The Top 4 Things To Consider When Choosing A Body Worn Camera
Blog: The Top 4 Things To Consider When Choosing A Body Worn Camera Published: 30/01/2023
The Top 4 Things To Consider When Choosing A Body Worn Camera
Body worn cameras are becoming an important part of business security in many sectors, from retail to hospitality, to education. In today’s article, we’ll look at the key factors to consider when investing in new body worn cameras for your business.
1) Video quality
In the event of a security breach or some other incident, cameras are invaluable as they help document the situation and provide evidence that can be used to identify the people involved. For this to happen, it’s not enough to simply have a camera recording. Video footage must be of the highest possible quality, so it can be used for identification purposes without leaving room for doubt.
This is particularly important if your premises needs to be monitored 24/7 – including at night or in low-light situations, where poor-quality video may appear blurred or pixelated.
So, what constitutes ‘good video quality?’ Check the camera’s video resolution. Top of the line cameras will offer 4k video quality, but a range between 1080p and 1440p is also acceptable for many applications.
For low-light recording, choose devices with infrared LEDs or night vision capabilities.
We recommend testing the quality before purchasing, or checking the manufacturer’s website to see if they have a demo.
2) Size
Cameras are meant to be worn for an entire shift, which may be 8 to 12 hours of continuous use, so operator comfort is essential. Some cameras are better suited to be attached on specific clothing, such as helmets or vests, so you’ll need to consider camera placement in relation to its size and weight (e.g. from a comfort point of view, it’s not the same to carry a heavy-ish camera on the head than on the shoulders).
At the same time, you want to find a camera than offers a good compromise between size and durability. Smaller isn’t necessarily better, unless the camera is small and sturdy. State-of-the-art body worn cameras hover around 100g – 200g and are under 30mm thick.
3) Battery life
When it comes to body worn cameras, reliability means knowing that the device will be functional every time you need it. Older body camera models frequently have a limited battery life, so make sure you know the following:
– How long the battery lasts while recording.
– How long the battery lasts on standby.
– Whether the camera comes with a spare or emergency battery.
– Whether the camera comes with a charging dock.
4) Price
The camera’s overall cost is an important factor to consider, especially if you are equipping a large team. Here, it’s important to consider the price-to-value ratio to know what you’re getting for your money and how much of a good investment the equipment is in the medium to long term.
For example, some lower-priced cameras require frequent upgrades, which come at an extra cost. Make sure you know the total cost of buying and running the camera.
Next steps
At DTS Solutions we provide reliable and high-resolution body worn cameras for businesses across the UK. To find out more, please download our free Body Worn Cameras Guide, and feel free to contact our experienced team directly if you have any questions.