10 Recommended IP Cameras 2015

NOTE: this post has been superseded by our newest post 10 Recommended IP Cameras 2019.

Since our initial 10 Recommended IP Cameras post, network cameras have been improving steadily, with many new models released. Therefore it is time to update the list with our picks for 2015. As before, the cameras listed here are in no particular order (they are quite varied in terms of cost and feature set, which makes them difficult to rank as a “top 10″ list), however they are all cameras that, due to their impressive features, we recommend to our customers for use with our SecuritySpy video surveillance software for the Mac.

Some abbreviations used below for camera features are as follows:

  • MP – Megapixels – the number of millions of pixels in the image sensor. The higher this value, the more detailed the image, but note that optical quality of the lens system also makes a huge difference, so resolution isn’t everything.
  • PoE – Power-over-Ethernet – when using a PoE switch, the camera draws power over the ethernet cable and therefore doesn’t need a separate power supply. This is very useful for easy installation and ongoing reliability.
  • IR – Infra Red – some cameras include Infra Red LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) for night vision.
  • PTZ – Pan Tilt Zoom – mechanical movement of the camera that can be controlled by SecuritySpy.

Dahua Technology IPC-HFW4100S

dahua-ipc-hfw4100s

For a simple high-quality 1.2 MP outdoor bullet camera, this model is ideal. It features PoE and good night vision thanks to its bright IR LEDs, and it is outstanding value at only USD $100. Minor downsides include the lack of audio, and somewhat awkward initial setup (due to pre-set static IP addresses – but we have instructions for the setup in these cases). For a higher-resolution model, have a look at the 2.1 MP IPC-HFW4200S or the 3.1 MP IPC-HFW4300S.

Y-cam Bullet HD 720 (2nd Gen)

ycam-bullet-hd

[IMPORTANT – September 2016: the latest firmware update for this camera removes the ability to stream to third-party applications such as SecuritySpy, thereby tying users into Y-cam’s own software. Therefore WE ADVISE AGAINST PURCHASING this camera.] The Y-cam Bullet HD 720 (Second Generation) has an impressive feature set. Not only is this a high-quality outdoor IP camera with IR night vision, it also has a built-in microphone and WiFi connectivity, which are features that you won’t find in many outdoor bullet cameras. The 0.9MP Bullet HD 720 retails for around USD $350 while the 2.1 MP Bullet HD 1080 retails for around USD $430.

Hikvision DS-2CD2412F-I

hikvision-ds-2cd2412

There are many compact indoor cameras on the market, but this one stands out from the competition due to its comprehensive feature set. Good low-light performance, IR (providing limited but useful night vision) and a built-in microphone are all very useful features, and at USD $150 it’s difficult to beat on value. The DS-2CD2412F-IW model adds WiFi functionality.

Samsung SNH-P6410BN

samsung-snh-p6410bn

Another compact camera with an impressive feature set, this little Samsung sports an unusually attractive design. An impressive 2.1 MP resolution, WiFi capability, IR (providing limited but useful night vision), built-in microphone, and a $180 price tag make it more than just a pretty face. [UPDATE MARCH 2016: Samsung’s latest firmware update removes web server access to the camera, making it much more difficult to set up and use the camera with third party software such as SecuritySpy, therefore we don’t recommend our users purchase this camera. Good alternatives are the Hikvision DS-2CD2412F-IW, the Zavio F3115 or the Vivotek FD8168.]

Axis M3005-V

axis-m3005-v

When you buy an Axis camera you know you will be getting a quality product, and this indoor fixed dome is no exception. Housed in a compact vandal-resistant housing, this basic 2 MP camera with PoE is ideal for a shop or business installation, and at around USD $300 it’s good value too.

Vivotek FD8162

vivotek-fd8162

Vivotek is another high-quality manufacturer with a large range of cameras. This indoor fixed dome has a comprehensive feature set, including a 2.1 MP sensor, PoE, IR night vision and a built-in microphone, and retails for around USD $400.

