Dash Cam | Security Camera | Webcam

A camera is a tool for a job, and the job decides the camera. A dash cam has to record the road in all light and survive a hot windscreen. A security camera has to see at night, run on whatever power the spot offers and tell you when something moves. A webcam has to make you look clear in a meeting. This guide walks through each type and the figures worth reading on the product page.

Start with the job

Write down what you want the footage for. Evidence after a crash, a look at the back door from your phone, a clearer face on video calls, a child's first camera, or a probe into a blocked drain. Each of those points at one category, and inside the category only three or four numbers really separate one product from the next.

Dash cams

Channels. A single-channel dash cam records the road ahead. Dual-channel adds a rear camera, which is what you want for rear-end collisions. Three and four-channel models add the cabin and sides, and suit rideshare and delivery drivers.

Resolution and night performance. 1080p is fine for daylight. 2K and 4K hold more detail at distance and after dark, which is when a number plate matters most. Sensors such as STARVIS are made for low light. Resolution also decides storage: 4K footage fills a 64 GB card in a few hours of driving, and the camera then loops over the oldest clips.

Parking mode, GPS and WiFi. Parking mode wakes the camera on impact when the car is off, which usually needs a hardwire kit. GPS stamps speed and location onto the footage. WiFi lets you pull a clip to your phone without removing the card.

Security cameras

Indoor or outdoor. Outdoor cameras carry a weather rating (IP65 and IP66 are common) and work in heat and rain. Indoor cameras are smaller, often pan and tilt, and double as pet and baby cameras.

Power. Mains cameras need a socket or a long cable run. Battery cameras go anywhere and recharge every few weeks or months depending on how often they record. Solar panels keep a battery camera topped up in a sunny spot. 4G cameras use a SIM card where there is no WiFi at all.

Night vision and detection. Infrared night vision records in black and white in the dark. Colour night vision uses a spotlight or a more sensitive sensor. Person and vehicle detection cuts the false alerts from trees and cats. Two-way audio lets you speak through the camera.

Storage. Most cameras record to a microSD card in the camera; the maximum size is listed. Many also offer a paid cloud plan, which is optional. Check which the maker provides before you count on it.

Webcams

Resolution and frame rate. 1080p at 30 frames per second is the standard for meetings. 60 frames per second looks smoother for streaming. 2K and 4K give you room to crop and stay sharp on a large monitor, though most meeting apps send 1080p or less.

Autofocus, light and microphone. Autofocus keeps you sharp when you lean in. Light correction and built-in ring lights help in a dim room. Dual microphones with noise reduction are enough for calls; a separate microphone still sounds better for recording.

Field of view and privacy. A narrow field (around 60 to 80 degrees) frames one person. A wide field (90 degrees and above) takes in a group or a whiteboard. A sliding privacy cover is worth having on any camera that lives on your monitor.

Kids cameras

Kids cameras are toys with a lens: check the age range, the case, whether a card is included and whether it prints instantly on thermal paper.

Tripods, bags and cleaning

For a tripod, read the maximum height, the folded length and the load rating against the weight of your camera and lens. For a bag, read the internal dimensions and whether the dividers move. A basic cleaning kit (air blower, lens pen, microfibre cloth and sensor swabs for interchangeable-lens cameras) protects the glass you paid for.

Memory cards

Dash cams and security cameras write constantly, so they need a high-endurance card rated for continuous recording. Ordinary cards wear out quickly in that duty. The product page lists the card type and maximum size the camera accepts; buy a card from a known maker and format it in the camera before first use.

Recording and privacy in New Zealand

Dash cam footage of the road is widely used after accidents and by insurers. Recording audio, and recording areas that are not your own property, is covered by New Zealand privacy and criminal law. Point security cameras at your own entrances and yard, tell visitors and workers that cameras are in use, and read the Privacy Commissioner's guidance before recording sound.

Your camera buying checklist

Name the job. Pick the category. Decide how the camera will be powered and where the footage will be stored. Read the resolution and night vision figures, then the field of view. Check what is in the box, especially cards, mounts and cables. Measure the mounting spot. Then compare prices, in New Zealand dollars, with delivery included.

The short version

Buy for the job, read the maker's numbers rather than the adjectives, and make sure the power and storage suit the spot the camera will live in. Every product page here lists those figures so you can decide before you order, and you have 14 days from delivery to change your mind.