On 7/30/2012 2:49 PM, mike wrote:
On 7/29/2012 5:27 PM, Smitty Two wrote:
Asking for recommendations for a video camera/recorder system for home
security. Costco sells several "Q-See" brand packages, but I'm a little
skeptical about the quality, based on the price. I'd rather buy 2 or 3
high quality cameras than 16 mediocre ones. (OTOH I'm not much
interested in ****ing away money unnecessarily.)

More or less open to any suggestions about specific brands to buy or
avoid, or suggestions on other aspects of the overall system that I
should be paying attention to.

Burglar alarm is monitored, and sheriffs DO respond quickly, but I'd
still like to get clear images of anyone who decides to do a smash and
grab when no one is home. Have no idea how many pixels that would
require, or other camera specs. I've seen too many TV shows of liquor
store robberies where the security footage falls way short of providing
clear images of the perps.

No alarm system will prevent someone from stealing your stuff if they
really want it.
The purpose of an alarm is to suggest to the thief that it would be
lower risk to rob your neighbor instead. Fake cameras do that as well
as real ones.


But if you have decent cameras and a decent DVR it may actually enable
the prosecution of the riff-raff.

As you noted, you're not gonna get clear pictures from any unattended
camera system you can afford.


Depends, the "all this for $399" big box outfits are a waste of time but
there are decent cameras that aren't a fortune.


The experiment is easy. Take your 640x480 webcam and stick it in the
window.
Check out the relationships between viewing angle, resolution and focus.
Try it in different lighting conditions. Bottom line is, unless someone
sticks their face in the camera, you're not likely to get any incriminating
pictures.

If your camera has motion tracking, auto focus and optical auto zoom, you
may have a chance.

If you want to prevent smash and grab, spend your money preventing the
smash. Bars on the windows are much more effective than cameras on the
windows.

Go down to the local surveillance camera store and get some demos.