Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - Security camera and recorder for home?

I have been tinkering with the idea of installing a security camera at the office and at home. What kind of cost would I be looking at to install an outside camera at the office that would store video (preferrably digital video or some other format than having to swap VCR tape) of the parking lot for a week or 2? I was also thinking about installing an interior camera at home that could capture all door entrances from a single location that was also connected to a digital recorder. Could I set up a small security system for $500? Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Trying to do it myself.

Here is a link to get you started...

I receintly bought a DVR Camera system and am verry happy with it.
I have this system.... It rocks... and works nice over a network to watch the cameras also.
http://www.peppersprayoutlet.com/dvmr4cd.asp
But I bought it at the place below when she had a special.


But my system ran $999

http://maureenscreations.zoovy.com/category/security_camera_s/

There are many systems and retailers out there. If you do a search online you will find many, many people selling very similar items so shop around.

I like the stand alone/dedicated DVR's (digital video recorders) as opposed to puting a video capture card in your computer, and don't even consider a VCR an option in the modern world. DVR's start at around $400 and can handle multiple cameras and have motion detection. All are basically computers but I prefer the ones that are strictly DVR's only. They tend to have Linux operating systems and are built specifically to do security video recording so they do it well (they don't crash). Depending on the size of the hard drive and settings you can easily record many cameras for a month or more.

Cameras is where I really notice the difference and you generally get what you pay for.

CCD cameras tend to give better pictures than CMOS but CMOS are cheaper and use less power. Many cordless hidden camera systems are CMOS where most hard wired cameras tend to be the better CCD type.

Package sytems are simple but they are not good for all applications. You will need a different camera for inside the office versus watching the parking lot. Buying your componants separatley lets you get cameras better suited to your needs.

Generally cameras with brand name parts (Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic...) tend to do better. I'm a big fan of products containing Sony parts but they are more expensive.

For a D.I.Y. system I like lipstick cameras. They are available from $30 up to $500 with varying features. Most all are waterproof and easy to install. They are small and inconspicuous (good so the wife does not complain, bad because most people don't notice them so there is little deterance factor). Most have fixed lenses so you have to position the camera to get the field of view you want. More exensive ones have a zoom lense which gives greater mounting flexibility. I really like the lipstick cameras having Sony Super HAD Ex-View. They generally run about $150 in color. They take good pictures during the day and will keep a good picture all the way down past twilight and finally quit when it is really dark (not starlight or moonlight, but very good in the dark).

Don't beleive that an IR camera with a few LEDs around the lense can take usefull pictures 50 feet away in total darkness. Usefully seeing in the dark takes money. Generally I find that IR cameras can only see a fourth of what they are advertised to do. If they say they can see up to 75 feet means you can see a grainy ghost at 75 feet, you make out a human shape at 50 feet and you can not recognize a face until about 20 feet or less. Installing a light fixutre and using a standard camera works better and costs less.

Professional style cameras like you see in mini-marts do have some benefits, the biggest being that they are large and highly visible so they have a good deterrance factor. Most are not waterproof so must be put in an enclosure to work outside. You can match different lenses to the camera so you can easily get the camera to look where you want.

Don't forget that you will need to power your camera and get wires to it. Most systems sold as a D.I.Y. kit have cables with the connectors on the end. They are very easy to use but the large connectors make them harder to fit through a hole in the wall. I like using bulk cable and installing the connectors after the wire is pulled through walls. You can also get siamese cable that has the video coax and power lines all in one cable.

I appreciate your post b/c it was very informative! Thanks for taking the time to write it! When I "finally" install my security camera network, I will post my knowledge for those interested in a similar system.