Video peephole - how to choose, installation, TOP 10 models

Thanks to modern technologies, the standard optical peephole has been replaced by a video peephole for the front door. This device is a small video camera, the image from which is displayed on a monitor. Different models are equipped with additional functions, and the simplicity of the design allows you to install it yourself.

Which camera to install in the door peephole

Safety is very important. To ensure this, many technologies are being developed that are being introduced into all spheres of human life. One of the interesting, important and very popular solutions was the appearance of video peepholes - cameras installed in door peepholes and recording visitors. Thanks to them, there is no need to peer through the small and inconvenient door peephole, because for this, a convenient screen is installed on the inside of the door, through which the entire space can be seen from the outside. The homeowner also gets the opportunity to continuously or scheduled video recording of what is happening in front of the door in his absence and know who is knocking on his door when he is not at home.

• Types and key features of peephole cameras
• What to look for when buying a video eye
• Popular models of door video peepholes
• Conclusion

Depending on the complexity of the video peephole, it is triggered either when the visitor presses the bell button, or from movement in front of the door, if the appropriate sensor is installed .
The advantages of the camera are that it easily fits into a standard door peephole and is very similar to it, so visitors will not be aware of the video recording taking place.

How to choose?

To do this, you need to decide on the purpose of the device.
If a video peephole is needed to simplify the procedure for identifying a visitor, which consists in not having to go to the door, then an inexpensive, black and white model will be sufficient. If the goal is 24-hour surveillance with recording, then you will need an expensive option and related equipment.

For the first case, you can purchase a model that is built into the door frame, and display the monitoring on a TV or PC. For this you need an additional cord and a UHF modulator. And when connected to a computer, there is also a board that converts video into an analog signal.

For full-fledged video surveillance, you need a high-resolution peephole with a photosensitivity of at least 0.01 lux, a video recorder with a built-in or external hard drive or a video capture card for recording on a PC. Night shooting mode will only be available if there is IR illumination. All this will add up to a tidy sum

.

In addition, all of the above units included in the video eye system are equipped with a separate power supply. It will not be possible to power two devices from one unit. For uninterrupted operation, it is necessary to ensure constant access to energy through the installation of UPS battery units.

Basic Concepts

Cameras for door peepholes began to be used relatively recently. This became possible due to the emergence of small-sized video systems. This design is today complemented by special memory drives that allow you to save information on a specific type of media.

Many entrance video eyes of this type are complemented by small displays that are located inside the house. This allows you to qualitatively assess what is happening behind the door, since the video camera can produce a very good image expansion.

Systems of this type can perform several functions:

• Alert. The cameras are connected to various devices that can emit sound or light signals when there is movement in front of the door.
• Photography and video recording. This action can be performed either automatically or when a person gives a certain signal (pressing a button, etc.).
• Storing information or transferring it to remote storage locations.
• Organization of hidden video surveillance.
• Work in infrared mode. This allows you to get high-quality images even in low light.

New generation video systems

Leganza Smart steel door with built-in patented video surveillance system

Modern technological advances have made available more advanced surveillance systems for the area adjacent to the apartment (house). For those who need a serious level of security, ready-made door structures with high resistance to burglary and surveillance systems with an LCD screen built into the opening doors from the inside have been created.

Models equipped with the latest technology are expensive, and they are produced by both foreign companies and Russian manufacturers: LEGANZA SMART, Stella, Jaguar and others.

On the inside of the metal entrance doors there are two liquid crystal screens, which display the image transmitted by video eyes or external cameras. The presence of monitors does not reduce the durability and reliability of the door, since they are located in a place inaccessible to intruders. The choice of a model with a peephole or an external camera depends on the desire to camouflage or leave the observation system visible.

High-precision cameras and high-quality monitor screens allow you to clearly view the surroundings within a radius of 12-15 meters from installed outdoor devices. Objects, people and events are conveyed from different angles without distorting color or shape. Built-in screens look stylish and do not spoil the door design at all. They are covered with tinted anti-vandal glass, which protects them from damage without protruding above the level of the main panel. The mirror properties of the panel hide its specific purpose when switched off, but do not interfere with obtaining an excellent image when activated.

