TOP 5 compact cameras for home video surveillance

Hikvision DS-2CD2410F-IW 2.8 mm

This camcorder is one of the most affordable, and at the same time, it has impressive specifications for its price. The model is equipped with a good 1/3” megapixel CMOS sensor that allows you to record video in HD resolution 1280x720 (720p), making it possible to get a high-quality image with good detail and a wide dynamic range. This makes the camera the best low-cost option for installation in a small room or office. It will successfully cope with the security function: even if someone enters the room in twilight or darkness, the camera will record the presence of a person using the built-in passive IR motion detector. And thanks to the built-in IR illumination, effective at a distance of up to 10 m, it will capture the visitor on video.

Remote communication with the camera is carried out through the free Ezviz cloud server. Client programs for this service exist for the Windows PC platform and mobile devices based on Android and iOS.

The camera is connected both via a wired Ethernet connection and via a wireless Wi-Fi network. In the latter case, support for 20 and 40 MHz channel widths for a fast Wi-Fi 802.11n network is implemented. However, in general, the low Wi-Fi speed in this mode, which does not exceed 135 Mbps, negatively affects the overall performance of the wireless network, especially considering its operation in half-duplex mode.

If there is no network connection, offline local video recording is performed on a microSD memory card up to 64 GB. Of the advantages of the camera, one can also note low power consumption, which does not exceed 6 W even with the IR illumination turned on.

Hikvision DS-2CD2420F-IW

This home video camera with a relatively low cost will please its owner with several important advantages at once. First, high Full HD (1920x1080) resolution. Secondly, full-fledged voice communication thanks to the built-in microphone and speaker. Thirdly, the ease of connecting to a wired or wireless network to choose from. Fourth - the ability to work offline with recording events on a microSD memory card. This is a very effective indoor surveillance solution with all the features you really need!

Thanks to the Ezviz proprietary cloud service and using a smartphone, tablet or computer, this camera allows you to look after children or animals left at home, to carry out security video surveillance. Two-way real-time audio communication is provided for dialogue with mischievous children, and when an alarm event is detected, such as suspicious movement in the wrong place, the camera immediately sends a corresponding push notification to the owner’s smartphone.

The security alarm triggering functions can be configured very flexibly. Including in cases: detection of motion by the camera; when video is lost; conflict of IP addresses in the network; when the storage drive is unavailable or has problems with it. By the way, if the network drive is not available, the camera is able to record video on an SD memory card inserted into the slot.

The camera can perform security functions even in complete darkness: it detects movement with a built-in infrared detector, designed for a range of 10 m, after which, thanks to night IR illumination, it is able to film what is happening. Thus, the camera provides effective security control even in extremely low light conditions.

The camera is connected to a wired local network via a standard RJ-45 connector, and it can also receive the necessary power through it thanks to the support of PoE technology. If PoE is not supported by other network equipment, the camera is powered by a standard 12V AC adapter - these are widely used in video surveillance. A wireless Wi-Fi connection to the network is also supported, if it is not possible to run a twisted-pair wire to the camera for one reason or another.

Dahua DH-IPC-AW12W

This compact IP video camera boasts not only a high HD resolution of 1280x720 (720p), but also support for Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) functionality. That is, the model supports a very convenient ability to remotely rotate or tilt the lens in the desired direction, dynamically changing the field of view. There is also a zoom control that is required for all PTZ cameras. However with one caveat. Since the lens of the camera has a fixed focal length of 3.6 mm, the zoom is available exclusively digital. But PTZ-remote control capabilities are represented by a complete set: this is the choice of the desired viewpoint, and work in patrol mode, and automatic tracking of the object. At night, the camera turns on infrared illumination, covering a distance of 10 m - this allows you to shoot, albeit monochrome, but high-quality and well-detailed video, even in complete darkness.

Of course, video monitoring of a controlled area using PTZ cameras is more effective than with conventional cameras. Just imagine how much more convenient it is to use such a camera as a baby monitor: she will be able to follow a small child in the room, wherever he goes. While any ordinary stationary camera inevitably has "dead zones" that cannot be viewed. Moreover, thanks to the work in the patrol mode with alternating viewpoints, one such camera can replace several conventional ones, and the owner will also benefit in the cost of the purchased equipment. By the way, this model supports up to 10 simultaneous user connections, so that all grandparents who wish can remotely monitor the child.

The camera has the ability to capture and play audio thanks to the built-in microphone and speaker. With this camera, a real "presence effect" is provided, even if you are away from home - you have complete visual control of the territory and can communicate with people who are there. This can be relevant not only at home, but also in the office, when a manager who is on a business trip can remotely monitor the work of staff and even communicate with employees.

The ease of self-installation and the ease of controlling the camera from a computer or through a mobile application also add to its pluses. The camera is connected to the network via Wi-Fi or a twisted-pair cable through a standard Ethernet network port. At the same time, the camera can record video not only to an external drive available over the network, but also to a microSD memory card.

