Best surveillance camera?

Question

I need to catch someone who keeps messing with my cars. Just the other night I had eggs all over them and a couple weeks ago someone tried being slick and putting nail polish on it.

I need an affordable surveillance camera I can mount either out my window (which looks into the driveway where I park my car) or on the roof.

I dont want something huge that will look bulky, I want to catch this idiot and make sure I press charges with the surveillance film.

something wireless would be great just I don't know what to get.

Answer 1

What is your budget?

How far away does the camera need to be? Manual zoom - Pan/tilt/zoom for that matter - on security cams is expensive...

What will record the video (a computer or DVR)?

http://shop4.outpost.com/search?cat=-459...

http://shop4.outpost.com/search?cat=-459...

http://shop4.outpost.com/search?search_t...

If the vandalism happens at night, you will need infrared emitters... so depending on how far away the camera will be from your car will depend on how many IR emitters are needed and how long of a throw they have...

I use this one (though, it is wired):

http://shop4.outpost.com/product/5080315...

The 70 foot range is accurately advertised, but from that distance, you may not necessarily be able to make positive ID type videos. Positive ID may be possible at around 20 feet...

If you put the cameras IN the car (and you will need several - one out each window? - that will look obvious and may just make the person madder. Plus, you will need to figure out how to power the cameras (they may be "wireless", but that is just the RF, they still need power).