As a security professional or even a civilian, there is a range of new technology available that can help you to stay safer when you are out and about. One of the best innovations has been body cameras. As the technology evolves, new features make these the must have tool for keeping yourself, your clients and your reputation safe.
There are so many different things that can happen when out on the job. From minor incidents to major events that require police intervention. Having a body camera on your person and switched on while you are on the job can help to ensure that you are protected from any false allegations and any negative outcomes that may result. With large memory card available and battery capacities ever increasing, there are body cameras available to suit any shift type or length.
If you are looking to purchase a body camera, there are a few things that you should take into account. Durability, battery life, low light capability, storage capacity and recording format are all features that should be considered. When working out which features you need, start by thinking about how you will be using the camera and exactly which functions suit your purpose. You may not need super sharp image quality, but instead need features like night mode for filming in the dark. Have a list of the features you specifically need before you start shopping. This will make sure that you will get everything that you need and nothing that you don't. This will save you money in the long-term. The following is a list of 3 great body camera available with a list of their best features.
Top 3 Security Body Cams and Their Best Features
Boblov 1296P FHD Security Body Worn Camera Video DVR Camcorder H.264 Waterproof
* LCD Screen
* Night Vision
*Police Use
*Time Lapse
* Water Proof
This great little camera is compact and easy to use. Perfect for pretty much any application and available for great prices starting from just $118.99 on this is a perfect starter camera.
Security DVR Body Worn Camera 1290P
*Night vision
*Double filter switcher
*Data protection
*Timestamp etc.
*Full 1296p recording
Another amazing little camera. This one is a little dearer than the Boblov, but it has some great additional features that can help to make life a whole lot easier, you can find it on Ebay.
Body Worn Pocket Security Guard Camcorder
*Small and discrete
*High quality recording
*Loop recording
*Wide angle lens
*Up to 128gb memory card
This small and discrete camera is perfect for more covert operations. It does not have the features of the other camera but is much more compact, giving it the advantage of conceal ability. This great little camera can also be purchased for great price on Ebay.
1. Ensure that the camera is on charge when not in use. This way you can be sure that even if you need to gear up last minute, your camera will be ready to film.
2. At the end of each shift, upload your data from your card and straight onto a safe place on your computer or an external hard drive. Ensure that your files are always clearly stamped with a description and date. This way, if any of your footage is ever required as evidence, you will be able to access it with ease.
3. Take time for camera maintenance. Ensure that you keep your lens nice and clean and your charge/data ports free from dirt. It is also a good idea to check your SD card mount regularly to ensure it if free from debris or damage.
4. Invest in an appropriate mount that is convenient, comfortable and well positioned. This will make sure that your camera stays neat and out of you way but ready to record at a moments' notice. In the heat of the moment, you do not have the time to be messing around with a camera, so this is a very important thing to have in place.
5. Get into good usage habits. Make sure that your camera is on when it should be! One of the biggest mistakes that many guards make is to forget to have their camera filming during crucial moments. When things heat up, it can be easy to forget to switch your camera on. If your camera will run for the entire duration of your shift, just leave it running. This way, you will not even need to think about it. If not, try and make it a habit, as soon as you see or sense anything out of the ordinary, before you even react, turn the camera on. You never know what is going to happen once you actually approach a situation, so it is always best to go in well prepared and having your camera already on is no exception.
6. Be prepared for the unexpected. You never know when you could be called out for a second shift or whether or not anything else may happen that may prevent you from getting home to charge your device or clear the memory. A good idea is to have a portable power bank and car charger with you at all times. A spare memory card is also a good idea. This way you can be pretty sure that you will never run out of battery space or memory whilst on the road.
So with these things in mind, now is definitely a good to start thinking about utilizing a body camera. Don't forget though, it is not just as simple as going out and buying a camera. You need to put careful consideration into your purchase choice and then ensure that you maintain and user your equipment appropriately. Technology is a great way to simplify life in the security industry and body cams, in my opinion, is the best technology for it!
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