The Leganza Smart BIO model with a biometric fingerprint sensor is a comfortable solution for a modern entrance door

As already mentioned, the external cameras of the system can be hidden or remote. Hidden models are made in the shape of a peephole and mounted in the usual place of the opening sash. From the outside, they are indistinguishable from ordinary viewing devices, but are capable of recording everything that happens in their field of “vision” on special devices and transmitting information to owners online to mobile devices. The disadvantage of peephole video cameras is their small viewing area.

Types of door peepholes

Periscope . Their lens and eyepiece are located at different levels, and a system of mirrors built into the body is used to transmit the image. They allow you to place the eyepiece at a convenient height level, which is important for short people and families with children. The disadvantage of the design is the complexity of installation, for which you will have to disassemble the door.

Panoramic . Panoramic door eyes are distinguished by dividing the lens into two equal parts, which increases the viewing angle in the horizontal plane. You don't have to go to the eyepiece to see what's happening on the other side of the door. The panoramic peephole in the door allows observation even from a distance of 1.5 m from the device.

For double door . The products are intended for apartments with a vestibule. The peephole consists of two parts, which are placed on both doors opposite each other. The image quality will depend on the gap between the doors. The optimal size is 2–3 cm.

Video eyes . The device resembles a compact video intercom, but without it it is possible to negotiate with visitors. Thanks to infrared illumination, you can see your face even in the dark. The models easily connect to a PC or TV, and the signal is transmitted via cable or video channel.

Electronic or digital . Modern door camera design with a monitor on the inside of the door and a panel with a key, infrared illumination and a light sensor on the wall outside. Both parts are connected by a cable. To transfer an image, just press a key. The device operates on batteries.

Secret . On the door panel, the design is almost invisible and resembles door fittings or a screw head. The model can be installed on a door, frame or on a nearby wall. Due to its small size, the viewing angle is limited to 100°.

With motion sensor . A variety of digital and video peepholes with the ability to automatically record what is happening in front of the door when motion is detected. Recording occurs around the clock and allows visitors to watch when no one is at home.

Anti-vandal . Installed when there is a high risk of the door being broken into and the peephole being damaged. The lens in such models is made of high-strength glass, and the video camera, if installed, is reliably protected. The viewing angle is about 75°, and the light sensitivity of such models is lower.

Bulletproof .
Designed for installation in armored doors. Most often used in banks and financial institutions.

Viewing angle

On the market of video surveillance devices you can find models with different indicators. The shooting angle can vary from 90° to 120° and from 160° to 180°. And when choosing, remember - the larger the grip, the shorter the shooting range will be.

Therefore, you need to navigate based on the dimensions of the landing:

1. If the door exit is directed towards a long or wide corridor, then a device with a maximum viewing angle will be more profitable. In this case, the shooting range will decrease and will not exceed 2 meters.
2. When the doors are located on small flights, and the end sides of the staircase, a large angle is useless. Models with minimal grip but a good shooting range of more than 3 meters will be more convenient.

You can select a model based on the type of intercom. They are inexpensive and can be installed on your own. They have built-in stylized lighting and a flash drive. The lens with the emitter goes outside, and the monitor, storage device and power element go indoors in a special block.

But such devices have a small drawback, hidden in the built-in backlight. Part of the resulting image will be illuminated from the direction the object is approaching. Therefore, the quality of shooting at night leaves much to be desired.

FEATURES OF INSTALLING DOOR EYES WITH CAMERAS

Installation of the device is not particularly difficult. However, the best option would be to seek the help of specialists. In addition to installation, they will provide advice on how to use the product’s functionality and select its parameters.

