Security Camera Buyer's Guide

Everything you need to know before investing in a surveillance system — from camera types and resolution to storage, AI features, and choosing an installer.

Based on 500+ installations by Power Up Boston

📷 Camera Types Explained

Type	Best For	Pros	Cons
Dome	Indoor, retail, offices	Discreet, vandal-resistant, wide coverage	Harder to aim precisely
Bullet	Outdoor perimeters, parking lots	Long range, easy to install, visible deterrent	More conspicuous, limited pivot
Turret	Versatile indoor/outdoor	No IR reflection on dome glass, easy to adjust	Less vandal-proof than dome
PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom)	Large areas, active monitoring	Remote control, optical zoom, auto-tracking	Expensive, mechanical parts can fail
Fisheye / Panoramic	Wide open spaces, retail floors	180°–360° coverage from one camera	Distorted image, lower detail at edges

Our recommendation: Most businesses need a mix of turret cameras (entrances, hallways) and bullet cameras (parking lots, perimeters). PTZ cameras are great for large properties but shouldn't be your only camera — they can only look one direction at a time.

🔍 Resolution: How Much Do You Need?

2MP

1080p Full HD
General overview, hallways
Good enough for "who was there"

4MP

1440p / 2K
Faces, details, POS areas
Sweet spot for most businesses ★

8MP

4K Ultra HD
License plates, large areas
Digital zoom without losing detail

Resolution	Pixel Count	Can You Identify a Face at 30ft?	Storage per Camera/Day	Cost per Camera
2MP (1080p)	1920×1080	Difficult	~15 GB	$80–$150
4MP (1440p)	2560×1440	Yes, reliably	~25 GB	$120–$250
4K (8MP)	3840×2160	Yes, from further away	~40 GB	$200–$500

💡 Pro tip: Don't put 4K cameras everywhere — you'll burn through storage. Use 4K for critical areas (entrances, cash registers, license plate capture) and 4MP for general coverage.

💾 Storage: NVR vs. Cloud

	NVR (On-Premise)	Cloud Storage	Hybrid
Upfront cost	$300–$2,000+	$0	$300–$1,000
Monthly cost	$0 (electricity only)	$5–$30/camera/month	$3–$15/camera/month
Storage capacity	2TB–16TB+ (expandable)	7–60 day cloud retention	Local buffer + cloud archive
Reliability	Works without internet	Requires stable upload bandwidth	Best of both
Theft risk	NVR can be stolen	Footage safe off-site	Covered either way
Best for	Larger systems, full control	Small systems, remote viewing priority	Business-critical footage

Storage Calculator

How much storage do you need?

Storage (TB) = Cameras × GB/day × Retention days ÷ 1,000

Example: 8 cameras × 25 GB/day (4MP) × 30 days = 6,000 GB = 6 TB

Add 20% overhead for spikes in motion activity. So: 6 TB × 1.2 = ~8 TB NVR recommended

🧠 Key Features Worth Paying For

Feature	What It Does	Worth It?
AI / Deep Learning	Distinguishes people and vehicles from animals, shadows, rain. Drastically reduces false alerts.	✅ Yes — this is the single biggest upgrade in surveillance in the last 5 years
License Plate Recognition (ANPR)	Reads and logs plate numbers automatically	✅ If you need to track vehicles (parking, logistics, security)
Night Vision — IR (Infrared)	Black-and-white image in total darkness, up to 100ft+	✅ Standard — every outdoor camera should have this
Night Vision — ColorVu / Full Color	Color image in very low light using large sensors + warm LED	✅ If color matters (identifying clothing, vehicles at night)
Wide Dynamic Range (WDR)	Balances bright and dark areas in the same frame (e.g., someone in front of a window)	✅ Essential for entrances, loading docks, any backlit area
Two-Way Audio	Built-in speaker and mic for live communication	Situational — useful for intercoms, deterrence
Active Deterrence	Flashing lights + siren triggered by AI detection	✅ Great for after-hours perimeter security

🌧️ Indoor vs. Outdoor: IP Ratings Explained

Outdoor cameras must be weatherproof. The IP rating tells you how protected a camera is:

Rating	Protection Level	Suitable For
IP65	Dust-tight, low-pressure water jets	Covered outdoor areas (under eaves)
IP66	Dust-tight, high-pressure water jets	Exposed outdoor — rain, snow, hose-down
IP67	Dust-tight, can survive temporary submersion	Harsh outdoor, flood-prone areas

Also consider: Operating temperature range (New England winters hit -10°F), built-in heaters for cold climates, and IK10 vandal ratings for accessible cameras.

