Outdoor camera, in five decisions
Strip away the spec-sheet noise and an outdoor camera really comes down to five choices.
1 · Resolution: 2K is the sweet spot
2K covers a door or a small yard at a lower price and uses less bandwidth. Move to 4K only if you'll zoom into faces or plates from 8 metres or more, or if you record continuously and want evidence-grade detail.
2 · Power: match it to your setup
A wired PoE camera records 24/7 with no battery to charge, but needs cabling. A solar camera is set-and-forget where there is sun. A battery camera installs in minutes but needs a recharge every few months.
3 · Night vision: colour vs infrared
Infrared works in total darkness but in black-and-white. Colour night vision is far more useful for identifying clothing or cars — prefer sensors that do it without a glaring spotlight.
4 · Storage: local or cloud
Local recording to microSD or a hub costs nothing after purchase and keeps footage in your hands. Cloud plans add convenience and off-site backup, but the monthly fee becomes the real price of the camera over years.
5 · Field of view: wide vs sharp
A 180° panoramic lens covers a whole driveway with one camera; a narrower lens trades coverage for more detail per pixel. Choose the shape that matches what you actually need to watch.