When a camera is indoors, it is not always subject to the same concerns as being outdoors. Lighting outdoors changes throughout the day, due to the changing positions of the sun and cloud cover. It can become a factor indoors as well, as there may be exposure to windows, causing the same effects.

Question #1 to ask in making a camera selection is, “Do I need an auto-Iris?”

You will see products often advertised as “outdoor” cameras. This is a very misleading statement. Usually, the only thing outdoors about them is that they have a “water resistant” housing. Therefore the thought process is, “Okay! I can install the camera by itself outdoors, right?” Wrong! Why, because although it is water resistant, it is not “fog proof.” Environmental conditions will cause condensation. Condensation causes moisture. Moisture not only gets on the lens but does mange to get inside the camera as well. The solution is an outdoor housing that has both a heater and blower. The camera is placed inside the housing, which regulates the environment. So virtually any type camera can be used outdoors, as long as it can fit in an environmental housing.