Canon VB-S900F

canon-vb-s900f

This discreet box-type camera works well indoors, in both home and commercial environments. A high-quality lens, good low-light sensitivity, and a 2.1 MP sensor provides excellent image quality. The camera supports PoE for easy installation, as well as an audio input port for connecting an external microphone. It retails for around USD $350.

Canon VB-S30D

canon-vb-s30d

For an indoor PTZ camera, this one ticks a lot of boxes. A 2.1 MP image sensor combined with high-quality optics and 3.5x optical zoom provides excellent image quality. This camera also features PoE and audio (with external microphone) – all at a reasonable price tag of around USD $550.

Canon VB-M620VE

canon-vb-m620ve

Canon have recently expanded their product line significantly with some great IP cameras – hence this being the third Canon that features on this list. This is an outdoor PTZ camera featuring a 1.2 MP sensor, PoE, Audio (with external microphone), and excellent image quality thanks to high-quality optics, good low-light performance and 3x optical zoom. At around USD $1000 it is significantly less expensive than competing models from other manufacturers.

Zavio P5116

zavio-p5116

Most low-cost compact indoor pan/tilt cameras are of corresponding low quality, however this Zavio is a cut above the rest. It has a somewhat higher price tag than the competition (USD $350) but it’s worth paying the extra. You get a 1 MP sensor, WiFi, a built-in microphone, IR night-vision, and pan/tilt with an impressively wide range of movement. Perfect for home use.

79 thoughts on “10 Recommended IP Cameras 2015

  1. Anonymous

    Thanks Ben! We’ve built our entire security camera system based on SecuritySpy and cameras from your previous recommendations, and everything’s been working perfectly. Thanks for the great software, and keep up the good work.

    Reply
  2. Gareth

    I bought an IPC-HFW4300S on your recommendation and have been very please. The camera coupled with SecuritySpy is a win-win combination!

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Gareth, many thanks for letting us know, great to hear you’re pleased. The IPC-HFW4300S is a very nice camera.

      Reply
  3. jon honeyball

    Hi Ben

    I have a number of the HD YCAm bullet cameras. They are ok… but their setup/config app is somewhat crude. and the built in webserver capabilities are really quite rough too. They work well with your (excellent) software which is why I keep using them. But I would be happier with something a little more grown-up

    jon

    Reply
  4. Jim

    Ben,

    I have a dlink DCS-5020L trying to set up and can’t seem to get security spy to see it?
    any thoughts?

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Jim – this will certainly work with SecuritySpy. Firstly, make sure that you have entered into SecuritySpy the correct IP address and username/password for your camera. Then try each of the D-Link profiles in turn (under the “Device type” setting), as one should work. Please email us if you continue to have problems with this, I’m sure we will be able to get this working for you. If you have managed to get this work, please report back what settings you used, as I’m sure this will be helpful for other users.

      Reply
  5. Scott Gruby

    I just bought 3 of the Dahua Technology IPC-HFW4100S cameras and it appears that they no longer come with the static IP address. I plugged them into my PoE switch and they picked up an address via DHCP. The one I’ve mounted is working great. I have had 4 Q-See QCN7001B (same manufacturer) for 2 years and the newer Dahua ones seem a lot better. For my purposes, I can’t beat the IPC-HFW4100S.

    SecuritySpy is working great with 5 cameras on a Mac Mini (I’m working on installing the last 2 cameras); load is about 25% on the Quad Core i7 processor.

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Scott, that’s good news. If Dahua has decided to switch to DHCP for the default IP settings of their cameras, this will make setting them up a lot easier. Great to hear you’ve had such success with SecuritySpy, and thanks for posting this information.

      Reply
      1. dave gard

        hi,im trying to get info on what kind of camera to purchase,,,,even if its cheap just to practice,,,,i want to set the camera outside,,i live in the woods,,,,and i want to brodcast it over the internet that its live 24-7 any help thank u

        Reply
        1. Ben Software Post author

          A good cheap outdoor camera is the Dahua Technology IPC-HFW4100S (see above for info about this camera). Dahua has a number of good outdoor models and they generally aren’t too expensive.