In the absence of the opportunity or unwillingness to resort to the services of professionals, the user is able to carry out the installation independently. This happens in several stages:

• First, the location of the device on the door is marked;
• after this, according to the markings, a hole is drilled in the door leaf with a diameter that allows free movement of the peephole tube;
• a fixing element (camera) is inserted into the prepared hole;
• on the back side of the door, a mounting strip for the monitor is installed, held with the help of a clamping adapter, which is screwed onto the peephole tube;
• a wire is passed through the adapter, transmitting the video signal from the video camera to the display;
• The monitor is connected to the wire and fixed to the bar with two screws from the bottom.

Advantages and disadvantages

A door peephole with a video camera and a motion sensor has both distinctive advantages and some disadvantages. Everyone, when choosing a door peephole with a video camera, is guided only by individual needs; for some, a cheaper wired option is enough, while others can afford an improved wireless one.

The main advantages of video eyes:

1. Installation without the knowledge base that is needed to operate smart devices;
2. Tracking any guest and movements on the staircase;
3. Operation with the ability to connect additional sensors and alarms that will strengthen home protection;
4. The gadget is no different from similar designs without a video camera, this makes it invisible to other people;
5. A panorama of the entire staircase is available even after the owner has left the house.

Disadvantages that all models and types of such devices have:

• Can be broken by any external mechanical force. For example, a blow with a straight metal stick;
• If the Wi-Fi signal is unstable or interrupted, the device may malfunction;
• Any adhesive tape, chewing gum, plasticine, and other objects can limit the camera's observation.

Connecting the video eye to a computer

Connecting a video eye to a computer gives residents of an apartment or house a number of additional opportunities. First of all, this is the archiving of all video data on the hard drive. Many models of modern video peepholes are equipped with a motion sensor, which allows you to turn on the camera and, accordingly, video recording as soon as someone approaches the front door. This way you can record attempts by uninvited guests to enter your home in the absence of the owners. After installing the appropriate software, apartment owners, using any mobile device, will be able to obtain information about all visits in their absence.

Video capture card for computer

The computer is not intended for direct connection of video cameras, therefore, in order to connect the video eye to a personal computer, you need to purchase a video capture card (video card). They may have a different number of inputs. Usually they buy an inexpensive video card for one input, but later, there is a desire to install 1-2 more video cameras, therefore, it is best to purchase a video capture card for four inputs. The board is installed in a free slot on the motherboard. BNC or RCA connectors can be installed on the board as input connectors; the cable from the video eye must be soldered to the motherboard.

The digital video peephole can be connected to a computer via a router or directly using a twisted pair cable, which is used to connect the computer to the Internet. It may also be possible to connect a peephole via a USB port, similar to a regular web camera.

If laying the cable is impossible for some reason, you should purchase a wireless video peephole. This system is more expensive, but it can transmit video signals over a distance of up to 50 meters. It is good to install such video eyes in country houses or apartments with a large number of rooms. The display looks like a tablet and can be held anywhere.

Additional functions

Video eyes can be equipped with additional functions that make the systems more reliable and efficient during their operation. Manufacturers offer their consumers combined systems that are equipped with several functions simultaneously: audio notification, visual surveillance and communication with a person behind the entrance doors through built-in speakers.

Such systems are often used in elite houses under security, in conjunction with a general video surveillance system. They are installed on the entrance doors of a residential building and perform a security function. And the door itself is equipped with an electronic lock. This is very convenient if old people and small children live in the house.

When organizing the security of residential and commercial properties, armored video eyes equipped with a bulletproof lens are also installed on the entrance doors. This is necessary in case of an attempt by armed intruders to enter a protected facility.

What are the connection features?

Connecting the video eye, as well as installing it, does not take much time. The most important thing is to find a place to place it. In these designs, the video camera follows the dimensions of a regular door peephole, so you can remove the optical peephole and install a video system instead.

However, there are a few nuances here. First of all, attackers can simply seal the lens hole with some improvised method. In addition, hooligans can break the lens, thereby disabling the camera.

