For anyone considering installing an indoor CCTV camera, the most obvious question is which type of camera is most suitable for their needs? Most indoor cameras are available at an affordable price and are generally cheaper than their outdoor counterparts, as they do not require the same weatherproof build quality.
Whether you want one as an indoor surveillance camera, a pet monitoring solution or need to put a safeguarding solution in place, modern cameras are easy to set up and convenient to use. This ease and convenience come from their Wi-Fi capabilities, meaning you can set one up anywhere that can offer a supply of electricity and a wireless internet connection.
One of the biggest choices you will face when choosing which type of security camera is right for you is the decision over whether to buy a static camera or one that can rotate. Let's dive in and compare these two options.
What are the benefits of a static camera?
Static cameras, also called static view cameras, are set up in an optimal location to ensure they cover as wide a field of view as possible. Depending on your specific needs, you might have a camera watching a specific door, or angled to capture an entire room.
The benefit of having a static camera is that you can be sure that during an event, your camera or cameras are looking exactly where you intended them to be. As they cover a specific view, you can plan for incidents where they detect motion. For example, you might wish to turn on all the lights at the front of your property if they detect motion at a window. This would then trigger the lights if it picked up movement outside the window, such as a face pressing up against the glass, or inside if someone has already gained access and passes into your camera’s field of view.
Static cameras excel at doing the one job, but as you can imagine, they are not very versatile. If you need to cover a wider area or several different zones, you will need to invest in multiple cameras. This can increase the expense of the system and create a lot of streams of data for your system to record. This takes up more data, but if an event happens, you’ll have more angles to review and piece together what happened.
Static cameras tend to be quite visible, often put up high and in a corner to allow for a wide view of a room. This has the benefit of letting burglars know they have been spotted and are being recorded. Many will turn tail and run at this point, in the hopes that they get away with the forced entry or trespass.
Are rotating cameras better than static cameras?
Rotating cameras have some advantages and some disadvantages when compared to static cameras. Rotating cameras typically sit on a shelf or desk and have the ability to rotate to change their field of view. Some better ones can also tilt up and down, giving them the ability to completely look around a room.
Some of the best use this functionality has is in combination with human facial recognition to track faces in your home, helping your camera keep focus and get a better recording of any individuals passing before its lens.
You are more likely to only have one camera per room when using rotating cameras, and this does mean there is a risk that at the onset of an event the camera might not be facing the action.
While both types of cameras are generally supplied with two-way audio, the rotating camera is particularly good for conversations where you want the other person to be able to see you as you walk around the room. Some apps for these devices come with auto-tracking features, so the camera can do the work. Great for busy mums that need to check back home with their babysitters and see the kids.
Summary of the Pros and Cons
Static Cameras – Pros
• Always pointed at your preferred target.
• Wider room coverage.
• Can scare off intruders easily.
Static Cameras – Cons
• Cannot change their angle.
• Will miss incidents if outside of their initial field of view.
• May need more to effectively cover an area.
Rotating Cameras – Pros
• It can look in any direction.
• Often designed to be more attractive to look at than static cameras.
• Can track an intruder or guest.
• Can be centrally located.
Rotating Cameras – Cons
• The camera can initially be looking the wrong way.
Can I mix and match static and rotating cameras?
If you find that the disadvantages of either type of camera are a problem for you, you can always opt to mix and match both styles of the camera to get a better solution. For example, using a static camera in the corner of a room to cover the entire room, but adding a rotating camera in a central location to allow you to follow action would give you the best of both worlds.
Whilst this solution is likely to result in more cameras in your home, there’s no need to worry about privacy. Cameras can be switched off on timers, manually or via home automation. Turn on what you need when you need it.
If you use cameras from the same brand, you should find that the supplied app is the same and it may even allow you to view multiple camera angles at the same time.
Do I need night vision mode?
Many indoor security cameras come with night vision by default, Whether static or rotating. We recommend that you only buy cameras that have this function, as it is essential for recording night-time action when you most want or need an elevated level of protection. Check out our article on night vision if you would like more information regarding this technology.
What are the common app features?
Whether you buy static or rotating cameras, the apps they come with will carry the same features, for the most part. Expect to see some or all of the following:
• View camera footage, live or recorded
• Talk and Listen. Speak to and listen to family members via the camera.
• Phone notifications when motion is detected.
• Activation Zones. Only receive alerts when specific areas of the scene detect motion.
Specific to rotating cameras, you should expect to find these features:
• Manual controls to allow you to look around.
• Automatic tracking of noise or movement.
Conclusion
Whether you decide to go for static or rotating cameras or a combination of the two, it is a matter of personal preference. Be sure to pick up a High-Definition camera and look for an IR-Offset filter in any camera with night vision to ensure a sharp image time when recording through the day.