          Reply
          1. Ryan

            Hey there,

            The Dahua website doesn’t seem to list the IPC-HFW4000-series cameras anymore.. is there an updated model or is the IPC-HFW4100S still the best option (still available on Amazon, etc..). I was actually looking at the 4300 model for a higher resolution.

            Thanks!
            Ryan

          2. Ben Software Post author

            Hi Ryan, the Dahua IPC-HFW4300S seems to have taken over as Dahua’s standard bullet camera, so I would say go for that. We’ll be writing a new “10 recommended” list soon for 2016.

  6. Y

    I’ve had bad experience with cheap PTZ cameras dropping the wireless connection and having to be restarted. Is the Zavio 100% reliable, or should I just resign myself to wired connections everywhere?

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi – wireless connection are always going to be less reliable than wired connections. No wireless connection is going to be 100% reliable due to reception issues and interference from nearby wireless networks and other electromagnetic radiation (e.g. microwaves, mobile phones etc). Zavio is a high-quality brand and I don’t expect that you’ll have any particular problems with the Zavio camera’s wireless reception, however for ultimate reliability you should use wired ethernet wherever possible.

      Reply
  7. frank

    Dahua ip cameras are actually for me the best choice for quality and prices. Easy to configure, and a very very good image quality.

    Reply
  8. Peter

    Hi Ben, thanks for the updatest list. I just have some trouble with the settings from the SmartCam SNH-P6410BN. How can I change the stream profile to number 5? Some short advise would be awesome! Thanks a lot Peter

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Peter, in the Video Device Settings window in SecuritySpy where you have added the camera, there is an “Input number” setting – this is how you select between the different stream profiles (in some cameras and video servers, this selects between different physical inputs on the device, which is why it bears this name).

      Reply
  9. Bret Lucas

    Hi Ben, I also have four Dahua IPC-HFW4300S cameras. What a fantastic combo with SecuritySpy. It’s extremely valuable to check out the property while away from home. Your software is rock solid and a dream to use. Can’t rate SecuritySpy or the Dahua IP cameras highly enough.
    Regards Bret

    Reply
  10. Dan N

    Ben,
    Will your software support Foscam FI9826W? I see your software support other Foscam models except this kind of recent one.
    Thanks,
    Dan

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Dan,

      Although we do not officially support this camera (due to user reports of problems with it), some users have got it working in SecuritySpy using the “Foscam H.264” profile that is already built into the software. Make sure also to select the H.264 “Format” setting in the Video Device Settings window in SecuritySpy.

      Please report back and let us know how you get on.

      Reply
      1. Dan N

        Hi Ben,

        I was able to get two Foscam FI9826W working with the latest firmware (2.x.1.119) with SecuritySpy per your instructions using the “Foscam H.264” profile. I was able to use the Remote Patrol app for Internet viewing. There were some quirks with Foscam not being able to connect to my Airport Time Capsule using invisible mode and long SSID name but that was solved with short SSID name and non-invisible mode. The video quality is great! I couldn’t find a way to control the IR light in Security Spy but I was able to use Foscam Webplugin to set up the IR light schedule. Thanks for all you do!

        Reply
        1. bensoftware Post author

          Hi Dan – great to hear that, thanks for your feedback.

          How reliable are your FI9826W cameras? Is the video quality consistent? Do they run for long periods of time without needing to be power cycled?

          Reply
          1. Dan N

            Hi Ben,

            It’s been five days and I haven’t power cycled my FI9826W cameras. Seems stable. I had a power outage yesterday morning and all was up and running after the power went on. I’ll keep you posted again in a month or so.

          2. Dan N

            It’s almost 1 month, my FI9826W cameras are pretty reliable so far. Other than some network set up quirks, I’m happy with the features and functionalities. No problems with power cycling. Thanks for all that you do!

