12 Best Outdoor Security Cameras

*Overview of the best according to the editors of Healthy Food Near Me. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Despite the objectively narrow specialization, outdoor surveillance cameras have a very wide list of important parameters. Many of these parameters are not quite clear to the average consumer. And when you take into account the crushingly huge range, an informed choice becomes even more difficult.

The editors of the online magazine Simplerule offer you a short guide to the bountiful market for outdoor video surveillance systems. For your convenience, we divided the review of cameras that our experts considered the best into conditional categories according to affordability.

Rating of the best outdoor security cameras

Best Budget Outdoor Security Cameras

In the first mini-selection of our review, we will look at two examples of outdoor cameras from the “it doesn’t get cheaper” category, which demonstrate at least somewhat acceptable performance. But you need to understand that here you should not expect the same quality and, moreover, durability, as from cameras that are an order of magnitude more expensive. The presented two models are by no means “stubs”, but only dummies are cheaper.

Dahua DH-HAC-HDW1000RP-0280B-S3

Rating: 4.7

This model with an unpronounceable nomenclature of the series is the most affordable budget option from the well-known Chinese brand Dahua (manufactured by Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co., Ltd.).

This is an analog camera equipped with a sensor with a resolution of 1 megapixel, which is embodied in the resolution of the resulting image 1280 × 720. The term “analog” here should not be understood in its full sense, but only in the fact that it supports analog CVBS formats (PAL, 960H), but its main working formats are HD-CVI, HD-TVI, AHD. The uncompressed signal is broadcast over coaxial cable up to 1200 meters or over twisted pair up to 450 meters. The video output is switchable.

A little more about the basic characteristics. The camera is equipped with a 1/4″ CMOS sensor with a sensitivity of 0.05 lux. The lens is 2.8mm with a horizontal field of view of 88 degrees and a fixed aperture of F / 2.0. There are day and night modes. The mechanical filter refracts the rays of the infrared spectrum and, in sufficient light, corrects the color rendition. With the onset of darkness, the ICR is shifted to normalize the work of infrared illumination and increase the sensitivity of the sensor.

To improve the quality of the resulting image, the manufacturer has provided a number of enhancement technologies in the camera. So, DWDR technology plays a significant role here, which involves software processing of an image obtained under different contrast lighting, as well as point brightness equalization. Other technologies – BLC, 2D DNR, HLC – are responsible for backlight compensation, noise reduction and local light compensation.

The camera is suitable for both day and night outdoor surveillance. The range of the built-in infrared illumination is 20 meters. The backlight itself is “smart” – the power of the LEDs will automatically change depending on the distance to the object and other important conditions.

The camera detects the presence of an object in the frame at a distance of up to 38 meters; allows you to determine the characteristic features of the object – up to 15 meters; from 8 meters the operator can more or less accurately identify the object, and from 4 meters the object can be identified automatically using specialized software.

The camera can operate in a variety of temperature conditions – from -40 to +60 degrees. Not too demanding on power stability – 12V DC ± 25%. Consumes no more than 2.8W in operation. Dimensions – 85.4 × 69.1mm, weight – 0.11kg.

The built-in OSD menu of the camera is presented in 11 languages, including Russian.

Falcon Eye FE-B720AHD

Rating: 4.6

The second budget camera for outdoor surveillance is already significantly more expensive than the previous one, but it has some obvious advantages. Falcon Eye is a domestic trademark under which good video surveillance systems for the Russian market have been produced since 2005.

Falcon Eye FE-B720AHD is a cylindrical camera measuring 27×167.7mm. The body is made of durable heat-resistant materials. The protection class against external manifestations is IP66, which means complete exclusion of dust ingress and anti-storm protection (including water from sea waves during a storm). It is fixed on the wall using a standard M12 type mount. It is powered by a 12V source with allowable drops within 10%. Operating temperature range – from -40 to +50 degrees.