It remains to be added that this smart camera is made in a beautiful and durable plastic case with an original "home" design, and the model is intended exclusively for indoor use.

Hikvision DS-2CD2432F-IW

The device is a modern high-level model focused on home video surveillance. The camera is distinguished primarily by the ultra-high resolution of the photosensitive matrix - as much as 3 megapixels, while this is a rarity among compact cameras. Such a high resolution makes it easy to see small details on an enlarged image fragment: denominations of bills, inscriptions and numbers, fine facial features, details of people's clothes, etc. important nuances.

Even at the maximum resolution of 2048 x 1536, the camera records video at an acceptable rate of 20 frames per second, and when working at Full HD resolution of 1920x1080, the frame rate increases to 25 per second. This makes it possible not only to shoot smooth video, devoid of discreteness, but also to successfully “grab” the desired frame from the video sequence, where fine details and nuances of the recorded event are best seen. Thanks to these features, the camera is perfect for security surveillance. It is appropriate to use it not only at home, but also in offices or shops for detailed surveillance of suspicious visitors so that they do not “pull” something inadvertently.

Among the security functions of the camera are motion detection, offline video recording to a memory card when there is no network connection, immediate notification of an attempt to close the camera or disable it on the owner’s smartphone, etc. With the help of a built-in passive IR motion detector, the camera is able to detect a creeping person even in complete darkness, and infrared LED illumination makes it possible to record an intruder on video for visual identification. The range of the motion sensor and the IR sensor are the same - 10 m, which makes it possible to "close" almost any room or a small hall with surveillance.

If the camera performs the functions of security video surveillance, then when an alarm event is detected, it immediately sends the corresponding push messages to the owner's smartphone and performs video recording. Even if the connection with the local Ethernet network is interrupted for some reason, the camera will record information on a microSD memory card if it is previously installed in the device.

The case of the device has a very high-quality assembly and small size, despite the abundance of technical elements placed on the front panel - they fit the lens, motion sensor, backlight, microphone and speaker. An important advantage of the model over similar webcams is the presence of a speaker, thanks to which the interlocutor can hear you without special technical means. If the camera is installed at home, the built-in microphone and speaker allow it to be used for full audio-visual communication, similar to an intercom.

The camera easily connects to a wired computer network or a wireless Wi-Fi network, and an intuitive web browser interface or mobile application provides easy and convenient operation of the device. Remote interaction with the camera is carried out through the proprietary free cloud service Ezviz. The application allows not only to view the image from the camera in order to monitor young children or the elderly in the house, but also provides the possibility of "live" voice communication in real time. At the same time, Ezviz provides password protection and data encryption is carried out to prevent unauthorized access by unauthorized persons to the user's files.

Hikvision DS-2CD2Q10FD-IW

A compact and affordable solution for those who want the most modern functionality from their home video camera. The device is a remotely controlled PTZ camera with the ability to automatically rotate and tilt the lens. Moreover, if the rotation angles from 0° to 355° are quite typical for such devices, then the tilt of the lens from -20° to 90° relative to the horizon can be called an excellent technical solution.

Since the camera model is inexpensive, it has a fixed 4mm lens. This allows only digital zoom to be used to "get closer" to the image. However, the camera's megapixel matrix makes it possible to shoot in HD resolution 720p (1280x720), and even the digital zoom of the selected fragment looks quite high quality here.

The motorized drive gives the camera huge advantages over a conventional stationary one. Firstly, the camera is able to "remember" a certain number of lens positions for observing certain points and move through these positions in a given sequence, making a so-called tour. Moreover, individual viewing time settings can be used for each position. Secondly, the camera is capable of automatically tracking an object in the frame if it is programmed to detect movement. Thirdly, the camera can quickly adjust to the viewing area set by the user in manual control mode through the interaction interface on a computer or mobile device.

To work in low light conditions, in the evening or at night, the camera has a built-in infrared illumination. This backlight is invisible to the human eye, but can be captured by the camera's sensitive sensor in monochrome. The range of the built-in backlight is 10 m, which is quite enough even for large rooms. If the room is too large, or it is a large hall, the illumination power can be further enhanced by auxiliary IR illuminators.

When the camera is set to record by motion, it does not rely only on changes in the frame - a passive IR detector is used in parallel to detect motion, which reduces the number of false positives. If the network does not work or is disconnected during the “patrol” of the camera, for example at night, the camera is able to record video on a microSD memory card. Also, the model is equipped with a microphone and speaker, which provides the user with the opportunity to communicate with the person in front of the camera.

The camera connects easily via Wi-Fi or Ethernet and supports remote user interaction via the free Ezviz cloud server. Thanks to Ezviz, you can see a "live" image from the camera, talk with your interlocutor using two-way audio from a smartphone or tablet. Also, through the service, the camera sends push notifications about various detected alarm events - when motion is detected, an image hits, problems with the recording drive, etc.