Home Security Cameras

[Fingolfin269]

I'm looking to get a couple of indoor cameras for our home so we can do some periodic monitoring while away. This is mainly just to keep an eye on our pets when we're gone for extended periods of time and just have people coming over to take care of them every other day or so.

I know in general what I'm looking for but know pretty much nothing about this space so have no idea if what I'd like to have is pretty basic, non-existent, cheap, expensive, etc.

Here's what I'd like to have:

1) Wireless - (Wired may be ok as well)
2) Wifi enabled for streaming video
3) iOS app for viewing (or web based)
4) Some level of recording capability
5) Resolution/Color - I'd like color but would also like to hear your pros/cons on paying for higher resolution based on the primary reason I've provided.

Appreciate any insight you might have. If anyone else has done something like this recently and has any advice based on personal experience I'd definitely appreciate that.

 

[Gooberlx2]

If you're amenable to subscription models, Nest cams (formerly dropcam) are pretty popular, dead simple, and seem to work well.

I think the subscription models are too expensive (plus ISP bandwidth limits), so I have a foscam which I bought refurbished on Amazon for $40. Works just fine. Not entirely as simple as dropcam, but it can record (scheduled, motion alarms, or both) to an SD card or ftp server, has an ios app and web interface. Quality isn't amazing, but it's good enough for me.

I intend on eventually getting a couple more cams and then an NVR which all the cams will record to.

Dlink has a similar setup, though I can't comment on quality.

I know there are a bazillion other options as it seems everyone is getting into this game, but hopefully that's a fair starting point.

 

[Oyeve]

I set up my job with a bunch on Tenvis iprobot3 cameras. Works rather well for the cost. Wired and wireless. Good range. Excellent night mode, I have one in my own office and when its literally pitch black I still see the image and it looks great. Has an iphone and android app.

 

[boomhower]

Don't get wireless, horribly insecure. Get an IP POE system. I paid around $700 for a 6 camera HD system. Well worth it

 

[Gooberlx2]

Don't get wireless, horribly insecure.

OTOH, if someone's hacked into your wireless network in the first place, you may have more problems than just your cams.

 

[RossMAN]

Budget per camera?

Do you have a PC you can leave on 24/7/365 to store recordings?

Dropcam is very popular but it will cost you to store recordings, around $10/mo. No thanks.

Foscam is popular with the DIY crowd and you don't have to pay monthly fees to store recordings, although that is available. I have a Foscam C1 which I bought on sale for $55 shipped, it was incredibly easy to setup using my smartphone, I didn't have to do any port forwarding which was a welcome relief. Foscams are frequently on sale usually anywhere from $70+. If you're interested in Foscam, first determine which model(s) you're interested in then check SlickDeals for deals.

The next level would be considered proconsumer/professional which includes brands like Axis, Hikvision, Dahua, etc. I recently purchased something similar to this from Newegg for around $90 after coupon and it's phenomenal.

To store footage you have several options each with their pros/cons:
1) Cloud including Dropbox which means usually fees.
2) SD card which most Foscam cameras offer
3) NVR (network video recorder) which doesn't require a PC, if you buy a Foscam camera they have an NVR for pretty cheap but the Amazon reviews are so-so:
Foscam FN3104H - $69.99 w/ code "SALE3104US"
http://foscam.us/foscam-fn3104h.html
4) Local PC or server with software such as Blue Iris or Milestone XProtect

Are you a CostCo or Sam's Club member or know someone who is? Fry's Electronics nearby?

When you're ready and know what you want head on over to https://www.ipcamtalk.com which is a helpful and knowledgeable community. Just make sure to list everything including your budget per camera, NVR, etc.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I have several Foscam FI9821W V2's and a C1 to monitor the house and pets. Very happy with them. Motion detection, can monitor via web or smartphone(I use TinyCam Pro), color and great night vision. The Foscam FI9821W V2 can tilt and rotate. I use BlueIris and record based off of motion detection to my home NAS. But each camera can fit a SD card. Smartphone app can also record if you really need to.

 

[basslover1]

I have several Foscam FI9821W V2's and a C1 to monitor the house and pets. Very happy with them. Motion detection, can monitor via web or smartphone(I use TinyCam Pro), color and great night vision. The Foscam FI9821W V2 can tilt and rotate. I use BlueIris and record based off of motion detection to my home NAS. But each camera can fit a SD card. Smartphone app can also record if you really need to.

Hows the viewing angle on the C1 compared to the FI9821W? I have the V2 as well, and was tossing around the idea of swapping it for the C1 for the wider angle. I know I lose pan and tilt but if it's wide enough then I would be ok with it as it only needs to cover a single room anyway.

To OP: I have the Foscam FI9821W V2 set to record to my rarely used Nexus 7 through TinyCam Pro and .jpegs of the recordings are automatically set to back up to Google Drive. It works well enough for me.

 

[boomerang]

I have a Foscam F19831W in our residence up north and a F19826W down south. The northern cam records to my Synology and the southern cam records to an SD card.

I am happy with both cameras. But IMO, they will be a bit difficult to set up for a novice although if you have some understanding of networking and can follow directions well, it's really not that difficult. Also, be aware that where you buy them will determine if you can get support from Foscam. Their agreement with certain vendors allows for that and with other vendors, that vendor must supply support.

I do not know about their very newest models, but their prior models which are still being widely sold, (models similar to what I have) require a plug-in to be viewed in a browser. They will not work with Edge in Windows 10. They will work in IE11 and Firefox. Other browsers, I don't know, but if you use another browser do your homework.

 

[RossMAN]

Amazon has the Amcrest WiFi Wireless IP Security Camera on sale for $89.99 - $20 coupon code YRUAY3T4 = $69.99
Make sure to select silver color

Here's a brief unboxing video I found https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uzd3RCG2Tw

 

[Kaido]

Don't get wireless, horribly insecure. Get an IP POE system. I paid around $700 for a 6 camera HD system. Well worth it

I just set up a LaView system just like that:

http://www.amazon.com/LaView-Premium-Channel-Security-Cameras/dp/B0149OP3P4/

Six 1080p PoE cameras with 30 IR LEDs for nightvision (4 bullets, 2 domes), 2TB hard drive, $700. Picture quality is great! I can't believe what you can get for the money these days. Just plug in a single Ethernet cable to each camera, forward the ports in your router, voila!

 

[Fingolfin269]

Thanks for the advice everyone. We will likely only use these cameras 2 or 3 times per year so I think something along the lines of the Armcrest one's Rossman posted in #10 are basically what we want. Any thoughts on how this brand compares to something like Foscam? To be honest I just want to be certain that whatever brand we get the cameras are reliable enough that I will not run into connectivity issues while we're gone. (assuming 0 user error!)

To answer some of the earlier questions:

1) Budget per camera - Would like to stay at ~$100 or less per camera (2 total cameras). Mainly because we will, as of now, only use the cameras a few weeks out of the year. Not looking for 24/7/365 home monitoring at this time.

2) I do have a desktop computer I can leave on 24/7 while we are gone. It is connected to my network via Wifi.

3) We do have a Sam's club membership.

Two other things...

1)For my needs is there really any point in going to 1080p?
2)After looking at a few of these I do think pan/tilt would be a nice feature to have.

Thanks again!