SECURITY CAMS
You might think one security camera is much like another. But these smart sentries offer no end of extra features
Kitting out your home with some surveillance equipment is no longer the expensive, involved job that it once was – these affordable, easy-to-use, compact cameras will very happily keep an eye on your property, your pets and your kids while you’re away from home (or just upstairs).
They all come with the same basic functionality, which is to ping your phone if motion is detected in front of the camera. On top of that, these cameras add all kinds of additional features, including two-way audio (for putting off dodgy characters or admonishing naughty pets), night vision, people recognition (so a person triggers an alert but a passing car doesn’t), as well as sirens and spotlights if you need them.
The majority of cameras on the market come with the option of an extra subscription package on top, which typically gets you benefits like long-term cloud storage for your video recordings, and additional features like custom zone monitoring – so you can have your camera focus on a door or a window rather than an entire scene. This is something to weigh up while you’re browsing for the best camera for you.
You also need to consider whether you’re going to put your camera indoors or outdoors – not all of them are suitably weatherproofed – and whether you want to rely on mains power or battery power. Battery-powered cams give you more flexibility in terms of positioning, but they usually tend to lack the extended recording features that the mains-powered cameras can offer.
Attaching a floodlight to your security camera not only makes it easier to see what’s happening at night but also acts as an extra deterrent – and Ring cameras are some of the best-quality options on the market right now.
$299, en-au.ring.com