(Image credit: Future)
A security camera is a key part of any solid home security system, and there’s a bewildering choice of models for both indoors and outside. That’s why I’ve put together this shortlist of three tested and recommended cameras I’d trust to protect my own property.
Whether your priority is night vision, video resolution, or the ability to track subjects as they move across your property, there’s a cam here for you. There’s even one that comes with built-in facial recognition without a subscription fee – and it really works. Most of these cameras are fully wireless as well, so you don’t need to worry about power cables, with solar panels to maximize batter life between charges.
Indoor
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(Image credit: Future)
Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam
This little camera is one of Ring’s most affordable models, and its ability to pan and tilt (which you can control via the Ring app) means it has a much wider field of view than most budget-friendly cams.
Although Ring’s newer cameras offer higher resolution images, during our tests we found the Pan-Tile Indoor Cam’s footage perfectly fine for most situations, appearing sharp and crisp when viewed on a phone. We were particularly impressed by how well it handled moving subjects, with no noticeable pixilation or lag.
The audio quality isn’t exceptional, and a higher-end model will have better microphones, but the two-way talk function works well. We also appreciated the inclusion of a physical privacy cover that slides over the lens to stop recordings, and an audio cut-out feature.
The biggest drawback is that it won’t pan and tilt automatically to track movement like the Reolink Altas below will. It’s also worth bearing in mind that you’ll need a Ring Home subscription to make the most of all its features, and to store video recordings in the cloud so you can watch them later. There’s no way to insert an SD card into the camera to store files locally.
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**Read our full **Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam review
Night vision
Reolink Altas PT Ultra
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(Image credit: Chris Price)
The Reolink Altas (not ‘Atlas’) PT Ultra is an excellent exterior home security camera for monitoring your property, and performed so well in testing that it won a prize in last year’s TechRadar Choice Awards.
It’s definitely a large camera, and not the easiest unit to install, but once it’s up you’ll benefit from pin-sharp 4K footage, 355-degree pan and 90-degree tilt (complete with subject-tracking) and an extra-large capacity battery for continuous recording.