need to buy more cameras to monitor your house or yard However, the wider the field of view, the more difficult it may be to find certain details

For these reasons, pan/tilt cameras are becoming increasingly popular They have a motorized base and rotate 360 degrees, allowing the viewer to see into the crevices of a room

Are you willing to pay a monthly subscription fee to store video recordings and access useful features like AI event identification? If not, you'll want to look at subscription-free cameras that store video locally rather than in the cloud; brands such as Eufy, Tapo, and Wyze store video recordings on MicroSD cards so you don't have to pay for the ability to record footage On top of that, these companies offer premium features such as AI event detection (people, pets, cars) and voice monitoring for free

Arlo, Blink, and Ring make excellent hardware that works closely with smart homes However, none of these cameras store video locally Rather, they upload to the cloud or a remote base station They also do not record or store events without a contract They only receive a basic notification when motion is detected and jump to live video

The advantage of storing video locally on the camera is that events can be recorded even if the Internet is down However, if the camera only stores video locally, an intruder can simply remove the camera and there will be no record of the intrusion on the property Eufy and Wyze offer cloud storage in addition to local storage (for a fee), but we also like Nest Cam (battery)

If the camera will be used outdoors, check the Ingress Protection (IP) rating to make sure it can withstand harsh weather conditions IP65, for example, is a protection rating against dust and water jets If you live in a location with extreme cold or heat waves, you should also consider the camera's operating temperature range

Ensure that the camera is compatible with your existing smart home ecosystem: integrate with platforms such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit to view live camera feeds from an optimal smart display or receive motion detection announcements on smart speakers It can also be integrated into home automation routines Two-way audio can also be used to add intercom functionality to different areas of the home