That is why it is important to install the video peephole in such a way that it is not noticeable, but so that it shows the full picture in front of the door. You don’t have to touch the old peephole, but you can drill a separate hole to install the video peephole. The lens can be hidden in a decorative apartment number plate. Video peepholes that are installed in country houses are much easier to disguise. How to connect the video eye?

A door video system can have several solutions:

• Monoblock, where a compact display and camera are mounted directly on the door leaf;
• The display unit and the camera itself are connected by cable;
• A transmitter is built into the video camera, and the image is transmitted via a radio signal.

In the first case, all the work is done by the apartment owner himself. It is enough to drill a through hole in the door for the camera and, following the instructions, install the camera and display on the door and connect them with a connector.

The second option involves installing the monitor anywhere in the room, and connecting the unit and the camera via a cable.

No. 3. Requirements for street lamps with a motion sensor

If you are designing lighting for a public place, then it is imperative to take into account the standards described in SNiP SN 541-82. If you are arranging lighting for your summer cottage, then you don’t have to follow strict requirements, but some recommendations are still worth considering:

• protection from the external environment. The lamp will work in any weather, so it must be protected from moisture and dirt. The minimum you should focus on is the IP protection level. The lamp must indicate that it is intended for outdoor use;
• sensitivity and anti-interference . The motion sensor must have a sufficient range and adjustable sensitivity, otherwise the device may not react to an approaching person or, conversely, react to every running dog;
• illumination level . It is not necessary to adhere to the rules and standards when arranging a private territory, but it will be necessary to ensure a sufficient level of illumination, otherwise constant falls will not be avoided;
• safety . The lamp itself must be of high quality and reliable, and when installing it, safety precautions must be observed so that no one gets an electric shock;
• durability and ease of maintenance . Durability is determined by the build quality and the name of the manufacturer. If the lamp will have to regularly change batteries or bulbs (if using incandescent lamps), it is unwise to place it at a height of several meters and use a ladder each time.

If the autonomy of the light source is important to you, then pay attention to solar-powered lamps. Solar energy is transformed into electricity in them, and no wires are needed at all.

Is it possible to install video surveillance on the front door?

In Russia, the issue of video surveillance is not regulated by one specific law, so all situations must be considered individually.

But general provisions can be found in the following acts:

• Constitution of the Russian Federation;
• Criminal Code of the Russian Federation;
• Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation;
• Federal Law “On Personal Data”.

Video surveillance of the front door of an apartment will be considered as placing cameras in a public place, since many different people will be caught in the lens. The owner of the home has the right to install video monitoring, but subject to the following requirements:

• appointment of a responsible person for viewing recordings and storing personal data of persons caught in the filming;
• installation of a notice indicating that video filming is underway;
• collection of written consent of apartment owners (at least 2/3).

There is no need to obtain permission from the management company.

Are micro cameras illegal?

Hidden microcameras are strictly prohibited in Russia; for their sale, manufacture, purchase and use, the violator faces criminal liability.

In accordance with Art. 138.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for the sale, manufacture, purchase and use of means for secretly obtaining information, a person faces:

• a fine of up to 200 thousand rubles or in the amount of income for 1.6 years;
• restriction of freedom up to 4 years;
• forced labor for up to 4 years;
• imprisonment for up to 4 years.

Choices: intercom with video camera, video camera or video peephole

Sometimes it is not entirely clear why an intercom with a built-in camera and home monitor costs less than a peephole with a camera and monitor. It's a matter of components. Intercoms usually use the cheapest video cameras, with a small viewing angle of no more than 90°. In addition, they have a very short range. Most can give a more or less clear picture at a distance of 0.4-0.6 meters from the camera eye. Everything that is outside cannot be identified; you simply will not see who is standing there. Therefore, the difference in price is understandable.

A clear image at a considerable distance is an important component

One more point: in the case of an intercom, there is no way to make a recording. It is possible that such intercom models exist, but they are difficult to find because the cost is high.

If we compare a video peephole with a video camera, then cameras seem to have more advantages:

• The camera can be placed in a place where it is difficult to reach. The video peephole can be easily closed with chewing gum, a sticker, or paint.
• You can position the camera so that the required areas are within the visibility range.