⚡ PoE vs. WiFi Cameras

✅ PoE (Power over Ethernet) — Recommended

Single cable for power + data
Reliable — no wireless interference
Higher bandwidth for 4K streams
Runs up to 300ft from switch
No battery to charge or replace
Professional-grade, long-term solution

⚠️ WiFi Cameras — Use Sparingly

Easy install — no cable runs
Fine for 1-2 cameras, max
Signal degrades through walls
Competes with other WiFi devices
Battery models need frequent charging
Not reliable for business-critical security

Bottom line: WiFi cameras are fine for a Ring doorbell at home. For a business, always go PoE. The cable run costs more upfront, but you'll never have connectivity issues, battery failures, or bandwidth problems.

🗺️ How Many Cameras Do You Need?

Coverage depends on your specific property, but here are general guidelines:

Area	Camera Count	Camera Type	Notes
Each entrance/exit	1–2	Turret or bullet, 4MP+	One for overview, one for face capture
Parking lot	1 per 30-40 parking spaces	Bullet, 4K with WDR	Add ANPR camera for plate capture
Cash register / POS	1 per register	Dome or turret, 4MP	Position to see hands and screen
Warehouse / storage	1 per 2,000 sq ft	Turret or fisheye	Cover aisles and high-value inventory
Office / hallways	1 per major intersection	Dome, 2–4MP	Corridors, break rooms, server rooms
Loading dock	1–2	Bullet with WDR, 4K	Cover dock door + truck approach
Perimeter / fence line	1 every 60-100ft	Bullet with IR, 4MP+	Active deterrence recommended

👤 What to Look for in an Installer

Licensed and insured — Massachusetts requires a Class A license (Systems Contractors) or Class D license (Security Systems) for commercial security camera installation. Ask for their license number.
Experience with your type of property — Retail, warehouse, office, and outdoor installations all have different challenges.
Warranty on labor and equipment — Minimum 1 year on labor, manufacturer warranty on cameras. We provide 3-year labor warranty.
Network knowledge — Cameras are IP devices on your network. Your installer should understand VLANs, bandwidth, and cybersecurity — not just mounting brackets.
Ongoing support — Who do you call when a camera goes offline at 10 PM? Make sure there's a support plan.
No long-term monitoring contracts required — Some companies lock you into 3-5 year contracts. Your equipment should be yours.

💲 Price Ranges for Complete Systems

System Size	Equipment	Installation	Total Range
4 cameras (small office/retail)	$600–$1,500	$400–$1,000	$1,000–$2,500
8 cameras (medium business)	$1,200–$3,500	$800–$2,000	$2,000–$5,500
16 cameras (large property)	$2,500–$7,000	$1,500–$4,000	$4,000–$11,000
32+ cameras (multi-site/enterprise)	$5,000–$15,000+	$3,000–$8,000+	$8,000–$23,000+

Prices include cameras, NVR, cabling, and standard installation. Complex cable runs, lifts, or specialized mounts may add cost. Cloud subscriptions are additional.

🏷️ A Note on Brands

We're brand-agnostic — we recommend what works best for your situation and budget. Here's an honest overview of the major players:

Brand	Strengths	Considerations
Hikvision	Best value, excellent AI, huge product range	Chinese-owned; banned from US federal installations (NDAA). Fine for private business use.
Dahua	Strong value, good color night vision	Same NDAA restrictions as Hikvision
Axis (Sweden)	Premium quality, best analytics, NDAA-compliant	2-3x the cost of Hikvision. Enterprise-focused.
Hanwha (S. Korea)	Excellent quality, NDAA-compliant, strong AI	Higher price point, smaller dealer network

Ready to Design Your Camera System?

We'll survey your property, design the right system, and give you an honest quote. No pressure, no contracts — just the right cameras in the right places.

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