Network/IP camera $200 max recommendation

[Kneedragger]

I'm looking to get a IP camera for the inside of my house that can save pictures and or video clips to a network drive. I would like one that can record clips of motion when I'm gone from the house mostly. It doesn't need to be a 1080p camera, I think 720p would do just fine.

I have messed with a bunch of the basic ones from Fry's that range from $60-100 and they all seem pretty crappy.

What are you guys using?

 

[RossMAN]

http://www.networkcameracritic.com/?p=2236

http://www.cam-it.org/

 

[Kneedragger]

http://www.networkcameracritic.com/?p=2236

http://www.cam-it.org/

Thanks but I already check networkcameracritics. Sifting through camera forums is a pain in the ass.

Edit: On my phone when I checked it didn't open that link up to the Hikvision camera. Now I see it on my PC. Thanks

 

[delonm]

I highly recommend the Hikvision cams. They are solidly built and the image quality is top notch for the price. The built in IR also does a decent job of illumination and night time image quality is ok, if not a bit grainy. They are all PoE compliant which makes wiring a breeze. I have purchased several through Wrightwood Surveillance with good results.

For your application, you will need to choose between the bullet or the dome as well as the focal length(?). You can get them 4mm, 6mm, or 12mm. I have all three and there is a big differnce in viewable area. Indoors I would probably stick with the 4mm for whole room coverage.

The embedded management application works pretty well. Some of the settings are not as well documented as I would like, but most are pretty easy to figure out. I have mine set to detect motion and record to my home NAS. Full HD at 30fps will chew through the drive space however!

I have not played around with audio. The bullet cams I have include an audio plug, but I have not bothered to hook up a microphone.

Good luck!

David