This model is equipped with a high-quality 1/2.8″ sensor manufactured by Sony – the Exmor CMOS IMX225 Super Low Lux model. The resolution is 1.4 megapixels, the resulting picture has a resolution up to FullHD 1280 × 1024. The image is in color. The data is processed and controlled by the NVP2431 processor. Electronic shutter settings – 1/50(1/60)~1/100000sec.

The shooting and stream processing parameters are as follows. The focal length of the camera is HD 2.8mm. Sensitivity – 0.001LUX at a fixed aperture of F1.2. The signal-to-noise ratio is over 50dB with automatic gain control (AGC) turned off. Internal sync. Automatic back light compensation. Automatic white balance correction.

The camera supports PAL/NTSC formats. Equipped with 1CH AHD video output. The range of data transmission via coaxial cable is up to 500 meters.

As you can see, this model has a clear advantage over the previous one in terms of picture quality. The resulting image is color, in FullHD resolution. However, the device can transmit data over a coaxial line over a much shorter distance. However, such ranges are rarely needed, and in those cases the issue is resolved by installing a special inexpensive repeater.

As for the image, for a camera at this price it is really good – the manufacturer has taken care of the built-in correction and enhancement functions, and color images come out with enough contrast and good sharpness.

A noticeable minus of this camera is the lack of an on-screen menu.

The best outdoor surveillance cameras under 20 thousand rubles

The second selection in our review is the most extensive, as it includes the most popular models in the middle price segment. We drew a conditional upper limit of 20 thousand rubles, but the prices for top models can amount to many hundreds of thousands. Our experts did not consider the most expensive series, focusing on the private rather than corporate interests of potential users.

EZVIZ Husky Air (2MP 2.8mm)

Rating: 4.9

First, let’s consider the network IP camera of the EZVIZ trademark, which belongs to the world leader in the production of video surveillance systems – Hikvision. To be precise, Husky Air is a whole series of cameras for organizing high-quality and reliable outdoors. They differ among themselves in different parameters – the resolution of the matrix, the parameters of the optics, and the individual aspects of the functionality.

Here we are dealing with an affordable configuration with 2.8mm optics and a 2MP matrix resolution. The EZVIZ range also includes cameras with 4 and 6mm optics and a matrix resolution of 1MP.

This modification is equipped with a 1/2.7″ CMOS-matrix. Lens with a fixed focal length. The horizontal viewing angle is 103 degrees. There is a night mode. The maximum range of infrared illumination is 30 meters. Built-in motion sensor, microphone, speaker, memory card slot. The camera can rotate 360 ​​degrees.

The reviewed model has a maximum image resolution of 2K 1920 × 1080. With this resolution, the frame rate will be a maximum of 25 frames / s. Data is transmitted via a Wi-Fi channel in the 2.4 GHz range or via a wired Ethernet connection. H.264 codec is supported. The camera is powered from the network through a 12V adapter.

Mounting design allows you to install the camera on a wall or ceiling. The protection class here is exactly the same as that of the previous model – IP66. But the operating temperature range is slightly shifted to the “warm” side – from -30 to +60 degrees. Dimensions – 72x86x150mm, weight – 0.33kg.

This camera is also to be commended for its solid data transfer solutions. The broadcast goes through two antennas, and even though Wi-Fi broadcasts in the same range, it is reliable, and the likelihood of data loss is minimized. The transmission distance of a reliable signal is up to 100 meters.

What’s more interesting – the camera has a built-in speaker that acts as a siren in cases where it is appropriate. The camera can be configured to turn on a siren and light signals up to 100dB to detect movement in the frame with a built-in sensor.

Finally, two-way audio is another useful feature provided by the waterproof microphone paired with the speakers. An intelligent noise reduction algorithm also comes to the rescue here, which removes most of the background sounds.

EZVIZ C4S (Wi-Fi)

Rating: 4.8

The second number is a slightly more expensive version of the same brand. This is an anti-vandal, dome, rotary Wi-Fi camera model C4S. The manufacturer took into account the bottlenecks of the previous generation C3S, and the resulting product has earned high marks from experts and ordinary users.

