25 Buying Tips

Tip # 1

Decide in advance what kind of budget you want to allocate for a camera and try to keep that into a good price / quality equation

Tip # 2

For future consideration, keep in mind, When you invest in analog cameras with the associated peripherals,  therewill be a big chance you have to buy everything all new again in the near future. So take that in consideration if you want to buy a cheaper analog camera, rahter then a Digital IP camera.

Tip # 3

Where to place the camera? For outdoors, we recommend outdoor cameras, because in that case no moisture can enter the camera. Even though when you hang a indoor camera under a carport, the difference between heat from the unit and outside can cause condensation to form on the PCB and the life of the camera will not benefit from that

Tip # 4

Carefully choose wireless or wired cameras. Taking measurement of the WiFi signal at the location is key. That way you are able to predict iff the wireless camera will function properly. If not, look for a camera that has only wired, wireless or both connection possiboilities..

Tip # 5

Be careful to buy cameras directly from China. Unfortunately, there are companies out there that sell clones instead of the real deal, but please send a camera clone and he does look the same and shows it appears to be a totally different camera. Warranty may be very difficult and you will lose your money. Here too cheap, ultimately expensive sale. Furthermore, you will run the risk that the tax authorities intercepted the package and you should have to pay an additional charge in the form of import tax. Then the camera is suddenly a lot more expensive.

Tip # 6

What would you like to see on the camera? Is it only for observation / verification / face, or do you really want to read license plates. The clearer picture you want, the higher resolution camera will be required.

Tip # 6

Do you want to move the camera and / or zoom? If so then you bought a Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) camera.

Tip # 7

Want to next video, might also be able to listen? Or even more elaborate, you also want to be able to talk back as a kind of intercom system? If so, look for a camera with a microphone and / or speaker is built in, or one that is in any case is prepared.

Tip # 8

Are you going to shoot some areas, but must thereby the window, or the property of the neighbors are excluded? then look for a camera that can Masken. Masks is technology that allows you to place a colored block on the field not to film in the camera, so you do not get to see that when consulting the images. Think of the black bar over the eyes of a criminal in the TV program Investigation Requested.

Tip # 9

If you are planning to put out a camera focused on the street, tell your neighbors. Tell them called the masking technique in Tip # 8 and convince them of your objective to avoid problems later and tell immediately that they too can benefit from that as their bike or car is stolen, the perpetrators will possibly be included in that one case.

Tip # 10

If you did a camera, buy taking over a plate or a sticker indicating that it is being filmed at that location. So you reduce potential problems for later that one did not know that camera hanging there.

Tip # 11

Would you like to post the images also can view in video format and not just in picture format, consider purchasing a digital video recorder (DVR). Then you are able to record the images and look back later. Or find a camera that can store moving images, for example, a (micro) SD card, or to an FTP server.

Tip # 12

Choose a camera which has been proven that the Motion Detection function properly. Motion Dectection is a technique whereby the camera maintains a preset area in the holes. If there is movement in that area has been detected, you can attach it to an action. It may be that the camera has to send a picture, or whether the images should be included, or that a lamp should be connected, or even to sound an alarm. Keep a sharp eye or your little camera from eBay, $ 19.99 that can do it all.

Tip # 13

Can I see the pictures of my IP camera on my smartphone? Yes, in most cases you can. Even easier is it if the manufacturer of the camera there an App for supplies in the app store of your choice. Keep this in mind. Not all vendors have such an app and then technical knowledge is required to get it working. Also check in advance or for the use of the camera additional software in the form of a plug-in is required. For many cameras there than just a Windows plugin available, which is quite annoying when Apple uses at home or at the office.

Tip # 14

Choose if possible a camera in (micro) SD card can. These (micro) SD cards are relatively inexpensive and allows you ensure that the camera also records if the network does not do anything.

Tip # 15

Decide in advance what is the required angle and voice your choice for a camera down there. This way you avoid missing images to have made the wrong choice. The lens of a camera determines the viewing angle. The lower the value, the wider the angle. 6mm is herein the most decreased standard with a viewing angle of 60 degrees. often for small space is a wider viewing angle better. A 3.6mm lens provides an angle of almost 90 degrees and can cover one room entirely. Large distance cameras are often equipped with a high value such as 12mm. This gives an angle of about 35 degrees Celsius, so that the detail of distance is correct more visible. With a varifocal lens can help you determine the angle itself. This may be from 90 up to 30 degrees. There are also cameras with a so-called fish-eye lens, thus you can as it were to watch a corner.

Tip # 16

Most cameras today have night vision, but not all. Take this in the choice you will make. Please note that if you put a camera inside the window, the night vision function will be an obstacle, because of the reflection of infrared light from the window on the inside.

Tip # 17

If you have decided a camera wired to connect because you want to be happy, or because it simply can not fail, consider purchasing a PoE camera. PoE stands for Power over Ethernet and does nothing else than transporting data and power over the same UTP cable. This thus saving the connection of an additional power cable.

Tip # 18

You purchase a PoE camera, as mentioned in Tip # 17, do not forget to buy a PoE injector or a switch / router prepared PoE.

Tip # 19

Would you put a camera in a location other than your home or business? For example a garage or a shed outside your wifi range, remember that nowadays 3G and 4G cameras. These cameras are fully set as you normally would and you can just see over the internet. The only thing as extra inserted in the camera must be a SIM card with a data bundle. This can also be a pre-paid SIM card. Handy for camping.

Tip # 20

Decide in advance whether the supplied power cord is long enough to provide power to the camera, if not, you can often an extension for relatively little money and buy much less annoyance at.

Tip # 21

Have an (outside) cameras purchased where a big harness to which is not easy as it is to pick up and see you at a big hole to be drilled in the wall. Buy a waterproof junction box and role as the harness on. In most cases, you can then place the mounting bracket of the camera on the cover of the waterproof junction box and it looks more neat too. The junction box itself create or connection to the power supply and / or the network.

Tip # 22

See you through to drill through the wall, read good Tip # 22 by and take also part in the consideration that makes it easier to drill a hole, with relatively little damage from a door or window frame.

Tip # 23

If you plan to encounter difficulty in software installing the camera, ask your provider if they can help you. At IP-cams.nl we are happy to help. We can do this by taking over your computer remotely and thus to assist in the camera setup. This is done by appointment only.

Tip # 24

To avoid problems later, choose if possible for a camera with IR cut. What is IR-cut you'll wonder: The IR cut function ensures natural colors with lots of sun / daylight, and not for the gray / blurred colors you without IR-cut. Colors are unaffected by infrared light during the day and at night it is still possible to use the night vision with infrared light.

Tip # 25

If you already have a NAS, for example, Synology or QNAP for example, then you already have the opportunity to use this NAS as Digital Video Recorder (DVR). At such a NAS you namely the possibility of using the (installed) Surveillance Station software to record camera images. Before you buy a camera, take a good look in the Hardware Compatability List (HCL) or by you to purchase camera is supported. This, again, to avoid disappointment. Choose at least for a camera with Onvif support.