The position of an outdoor security camera is more important than anything else. It should not be undertaken lightly, and indeed takes quite a lot of planning, which is very necessary.
The first thing you need to do is to get some graph paper and draw in the style of a floor plan the outline of your house to scale. This should include sheds, trees, paths, gates, driveways, even trees. Where the windows and doors on the ground floor are should also be indicated.
You will need to have some idea of how far it is from gate to house. Indeed note all measurements. Having done this you now need to mark in where you intend to place your security cameras. The drawing will give you a basic idea of the fields of vision you will need.
Now you need to take photographs looking out from where you mean to place your outdoor security camera. This is important because you need to see what your security camera will see. You now have some idea of the area that will be watched, and any obstructions in the line of vision.
You may well now realise that there are trees and sheds or garages obstructing the view. You may also discover that they area you need surveillance for is actually quite far from the camera. This will mean you may need very specific lenses for your security camera.
You will now have a better idea of where you need to place your security cameras to be at their most effective. There are however other considerations you would do well to note. The first of them is to consider where your weaknesses, in terms of doors and windows, sheds and outbuildings.
These are key places for any villain who wants to steal from you, and you need to be very aware when planning a camera for surveillance. Overlooking the entrance is a good position, because you would be able to film cars parked outside for long periods of time, where someone may be observing your property.
You will need to think about access to power points for outdoor security cameras, although battery operation is a possibility. Also disguising wires leading to and from the camera are a giveaway. You might consider wireless security, but need to be aware that any obstruction can dramatically reduce range and effectiveness.
Do you know what you want the security cameras to do. By that is meant will you require face recognition, or something less detailed like car registration numbers. It's important to know this because different camera resolutions may be required.
Will your camera be at risk of damage from the weather or from vandals. There are plenty of cameras that can withstand even the severest of weather, and vandal proof dome cameras, but a determined villain could cut wires, remove batteries. It is worth thinking of a covert camera invisible to the naked eye. As a camera has a field of vision a thief may avoid stepping into that, but if he can't see the camera, he gets caught.
You need to know if the area you need to cover is well lit or very dark at night. If it is dark you will need an infrared camera with day and night capability. All of these things can multiply the cost, and there is no doubt the more you spend the better the system.
Just remember one thing, and it is this. A cheap dummy camera is better than nothing at all. There is no substitute for good locks on all your doors and windows. Thieves won't struggle to break in, they will go somewhere else.
