Good cheap IP camera

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Good cheap IP camera

esawers

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#191949 22-Feb-2016 14:38

Can anyone recommend a good cheap IP camera/s?

Looking for one that would monitor the driveway, and possibly another one inside the house.

POE would be a bonus, a nice wide camera lens, and easily accessed from an iphone.

Budget <$100 each ??

I've had a look at dx.com, aliexpress, etc.. but hoping someone can recommend one they have used before.

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#1496988 22-Feb-2016 14:39

Good and cheap?

Oh this could be interesting.

jarledb

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#1497023 22-Feb-2016 15:13

I would love to find something good and expensive (although not expensive as in pro-grade camera, those are EXPENSIVE). Not impressed with that is available (at least the ones I know about).

Best I have seen so far was someone that took an iPhone 6 which had its screen shattered, put it in a weather tight box and placed it outside. Thats brilliant. Its even hooked up to power 24/7, so runs all the time :)

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sbiddle

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#1497050 22-Feb-2016 15:33

How are you planning to record/store video?

My recommendations are Dahua or Hikvison if you want good quality good priced gear. You won't get either for NZ$100 but plenty of options for under US$100

timbosan

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#1497055 22-Feb-2016 15:42

I have been down this road, and what I have found is:

< $100 - I have used DLink cameras. Not POE but still quiet good, and the indoor ones can be < $50. I have one pointing out a window (without IR though). I use the DLink app on my iPhone, and it emails me 6 images whenever it detects movement, plus it can log video to an FTP server.

> $100 - Dahua, far better quality, POE, external, etc.

I have found that http://www.networkcameracritic.com/ is an EXCELLENT site for reviews of this stuff.

I would watch out for the newer 'cloud' based cameras as a lot of them seem to give you very limited could only storage, then charge you for more, or for better refresh rates, etc etc.

ZollyMonsta

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#1497070 22-Feb-2016 15:59

On another geekzoner's recommendation, I've got two Escam QD520 cameras for outside. Available for around $50 NZ with 'poe' (the plug is a little annoying). They have a 3.6mm lens. Just ordered a cam off AliExpress with a 2.8mm lens for $26USD for in the office. All are 720p resolution.

Here's an image from one of my Escam QD520 camera's

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#1497071 22-Feb-2016 16:00

(must waterblast the deck!) ;-)

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chevrolux

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#1497334 22-Feb-2016 20:23

I will put in a +1 for Hikvision. Here is a still shot from my driveway camera...

Pretty dam good for less than USD150!..

http://www.amazon.com/Hikvision-DS-2CD2332-I-Original-Waterproof-Surveillance/dp/B00RL2FZF0

hellonearthisman

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#1497350 22-Feb-2016 20:33

For inside I could go with a Xiaomi

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2015-New-High-Quality-HD-720P-Xiaomi-Smart-Wireless-IP-Camera-For-Smart-Home-Life-And/32284839713.html

Outside

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2-0MP-Ip-Camera-Wireless-HD-1080P-Outdoor-waterproof-Infrared-Mini-Cameras-Wifi-Network-cam-IR/32379397571.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/HY-HD-Full-1080P-Waterproof-Wifi-IP-Camera-Outdoor-Wireless-Network-Camera-Night-Vision-P2P-Bullet/32529666138.html

ZollyMonsta

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#1497352 22-Feb-2016 20:40

Pretty sure the Xiaomi cam only supports playback via its own app.. And is in Chinese language only.

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richms

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#1497392 22-Feb-2016 21:17

hikvision off aliexpress will revert to chinese if you ignore their warnings about not flashing firmware on them. Oh well, its pretty obvious what the options are.

Richard rich.ms

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#1497393 22-Feb-2016 21:20

ZollyMonsta: Pretty sure the Xiaomi cam only supports playback via its own app.. And is in Chinese language only.

You're right, I missed that bit, sorry and thanks for pointing that out too.

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#1497396 22-Feb-2016 21:22

I got one of those Xiaomi cams from AliExpress and managed to integrate with my *motion* server via RTSP. The camera actually runs a version of Linux so you can SSH into it and mess around with config. It was a bit of messing around to get it all configured, trying to find the right app etc, but now it is up and running it seems to working very well.

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#1497456 22-Feb-2016 22:20

These are the cheap cameras I got for my place. Were considerably cheaper when I got them but prices are all funny on aliexpress at the moment because of new years holidays.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/720P-Megapixel-IP-Mini-Bullet-Camera-HD-PoE-Power-Over-Ethernet-IR-IP-Camera-Outdoor-Indoor/32339399044.html

They work fine. Seem to have the same sensor/processor board as the escams, same whacky software that has an aweful active-x to view them. About $27 US from memory.

Got 2 of these to stick on TV's to watch - not using them to record at all - http://www.aliexpress.com/item/20-Languages-8CH-Black-Onvif-1080P-Network-Video-Recorder-Portable-Full-HD-Super-Mini-NVR-for/1937174268.html - they seem to like to mess up the clock on the cameras and change the time on them, so the on screen time flip-flops between correct via NTP, and then showing what the time is in china when the NVR updates it. I really should get around to checking timezones etc are correct everywhere.

And one of these to record them on. http://www.aliexpress.com/item/8CH-Full-HD-1080P-CCTV-system-NVR-VGA-HDMI-output-H-264-network-video-recorder-m/32506269831.html - again, it works mostly ok. Have not set up motion detection yet to play with as the camera installs are just tempory till I get some re-clad done.

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#1497514 23-Feb-2016 05:37

I have purchased a number of cheep no name ip cams over the years. The big problem with no name bands is getting them to work with software like Ispy or Blue Iris. Ispy can detect odd cams better, but Blue iris is much better software.

I'm going to stick to named brands from now on.

sbiddle

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#1497532 23-Feb-2016 07:59

When you can buy a great quality Dahua 4MP camera for around US$85 I'm not sure why people bother with cheaper junk.

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