Camera dimensions – 116.2×82mm, weight – 500g. The anti-vandal qualities here should be understood correctly – the camera will only withstand certain shock loads and have time to transmit an image at the time of the attack. But if an attacker sets out to disable the camera, then it will definitely fail, and this applies to almost all outdoor cameras, even very expensive ones. Protection from external factors here is the same as that of the model described above – IP66. Powered by 12V adapter or PoE. Operating temperature range – from -30 to +60 degrees.

We list the most important technical characteristics. 1/2.7″ CMOS sensor. Fixed focal length 4mm. The horizontal viewing angle is 90 degrees. There is a night mode with infrared illumination with a range of 30 meters – here the camera is similar to the previous model. There is a motion sensor, a slot for memory cards.

The maximum resolution of the resulting image is 1920 × 1080. The maximum frame rate is 30 per second. WDR (high dynamic range) and H.264 codec are supported. Data transmission – via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, while double encryption of broadcasting and recording on the card is carried out.

The camera functionality also includes strong double encryption of data transmitted wirelessly and recorded on a memory card. In case of occurrence of events stipulated by the security protocol, the owner or responsible person will receive a message via cellular communication.

EZVIZ cloud technology opens up additional opportunities. With the help of the cloud, the camera is easy to set up and subsequently use remotely, including viewing archived recordings or “live broadcast”.

This model includes a sealing kit for wired Ethernet connection. This is certainly a plus, but there is no such kit for sealing the power supply, and this is at least strange.

Xiaomi Yi Camera Outdoor Edition 1080p

Rating: 4.7

Let’s digress (for a while) from Hikvision products and pay attention to Xiaomi’s efforts to penetrate literally into every home with its interesting and inexpensive electronics. And here it’s not even a metaphor anymore, as Xiaomi is hard at work on smart home systems.

Actually, the presented outdoor video surveillance camera is conceived, among other things, as an integral component of such a single centralized system. But only … in the future, since at the moment integration into the Mi Home system is not provided for this model. And we will write this down with all severity as a shortcoming, since it is integration that is clearly “asked” here.

Camera dimensions – 70x68x132mm, weight – 0.25kg. The case is made of durable plastic, which does not turn yellow over time under constant exposure to sunlight. The degree of protection is IP65, which means the complete exclusion of dust ingress and confident resistance to heavy rain. A special visor above the lens helps to prevent glare.

Let’s go through the main features. Fixed focal length – 3.9mm. The maximum viewing angle is 110 degrees. If necessary, the maximum angle can be further increased thanks to the innovative Lut-monitoring technology.

There is a night mode with infrared illumination. Its range, however, is two times lower than that of the two models described above, but this is still an advantage. There is a built-in microphone and speaker, a slot for external memory, a motion sensor.

The camera shoots in 2K resolution 1920 × 1080 at a frame rate of 20 per second. Recording is carried out on a microSD memory card with a maximum capacity of 32GB. You can also watch the process online – the camera connects to the network and accesses the Internet via Wi-Fi. You can save footage automatically in the cloud by setting up the proprietary YI Home App. The H.264 codec is supported, along with intelligent white balance adjustment. There is a USB interface. Power supply from the socket through the adapter.

Summing up, we can say that the Yi Camera Outdoor Edition will be a good purchase, if only because with its sophisticated design, the camera will decorate any place and give solidity to any location, even if there is nothing special to guard there.

Hikvision DS-2CD2043G0-I (4.0)

Rating: 4.7

And again we return to Hikvision products, this time we will consider a camera that is produced under the trademark of the same name. This is also a whole series with different configurations that differ in the parameters of optics, matrix, price and some other points.

As part of the series, camera configurations are available with different lenses – 2.8, 4, 6 and 8 focal lengths with F2.0 aperture. They will also have different viewing angles, and this difference can be significant. For example, the viewing angles of a camera with a 2.8mm lens will be 98, 55, and 114 degrees horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, respectively; while the same parameters for the 8mm lens will be 37, 21 and 44 degrees, respectively.

The matrix for all has the same configuration – Progressive Scan CMOS 1/3 inch. Sensitivity in color mode will be 0.01lux at F1.2 and AGC on; in black and white – 0.028lux at F2.0 and AGC on. The maximum image resolution here is even higher than that of the described 2K models – 2688 × 1520.

