subject: The Different Types Of Home Security Cameras Available [print this page] There's a huge variety of home security cameras on the market nowadays. Amongst others you get indoor and outdoor cameras, models with motion sensors, hidden ones and also models equipped with night vision. You can also buy complete surveillance systems in kit form.
Hidden cameras are for various reasons becoming more and more popular. These are very small and they can thus easily be hidden. They are often hidden in radios or toys. You can also fix them to a wall or simply locate them in an area where they will be difficult to spot. This is the method of choice for many people who want to monitor their baby sitter or keep track of a husband or wife that is suspected of infidelity.
The most common purpose for purchasing a surveillance unit is however still safety and security. This is why you will more often than not find these units outdoors. What makes them especially useful for security purposes is the fact that the majority of them nowadays come fitted with built-in night vision units and motion sensors. This makes them perfect for monitoring perimeter walls for example.
For security purposes it's hard to beat a motion sensor camera. The way these units work is by using an infrared light pattern. Every living creature emits infrared rays and the camera is able to pick this up as soon as something moves into its range. An alarm can then be triggered, or you can set it to activate floodlights to bathe the whole area in light.
Night vision security cameras also make use of the infrared light principle. They don't trigger an alarm or switch on a light, but rather emit invisible light that will illuminate an intruder - even in total darkness! Do not confuse these types of cameras with thermal cameras that use radiated heat signatures to produce images. Infrared security cameras use an array of LEDs to produce invisible light that reflects off objects onto the cameras sensor to produce an image.
Security cameras can nowadays also be bought in kit form. You get kits containing only one camera and you get ones with up to 32 cameras. Most of the kits also come with a DVD as well as a recording device. This is extremely useful if you're not able to monitor the unit 24/7. The images will then be stored on DVD.
You shouldn't buy home security cameras solely based on their price. First sit down and make an assessment of your own needs. Then look at a number of cameras that will satisfy those needs. Once you have a shortlist of cameras that will all do the job that you want them to do, you can make your final decision based on valued for money.
