How we review — and who is behind the site
I'm David Foster, former RAF Police with a background in intelligence work. I am an SIA licensed close protection officer and I own a commercial security company. I carry out home installations across Worcestershire and the West Midlands and I founded homecctvexpert.co.uk to give homeowners honest, professional advice on CCTV.
I started this site because the advice online is mostly written by people who have never done a security survey or caught anything on camera. I wanted somewhere that gave honest, experience-based answers — not rewritten spec sheets.
How I approach reviews
Some cameras are tested hands-on: physically mounted on a property, run through different lighting conditions, and assessed over a period of weeks. Others are researched reviews — based on specifications, manufacturer footage, and my professional judgement as someone who has managed security for many corporate buildings. Every review tells you clearly which type it is.
- Hands-on reviews: camera mounted at correct height and angle for the use case
- Hands-on reviews: day and night footage assessed across different conditions
- Hands-on reviews: motion detection sensitivity tested with real movement
- Hands-on reviews: app and notification reliability checked throughout
- All reviews: setup complexity and any known problems noted honestly
- All reviews: scored on real-world suitability, not just on-box specifications
Tested or researched?
You will see two types of review label on this site:
The camera was physically installed on a real property and assessed over a period of time. This is the most thorough type of review and the score reflects direct experience.
The camera was not installed by us. The review draws on specifications, manufacturer footage, and professional security judgement. We flag this clearly so you can weigh it accordingly.
Affiliate links and independence
Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you click one and buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This never changes what I write — a camera that performs badly gets a bad score regardless of who stocks it. See the full affiliate disclosure.
The installation side
Alongside writing reviews, I carry out domestic CCTV installations across Worcestershire and the West Midlands. The reviews and the installation service are completely independent — I do not give higher scores to brands I happen to install. If you would like a quote, see the installation page.