The mechanical infrared filter is responsible for the “day” and “night” modes. Mode switching can be carried out automatically, according to a schedule or on alarm. Motion detection is carried out on two grounds – intrusion into the area and / or crossing the line.

Data transfer is carried out over a wired Ethernet local area network through a built-in 100-megabit network card. Local storage of footage – to microSD / SDHC / SDXC memory cards up to 128GB.

Camera dimensions – 70 × 155.03mm, weight – 0.42kg. Available in white and black body colors. The level of protection here is even higher than that of any of the above models – the camera is not afraid of dust by default, and even withstands temporary immersion under water – up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. Equipped with lightning protection in the form of a transient voltage suppressor.

In general, this series makes a very serious claim for long-term use in difficult conditions, reliable and secure data storage, all kinds of flexible settings and the possibility of adequate battery life. This is the minimum configuration for corporate use.

D-Link DCS-4602EV

Rating: 4.7

Completes the first selection of the best outdoor surveillance cameras according to Simplerule magazine, the model of a brand well known to almost everyone – D-Link. It is a world leader in the production of low-cost telecommunications equipment. And our experts chose this particular model as the most expensive in the selection for a reason. Other things being equal, a similar camera from another well-known manufacturer would cost significantly more.

DCS-4602EV is an outdoor vandal proof dome camera. Its dimensions are more or less standard for this type of device, the case is quite durable. The matrix resolution of 2 megapixels allows the device to form a high-quality image with a resolution up to 1920 × 1080. There is built-in support for WDR, with associated visibility enhancements. The matrix itself also supports progressive scanning technology.

Data transmission in this model is carried out with real-time stream compression using H.264 and MJPEG codecs. This allows efficient use of bandwidth while transmitting video of maximum quality. You can set up separate profiles for live video transmission and recording. In this way, you can set the camera to quickly switch to pre-set modes with different tasks – monitoring a public place for the purpose of order, monitoring restricted areas, deterring criminal urges, monitoring the safety of property.

To control the modes, settings and behavior of the camera, the manufacturer offers proprietary software – D-ViewCam. This software allows you to combine streams from an entire branched system into 32 cameras on one workstation and remotely manage groups or each individually. When pre-defined events occur, such as motion detection, the person in charge receives alerts via cellular or other means.

What else deserves high praise in this model is the flexibility of connection. The developers have provided the ability to power the device not only from a wall outlet through an adapter, but directly via twisted pair using PoE (Power over Ethernet) technology. This eliminates the need to drill an extra hole and run an extra power cable.

The best high-end outdoor security cameras

And now we turn to the review of the most expensive, powerful and functional solutions for outdoor video surveillance devices. We will start with relatively cheap devices of this class and end up with far from the most expensive ones, since the upper price bar for the “outdoor” is prohibitively high.

Hikvision DS-2DE5225IW-AE (PTZ 25x 1080P)

Rating: 4.9

First in this collection, we will consider a robotic network camera for outdoor video surveillance of the Hikvision brand. With the similarity of many key parameters (resolution, form factor, basic functions), this model is strikingly different from any of the previous ones by the level of security.

This camera monitors in real time, thanks to the all-round view and optical zoom, it allows you to view the entire controlled territory and individual objects, even remote ones. The model is most suitable for monitoring rooms with a large area – halls, open-space offices, halls, warehouses; or narrow and elongated – the corridors of educational institutions, government agencies and similar locations.

The camera is equipped with a 1/2.8″ Progressive CMOS sensor with a resolution of 2 megapixels. The resulting image has a resolution of 2K 1920×1080. The refresh rate at the maximum resolution is 25cad/s. Zoom lens with variable focal length from 4.8 to 120mm. The 25x optical zoom is complemented by a 16x digital zoom.

