Trail cameras (i.e., scout or game cameras) are designed for capturing video of wildlife. Hunters, wildlife watchers, and researchers typically use them.
We all know how mindful animals can be of their surroundings, which can raise questions like whether trail cameras are good for home security.
Trail cameras are a good choice for home security because they have good sensitivity and can capture high-quality footage, audio, and photos. Cellular trail cameras are a great choice for remote viewing and receiving real-time notifications, which is good for home security and off-grid security.
Much like how home security cameras differ in their quality and capabilities, trail cameras are also not built the same, so let’s take a more in-depth look at what you should know.
Can You Use a Trail Camera for Home Security?
Trail cameras can be used for home security because they are not much different than home security cameras. Trail cameras are designed to capture video footage or take photos of animals in the wild. They have motion sensors and night vision capabilities, which makes them good for indoor and outdoor home security.
What is more, is they are designed to be mobile and be able to face the elements.
In fact, trail cameras are also often used for investigations and general surveillance by private investigators.
Advantages to Using a Trail Camera for Home Security
Detection Range and Sensitivity
The detection range is the distance at which the trail camera will detect motion. The detection range usually varies between 50 to 80 feet, with higher-end models capable of reaching up to 100 – 120 feet.
In comparison, most IR home security cameras can have a detection range of 15 to 30 feet.
Depending on the size of the area you want to monitor, this can be either an advantage or a disadvantage because trail cameras have really good sensitivity, resulting in a lot of unnecessary photos and videos.
Cellular Service
Cellular trail cameras can offer some neat features like remote viewing of photos, videos, and battery status.
What’s more, some trail cams are capable of live streaming and sending notifications in real-time to your phone or uploading photos to a cloud server. They do not need a WiFi network to connect to, AC power, or landline to work.
This makes cellular trail cameras an excellent choice for home security and even off-grid security. Cellular trail cameras can send notifications in real-time and allow homeowners to view a live video feed from their property.
In order to do that, cellular trail cameras require a cell phone plan, which is often offered by the manufacturer at an affordable monthly fee.
Nearly Invisible in the Dark
Trail cameras are designed to work in the dark by using infrared light.
IR cameras can sometimes emit very low and dull red light, which in many cases can be visible if you are standing very close to the camera.
Usually, you can stumble upon a few different terms used like, red glow IR, low glow IR, and no glow IR depending on how much light they emit in the darkness. No glow trail cameras are the most sought after, as they can be practically invisible in the dark.
Good Video and Photo Quality
Trail cameras typically have good image quality. Often they offer video resolution between 720p, 1080p, and even 4k. When it comes to frame rates, you can expect most trail cams to be capable of recording between 15 to 60 fps.
However, some trail cameras can have very poor video and photo quality.
Trail cameras are expected to capture footage or take photos of animals passing in the area. So image quality may not necessarily be on par with home security cameras that are expected to capture finer details like license plates or people’s facial features.
Do not compromise with the quality of the camera—especially when it comes to your personal and home security. Although there are cheap options, the lower price often comes at the expense of less functionality and worse video and photo quality.
Video and Audio Capture
Some trail cameras can be set to record videos with audio of a certain length when a triggering event occurs. The options you will be able to choose from will vary from camera to camera, but they can vary from as little as 5 seconds to as much as 5 minutes.
Trail cameras also have a video delay option, which determines how long the camera will wait after a triggering event before it starts recording or taking pictures.
Longer video recordings and shorter cooldowns are recommended when a trail camera is used for security purposes.
That being said, there are also trail cameras capable of recording video for as long as there is something in their field of view. This makes the whole process a lot more streamlined and useful when it comes to home security since you will not have to worry about video delay and length.
Versatility
One of the best things about trail cameras is that they are very versatile.
Some owners may need to monitor remote areas of their property and not just their house, in which case, a trail camera may be the best option.
