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Security cameras are not a new thing.
They existed long before models like Drop Cam emerged on the scene.
But, there are a lot of new entrants into the market that can really confuse your buying An option.
If you look at the old school IP security camera like this FOSCAM model, you will see a huge, huge difference between this more antiquated style and the more modern day options available.
One really big distinction is the difference between a webcam and a true security camera.
A webcam lets you have a live stream so that you can see what's happening in your home Any time of day.
While these webcams can have some security features like motion or sound alerts, they aren't complete security solutions.
Nescam that I recently reviewed is a great example of a webcam.
It has an excellent 1080p live stream.
And it has some security features.
But not a ton.
Other models like Piper Envy and HomeBoy have built in sirens.
They have customizable alerts so you have more control over when and how you receive your notifications.
And that's really key when your considering a home security camera.
You want to approximate real time so that if you're at your office or away on vacation You know that something is happening at your house basically the moment it happens.
Another important consideration is the quality of your video feed.
If you want live streaming or if you want a really clear recorded video clip, you might want HD.
So that's typically 720p or 1080p.
Obviously 1080 is the highest resolution, so you're more likely to get a clear image, but if you have kind of a spotty wi-fi connection, it could actually eat up a ton of bandwidth, and cause significant lag time.
That's where VGA standard definition 640x480 cameras come into play.
So they usually cost less, which is great but they also require less bandwidth.
The downside is that the video quality isn't as clear, but if you're really just looking to capture a general image or video stream of what's happening, they can be a really, really good option.
Something else worth considering is where you want Want to install your security camera.
Most options come with a stand so you can literally just fix them onto a surface for the most pain free installation possible.
This model actually also has a magnetic base so you can snap it onto a fridge or filing cabinet or any other magnetic And while most models do need a power adapter to function properly.
A lot newer options are battery powered.
So you can take them anywhere in your home for more flexible installation.
Models like the [UNKNOWN] and [UNKNOWN] are even rated for indoor.
Or outdoor use, so you have even more options when you're considering where to install them.
Another important thing to keep in mind is whether you want to use a cloud subscription service to store your footage, which usually costs an extra monthly fee, or if you wanna store things locally on a microSD card.
If you go the cloud service Throughout, which a lot of these cameras do offer.
You'll be getting into some more advanced features that can give you more control over home automation.
One of these new features that is sort of just emerging on the scene is facial recognition.
We've been talking about it for a long time, but we've observed it now in two cameras, so it's kind of on it's way, although some of the technology isn't quite refined In yet.
Some other exciting things are third party integrations, or even integrations within the same brand.
So Nestcam, for example, can work with Nest learning thermostat.
Homeboy, and the free Manything app, even have IFTTT channels, so you can do more complicated integrations, with third party devices.
I have a very in depth Find guide on cnet.com that will help you get more into the nitty gritty and decide exactly what security camera is right for your needs.
Thanks for watching.
I'm Megan Wollerton for CNET appliances.
