CCTV placement advise

[Jethro]

Am sorely tempted by this all in one kit ...

has 4 cameras, plus a dedicated DVR, so no need to faff around with my media server, or worrying about USB hubs etc. The cameras are claimed to be night/day, with onboard IR illumination, and weatherproof housings.

Now I live, in an "L" shaped bungalow, on the inside corner of an "L" shaped cul-de-sac. So I effectively have 2 front gardens. The cameras have a stated angle of 62degrees, so I reckon I'll need 3 to cover the path outside the house, and round the corner. Which leaves one left over to cover the (separate) garage.

Being a bungalow, I don't have any upper floors to easily use, nor a high roof. At the moment, it seems my best bet would be to use my chimney stack, which is pretty much at the centre of the roofline, and at the apex of the "L". However, I have slight reservations about this approach, since it advertises the presence of the system ... I would rather be discreet. (Also I have no head for heights, so this would be a "get someone in" job).

Anyone here suggest anything better, or comment on my plans ? Is there a possibility of somehow sneaking the camera to peek from under a roof tile, maybe ? Also, I don't like the idea of trusting to the manufacturers "weatherproof", so maybe some enclosure is needed ?

[Bill Wright]

You won't see people close to the house. No good.

The main function of domestic CCTV is as a deterrent. What else is it good for?

Easy enough to hide the camera in a false stackpipe, near the edge of the roof.

Bill

[ARWadsworth]

It cannot see through balavlavas. If you know it is there then you wear a balaclava when doing something naughty.

Even without a balaclava face recongnition will be difficult from that distance.

What do you want to protect/see and why? CCTV is personal to a persons needs.

I have just managed to talk my Dad into spending a grand on a CCTV install (and that is labour free). He claimed that he has nothing to protect that is worth £1000 that is not insured.

I talked him round when I said he stood a better chance of finding out who had broken into his house or garage (if it ever did happen) and fitting it will annoy my Mum.

[Andrew Gabriel]

There are places you can put one which allow you to get height of the person. One example is this:

at the floor, you can measure exactly how far in front of the wall he is. Projecting an imaginary line from the camera to the position on the brick wall in line with his head, and allowing for how far in front of the wall he is, you get his height. It's almost like he's standing in front of a tape measure.

[RustyCrampon]

Those camera probably use M12 threaded lenses, which are available in a range of focal lengths, so it might be possible to increase the view angle by replacing the lens. On the other hand this would void the warranty, and might foul the flat piece of glass at the front, or partially obscure the LEDs.

[Andrew Gabriel]

and it will reduce the size and detail of the objects it does see, as a result of seeing more of them.