Buying a security camera (need answer fast!)

In My Humble Opinion
1

Newegg is having a 72-hour sale on security cameras,hence need answer fast!

For mundane reasons, we’re looking to get a security camera set up for the outside of the house. Features that we think are important are all weather, night vision, remote access via the Web, and basic/passive motion detection. Resolution isn’t that important, as long as it can read license plates and mildly fine details. It would be great if we could set it to send an email alert if one of the cameras detects motion. I think that’s about it, but I have no idea if there are other things to look for or if brands make a difference. Any suggestions?

Thanks~

2

I think you just contradicted yourself there. If you want to be able to read license plates, resolution will be extremely important as standard resolution security cameras are terrible at that kind of detail (unless, of course, you are a CSI agent).

3

What, Photoshop doesn’t have an ‘enhance’ button?

I meant from what I’m thinking of, regular television quality should be sufficient. 720 or 1080? Don’t mind, of course, but AFAIK I don’t need to know whether someone has freckles or not.

…or do I? Is one of the HD formats necessary to resolve plates and whatnot?

4

I had a high quality 5 camera outdoor infrared motion activated system. I’d give anything if it had been able to read license plates. Have they proved to you that what you’re considering is capable of that?

At night especially everything tends to get very grainy. Add headlight glare into the mix and often it’s a challenge to identify the model. Color at night was near impossible to discern.

5

Crap, no. All I really have to go on is Newegg’s basic listings. It doesn’t have to be Newegg, but if I can save 15 percent on [del]my car insurance[/del] a system, great.

When I’ve tried to Google, I can’t find anything other than thinly veiled storefronts–no reviews that I find reliable.

6

If you want to compare specs, I bought mine from Homewatch. I’m not insisting it’s a useless proposition. However, in my experience I found the value to be more in its deterrent effect and less in the guaranteed capture of useable information. In some situations it gave us what we needed. But there were plenty of times when it did not. No doubt there are some pricey systems out there that are far better but you’re probably not going to see them in a limited time sale.