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Top 10 Home Security Cameras — 2018

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Today's market place offers a whole plethora of security cameras, varying in type and offering a whole range and more of features! And understandably, this abundance of choice leaves a buyer confused on which option to settle for, based on what best suits their home. This top 10 home security cameras reviews help such users make an educated and calculated decision, so that their purchase turns out to be the best security cameras fit to protect their homes and loved ones.

Top 10 Home Security Cameras

Features to look for when Comparing Home Security Cameras

Field of View

The size of the area that a camera can capture and record is referred to as its Field of View. The importance of this feature can be gauged by the fact that this directly governs the numbers of cameras that need to be installed, together with their location of placement.

Detection of Motion

Cameras capable of detecting motion can be configured to shoot notifications when they detect motion within its range of view. This is an immensely beneficial feature as it forewarns users about any dubious movements within their premises and allows one to take appropriate action.

Resolution

The clarity and resolve of the image captured by a camera is known as its resolution. The higher the resolution, the greater the clarity of the images taken by the camera, and easier the image identification.

Sound

When speaking of the sound feature, it could either refer to the capability of the camera to receive sound through a microphone, or its capability of emanating sound through a speaker, or both. Cameras having both the capabilities can behave as an intercom.

Movement

Cameras that have the flexibility to pan and/or tilt are capable of netting a larger image capture in contrast to static cameras, which are limited in terms of movement. The flexibility feature will ensure the need for fewer camera installations, in comparison to static cameras, as the former covers a larger area by virtue of this feature.

Night Vision

This feature must be given due importance, because majority of the requirements for cameras are to monitor premises at off hours, mostly by night. The effectiveness of a camera in recording images in low or no light situations, and the distance to which it can capture pristine images, is something that must be well weighed when selecting a camera.

WiFi Capability

Cameras with WiFi capability can seamlessly connect with the base network at home, wirelessly. A WiFi enabled camera not only ensures smooth connectivity, but also does away with the tangles attached to wired counterparts.

Cost

Irrespective of the features a camera entails, cost is always a factor that play a major role in the decision to invest in a particular model.

Top 10 Security Cameras

Rank Security Camera Amazon link Resolution View Angle Night Vision Wireless Motion Detection 2-Way Audio Zoom
1

Nest Cam

Amcrest

1080p
130
NA
8x
2

Vimtag 361 HD

Vimtag

720p
320
32 ft
4x
3

Samsung SmartCam

Samsung

1080p
128
62 ft
10x
4

Amcrest ProHD

Amcrest

1080p
90
32 ft
3x
5

Amcrest IPM-721S HDSeries

Amcrest

720p
85
32 ft
NA
6

Flir FX

Amcrest

1080p
160
20 ft
5x
7

Foscam FI9803P

Foscam

720p
70
65 ft
8x
8

Y-cam

Y-cam

720p
87
49 ft
Mic Only
 
9

Hikvision DS-2CD2032-I

Hikvision-DS-2CD2032-I

1080p
70
30 ft
 
10

Microseven M7B57-WPS 3 MP HD

Microseven

960p
70
100 ft
Mic Only
 

Nest Cam - Best Resolution Camera

Nest Cam

The Nest Cam wireless IP camera is among the most expensive standalone home security cameras, and not for no reason! It’s resolution is as high as 1080 pixels and it integrates seamlessly with the Nest Home Automation Suite. An impressive 8X digital zoom coupled with two-way talkback feature makes this a hard-to-resist choice of buy. Though it sans any pan or tilt facility, its massive 130 degrees view range hardly requires this facility. For a high end user obsessed with video quality, this is for you!

Pros

Easy to install

Excellent digital zoom, range of view & video quality.

Geofencing and scheduling

Interoperable with other popular smart systems and services such as IFTTT, Wynk etc.

Cons

Expensive subscription plans

No local storage

Motion detection settings can not be modified. 