High Durability
Trail cameras are designed to be tough and able to withstand rain, snow, heat, cold, and even ice. They are designed to be left for long periods of time in the wilderness at the mercy of the elements and animals.
Easy to Hide
Trail cameras can have a camouflaged exterior designed to blend with the environment. This means that trail cameras are easy to hide inside trees and bushes. Even placing a trail camera on a utility pole can make it difficult to spot.
This can be both an advantage and disadvantage depending on how we look at it. (More details below.)
Disadvantages to Using Trail Cameras for Home Security
Prone to False Triggers
All security cameras can and do get triggered by various events.
But trail cams tend to have higher sensitivity.
For example, trees, foliage, grass, and bushes can trigger the camera on particularly windy days. Direct sunlight and headlights from passing vehicles can trigger the camera, too.
You are also likely to get a lot of pretty pictures and footage of animals.
Battery Life
Most trail cameras have very decent battery life—even the cheaper ones. Nonetheless, running out of battery is a concern, much like any other battery-powered device, and should be kept in mind.
Battery life is affected by various factors like temperature, activity level, video length and quality, time of day, battery brand and type, use of cellular service, and more.
Because of this, the battery life of your trail cam can vary widely.
Some trail cam manufacturers do not even give average numbers because of this unpredictability.
For example, one study came out with the following conclusions after testing several different trail cameras:
- The average battery life of trail cameras set to record video is between 2 weeks to 4 months.
- The battery life of trail cameras set to take photos only is between 1 to 36 months, depending on the model, activity level, and more.
The good news is that many trail cameras can be used with additional external batteries.
It is recommended to use lithium-ion batteries as they perform better at colder temperatures compared to alkaline batteries.
Some trail cams can also be used with a solar panel.
Testing the Trail Camera
Trail cameras should be tested to ensure they are working as intended. This involves programming the trail cam, mounting it, and walking past it a few different distances to ensure it captures video or takes photos each time.
This can be a little time-consuming and frustrating method, but it is worth it.
On the other hand, some trail cameras can have a test mode, making the whole process a lot easier.
Limited Video Storage Space
Another concern with trail cameras is that they have a limited amount of storage. Video footage and photos are typically stored on an SD card. And the amount of footage you can store on the SD card can be an issue.
Trail cameras typically work with SD cards up to 32 GB, but some models may work with up to 512 GB SD memory cards.
Some trail cameras will be capable of overwriting old footage, but others will not record any footage or take photos until old footage has been deleted and there is enough space on the SD card.
Footage Reviewing
Reviewing photos and video footage can turn into a frustrating process after a while—especially if you have to swap SD cards constantly.
Some Bluetooth and higher-end cellular cameras may allow you to do that using your smartphone, but others will have you constantly swapping SD cards back and forth. And others may have an LCD screen that can be used for viewing photos and videos.
Where the Footage Is Stored
Another disadvantage with some trail cameras is that the footage and photos are often stored in the camera itself. If the camera is stolen, you will lose all the data.
This brings us to the next point.
Prone to Theft
It is not uncommon for people to steal trail cameras.
This often happens when trail cameras are set up in the wilderness, but it can also happen in residential areas.
Trail cameras can be placed in reinforced steel locking cases which may deter opportunistic burglars but also make the trail cam a lot more visible.
Visual Deterrent
Trail cameras are intended to blend with their surroundings, which can make them harder to spot. While this may be a desirable feature when looking for animals, it may not necessarily be a good idea when trying to secure your home.
When a security camera is easy to spot, it serves as a good visual deterrent preventing crime before it happens. It is not a coincidence why homeowners sometimes even purchase dummy security cameras.
Price
Overall it may seem like trail cameras are a great option for home security. And they are.
However, it should be noted that trail cameras do tend to be more expensive than the typical home security camera. While many home security cameras may cost about $35 to $200, most trail cameras that will do well as a home security camera will be upwards of $150. Then again, you are buying a multipurpose camera that can be used in many different situations and applications.
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