But there is one point: in Russia and Ukraine, private individuals are prohibited from using hidden video surveillance. This action is criminally punishable (in Russia, 138 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Installing a miniature camera without announcing the presence of surveillance is covered by this article. Installing a video peephole - no.

Installing a video eye with your own hands

First you need to determine the thickness of the door, its leaf should be from 30 to 70 mm, and based on this, choose a specific model. As a rule, the kit includes adapter rings, which make it possible to install in canvases of different thicknesses.

With standard dimensions of the video device, no preparatory work is needed - just pull out a regular peephole and install a camera in its place; in some cases, enlarging the hole may be necessary. Next, you just need to tighten a couple of bolts (or screw a special nut onto the body if it has a thread on its surface). Further work depends on the type of video device: you will have to pull the cable to the TV or to the nearest outlet, or attach the monitor.

Studio “We’ll fix everything!” installs video peepholes on doors of any complexity. We offer quality services and low prices.

Comparative characteristics of models

Popular budget video eye Falcon Eye FE-VE02. ~ 7 t.r.

Falcon Eye FE-VE02 video peephole is mounted on the front door. For installation, a hole from an old optical eye is sufficient. The device has the following characteristics:

• 160° color video camera;
• TFT display 2.8 inches;
• Built-in memory 32 Mb;
• Possibility of installing a 32 GB flash card;
• Taking photos or videos, optional;
• Night illumination;
• Recording by call or motion sensor;
• Date/time calendar.

Models FE-VE01 and FE-VE03 are also in great demand.

Wireless video peephole Radio DVR. ~ 12 t.r.

The Radio DVR is a more complex system because it is a wireless device:

• Color camera with 90° viewing angle;
• Display 5 inches;
• Resolution 520 TV lines;
• Range up to 70 meters;
• Video recording in AVI format;
• Possibility of recording based on the movement of an object.

The presence of a brick or concrete wall reduces the range by 15-20 meters.

Fingerprint's scanner

The principle of operation of fingerprint entrance doors is the use of biometric technologies. You don't need to carry the key with you or worry about losing it, because access to the room is determined by your fingerprint. The papillary pattern of each person’s finger is unique, so no one except a certain list of people will be able to penetrate inside the room. Contrary to a common misconception, dirt or wounds on the fingers do not affect the identification of the user, since hundreds of points on the papillary pattern are read, after which the scanner compares their location with the information stored in memory. You won't need key fobs, forget about mobile gadgets and security cards. The only thing you need to do is to place your finger on the reader of the smart lock of the front door for a split second.

The unique interface of the biometric system allows you to store up to 99 fingerprints, so Guardian smart doors can be installed even in commercial facilities (offices, administrative complexes). The scanner also withstands aggressive environmental influences well, so it is suitable for outdoor use.

Smart locks

Guardian doors use modern high-tech devices to provide access control. Entrance doors with Samsung electronic locks are easily integrated into the Smart Home system, which provides automation and increased comfort for residents. Such solutions maximize opportunities for homeowners:

• A fingerprint is used - this is very useful for the elderly and teenagers, active and very busy people who may suffer from confusion, or if you do not want to constantly have a large bunch of keys with you;
• Password access - if the lock has a key, it can be forged, which cannot be said about a unique long cipher that can be easily changed;
• A door locking system has been introduced (both from the outside and from the inside) - used at night, or if you leave the house for a long time;
• “One-touch security” - if you suspect the activity of intruders at the front door, simply touch the remote control and the locked door will begin to emit signals with a power of up to 80 dB;
• Convenient access control, with the ability to assign roles, change personal data parameters. You can assign access at a certain time for a nanny, plumber, maintenance staff;
• Locking it in case you forgot to do it.

An electromechanical mortise lock for a metal door has become more than just a functional element. It will help you find a way out during a fire, scare away burglars, simplify access as much as possible, and protect your property during your absence.