An outdoor security camera can protect your home or business for vandalism and theft and possibly help catch the perpetrators if it does happen. While almost everyone would love to have the newest, most state of the art camera to help out with this, unfortunately most of us have limited budgets. When you’re looking for an outdoor security video camera, first take stock of where the camera is going to be and what capabilities it will have to have. Most people can get away with less expensive cameras if they don’t need certain features or add-ons. After that, look around on the internet to find cameras that match these seven criteria for the location that you want to stick your camera.
Durability and Housing
The most important part of any outdoor camera is its housing. Cameras are sensitive pieces of equipment and exposing them to the elements is a sure way to stop them from working very quickly. Because of this, you will need to make sure that your camera comes with a housing to protect it against water, dust, and corrosion. Ideally the housing should have an IP rating of 65 or higher, which rates it as safe from water spray and dust. Metal casing will usually work better than plastic because they will not warp, but if you have a metal housing with a wireless camera, you may need to get an external antenna as the metal box can interfere with the wireless signal.
If you live in an area that has extreme hot or cold temperatures, you also may want to look into getting a case with a built in heater or fan to further protect your camera.
Lux Rating
Home Security Camera
Lux ratings are how much light the camera needs to operate. The lower the lux ratings the less light a camera needs to operate. One lux is the light that falls on a one square meter surface one meter away from one candle. Infrared cameras can even go down to zero lux, meaning that they need no light in order to function.
F-Stops
F-stops are also important for light levels when you’re choosing an outdoor home security camera. F-stops come in two numbers, the minimum stop, which is how big the lens is when it is fully open, and the maximum, which is how big the lens is just before it shuts. F-stops are important for outdoor cameras because they need to operate 24 hours a day under all kinds of lighting conditions. Having a camera with a large opening allows it to see better at night, but risks whiting out images during the day, while cameras with small openings take great pictures during the day but are useless at night. To get the best of both worlds, find a camera with good maximum and minimum f-stop numbers for the light in the location you are going to be filming and that adjusts automatically according to the lighting conditions.
Resolution
If you plan on using your camera for more than just its deterrent qualities, resolution is incredibly important. Find both a camera and a DVR system that support a high resolution, which will enable you to better make out who or what is being filmed on your camera.
Focal Length
Depending on what you want to film and where you are placing your camera, you are going to have to choose what focal length you want. Generally, short focal lengths are known as wide-angle lenses and will allow you to capture a wider swath of area with the camera. Longer focal lenses are known as telephoto lenses and will have a smaller area of view but will be able to focus on objects further in the distance.
Depth of Field
Depth of field is incredibly important for security cameras. Depth of Field is the amount of the image the camera takes that is in focus. Larger depths of field mean more objects from close ups out to infinity are in focus. With a shallow depth of field, only a small amount of the area on camera will be in focus, making it harder to make out details on the picture. F-stops, the focal length of the lens, and several other factors all affect the depth of field of a particular camera.
Power Source
Finally, also make sure that you take your power source into consideration when you’re buying cameras. Is there going to be a plug nearby? If yes, then you can install 120 volt cameras that run on the high powered electricity that comes into your house. If not, you’ll have to buy a transformer and install 24 volt cameras that run on a low voltage circuit. The good news is that these cameras run on small, speaker wires and are very easy to install. If there’s absolutely no plugs anywhere, you may have to look up finding battery or solar powered cameras.
You don’t have to break the bank to own a great outdoor security camera. Look at where you’re going to be placing the camera and try to match up these seven aspects with the minimum specifications the location will require. Once you’ve done this, do some simple bargain shopping online, and you’ll have a great camera for cheap in no time.
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Greg is a the owner and main contributor to Outdoor Security Camera Reviews. 
