CCTV camera advice please

Pssst

I am seeking a cctv cam with good night and day performance pref colour for domestic use.

I am thinking something discrete which could look out of the corner of a window.

Trouble is, you dont know the image quality until youve bought the thing!

What about night cams with IR lights? Do they work if viewing through a double glazed window?

Any ideas?
I'm looking to link it to a digital cctv vcr with date/time overlay

kwikbreaks

The image quality of most consumer CCTV cameras is pretty dire.

I'm not 100% certain but I would expect reflected glare from the window would stop it working when using the IR leds although it may be possible to get round that by mounting it at an angle.

My advive would be to buy the kit from somewhere that would take it back without quibbling if it didn't work well.

melipona

If you can get to a Maplins store they usually have a selection on display so you can check the quality. They usually sell run of the mill cameras at a premium price, so maybe make a note of ones with suitable specs and see what the internet has to offer.

Dime_Bar

I would say if your spending a little bit of money then pay the little extra to get one that will go outdoors. The image will be reduced in quality by a window.

However if you want to do it on the cheap I set up a resonable system monitoring the front of my house for a while using webcams through a window. If I was doing it permanatly like that I would have mounted a PIR activated IR Light on the external wall whoch would have provided ample light for all cameras.

Pssst

Hmm..thing is,if it goes OS,it would have to be discrete. I have no idea how small these things can be AND deliver a quality image. I dont want my house to look like colditz.