I cuurently have wired video cameras which display on a dedicated monitor inside my house. Looking to upgrade during Amazon Prime days which is coming up in a week.
1) I need a motion sensor floodlight camera for my back door. It needs to be bright.
2) A solar powered camera which I am going to mount on top of the chimney. It will be three stories high. I go up on the roof just once a year to clean out the eavestroughs, hence solar power would be nice. Does not need to be a security camera.
3) A wired camera doorbell for my front door.
4) One other camera, does not need to be a security camera.
Amazon has this Ring doorbell for $70. Keep in mind everything is more expensive in Canada. Will this doorbell alert me on my iphone when someone presses the button, or when it senses motion?
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08CKB3PZH/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&psc=1
The floodlight camera I am considering is this Wyze
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0C9VYBBST/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&th=1
Yes Ring will alert your cell phone if someone rings your doorbell. It works well, However if you want it to save video you have to pay Amazon a subscription fee.
I replaced my Builder supplied Ring (and the entire Ring security system, including the Honeywell Z wave thermostat), which had ad free video at the time until Amazon changed their policy. (I wouldn't buy or trust any of Amazons security stuff because of this anymore) We paid the first year, then another double digit increase the following. Even though it's still cheap, it's not for me. (For security system I replaced with subscription free Simply Safe and Thermostat with a Honeywell Wifi unit of the same design)
Anyway, I replaced Ring with a Lorex Doorbell camera, has its own memory chip, works as good, actually better than Ring did.
Eufy also makes one. I would suggest you check out all Eufy offerings for Wifi Cameras. Subscription free. I just installed two E30 outdoor Wifi Cameras (SOLAR POWERED) and they work excellent. Security not a concern where I live I do this for fun. Mostly to catch a rare video of wildlife passing by my yard at night.
HOWEVER in your case I would look at the Eufy S340 as I believe it has a zoom lens which you will need if you plan on outing something so high up.
Eufy cameras have excellent "human" tracking, vehicle tracking and general motion settings and they ALL work amazingly well. Im well experienced in Wifi Cameras and I was surprised at the cost how well they work as far as motion sensing. The biggest problem for some and why complaints on cameras is they do not understand how important it is to have a strong WiFi signal where the camera will be placed. It's just something some people forget about. Keep in mind though my experience with Eufy is with my E30 cameras installed just a couple months ago. The S340 is more robust with features that I didn't need for our single story home. Cost difference is not that much. For example the S340 will trigger LED lights on motion at night. I didn't want that, the E30 just relies on infrared. Im not so sure how configureable the 340 is. The cool part is with any of this stuff, most offer 30 return (Amazon) if you dont like it. How can you go wrong?
One thing with WiFi is if you want a constant feed you are going to want a powered Wifi camera. I dont think solar will cut it. In fact I think Eufy mentions this. The Eufy solar cameras send a signal to your cell when it detects motion. In the settings you can set it up to record and alert you on 3 different types (and as I posted work amazingly well) You can check any combination of boxes for the 3.
Record on people motion, record on vehicle motion and record on general motion. You can also view instant video and stream but would not be realistic that it would run all day on battery power for a live stream.
All things equal between WiFi cameras, solar is a great option but powered cameras to me is the more permanent solution if practical.
MY last home I had 5 powered Wifi (EZVIZ) cameras.
This home, was more of a fun project to try out the solar option. Works great but honestly would not have been much effort for me to run low voltage to powered cameras. I just thought I would try the solar as I have too many home projects going on and thought it would be fun to not get involved in a couple hour project. Im curious how long they will last, we know any solar/battery system is not going to be as long lasting as powered. So this is kind of a test. Right now the cameras use very little battery power at night, maybe 10% I believe the S340 will use more. Im kind of expecting the life of the E30 (solar and battery) to last maybe 3 years. We will see anything more will be welcome, anything less will be a disappointment. If it makes it to 5 I would be tempted to get another, if it is less I will select a powered Wifi camera at that point.
I will say
the motion detection on the solar Eufy is far superior and amazingly accurate than anything I have ever tried with powered Wifi cameras (of different brands but not Eufy) but one must remember we have advanced in the few years of my last powered cameras on my last home so I am sure maybe some others have advanced.
However the motion settings on the Eufy E30 work so well that they will set the standard for any cameras moving forward.
Daytime shots (keep in mind the brightness setting on the device you are viewing with will determine how bight the picture is)
Also I didn't "download these images, I just took a screen shot off my phone to give you an idea. (potio and landscape still a work in progress) I covered my plate number because you can clearly zoom in and see it. This is a first floor camera.
Front Cam at night, yeah, me taking the new puppy outside at 4AM. I have the infrared disabled on the front cam since there is enough ambient light I get color image instead of black and white infrared. This is on the e30 with the s340 I believe the white "spotlight" LEDS give you color. Honestly unless you are close up it would be hard to have a clear face photo. Remember I did this for fun. The S340 might be more accurate with zoom function. These are consumer cameras and for what they do it's pretty good.
Screen shot from video below
E30 IR night vision is just ok, I doubt you will clearly see faces with it unless there is lighting in the area. This photo below is in total darkness. I mean total blackness. That is a possum near the BBQ Grill. This was screen shot from a video.
Bottom line the images are ok for a consumer product about what I expected to a bit better than expected or better said I am not disappointed and not blown away either.