The camera works in day and night modes. In night mode, support for extended dynamic range WDR helps to draw an image with a deficit of visible spectrum illumination. With its help, “distortions” in terms of light or, conversely, darkening of individual areas are automatically aligned. Most of all, infrared illumination contributes to night vision. It is much more powerful here than any of the above cameras – it “gets” areas at a distance of up to 150 meters.

An additional feature to improve visibility is the ROI area of ​​interest. This implies the ability to select individual parts of the frame, which will be directed to the maximum “efforts” of the camera to optimize the image and maximize quality.

This model differs significantly for the better from the previous ones in the accuracy of detection and the quality of video analytics. So, the operation of one or another mode can be configured for such events as crossing a line, invading an established area, entering and exiting a larger region, and, finally, the intelligent determination of abandoned or, conversely, missing items.

A separate advantage of this model is wide compatibility with third-party products due to the support of the ONVIF protocol and open architecture.

Wisenet XNV-8030R

Rating: 4.8

The review of the best outdoor security cameras according to Simplerule magazine continues with a model with even wider functionality than the previous one. The price is twice as high – about $ 1000, but this is already a serious preventive weapon against intruders of various stripes and emergency situations.

Externally, the camera does not show its capabilities and cost. It looks like a completely ordinary dome camera, inconspicuous and in no way expressive. This, by the way, also works to her advantage.

The difference in capabilities here is already manifested at the level of basic things. Thus, the camera is equipped with a 1/1.8″ CMOS sensor with a resolution of 5 megapixels. Lens fixed 4.6mm. There is a night mode with infrared illumination up to 30 meters and an infrared filter. The resolution of the resulting image is up to 2616 × 1976 at a frequency of up to 30 frames per second. Video stream compression codecs – H.265/H.264, MJPEG. WiseStream II compression technology is supported.

To improve the image, as well as combat all kinds of optical obstacles, Wisenet XNV-8030R has the following built-in tools: support for extended dynamic range (WDR) up to 120dB at the hardware level, contrast enhancement using SSDR technology, 2D and 3D filters for digital noise reduction, digital stabilization , antifog, backlight compensation (BLC/HLC).

The technical parameters and advantages of this model can be listed for a long time, as they are available in abundance. But much more interesting is the functionality of the camera in terms of intelligent monitoring and analytics functions. We list the main ones: motion detector for 8 zones; 32-zone masking; determining the direction of movement; fog and/or smoke detection; reaction to abnormal defocusing of the lens (there may be actions of intruders to blind the camera), face identification by face, recognition of “loitering” faces, virtual line, detection of things left or vice versa disappeared, entering and exiting the established area, audio analytics (broken glass, shot, explosion , cry).

In addition to the above, the camera can also keep statistics: people counting, queue management, hot map, digital automatic tracking, a special function – corridor overview.

ActiveCam AC-D6144

Rating: 4.8

Under the third number in this category, we offer you to get acquainted with an even more powerful outdoor video surveillance device from the ActiveCam brand. The manufacturer is an international company with Russian roots.

ActiveCam AC-D6144 is a panoramic SpeedDome network camera. It’s really fast – the panning speed reaches 500 degrees. Its main area of ​​application is professional-level video surveillance at large sports grounds, residential complexes, as well as at strategically important facilities, such as transport and customs terminals. In short, wherever the combination of high image quality, zoom capability and instant all-round visibility is critical.

The camera is designed for the harshest operating conditions. The IK10 vandal resistant housing is also dust and water resistant. Internal heating allows the camera to function normally at negative temperatures down to -45 degrees, and the maximum safe environment temperature is +60 degrees.

This model is equipped with a 4-megapixel CMOS sensor and a 1-megapixel zoom lens with auto iris, autofocus and 30x zoom. This combination makes it possible to reliably detect all the details of the scene and, if necessary, scale distant objects for a more detailed study.

Built-in image enhancement tools successfully eliminate the loss of information content of the frame due to sharp changes in contrast, flare, noise. To do this, the camera has built-in support for extended dynamic range up to 120dB, digital noise reduction and backlight neutralization. Also, this model supports a wide range of intelligent video analytics functions: line crossing, face recognition, zone intrusion, recognition of missing or abandoned objects, and more.

