Surveillance camera advice

iamdrumming

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Hello,

I am looking to buy a surveillance camera. Basically I want it looking out my apartment window. Last year a couple of kids bashed in my window air conditioner, and I want to get a surveillance camera just to keep that area covered in case it happens again.

What I want is a one camera system that I can put an SD card into, and that the camera can plug into the wall. I don't need top of the line, just something decent.

Thanks!
 
iamdrumming said:
Hello,

I am looking to buy a surveillance camera. Basically I want it looking out my apartment window. Last year a couple of kids bashed in my window air conditioner, and I want to get a surveillance camera just to keep that area covered in case it happens again.

What I want is a one camera system that I can put an SD card into, and that the camera can plug into the wall. I don't need top of the line, just something decent.

Thanks!

It's not that simple. You are better off installing a motion sensor light. If you want a camera that can provide an image for the purpose of identifying the culprits you need something that might end up costing you more than you think. You need to set a budget and start from there. You probably want night viewing with sufficient light or IR. You will have to decide where you will be placing it and then the angle of view and the resolution. Will you want a license plate camera? A dome with PTZ or a bullet camera. I installed an 8 camera DVR security system which took me some time to research. Do you need something weather proof? Wireless? You might want to join a CCTV forum and start there.

http://www.cctvforum.com/
 
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I have a "homemade" security system, using one Logitech C920 webcam (1080p, 30 fps, onboard x.264 encoder, at 3 Mbps bitrate) + one Microsoft Lifecam Studio (1080p, 20 fps, uses your CPU for encoding).

Both of these cames are used with http://www.ispyconnect.com/ (free software, probably the best "home" surveillance software out there).

Since webcams do not focus correctly at long distances (it actually makes sense, since they are designed to be used at 1-3m distance from their focusing target), I opened up the C920 and manually rotated the lens to adjust long distance focus.

The software is powerful (including an amazing motion detect section that let's you configure everything possible, in the smallest detail, including "boxing" subjects like dogs, humans, cars, etc), the night footage is *amazing* for C920 ($80 webcam, day shoot here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EdGE6zwDiw; night shoot here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owqBofpGdOw with different exposures), and below average for the Lifecam Studio.

I shoot at 10 fps, 1080p (and sometimes 720p when I work on that particular PC) with each of them.

Hope this helps.
 
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Thank you so much for the replies!!!

Basically, my apartment window (where the air conditioner sits) is about 7 feet off the ground. Just low enough for the kids who bashed it with a stick last year. The camera would be inside at all times, sitting on the window sill. I just wanted something to video the area around the air conditioner. Ideally, what I want (if it's out there), is a camera that plugs into the wall. then you put an SD card into the camera. I think I might go with the webcam suggestion.
 
Why not you use a motion detector camera with solar panel because it will help you for the security of your air condition.And also you don't need any power source for that as it automatically provide the power to camera with chargeable battery.
 
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