single CCTV camera recommendations

binky · 2025-02-04T12:42:37+0000

Due to a spate of 'traveller activity' I'm looking for a single camera to cover the front of my house. Now, I've found a few 3MP camera like Tapo with SD card, so no DVR, but i'm not convinced that's high enough resolution.

So, is 3MP really enough, range will be around 20m or does anyone know of a standalone 5MP camera - I don't seem to be able to find one that doesn't need a DVR.

Link below shows my road so you can kind of see what I need https://maps.app.goo.gl/9jSVu3oF2aRjpahSA

Andy™ · 2025-02-04T17:28:04+0000

hikvision. cheaper stand alone will work a but get what you pay for

Richard-the-Ninth · 2025-02-04T19:06:29+0000

With CCTV you should also look at the angle of view that you wish to see, and compare that to the prospective camera, another thing to consider is night vision, some cameras have a white LED which comes on when it detects movement, (so you get a colour picture at night)
Some cameras with internal storage (SD card) rely on an APP for you to be able to view the recordings/live on your phone. The problem with these is when the company goes bust the app will go too so you can't access the pictures (Unless you take the SD card out and hope your PC can read it)

It is for the above reasons I would never recommend a "stand alone" camera, a DVR or NVR can even be kept out the way in the loft, and it will always work.

You can ask 10 people which camera they recommend, you will get 10 different answers.
What ever you do, don't get a pan/tilt/zoom camera, and always look at the reviews.

The CCTV I have is no longer made, but this one Click me is the same make and very close. (Yes it uses CAT5 cable)

binky · 2025-02-04T19:25:51+0000

Andy™ said:
hikvision. cheaper stand alone will work a but get what you pay for

I appreciate cost differences. I've installed a few Viper 5MP before, Hikvision wasn't so popular at the time. 5 MP gives really good clear pictures, but is probably a bit overkill for what I need.

I didn't really give the full background to this little project. My property is pretty well physically protected, but the vehicles are vulnerably as its on road parking. We kicked a bunch of gypos off my elderly neighbours roof yesterday. He's 88 got cancer of the stomach and spine, and quite frail. Silly old fool had a few slates off his roof before xmas, some gypos knocked on his door and offered to repair the roof to which he said yes. Quoted him £695 with scoffolding, but oh what a surprise, there's so many problems up there it was going to cost £6500.... Anyway, they are long gone, but wife is worried about possible reprisals - can't really see that happening, but she's worried. Plus there's been a spate of people trying car doors etc etc, which is not unusual where I live.

So in short I dont want cheap crap, but dont really want to spend £500 for a decent set up - yeah I'm tight

Andy™ · 2025-02-04T19:28:11+0000

binky said:
We kicked a bunch of gypos off my elderly neighbours roof yesterday.

i hope you mean that literally. and there was broken glass below. and some spikes

I've also never tried / looked into it, but i know many hikvision cameras have an SD card slot

binky · 2025-02-04T19:30:11+0000

Andy™ said:
i hope you mean that literally. and there was broken glass below. and some spikes

I've also never tried / looked into it, but i know many hikvision cameras have an SD card slot

unfortunately not, tempting though it was, I was outnumbered 3 to 1.

I'll have a gander at Hik, it would be my go to system for CCTV these days.

GeoffT · 2025-02-05T13:18:29+0000

binky said:
Due to a spate of 'traveller activity' I'm looking for a single camera to cover the front of my house. Now, I've found a few 3MP camera like Tapo with SD card, so no DVR, but i'm not convinced that's high enough resolution.

So, is 3MP really enough, range will be around 20m or does anyone know of a standalone 5MP camera - I don't seem to be able to find one that doesn't need a DVR.

Link below shows my road so you can kind of see what I need https://maps.app.goo.gl/9jSVu3oF2aRjpahSA

We ideally need to see the street from the viewpoint your camera will have.

What are you looking to cover? The entrance, the front door, parking space(s)? There are several web sites that give an idea of different cameras, lenses and the angle of view they offer. https://www.security.org/security-cameras/ is one such.

I covered our previous front drive with a 4K Hikvision hardwired network camera and it was sufficient to resolve faces and vehicle registrations easily. For night time I never got on with dome cameras with built-in IR illumination as aging of the plastic and internal reflections conspired to blot out anything worthwhile. If night vision is a priority consider a separate IR illuminator.

Instead of a DVR I used an ancient Mac Mini and Security Spy software. Much more flexible than a DVR and with many more useful facilities. We had a well-reported Bitcoin robbery in our small village (family held hostage until the trader capitulated) and the police were grateful for my recorded footage of the street scene, though not sure it helped.

binky · 2025-02-05T14:01:24+0000

@GeoffT , I'm still considering position of cameras, but what we really need is coverage of the street, being a terrace, we can never guarantee parking places. However, anyone targeting vehicles tend to try them all, so even if we didn't catch them breaking into our vehicles, we would almost certainly catch them trying to get into the neighbours. They have a habit of sending two people on foot, with a van following on behind, so reading reg plates would be useful.

We have street lighting that stays on all night, it will be interesting to see if colour cameras can utilise that.

Andy™ · 2025-02-05T16:14:54+0000

binky said:
We have street lighting that stays on all night, it will be interesting to see if colour cameras can utilise that.

depends how bright it is. mine with factory settings often stay colour during the night where there is more light however the exposure time is too slow and you get bit of a blurry image. increase exposure time and you get less blurry images but not enough light to keep it in colour

single CCTV camera recommendations

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