DIY Security Systems
If you are installing surveillance or security cameras in your home for the first time, you probably have a hundred questions. One of which is how long does the average security camera store footage? Today’s surveillance technology is not like what it was before. Security cameras have more precise videos now, and they record for longer periods. But, where does all that footage go? If you are somebody who is frequently away from home or if you have a long trip coming up, you want to be sure your security cameras can record and store a lot of footage to ensure home safety.
How a Security Camera Records and Stores Footage
The type of security camera you choose will affect how much footage is stored and for how long. Most security cameras continuously record, but there are others that only record when they detect movement.
Continuous Video Recording or CVR captures all activity for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Meanwhile, motion-activated cameras will only record when motion triggers it. Many surveillance cameras are now smart enough to detect motions only made humans and even detect faces.
If you choose a Continuous Video Recording security camera, you will have to consider the factors that affect how long does the average security camera store footage. Your CVR security camera will be recording every second every day, so there is a lot of footage to store. On the other hand, if you choose to get a motion-activated camera, you will not have to worry about the bulk of footage and how long does home security camera footage lasts.
There are two main types of storage used by security cameras. The type of storage used will affect how long does the average security camera store footage. Some security cameras use more than one type at the same time. Here’s how to learn more about Security Cameras.
Micro SD Cards
If you have ever handled digital cameras or DSLRs, you are probably familiar with Micro SD cards. They are today’s answer to yesterday’s clunky videotapes. Micro SD cards have memory cards with varying storage capacity. Memory cards can store 16GB, 32GB, 128 GB, and 256GB of footage. Some micro SD cards can store up to 1TB or even 2TB, but they are only supported by SDXC-compatible devices.
Once a micro SD card’s storage is full, it will stop recording. You will have to manually replace the card with a new one. If you do not have a spare, you could transfer all the footage to a computer or another device, then return the clean SD card to the camera.
The major security risk of using SD cards is that there is no way of getting it back if you lose your SD cards or the footage saved from those cards.
Cloud Storage
It can be expensive and tiring to continuously replace physical memory cards, which is why so many manufacturers and users are turning to cloud storage. The footage is permanently stored in a server, and you can access the footage anytime, anywhere. This is valuable for people who travel a lot and would like to inspect their footage on a regular basis.
A couple of challenges that come with cloud storage is that you usually have to have a paid subscription. Also, there is the possibility of your cloud storage system getting hacked. The footage can be erased or compromised without your knowledge.
The Factors that Determine the Length of Security Camera Footage
To know how long the average security camera store footage, you also need to learn the different factors that affect recording and storage aside from the physical devices you will use.
- The resolution of the video will directly impact the size of the footage and how much you can store. If you want clear footage, you will want a higher resolution. The higher the resolution, the more storage space you need. For example, a 1080p image is made of 1920 pixels wide and 1070 pixels high. This is a good resolution, and images are clearer and crisper.
- Security cameras can compress footage so that it takes less space without compromising the footage quality. The average security camera uses a compression format of H.265, which can compress a file to a thousandth of its size. So, for example, you can store 1GB of footage in 1MB.
- The bitrate of a camera is also something to consider. The bitrate or bits per second (bps) is the amount of information the camera process every second. With a higher bitrate and a strong connection between bitrate and resolution, you will get clearer and smoother video footage.
Conclusion
“How long does the average security camera store footage?” is one of the many important questions to ask when taking a look at security cameras. You do not just want to look at the design of the camera, but you also want to be sure of its performance as it records and what it does with the footage after. Whatever type of security camera you choose, consider what works best for your needs and the space you are planning to monitor. Find out more about security cameras.