Security Cameras help scare away intruders and record events happening around your home or business. While shopping for such cameras, look for a balance between functionality, durability, video quality, and ease of use.
Here are the seven best outdoor security cameras with DVR you can buy today.
Q: How Do I Repair a Malfunctioning Outdoor Security Camera?
Sometimes, outdoor security cameras shut down unexpectedly or start to behave strangely. A software update solves such annoyances since newer versions have features designed to improve your camera’s performance.
The motion detection feature sends push notifications or emails to your device in case of any movement in specific areas. Consequently, you can respond quickly by alerting the authorities once trouble arises. The pre-installed 3TB hard drive stores many recordings, but you can expand the storage with a 6TB hard drive to secure more sizeable footage.
The IP66 waterproof rating allows the Reolink camera to perform efficiently despite extreme heat, heavy snow, and rain. Twelve users can view videos in real-time or copy and playback recorded footage on their phones using the Reolink software.
Although the Hiseeu doesn’t have a speaker, it has a built-in microphone that enables you to hear conversations in the recorded footage. The outer casing is IP66 waterproof for continuous performance despite the scorching sun, wind, dust, and heavy rain. The H.265+ video compression technology reduces the bandwidth to save up to 50 percent of storage space.
Equipped to this camera is an infrared night vision, which records videos up to 65 feet away at an 80-degree angle. The AI human detection technology distinguishes between animals and people to avoid sending false alarms. Setting and installing this wireless camera is straightforward, so you’ll save both time and effort.
The motion detection feature alerts you via buzz alarms or app push notifications in case of an invasion. You can set the camera to trigger alerts only in sensitive places to avoid sending unnecessary warnings. The Zosi comes as an eight-channel four-in-one DVR system, giving you the flexibility to add other compatible cameras for maximum security.
The free smart app lets you view live recordings, playback footage, and customize settings even when you’re miles away from your home. Outdoor performance is excellent since the camera has an IP67 weatherproof rating and a sturdy aluminum housing. It’s also vandal-proof, meaning the lenses won’t get damaged easily after physical abuse from intruders.
The smart infrared sensor adjusts the light automatically to reduce white effects, so you can view high-quality images. This camera uses three image enhancement technologies to deliver crisp day and night footage. The housing has an IP66 waterproof rating which withstands powerful jets of water, dust, and snowstorms. Additionally, the ABS materials don’t fade quickly, even after continuous exposure to the scorching sun.
Night vision videos are recorded up to 100 feet away, and the images are clear enough for quick identification of the intruder’s face or license plate. Included is a 1TB hard drive, which keeps up with high workload demands to save you from hefty cloud fees.
You can customize the motion detection feature to provide instant alerts only in susceptible areas. By doing so, you don’t have to react to movements from family members walking around the patio. The camera doesn’t deteriorate in performance even after continuous exposure to snow, hose-directed water, and dust particles as it has an IP66 weatherproof rating.
In addition, you don’t need to stress about format compatibility when updating your security system as the four-in-one DVR supports HD-TVI, CVI, CVBS, and AHD cameras. Once you download the XVR Pro app, you’ll have the versatility to playback videos or watch whatever is happening around your home from anywhere.
The Amcrest View app is an effective way to watch live recordings and playbacks from your smartphone or tablet when you’re not at home. With a 105-degree viewing angle, this security system makes an ideal pick for homes with medium-sized compounds. It makes it easy to spot fishy actions on the furthest corner of your field or garage.
Like many outdoor security cameras, the Amcrest NV4108E-IP8M-2496EW4-2TB has motion detection technology. It sends multiple alarms to connected devices, allowing you to stop intruders before they take anything valuable. The camera features a pre-installed 2TB hard drive, but you can expand the storage with a 6TB hard drive.
The OOSSXX performs incredibly in the harshest weather conditions as it has an IP67 waterproof rating. It stands up to rain and heat for maximum outdoor performance.
The Eseecloud app, for both Android and iOS devices, makes it easy to watch videos from anywhere, provided you have a reliable connection. It’s an excellent way to check up on your pets or kids. The 2TB hard drive stores ultra-long videos of up to 60 days, making it easy to retrieve crucial details of past events.
Flickering videos are mainly caused by interference from incorrect installation, bad ambient conditions, insufficient powering, or malfunctioning equipment. Ensure your camera is receiving the appropriate wattage and the monitor works as intended.
If your camera’s footage looks like videos from the 1960s, the problem could be the white balance settings. To fix this, you’ll need to adjust the white balance manually. You can also re-position the security camera to point far away from the sky to avoid distortion.
Q: How Long Do Recorded Videos Last?
How long the footage lasts depends on the amount of space and resolution. Most outdoor security cameras with DVR store videos in pre-installed hard drives and allow you to expand the storage to save more footage. Depending on the space, you can playback recordings of the past 30 to 90 days. If your hard drive fills up, the new footage rewrites the old one, which is more convenient than deleting them manually.
Remember, security cameras with high-resolution use more bandwidth compared to the ones with lower resolution. As such, you’ll need to expand the storage to reserve more data. You may also consider buying a camera with video compression technology since it reduces the footage bandwidth to take less space.
Q: Are DVR Security Cameras Better Than NVRs?
Although DVR (Digital Video Recorder) and NVR (Network Video Recorder) perform the same function, they differ in how they process video data. While NVRs encode and process video data at the camera, DVR systems handle such data on the recorder. The low price point in DVRs makes them more popular, and while there are some tradeoffs, they are the best for someone on a shoestring budget.
Besides being affordable, security cameras with DVR are easy to maintain and troubleshoot, making them ideal for small businesses.