Vimtag 361 HD - Value-for-money

Vimtag

This home security camera has been identified as a value-for-money buy, as it provides a well-balanced tradeoff between the features that are provided, vis-à-vis the price one can procure it for.With an amazing range of motion, clubbed with a two-way talk back feature, the 361 HD also provides a 4X digital zoom utility, together with a commendable night vision range spanning 32 feet!A modest resolution of 720 pixels is good enough to grade the 361 as HD, so image clarity issues don’t really figure in this buy. Further, a buyer can additionally have motion detection configured. All of these features, capped with a Pan-Tilt capability addressing a 320 degrees coverage, make the Vimtag 361 HD one of the best buys in the indoor camera space!

Pros

Good Quality Night Mode Vision

Two-Way Voice Communication

Built in sdcard support upto 128GB

Low Price

Cons

No cloud recording available

Need improvement in Software stability

Samsung SmartCam - Excellent monitoring

Samsung SmartCam

Security cameras fitted with motorized pan and tilt features understandably come at an extra cost. However, the Samsung SamrtCam PT, equipped with both the fitments, comes not for a penny more!It falls in line with its competitors when it comes to its monitoring capabilities and transmission of alerts in detecting movement, and all of this, without a subscription! Proper night-vision is enabled because of the inclusion of IR LEDs, and so complete home monitoring is facilitated within an impressive 62 feet range. Since this model comes minus weatherproofing, it’s rendered an indoor model, with capabilities of monitoring the inside rather than the outside. It comes with an imposing 10X digital zoom, and in totality, sums up as one of the best indoor IP cameras for home users. All the same, the app and a few design choices leave us wanting for more.

Pros

Customizable IP camera

Less lag time

Cons

Connection issues

Amcrest ProHD - Value for money

Amcrest ProHD

If operating on a tight budget, a motorized pan or tilt home surveillance wireless IP camera, the Amcrest ProHD, is worthy of a consideration. Features on offer include a neat 1080 pixel video, 32 feet range night vision, still imagery and a suave pan and tilt functionality. A microSD slot allows for local storage of a recorded video, though the provision to store this on Amcrest’s cloud is also available. The latter, however, comes at a cost. The camera also has a two way audio feature. Abundant options are available for setting up the camera and alerts, and a manual with instructions on ‘how-to’, together with browser plug-in options, are available, to help one set up these features.

Pros

Camera pans through a 360 degree range

Provides the ability to store on SD Card, Cloud, NVR and NAS

Provision for push notification and email alerts

Records audio together with video

Cons

Software is unstable

Not waterproof

Amcrest IPM-721S - Best Recording Service

Amcrest IPM-721S HDSeries

This camera is promoted with a wide range of features, prominent among which are its recording service, rapid WiFi setup (via iPhone/Android smartphones through the Amcrest View App), seamless video streaming, two way audio directly linked to a smartphone, Tablet, Apple Mac or Windows PC, a notable view range of 85 degrees, remote Pan/Tilt, an IR LED night vision ranging up to 32 feet and intelligent digit zoom. One can stay connected to the camera via its Two Way Talk feature, Intelligent Motion Alerts, Email Snapshots/Alerts, as also via Mobile and Web Apps.

Pros

Impressive image quality

Pan and tilt capability, seen in few other models

Low light capability

Cons

Disconnects often

Flir FX - Best DIY Security IP Camera

Flir FX

This is a good model to consider if you are setting out to procure your first DIY security IP camera. Its features include a 160-degree viewing angle, a combination of local and cloud storage that beats most of its competitors, a double battery feature, high resolution video quality of 1080 pixels, night vision clarity within a 20 feet range. The camera also boasts of a two-way talkback feature and an imposing 5X digital zoom. The camera is wireless and comes with a supportive mobile app that’s completely intuitive and easy to use. Additionally, sound and motion detection can be configured, and this camera thereby encompasses most features that a home user would expect of an indoor camera.

