SECURITY CAMERAS BUYERS GUIDE
Within the surveillance camera industry, a battle has always raged between those who prefer the direct connection of hard-wired camera installations vs. those that enjoy the benefits of battery-powered, wireless security cameras. More recently, wireless surveillance cameras have taken center stage with advances in battery life and storage capacities that allow them to break loose from the old style of wiring connections back to a central hub. This security camera buyers guide will cover the advances that have permitted security cameras to become smaller and much more discrete.
Hard-wired Security Systems: Discrete was something quite difficult for a hard-wired security camera system to achieve. Typically, they were bulky affairs with long cable runs that lead back to recording hubs, acting as eyes for a brain. The central digital video recorders often connected to the internet for video streaming, yet this was also a cabled connection. All of these linkups required hours and possibly teams of people for installations, but storage capacity and clarity were much higher for a long time than anything battery-powered or SD card-based.
Night Vision Hidden Cameras: Crime happens under cover of darkness. With our wide selection of night vision-equipped hidden cameras, we can provide video recording for every night situation. Infrared night vision will record images with a night vision distance of 10 to 15 feet. We also offer a few mini camera options with audio recording to create a robust home security camera.
Memory Card-Based Surveillance Cameras: Storage capacities were always a hurdle when high-definition surveillance cameras first came out, but newer, high-class SD memory cards allowed very sharp resolutions to be captured and reproduced with great clarity when reviewed. Up to 156 hours of 1080p video can be stored from our ZMax 86 Microstick Camera onto a 256GB SD card. Wireless surveillance cameras are typically designed with SD card use in mind, even if they offer cloud storage. Often, a wireless signal may not be strong enough to upload a high-resolution video effectively. In these cases, the security cam video stored on an SD card may store the sharper images.
Battery Powered Security Cams: Wireless security cameras, such as our Zetta Max Surveillance Camera line are designed for creative placements. They come with enough rechargeable battery life for short, targeted investigations or as long-term solutions to cover areas no one should be trespassing. Motion detection features can keep some devices on standby for many days, with up to 30 days in standby achievable with the 1080P ZMax MicroCam. Passive infrared technology enables the Zetta Max IR Surveillance Camera 160° Field of View to go for nearly 180 days without any person or animals' body heat to trigger it! Artificial intelligence within the aptly named Smart Security Camera can detect differences between vehicles, people, cats, and dogs to alleviate unnecessary motion detection alerts. Coupled with the massive battery pack inside, this AI can keep the wireless surveillance camera on standby for nearly 2 to 3 months! You cannot always get the angle of view required with a fixed lens camera. Our Pro Black Box Security Camera with 180 Degree Rotatable Lens has WIFI connectivity that enables the user to pan the camera from side to side in a 180° arc from the comfort of remote access on their smartphone or tablets. When you get a motion detection alert from the application, you can immediately check the live stream and follow the action from one side of the room to the other! This powerful surveillance device has 8 to 10 hours of battery life with a full charge, though it can be left plugged in for constant power and 24/7 surveillance.
WIFI Security Cameras: Wireless cameras have come a long way in the past 20 years. It's easier than ever to purchase a WIFI-enabled security camera and set it up in minutes using peer-to-peer technology! These WIFI security cameras are perfect for homes, businesses, apartments, etc. Products like our Pro Black Box Security Camera with 180 Degree Rotatable Lens or our Mini WIFI Security Camera with Rotatable Lens give you the flexibility to place them just about anywhere, giving you the ability to log in and see live what is happening, bringing great peace of mind when your out of town for work or just on vacation. If you require an easy-to-set-up exterior security camera check out our Smart Security Camera. This external surveillance camera comes with a handy magnetic mount, a 2-3 month battery life, and accurate artificial intelligence that can tell the difference between vehicles, people, cats, and dogs to alleviate unnecessary motion detection alerts. Using the free app, videos can be watched through your Android or Apple smart devices. This camera can store videos to the cloud for a minimal fee or directly to an SD card which can be downloaded to your smart device or directly to a Windows or Mac computer.
Cloud Storage Security: One of the most frequent questions we get about wireless security cameras is: what if someone takes the camera? Cloud storage, held off-site and away from the camera to keep the information safe, has been integrated with devices like our Smart Security Camera for added insurance. This wireless surveillance camera requires a WIFI connection for setting up and uploading video to the cloud.
Whether your situation requires a cloud storage option from a WIFI wireless surveillance camera, or if you need a memory card-based unit, our collection of security cameras will have what you need.