At times, we all wish we had eyes in the back of our heads. Having constant surveillance in and around the house can provide excellent peace of mind, especially when we are asleep or out of town. Thanks to recent advantages in technology, making sure nothing escapes your watch is less expensive than ever before. With affordable options that connect to wi-fi, save recordings to the cloud, and even see in the dark, there’s no excuse for being caught by surprise.

Guide to Picking a Cheap Security Camera

Whether you are a homeowner or looking for a cheap security system for a small business, you need to make a few considerations before deciding on the best product. Consider the following factors before settling on which one to buy.

Storage

The recordings on your camera need a place for storage. If not, the footage will get lost and could prevent you from solving a crime of theft or vandalism. Wireless security cameras traditionally have cloud storage or a built-in SD card. Local storage offers full-time recording, but you will need to have several SD cards to stay up with all the footage. Or, you must constantly remove the SD card to transfer footage to another storage device in order to prevent the footage from not getting recorded on the device itself.

Cloud storage is a good solution for many homeowners and SMBs. Some cameras offer free storage for a couple of hours or weeks’ worth of time. There are other models that require you to pay a fee to have the footage stored for a specific period of time. The fees can range from monthly to annual charges.

Source of Power

Security cameras either plug-in or use rechargeable batteries. Plugged in cameras can be placed anywhere as long as you have a long cord. Cameras for use outside the house may operate with rechargeable batteries like the Reolink Argus 2. It is a battery that is solar-powered, so it is very eco-friendly and dependable.

Field of View

What is the area of coverage? Some cameras offer 180-degrees and 360-degree coverage. A large field of view is always a welcome feature on a camera. You will also want to keep an eye out for pan and tilt as they are just as resourceful as a camera with a 360-degree view. 

App

Modern wireless cameras are designed to work alongside an iOS or Android device. There are other third-party apps that are compatible with certain wireless cameras if you don’t like the one preinstalled. Web apps allow you to log into the camera and see footage in real-time. There are also sound and motion alerts you can designate, speak into the camera, or activate a siren.

Two-Way Audio

Though some security cameras provide audio where you can listen in to the surroundings of where the camera is located, that is not enough for many homeowners these days. People also want to be able to make their voices heard. Two-way audio security cameras allow you to hear what the camera sees while also being able to speak back out through the device. The two-way audio works well for everything from speaking to your kids playing outside, conversing with a delivery man, to scaring off an intruder.

Style of Camera

There are two primary types of cameras in the cheap, under $100 and $200 price range. Dome and bullet cameras are not extremely discreet. They stand out, and it’s fairly obvious to any type of intruder that they are being recorded. Some homeowners prefer a dome camera because it is difficult for a criminal to determine which direction the camera is facing. So it could potentially steer them clear of wreaking havoc on your home or business.

Buying an Outdoor Camera

Indoor cameras are rarely weatherproofed. So if you need to install an outdoor camera, you will want to make sure it is built to handle the elements. Outside security cameras are exposed to intense heat, cold, rain, wind, and snow. So you need something that is very durable.

Multiple Cameras & Connectivity

It is very plausible that you will want to install more than one camera outside your home or office. If that is the case, you should consider a model that allows all the cameras to connect to a single app. It makes surveillance and management of the cameras much easier. The last thing you want is five apps for five different cameras. 

Final Thoughts

Effective security cameras do wonders for home or small business surveillance. It helps keep you, your family, and your business interests safe. Thankfully, you do not need to spend a fortune anymore for a good security system. You just need to know where to look!