  11. Nunuv Yurbiz

    Hi – for the Samsung, you list a stream profile twice:

    “They are as follows: 1. 1920×1080 at 2fps, 2. 640×360 at 10fps, 3. 640×360 at 20fps, 4. 1280×720 at 15fps, 5. 1920×1080 at 30fps, 6. 640×360 at 20fps”

    1920×1080@10, 15, or 20 fps would be my preference but I guess that’s not possible.

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Nunuv, these resolution and frame rate parameters were noted from a direct test of one of these cameras so I think they are correct. I believe the difference between the two 640×360 20fps streams is that one is H.264 and the other is JPEG. In any case this is such a low resolution as to be useless for most purposes. I agree, having the full resolution available at different frame rates would be by far the most useful option, but sadly this doesn’t seem to be possible. I’ve tried contacting Samsung about this but got nowhere.

      Reply
  12. Jane Carter

    I would LOVE to set up an IP camera! I have 2 websites, have wifi, but have no knowledge of this, except for this,
    http://www.cnet.com/products/presence-ios/ by PeoplePower company I think.
    My grandson set this up with his old iPad.
    But I want an outdoor camera to take pictures of wildlife, the sky, and weather.
    I look at this wunderground web-cam daily, but I realize its probably beyond me in setting something like this up. And probably rather expensive also.
    http://www.wunderground.com/webcams/US101/1/show.html

    Im looking forward to having a webcam!
    And very glad I found you here, so that I can get some advice.

    Thank you,
    Jane

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Jane,

      We do have some users using SecuritySpy to upload to Weather Underground – please see the WunderCams FTP Wiki page for the FTP settings you need to use. In SecuritySpy you use these settings to configure regular uploads to the Weather Underground server, in the Continuous capture section of the Camera Settings window (the setting in question is called “Update image file on FTP server every x seconds”).

      As for choosing a camera, the Dahua camera listed above is very good, or the Y-cam if you need WiFi.

      Hope this helps, let us know if you need any further information.

      Reply
  13. justin

    Hi,
    I need about 3-5 cameras in my bar/restaurant. They need to record for about 5 weeks so as discrepancies with stock can be investigated after month end. Also need streaming capability.

    Right now I have tested some of the cheaper cameras, the most positive was a Foscam 720P. However I run into bugs such as FTP recording often black. If the frame rate is reduced to below 17fps then the live streams freeze.

    So I think I need to go better quality, rather than using these white label’s coming out of china. I could not find anything in the list with FTP video storage, and SD storage max is usually 32-64G, which I don’t think will be enough for 5 weeks.

    Any suggestions

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Justin,

      I would stick to high-quality brands that we recommend, such as Axis, Canon, Dahua, Sony, Vivotek and Y-cam (including all models above). SecuritySpy will do all the recording and FTP uploading for you, so these are features that you don’t need in the camera itself. Check out our System Requirements Calculator to give you an idea of what Mac and how much storage space you’ll need for a certain system setup.

      Hope this helps.

      Reply
  14. Elvvis

    I have hikvision 3mp bulets and one dahua well using the for 2years i would say the hikvision performs better in daylight but dahua in night time. Both are good i just can’t understand why there are no hikvision bullets in this top 10

    Reply
  15. Elvvis

    One thing forgot to mention a single camera on max performance takes ~ 800GB of storage per 5days so with 4 cameras you will need a home cloud with LARGE space.

    Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      Hi Joppe, ACTi make some nice cameras, however unfortunately the H.264 stream they produce is not compatible with QuickTime, and therefore SecuritySpy. So all the current ACTi lineup is currently limited to JPEG mode with SecuritySpy. So, for now at least, we recommend you choose a different brand from our list of compatible cameras – Axis, Canon, Y-cam and Dahua are good brands.

      Reply
  16. Dan

    Hi Ben. I bought the Hikvision camera (the 3MP version, since that was available on amazon). However, I could not get it to activate. Going to the default ip address just makes the browser hang, and their activation software only works on Windows. Perhaps I received a defective camera, since you were able to get this camera to work on a mac, but there seems to be a general issue of poorly written manuals and activation software for ip cameras. I’m even considering Nestcam, though I hate their yearly fee business model, in my attempt to find decent manuals/software. Can you recommend an ip camera (preferably a compact indoor discrete model) that has put effort into making high quality manual/software/setup? Have you ever considered doing this yourself? I’m running out of spare time to continue wrestling with the setup.

    Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      Hi Dan, sorry you’ve experienced these issues, I agree that generally there is a problem with bad documentation and setup procedures for IP cameras, plus many manufacturers don’t put much effort into Mac support, which is unforgivable in this day and age! But I’m surprised you’ve had so much problems with the Hikvision – the documentation isn’t great but we’ve never had problems getting Hikvision cameras working with our software and with a Mac in general. The one thing I can think of is that perhaps your Mac is on a different subnet to the camera. For the two to communicate, the first three numbers of their IP addresses must be the same – please see the “Cameras with a fixed address by default” section of our Setting up network cameras page of the SecuritySpy installation manual.

      Besides this, Axis is the best for documentation and ease of setup. Also the Samsung camera mentioned above has rather easy setup procedure (though make sure you don’t specify a password longer than 8 characters for it). Both these cameras use DHCP to initially obtain an IP address that is compatible with your network, rather than using a static IP address, which requires the setup procedure described on the above page.

      Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      Hi Dave, as long as your WiFi network uses password-protected encryption it is secure. Most WiFi routers and access points these days come with WPA2 encryption enabled as standard, which will prevent anyone who doesn’t know the password from accessing your cameras.

      Reply
  17. Chuck haskins

    I have Axis5014, Arecont 180, and Sony Cameras. Does SecuritySpy support all of these with a direct driver or just ONVIF stream? I am especially concerned for getting all features of the arecont 180.

    My mac mini is about 4 years old so I am looking forward to see what the performance will be like.

    Chuck

    Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      Hi Chuck,

      SecuritySpy supports all these cameras with their own specific device profile (though they should all work with the ONVIF profile too). Arecont Panaoramic cameras have multiple lenses and sensors and are effectively 2-4 separate IP cameras in one casing, and SecuritySpy will treat each sensor as a separate camera. What further features of this camera are you hoping to take advantage of?

      Reply
  18. david

    Hi – I don’t suppose you have had any experience of using an old Jetview camera with SecuritySpy have you? I can’t get the darn thing to work with anything other than its own webserver and Internet Explorer in Admin mode.

    Thanks

    Dave

    Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      Hi Dave, what is the exact model number for your camera? It may be possible to get this to work in SecuritySpy if we can work out the correct HTTP or RTSP request used by the camera for video streaming.

      Reply
  19. Jacques Maurisen

    Ben,
    I have just bought SecuritySpy. I would like to buy a low cost, outdoor, pan and tilt camera, preferable WiFi that would be compatible with your software. High resolution and high speed are not my main concerns. Would you have some suggestions?
    Thanks,
    Jacques

    Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      Hi Jacques, outdoor pan/tilt cameras tend to be expensive, but there are a few models that are reasonably priced that I can suggest. In addition, outdoor cameras very rarely have WiFi, so if you can drop this requirement you’ll have much more choice. Here are a few reasonably-priced outdoor PTZ camera that don’t have WiFi: Zoneway NC740M-P, IPCam Central IPCC-9610, Dahua Technology SD42212S-HN, Dahua Technology SD40212S-HN. Hope this helps.

      Reply
  20. Charlie

    Hello!
    I checked the list 1st and did’t see it but will the Astak® Mobile 320 work OK with SecuritySpy. I’ve had good luck with the original Astak® Mole and was going to try a newer model.
    SecuritySpy Rocks !!!

    Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      Hi Charlie, we haven’t tested this particular camera, but I think it’s highly likely to work with SecuritySpy, probably with the existing Astak profile already built into the software. If you decide to go for this camera, please report back and let us know how you get on. If you have any difficulties, I’m confident that we will be able to make any required tweaks to SecuritySpy’s profile to make it work.

