5 Home Security Cameras That Are Good as Baby Monitors

Ezviz series cameras, produced under the wing of the world famous Hikvision brand, are focused on integration into private households. They are inexpensive, easy to install, do not require “dancing with a tambourine” during initial setup, and have extensive functionality.

Hikvision Ezviz C2C is the base model in the line of consumer video surveillance cameras. In the features of the appearance of the camera, there is a resemblance to the WALL-E robot, the hero of the animated film of the same name. She looks at the world around her with a black “eye” of a lens with a 90 ° field of view, through which the image falls on a 1/4-inch image sensor. Due to the modest physical dimensions of the matrix, the image being formed does not shine with high detail, nevertheless, the camera conveys the general essence of what is happening in the room with a bang, giving out post factum video in HD format (1280x720 pixels).

In the night shooting mode, a detachment of 13 IR LEDs dispersed around the circumference of the lens comes to the aid of the camera in forming a distinguishable image. From the rear on the body of the device, you can see a whole scattering of small holes, behind which the built-in speaker is hidden. Also in the assets of the model there is a microphone. With such equipment, Hikvision Ezviz C2C is well suited for organizing two-way audio communication.

The fulcrum for the camera is a round base with a magnetic mount. Power is supplied to the model through a 2.5-meter cord. Finally, another trump card up the sleeve of the camera is support for remote control through the Ezviz mobile application. With such an assistant in the house, you can look after the kids, pets and monitor the situation online with a minimum of effort. And most importantly, buying a model will not become a burden on the family low-cost.

D-Link's lipstick -sized "baby" packs a solid array of "goodies" into a compact board. Here you have a lens with a wide viewing angle (120 °), and a two-way audio communication system, and even IR illumination up to 5 m. But first things first.

The miniature body of the surveillance camera (37x38.1x95 mm) hides a 1/4-inch CMOS image sensor under the outer “wrapper”, which forms the final image in HD resolution. The captured video is broadcast to a mobile gadget through the myDLink application and is stored free of charge in the "cloud" throughout the day. But there is no slot for a microSD card in the arsenal of the model.

The videographic data of the D-Link DCS-8000LH, frankly, is not the strongest. However, the camera has something to draw attention to its modest person. First of all, due to support for sending push notifications when registering events, whether it is the crying of a child who woke up in the middle of the night or motion detection in the frame. Installing and configuring the camera before commissioning is not difficult, incl. users who are far from close interaction with modern gadgets.

The camera communicates with the threads of the World Wide Web via a wireless Wi-Fi network. But she still couldn’t do without cable management: the “tube” from D-Link is powered by the life-giving power of energy through a lace with a microUSB “outgrowth” at the tip of the “tail”. Also, the model has a close relative in the face of the camera D-Link DCS-8100LH-A1A , which looks at the world with a wider view (180°), is equipped with a memory expansion slot and is mounted on a practical swivel joint.

The ambitious Chinese brand Xiaomi, as they say, ate the dog on building smart home systems. One of the key positions in them is occupied by home video surveillance cameras. A striking example of this is Xiaomi Yi Dome Camera 360 1080p.

A camera with a “head” that rotates around the axis records videos in FullHD format, looking around the surrounding space with a viewing angle of about 112 °. In the vertical plane, the model "nods" its "head" within 115°. What's more, the camera automatically reacts to movements in the frame, following a moving subject and recording 10-second videos. From the Xiaomi Yi Dome Camera 360 1080p lens, important details will not escape either in the daytime or at night - 8 built-in infrared LEDs help her see the room in the dark.

The camera action algorithm can be programmed through the proprietary Yi Home application with an English menu interface. For example, the user has the right to set a model of her behavior using the "Auto-cruise" function, tied to the time of day or creating his own video shooting scenarios. The footage is recorded on a microSD card or stored in the cloud. True, for using the cloud storage service, you will have to “unfasten” a certain amount of money every month.

The model is equipped with a microphone and a speaker, which is a direct path to the organization of two-way audio communication. This function acquires special practical value when using the camera as a baby monitor. Among the flaws of the model are audible rotations of the “head”. However, you cannot call them too loud, besides, against the background of a whole galaxy of functional advantages of Xiaomi Yi Dome Camera 360 1080p, they do not play any significant role of a negative nature. You will not find equals to a video surveillance camera in its price range during the day with fire.

The Chinese company Dahua is one of the world leaders in the deployment of video surveillance systems. A good option in the brand's portfolio for home or office use is the DH-IPC-K35AP network camera.

At the heart of the model is a 1/3-inch matrix with a resolution of 3 MP. With such data, the camera records videos at a maximum resolution of 2304x1536 pixels with a frame rate of 20 fps. As you can see, high detailing of the frame is put in the foreground in the characteristics of the model, while the smoothness of dynamic scenes leaves much to be desired. It becomes possible to “pump” the frame rates up to 25 fps when shooting in FullHD format (1920x1080 pixels).

The camera confidently copes with the duties of monitoring the perimeter at any time of the day. An IR illumination system with a range of “finishing off” rays of up to 10 m is busy improving her vision in the full crown of the head. At the same time, a separate infrared PIR sensor responds to movements in the frame. When moving objects are detected, the camera automatically starts the video recording process and sends a notification to the “command control panel” (usually a smartphone).

In addition to the video recording function, Dahua DH-IPC-K35AP "speaks" and "hears", and therefore is a suitable solution for remote babysitting or, for example, pets. Also, the camera can be closely integrated into security systems, which is due to the presence of alarm inputs and outputs in its assets for connecting additional equipment. Pluses in the karma of the model adds support for POE power. True, the corresponding item of the programme must be registered in the "passport" of the router, which is the link between the camera and the World Wide Web.

The Hikvision DS-2CD2422FWD-IW network camera solves the lion's share of the tasks associated with organizing video surveillance inside home formats. For her there is a place on the table, bedside table in the nursery or the corner of the room near the ceiling.

The camera broadcasts a video stream in FullHD resolution to a “tethered” smartphone, while simultaneously recording the footage to the memory of a microSD flash drive. It’s a sin to complain about the quality of the video both day and night - in the dark, infrared illumination is connected to the process of forming a picture. Models are able to provide legible outlines of objects in an unlit room at a distance of up to 10 m.

Hikvision's "all-seeing eye" case houses a speaker and a built-in microphone, as well as sound and motion sensors. When registering events, the camera immediately sends a notification to the "owner's" smartphone about the intrusion into the controlled perimeter zone or activates the video recording process based on the sounds heard inside the room.

The Hikvision DS-2CD2422FWD-IW is powered by a household outlet, for which you will need to buy a power supply separately, or directly via twisted pair. If, of course, POE power support was “delivered” to network equipment. Being ranked among the “golden mean” of home video surveillance cameras, the model clearly and without any questions makes video recording of what is happening inside the premises both in automatic mode and when setting custom video recording settings.