Height, angle and light matter more than resolution. A short guide to putting cameras where they actually catch something.
A good camera in the wrong spot records a lot of sky and very little else. Before you drill anything, walk around the outside of your home the way a stranger would.
Start with the ways in
The front door, the back door and any side gate come first. Most people who should not be there use the same routes you do, so cover the approach to each one.
Mount it high, but not too high
Around 8 to 10 feet works well. It is out of easy reach but still low enough to see a face rather than the top of a hat. Angle the camera slightly down and keep the horizon out of the top third of the picture.
Mind the light
Avoid pointing a camera straight at a streetlight or the setting sun. Check the view at night as well as by day, and move it a little if a porch light washes out the image.
Be a good neighbor
Keep the view on your own property and use privacy zones to mask next door's windows and the public sidewalk where you can.
