Camera Recommendations

[jtik]

We recently had a minor home invasion so I am fairly motivated to get a good camera system going. I have been looking around these forums and have learned a lot, however when it comes to knowing how many MP I need for each camera, the size lens and what type of camera I am still a little clueless.

I am looking to start with a 4 camera system. One covering the front door, one covering the driveway, one covering the main sidetrack, and one in the backyard. I would like a clear picture both day and night, be able to make out faces, and possibly license plates. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Also, if I am completely on the wrong track please let me know. The details are below:

1. Front Door: This is a small courtyard about 12 feet long and 7 feet wide, I am not sure at what height I will place the camera, this is a little flexible. I am thinking possibly a turret camera, but not sure how many MP or what lens size.
2. Driveway: This camera will be placed roughly 8 feet high. I am thinking the corner above the garage door would be best and if the view is wide enough I would be able to see someone walking to the side track, this would require about a 90 degree view. From the camera position to the end of the driveway it is roughly 18 feet, to the middle of the street it is about 45 feet. From the camera position to the sidetrack it is roughly 20 feet which would be at a right angle to the view of the street. I am also thinking a turret camera hear, but again am not sure the MP and lens that would be best.
3. Sidetrack: This is about 5 feet wide and 50 feet long, the camera will be mounted roughly 8 feet high. I am thinking possibly a bullet camera, but again do not know which one I should get.
4. Backyard: The area I am trying to cover in here is about 20 feet wide and 25 feet long. I am not sure what height the camera will be mounted. It will be mounted in a corner.

 

[zero-degrees]

You are not going to read license plates - lets go ahead and get that outta the way. If you want LPR it will require a dedicated camera with special settings to accomplish only this task and nothing else. This will also take advanced setup/config so if you want to do this, simply plan to add it later on once you have the rest of your system up and running and are more comfortable with the tech.

Now that we have that outta the way. You will want a 2.1mp camera (or better if you desire) - you do not gain a ton with 3,4,5mp cameras. Also the majority of 2mp cameras will perform better at low light then the image sensors in the 3/4mp cameras.
Reading Material here on this topic: Camera megapixels: Why more isn't always better (Smartphones Unlocked)

Trying to figure our lens size?
Utilize this calculator as a helpful guesstimate guide: Camera Calculator / Design Software
Don't worry about the map really, look to simply use the calcalator at the top playing with the scene distance, width, etc to get an understanding what changing the lens to (3mm, 4mm, 6mm, 12mm) will do. You want to assure typically that the pixel density is above 100 to assure a visual ID at daytime and nighttime, and I personally would shoot for 200+ on the front porch/main facial ID camera.

What ever you do you'll want to assure matched hardware if possible (camera and NVR by same manufacture) this will assure most advanced features work (motion detection, intrusion detection, line crossing, etc, etc, etc) If you mix and match cameras/NVR hardware you will only most likely get video record and no advanced features.

Spend some time in the Install section, Dahua Camera, HIK Camera sections and see peoples examples, then start to decide what will prob. work for you. Here are a few examples I've posted up from HIK Hardware.
LTS 2MP Dome & Turret install
HIKVision & LTS 3 & 4mp Camera review/example
IP Cameras, Multiple Locations
Also note, that there is a new Dahua VF starlight camera getting a lot of attention on the forum and looks pretty solid as well as has a VF lens to give you the ability to dial in each location.
https://ipcamtalk.com/threads/dahua-starlight-varifocal-turret-ipc-hdw5231r-z.14683/

Bottom line is you need to do your research and form your own opinions. Posting a "What should I use post" here will either get minimum response (Because this same question gets posted 24+ times a week) as well as sometimes get's dumb ass answers from people with little to no knowledge sometimes (because the seasoned users hate this question and normally don't answer it because it's so repeitive and open ended). While you've done better then most describing your setup, no one knows about additional ambiant lighting that may help light your scene, we don't know about obsticals, we don't know about wiring and setup limitations, etc. In the end, form a hardware opinion, then consider making a post of - Here is what I am trying to do and here is the hardware I've selected. Sure some people on the Dahua bandwagon may shoot you down if it's HIK hardware and vice versa (Ford vs. Chevy) but if you are simply going about it all wrong someone will normally speak up - more so then speaking up to the "Tell me what do do" type post.

Good Luck!

 

[fenderman]

"Minor home invasion"...im curious..

 

[jtik]

"Minor home invasion"...im curious..

I was at work and my wife was home with our 3 month old child. She had left the house the previous 2 days at around 10:00 AM to run some errands for a couple of hours. She left that day at 10:00 also but this time only for about 10 minutes. She cam home and was in our master bedroom talking on the phone with a friend when she heard a noise. Her friend on the phone told her she was just hearing things. She walks towards the living room and then she hears what sounded like a door slam inside the house, then she head a man's voice. She opened the front door child in hand thinking it may have been a UPS delivery. No one was at the front door and she realized someone was in the house. She immediately ran out of the house with our child to the neighbors and called the police. It took the police about 15 minutes to respond. By this time they were out of the house, and we haven't been able to find anything stolen.

They were definitely inside because my office door was closed and that door is never closed, also the side door to the garage was unlocked and I am 100% certain I checked to make sure that was locked when I left for work. A few nights prior to all this our doorbell rang at 3:00 AM and no one was there. The police said this is common before a break in because they are checking to see if a dog barks when they ring the bell. My wife also did not set the alarm or lock the back door from the house to the garage when she left for 10 minutes so it is even possible they were home when she came back.

Since the incident I have installed a deadbolt of the side door to the garage since it only had a locking handle. I am ordering cameras and we are taking a few other precautions. We have also locked up some of our valuables at a friends house just in case they were just checking the house out for what to steal when they come back. All in all very scary considering our child.

 

[droidvoider]

With Blue Iris you can set a schedule for a profile that will send alerts for your indoor cameras. For example when our business is closed Profile 3 "Alarm" is set to text me photos of the motion a keyword makes my phone go nuts. It also emails me shorts videos. I have a couple hidden cameras in areas off limits to most employees. Remember not all cameras need to stream to all users some can be admin groups have their own schedules, alerts sending sms/email alerts such as the server room, or your attic. I like wired for reliability, harder at first but bullet proof later especially in congested wireless traffic areas. If you will connect remotely use an encrypted vpn, openvpn. Good luck