Pros
- Multiple cameras with one purchase
- Very friendly price
- Quick and easy set up
- Solid waterproof construction
- Continuous cloud recording with paid subscriptions
- Decent video quality
- Live feed can be viewed by multiple users
- Continuously takes a snapshot every 12 seconds
Cons
- There are some app kinks that the manufacturer should address
- Some have issues with the motion sensor
- No 2-way talk
On many occasions, you can’t just rely on a single outdoor camera to give you the peace of mind you want in keeping your property safe. Lots of folks worry that a full set up can cost them a pretty penny so they make do with having some gaps in their security. However, with the right products, you don’t have to settle or compromise your household or business’ safety.
With products like the Zmodo Security Camera (720p), you can get a set of 4 cameras with a single purchase at an affordable price. Equipped with solid features and a wide range of functionalities, it can help you stay on top of your home or business’ safety even when you’re away.
What can the Zmodo 720p Cam do for you? Find out in our review below.
Zmodo Security Camera: A Detailed Review
Design and Features
A quick glance at the Zmodo 720p Wireless Cam and you’ll instantly know that it’s a solid security camera. Its bullet design with white casing gives it a straightforward appearance that you’ll immediately know that it’s a security camera. It makes it easy to let people know that your property is under security surveillance and hence deter any intrusion.
Its add-ons are also rather functional. It has an antenna at the back of the main body, ensuring a strong wireless connection for the camera. Upfront, it has a short visor to help prevent water from running down its lens and obscuring the view.
Its mounting base is also very utilitarian as it serves as a stand and a wall mount at the same time. It folds at the spot where the base touches the stem so you can screw the base to the wall and you can still position it in the angle you need it in.
As a plug-in device, you can also find its power cable attached to the back part of the main unit.
Setup and Usage
Just like most of the other DIY wireless security cameras in the market today, the Zmodo 720p is also very easy to set up. The process only involves connecting the camera to the app and then to the wireless network and that’s pretty much it. If you’re planning on using an NVR unit, you will need to take additional steps for that but as it’s not very complicated, you’re sure to be done within minutes.
You could take longer in mounting the camera to an outside wall than in getting it up and running. Since this is a plug-in device, you will need to do some electrical wiring and cable management in the process. You can either run the cable outside your house using additional waterproofing tools or drill a hole on your wall to run the cable through. Just don’t forget to do the drip down wiring technique to avoid water issues later on.
Using the camera itself is pretty easy as you don’t have to fiddle with the unit to make it work. You can tweak its settings on the app so you can do so with just a few taps.
Video Quality
An interesting thing about these Zmodo outdoor cams is the fact that it just falls a bit short of the specifications that you’ll commonly find in cameras today. It has a 720p resolution when most devices come with 1080p HD resolution. It also records in 25 fps when most cameras do it in 30 fps.
However, the picture quality is still clear and crisp so you can still be guaranteed to see everything in the shots clearly. Its 81° field of view is also pretty limited when compared to other security cameras today but it shouldn’t be much of a problem as it promises less picture distortion.
Its night vision is also quite good, thanks to its infrared LEDs. It has a reach of 65 feet, so you get a pretty large coverage in the dark. The picture quality is also clear and bright, even in black and white.
Audio Quality
If audio is crucial for you, this item might not be the perfect pick as it doesn’t record audio. It also doesn’t have a 2-way talk that will let you communicate or scare off the person in front of the camera.
Motion and Sound Detection
Since it doesn’t have audio features, it’s just natural that it doesn’t have a sound sensor as well. However, its motion sensor is rather reliable and can be set off accordingly. You will definitely need to tweak the motion detection settings as it can be quite sensitive.
As is typical with such devices, once the motion sensor of this Zmodo device is tripped, it will start recording a clip and notify you of the movement. However, it has a delay in sending a notification, so if you’re trying to catch it on the live feed, you might not always get there on time.
Cloud Storage Costs
Upon purchase of this product, you’ll get a 30-day free trial of Zmodo’s 7-Day Plan subscription. This will give you 7 days’ worth of continuous cloud recordings and alert clip storage and usually costs $4.99 per month or $49 per year.
After the free trial, you won’t be required to pony up for a subscription but you’ll need to recover your recordings every 12 hours as you can only access the camera’s recordings for the last 12 hours.
If you’re willing to pay for the cloud, you can also opt for the 30-Day Plan which costs $9.99 monthly or $99.90 annually. It will give you 30 days’ worth of continuous storage.
Smart Home Compatibility
If you have Alexa-enabled devices at home, you’ll be able to easily use these cameras with them. You can also watch its live feed in your Echo Snow if your unit’s firmware is updated to V8.0.1.46 or later versions. You can also integrate it into a Google Assistant environment.
Mobile Apps and Web Portals
As mentioned above, like with other wireless cameras, the controls of the Zmodo 720p is on the Zmodo or meShare app. You need to download this on your phone if you want to access and tweak your camera.
You can find the apps here:
Google Play
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zmodo&hl=en
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.meshare&hl=en
App Store
Generally speaking, the app is usable. However, some folks aren’t big fans of its design. The navigation can be pretty simple but some of its functionalities are a bit complicated. Take the scheduling, for example, which requires you to set specific parameters to work flawlessly.
Aside from the smartphone app, you can also use the Zmodo web portal to access your camera. It’s largely similar to the phone app so you won’t feel disoriented when going back and forth between the two.
If you want to grant your household members access to the cameras, you can also do so with ease. You just need to add their phones to the main account and they can already view the live feed with ease. Several users can access the cameras at any given time so you don’t need to worry about getting kicked out when someone else logs in.
FAQs
Do Zmodo cameras have sound?
This particular Zmodo camera doesn’t record audio and doesn’t have a 2-way talk.
Does this camera record continuously?
You can set it up for continuous recording if you’ll use the set with a Zmodo NVR or by paying for the cloud subscription. The storage size and performance will depend on the Zmodo NVR unit and the cloud plan you’ll get. If you don’t intend to cough up money for either item, you will need to rely on a motion-triggered recording instead. You can also opt to just record as you watch the live feed.
Can I add more cameras to this set?
Yes, you can add more cameras to this 4-piece set.
Will this device work without a cloud subscription?
Yes as you can still access its features even when you don’t shell out of the monthly cloud subscription. However, you’ll need to save and move your clips every 12 hours in such a case.
Can you view the live feeds of multiple cameras in one go?
No, you can only view one camera at a time.
How many can access the app and live feed at any given time?
Unlike other manufacturers, Zmodo doesn’t limit the viewers of their camera’s live feeds in the app. However, the phones of the other viewers need to be added to the main account before they can access the camera network.
Conclusion
If value for your money and good coverage are your biggest priorities when looking for a surveillance device, then the Zmodo Security Camera should tickle your fancy. Its solid features and friendly price tag could give you the convenience and functionality you need to adequately protect your property.