Pros

Excellent video quality

Options for local and cloud storage

160 degree viewing angle

Cons

Software is unstable

Subscription model is expensive

Foscam FI9803P - Anytime and almost Anywhere

Foscam FI9803P

Just anytime and almost anywhere, it is possible to configure a simple surveillance system, with Foscam’s FI9803P HD Day/Night Outdoor Wireless IP Camera. With a wide viewing angle of 70°, which enables the capture of wide expanses, users get to record videos at precision levels of up to 720 pixels HD resolution. It employs the use of H.264 compression technique, which constraints bandwidth and storage needs. Users can also customize the fitment of two-way audio support via external microphone and speakers. Setup is easy, employing the use of WiFi or wired Ethernet connection. Configuration of motion detection, privacy zones, as well as setting up an array of 36 infrared LEDs for striking night vision at a range of up to 65 feet, are added features that lure users to invest in this model. Remote viewing is also supported, via the use of mobile apps and internet browsers. This amalgamation of features, together with a remarkable digital zoom and supreme image quality, this camera turns out to be one of the best models available at a reasonable cost.

Pros

70 degree wide field view

Supreme image quality

Motion detection notifications

Night vision ranging up to 65 feet

Weather-proof, water-proof

Cons

Not a PTZ camera

Y-cam - Best Auto recording features

Y-cam

The most useful feature of this camera is that it allows a user to schedule a recording or it auto-records events whenever motion is detected. But that apart, it’s pretty complicated in terms of setup, compared to any other IP camera, and its Wi-Fi connection often drops. Other salient features include an 87 degree viewing angle, video recording of up to 720 pixel resolution and a zoom up to XX. It further boasts of an impressive night vision range of 49 feet. The Y-Cam Home-monitor Indoor HDS internet camera offers the recorded video to be stored on cloud for free. The live video can be viewed via its app. It falls short in comparison to other IP cameras is in its video quality and connectivity strength.

Pros

Free cloud storage

Low price

Easy installation

Cons

Blurred night vision

Sub-standard video quality

Hikvision DS-2CD2032-I - Most affordable HD surveillance camera

Hikvision DS-2CD2032-I

Hikvision DS-2CD2032-I is not just an affordable HD surveillance camera, but one of the best ones in it’s space as well. It boasts of the presence of infrared LEDs that support night vision spanning a range of up to 30 feet. With a solid construction model, it was primarily designed for indoor use, but it also provides the flexibility of outdoor placement, just so long as it’s in a water-proof locale. With a 70 degree viewing angle, users are able to record videos with resolutions ranging up to 1080 pixels! It also has an excellent night vision range going way up to 30 feet. Though it lacks in sound detection capability, this wired outdoor camera offers users looking for advanced PoE technology-enabled camera a good video quality.

Pros

Advanced PoE technology

Good quality video

Cons

Does not support sound detection

No wireless capability

Microseven M7B57-WPS 1.3 MP HD - Most connected wireless IP cameras

Microseven M7B57-WPS 1.3 MP HD

The M7B57-WPS HD 960P(Microseven® M7B57-WPS 1.3MP H.264 High Definition 960P Wireless IPcamera is well known as one of the most connected wireless IP cameras available in the market. Both, the iOS as well as the Android apps are stable. The highlights of it’s features include a built-in Micro SD card slot of 64 GB, with remote playback facility from a PC function. The camera is constructed of high quality rust proof as well as weather proof material, with an IP66 rating. It comes with a fixed lens, a 3 megapixel 3.6 mm and 70 degree wide viewing angle in specification. It also supports two-way audio, and it’s only known drawback is to do with sounds quality, which sometimes dip. All the same, it’s outstanding NV range of 100 feet makes it’s a great buy, especially since it comes at a reasonable cost.

Pros

Inbuilt Micro SD card

Water and weather-proof

Wi-Fi and PoE combination

Superior image quality

Impressive night vision range of 100ft

Cons

Sub-standard sound quality