The camera can transfer the footage to a remote server or any workstation with the appropriate software over an encrypted channel. To prevent possible data loss due to possible Internet connection interruptions, all footage can be recorded to a memory card. The slot supports microSD cards up to 128GB.

The camera can operate both from a wall outlet through an adapter, and directly via a local network using PoE + technology.

Axis Q3709-PVE

Rating: 4.8

Now let’s take another qualitative leap up the long “ladder” of types and classes of outdoor surveillance cameras and consider a powerful multi-matrix and multi-megapixel camera manufactured by the Swedish company Axis Communications.

Let’s immediately decipher these “multi” and “maxi”. The concept of this model involves the use of three matrices simultaneously. Working together, they provide a 180-degree view with high image detail.

Externally, the camera looks, though quite stylish, but simple and does not attract too much attention. Installation is extremely simple, not least because the manufacturer paid special attention to this. Even lenses in the process do not need to be focused. The weatherproof cover is removable and can be repainted to suit individual conditions, thus making the camera even more inconspicuous. The dimensions of the camera are 205x205x172mm and the weight is significant – 2.2kg, taking into account the protective visor, and this must be taken into account during installation.

Consider the main technical characteristics of the camera, and they are really outstanding. The three sensors mentioned are 1/2.3” progressive scan. Lenses with F2.8 aperture and 5mm fixed focus distance. The range of possible resolution of the resulting image is from 320×240 to 4K 3840×2880. The frame rate at 4K resolution is up to 30 frames per second, at enhanced matrix resolution of 11 megapixels – up to 20 frames per second. Shutter frequency – 1/23250 sec to 2/5 sec.

The camera has a wide range of tools to improve image detail and quality. These are adjustment of sharpness, brightness, color, white balance, exposure area, backlight neutralization, extended dynamic range support, fine tuning of behavior at minimum illumination, masking of closed areas, frame alignment.

Axis Q3709-PVE can operate in several typical modes with appropriate presets: digital PTZ control, zoom, tilt, pan, patrol, user preset positions. The model has the entire arsenal of intelligent algorithms for real-time operational video analytics.

Wisenet XNP-6320HS

Rating: 4.7

Completes the review of the best outdoor surveillance cameras according to Simplerule magazine with a model that is one and a half times more expensive than the already prohibitively expensive previous one, but its technological profile is such that the price does not raise questions.

The camera has dimensions of 227x227x296mm and is more than twice as heavy as the previous one – 5.3kg. Metal anti-vandal case with protection according to IK10, IP66, IP67 standards. Power supply from the mains through an adapter with the possibility of heating or via Ethernet using PoE technology, but without heating.

The most important technical characteristics: 1/2.8″ CMOS-matrix with a resolution of 2.4 megapixels. The maximum frame resolution is 2K 1920×1080. Varifocal lens 4.44 ~ 142.6mm. Aperture – from F1.6 to F4.4. The minimum focusing distance is 0.5m. Rotate, swivel and tilt – across the entire range of 360 degrees without limits. The speed of turning and panning is 700 degrees per second.

It should be noted that the indicator of the maximum frame resolution here is significantly lower than that of the model described above, but this should not be considered a disadvantage, since this model has a different specialization.

This camera is equipped with high quality optics with 32x magnification. Ultra-fast positioning speed of 700 degrees per second allows you to trace and track even the fastest moving objects.

The latest WISENET 5 chipset has a wide arsenal of built-in intelligent algorithms that were not previously available even in top business models. Thus, the camera easily recognizes faces, movement in prohibited areas, crossing established boundaries, as well as characteristic loud sounds that require the attention of the operator, and under certain conditions, an immediate alarm. The behavior of people and objects is also monitored and analyzed by the mass of signs: the camera will accurately identify idle strangers, and even pay attention if a person’s presence in a particular zone exceeds the allowed period of time.

Separately, it is worth mentioning that the face recognition function here is implemented very high quality, and, importantly, by the internal means of the most powerful WISENET 5 chipset. it’s on its own without requiring the server’s CPU time.

Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.