Need opinions from you guys regarding camera selection

[pete 0]

I'm putting in a small budget system at my house. Quite neighborhood, not much traffic, don't really need cameras, but I'm paranoid. (read--like to play and buy stuff). Anyway, I purchased a 4 camera system that included 4 Nuvico IR bullet cams and a 4ch stand alone nuvico DV3-DVR. I'm happy with the quality of these cams, but I think 4 bullets might not be ideal for what I want to monitor. Hence the needed opinions.

 

Let me try to describe the surroundings. I have a old Colonial with a detached garage with an apartment above the garage. My driveway is "U" shape and goes up one side of the main house, around the back, and down the other side of the house to the street. I was going to put one bullet on the back left corner of the house to see the left side of the house and driveway, and one on the front left corner that looks across the front of the house, lawn and street. The house is about 30 feet from the street.

 

Here is were my questions really come in. I wanted to put one camera on the front porch, to easily see who is at the front door, but figured the bullet cam is too much there. It sticks out too much, and was going to replace it with an IR dome. The bullet does have a wide angle that will cover the porch, 3.8mm I think, just too obtrusive in my opinion. Is this a wise choice. Is the dome the right way to go, or should I just use the bullet?

 

Ok, second question, for the 4th cam, I was going to put it on the detached garage, which is about 30-40 feet from the house, so it sees the back of the house and the right side driveway. Street would be about 110 feet from this position. I was considering swapping this cam for a PTZ. Just set it's home position zoomed out so it sees the whole picture, then Just zoom it when I want to play. Maybe even set a scan preset so it captures more. I figured it's better here, on the detached garage, because the tenants in the apartment can't say that I'm turning it on their windows. I found a PTZ from autronix for under 300. 22x, sony ccd. Not the greatest in the world, but should work. They say it's for Indoors, but should be fine outdoors if I shelter it from rain. I'll put it under the sofit. I don't really need to see license plates or anything like that. Just so I can see activity at the house. Bad idea? Any opinions would be great. Thanx.

 

Pete