Foscam seem to be popping up everywhere at the moment, not just online but in high street stores such as Argos. We recently tried out the Foscam FosBaby, which was a great camera and now, we’ve got one of their C1 mini HD home security cameras, which on first look, sounds impressive and also very affordable. Without further ado, let’s check out this cam!
Tech Spec:
✔ 1.0 MegaPixel High Definition (1280 x 720) / 25fps(720P) – 1/4″ CMOS lens
✔ Remote Access
✔ Soft AP – Peer to Peer Connection
✔ WPS-Enabled Wireless Connection
✔ Video Recording on Sound/Motion Detection/PIR
✔ Two Way Audio
✔ Wide Viewing Angle – 100 Degrees
✔ Night Surveillance Up To 8 Meters
✔ Embedded IR-Cut Improves Image Clarity
✔ Compatible With iOS (iPhone/iPad) & Android
✔ Micro SD Card Slot (Up to 32GB) – Not Supplied
This is a ‘mini’ camera, so I expected a small box to arrive and It did. Inside the box is the camera, a USB cable for charging, a plug adapter, instructions and a sticker saying something along the lines of ‘CCTV in operation, go away’. The camera itself is very lightweight, has a flexible boom arm, allowing for easy positioning and the base can be fixed to a ceiling or similar. The camera housing is circular, with the lens being in the center of that and the PIR just slightly above it. On the bottom of the camera is a micro SD card slot (upto 32gb) and on the back is an Ethernet port (does work over wifi!), WSP/Reset & soft AP buttons, plus the micro USB port for powering. The camera comes in glossy white or black and overall, the camera look’s smart and is relatively small & discrete.
Setting up the camera was quite easy and follows similar step’s to every other camera. Firstly, download the official Foscam app, available on both iOS & Android and create a free account (email & password). Once you have been verified and can sign in, you can then hit the ‘add camera’ button and follow the simple step’s given. One thing I liked, was there is a QR code on the back of the camera, which you are asked to scan and the app automatically knows what you’re trying to install.
The app itself is one of the main features for this camera and any other Foscam camera. The app allows you to add and manage several camera’s, view & control cameras and view recorded footage, as well as change’s camera setting’s etc etc. This camera can record to SD card but Foscam do offer a cloud storage solution, for a small monthly fee.
The camera itself produces very clear, vibrant images for 720p and the 100degree wide angle allows you to see a lot in the shot. The sound is clear enough but could be better and when viewing the camera in live view, there is a bit of lag. Quality wise, more than acceptable for identifying any unwanted intruders. You can set the camera to record, based on sound/motion detection, scheduled times or continuously. Other features that are noteworthy is the night vision which is good, the two way communication and also the alerts you can set up on your viewing device.
So how much does it cost? Just over £30 and for that price, this is an absolute steal!
The Foscam C1 Lite Camera is available from reichelt.co.uk for just £31.41!