      Reply
      1. Charlie

        Thanks for the quick response.
        I went ahead and purchased the Astak® MobiVue 320 HD IP Cam (CM-MV320) and it doesn’t work with the existing Astak profile. I hope you can provide a solution. Thank you !!!

        Reply
        1. Ben Software Post author

          Please try this:

          – In the Video Device Settings window in SecuritySpy, create a new network device.
          – Set the device type to “Manual configuration”.
          – Enter the camera’s IP address but leave the Port field empty.
          – Enter the camera’s username and password
          – Select “RTSP TCP” from the Format menu.
          – Leave the Request box empty

          Does this work? If not there are other things we can try.

          Reply
  21. Charlie

    Thanks for the the reply and your patience.
    I tried the settings you suggested and still no communication. If it helps at all, I can connect to the camera with both Safari and FireFox with no problems.

    Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      I’m struggling to find any technical information about this camera, so I think the next thing to do would be for you to put your camera online temporarily so that we can connect to it from here and do some testing – would this be possible? To do this you will have to set up the port forwarding settings on your router to forward incoming connections to the camera on port 80 and 554, and then email us your public IP address (or DDNS name, which can be set up in SecuritySpy’s Web Server Setup window). Let me know if you need more information about how to set this up.

      Reply
  22. paul vail

    Ben,

    Looking forward to an update for 2016 on this. As cameras change and evolve, I imagine there are even better ones available now. My main interest is exterior cameras. Thanks for your comprehensive website.

    Reply
  23. zl

    It seems that the zavio wireless pan/tilt model is no longer being sold. Do you know of other camera companies other than zavio that don’t require activex plugins to view and configure so that they will work in mac/linux browsers? It seems like almost all companies require activex to be able to connect to it through a browser.

    Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      All cameras on our list of compatible cameras can be configured using a Mac web browser without requiring PC-only plugins. However we don’t keep a record of which ones can be viewed (i.e. watch live streaming video) in a web browser, just configured so that they can be used with SecuritySpy.

      Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      Our software SecuritySpy is Mac only, however the above cameras all work with various Windows CCTV software too.

      Reply
  24. ythiha

    I am from Yangon(city of myanmar). I have to buy CCTV Cameras for hotel project. Before I used some of cctv brand [ HIK (HD-TVI), Dahua (IP Camera)] from my local reseller. I like Dahua IP. Please explain to me should I still use Dahua or any other brand similar price with better quality than Dahua. Where can I buy as cheaper.

    Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      Hi, yes Dahua are a good brand and they have a wide range of cameras. Other good brands that we recommend frequently are Axis, Canon, Hikvision, Lilin, Trendnet, Vivotek and Zavio. Good luck with your project.

      Reply
    2. Jeffrey Smith

      Based on experience with fourteen Dahua 3 to 4MP cams at two sites, the Dahuas are excellent, and agree with all the good things said of them. The Majority of my cams are now Dahua. But… in 2016 I did recently begin to use HikVision as an alternative, Why? The main reason is that Dahua’s firmware is increasingly hard to obtain, and thus are less scalable than they should be. While I install and maintain all my own cams, I chatted up a few local security cam pros who swear by HikVision now, as they offer better support with an actual website to download all firmware. The price performance of HikVision is virtually identical, maybe a bit better feature set, to the Dahuas in the 3MP range. To be specific I have had good experience with the DS-2CD2142FWD-IS (2.8mm very wide angle) which has Audio, a microSD card slot (excellent for network downtimes), 4mp, with a online retailer price in the $120-$140 range. The setup for HikVision is about the same as the Dahuas, they all seem to come with a static IP, and have tiny manuals, but thats what Ive come to expect and learned to overcome with the static IP directions on Ben Software’s site.

      Reply
  25. Nunuv Yurbiz

    Your recommendation of the DS-2CD2412F-IW has worked out pretty well. I got it with the 2.8mm lens, which enables it to cover a room. I was thinking of getting another one – is that still one you recommend?

    Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      Yes, this is still a good option. Hikvision also have a higher-resolution model, the DS-2CD2432F-I(W), which will provide more detail in the image at the expense of higher CPU usage on your Mac. Both are good, so choose the one that’s most appropriate to your needs.

      Reply
  26. Wichiy Cazeau

    Hi Ben,

    Great job! I find your observation on the numerous cameras to be well defined. I personally like the Hikvision DS-2CD2412F-IW with model add-ones for WiFi functionality.

    Thanks for putting all this together!

    Reply
  27. Nunuv Yurbiz

    I just setup another Hikvision camera. Only took me four hours.

    Whoever designed it is a really poor designer. First, having a fixed IP address by default is idiotic. Second, making it visible in Safari via Bonjour but only halfway such that (a) the activiation generates a failure message (even though it succeeded) and (b) trying to login via the Bonjour link (after activation) generates a failure message, is idiotic. So after something like 20 factory resets, I ended up using iVMS for Mac, but that software mis-represents what the camera settings are – it says it’s set to DHCP, but in fact the camera is not – so that’s idiotic.

    I don’t know if this is something that changed in the firmware, but with my original camera [v. 5.1.2], I can easily login by accessing it via Bonjour with the:
    ds-2cd2412f-iw….local.
    address [address clipped for posting]. But that doesn’t work with the new camera [v. 5.3.0].

    It makes me appreciate the brilliance behind Apple’s efforts to deisgn things well. That said, it’s not perfect, and it’s idiotic that Airports/Time Capsules don’t show you device info for wired devices. I used Ben’s device finder.

    So, between iVMS for activation, using Ben’s device finder, directly connecting to the camera via its IP address (instead of .local), and doing all subsquent configuration via the web interface, I finally got it working.

    Now, my only regret is having installed iVMS, as I don’t trust the software.

    And, about the cameras, I wish there were a small box, like the size of the last gen Apple TV, with two ethernet ports, that you could simply stick between your modem and router, that would act as an outgoing firewall. Or, for Apple’s routers to simply support blocking selected devices from accessing the internet.

    Reply
  28. Danielle Massé

    Hello, it has been a while since I used Security Spy and i don’t recall my password.
    What can I do ?
    Thanks for your help.
    DM

    Reply
  29. Eddie

    Ben,
    Ip, wifi, wireless, cloud, night vision, Ptz, and iPhone app to view, no compromise on picture quality. Adding one camera at a time for security.
    First front door outdoor area, second back door area, third and fourth side of home and fifth dome central location indoor.
    Hey I’m done, you pick my cameras please and I want easy set up, dependable and ease of use. Please advise!

    Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      Hi Eddie, you should know that outdoor PTZ cameras are expensive, do you need all your cameras to be PTZ? If so, have a look at the Dahua Technology SD40212S-HN or SD42212S-HN. Some users have had positive experiences with the Sumpple S610, which is remarkably inexpensive. If you don’t need PTZ then you have many more options, for example the Dahua Technology IPC-HDBW4300E or the Vivotek FD8369A-V (there are loads of great Vivotek dome cameras at vey reasonable prices).

      Hope this helps.

      Reply
  30. Tim Holman

    I wanted to add my own recommendation for Amcrest ProHD 4 MP PoE bullet cameras, which are actually relabeled Dahua bullet cameras. The difference is that Amcrest provides firmware support, which is nigh impossible to get from Dahua. I’ve got two of them mounted outside my house, and so far I’ve been quite pleased with them.

    I should also mention that Dahua is now selling 12 MP PoE cameras. According to their press releases, they’ll be expanding their 12 MP camera line in the coming months. If the technology gets to the point where you can buy an outdoor 12 MP camera with a varifocal lens for under $350, I will be making some upgrades.

    Reply
  31. Lukas Praml

    Hi Ben,

    I boigut the y-cam hd bullet before your warning came up on the website – Now i am stuck? What can i do? Which Firmware version should they have to work?

    Lukas

    Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      Sorry to hear that. I think your best bet would be to contact Y-cam and ask for an older firmware version that supports RTSP streaming. Alternatively, return the camera if you can.

      Reply

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