This hit all the points I have been trying to satisfy in my search for the right cameras with the right combination of features. It feels like users designed it.
Brian, great review & coverage of this Tapo camera. Love the fact that you don’t need a subscription to get the features your really need & want. Love the fact it works well with Amazon Alexa! I think this is the camera to beat that’s feature rich with NO subscription necessary! Thanks!
Wyze now has multi-cam view where you can view 4 live streaming cameras all at once and you get 3 cameras for $100. $10 a month membership would would take 2 years before you even reach the cost of Tapo's $300 price tag
Its a huge flaw IMO for the camera yo have local video storage ON the camera. It would be as simple as the perp taking the SD card out, or breaking the camera off and taking it, along with the footage...
My brother bought this and absolutely loves it. He did his research and picked this one out of them all. Now I’m going to buy it. Thank u for the great n thorough review. ❤
What's the difference between the Tapo TC85 & Tapo C425 (from this vid) cameras? The Amazon link calls it out as both and the tp-link website has both as separate as well.
They are the same cameras. Only difference is that the one camera that you purchase has a different model number than the ones you buy in the three pack.
Same. Too much trust these days. Too many products rely on the perp not having a ladder or not covering their face from the cameras or running away when its anti-tamper features sound off alarms. I want to like Tapo because their home automation sensors can make for one really nice custom alarm system but they don't even sell any loud outdoor-safe alarm sirens. Can make it really loud inside your home with lots of hubs but that's it. Too many flaws.
@@E71 Not covering their face or running away? I mean... cameras can't chase perps, detain them or physically snatch off their masks. 😂There is a perpetual degree of vulnerability from living among other human beings that cameras cannot solve for. Bullet proof windows can't control for someone driving a military tank into the building they're installed in, you know?
@@cjjuszczak I have aluminum siding, so I screwed the mag plate into the siding and attached the camera high enough, that a perp would need a ladder to grab it, which would be recorded in the cloud.
So very helpful and comprehensive thank you. As with you, nights here in the UK seem very dark suddenly and I was thinking about my first external camera(s) purchase.
@@Cylindermaster I've been looking too and it looks like the model number is different, look for TC425 not 85. You have probably found them 4 months later though :)
@@jimmcdonald6465 I've been looking too and it looks like the model number is different, look for TC425 not 85. You have probably found them 4 months later though :)
With these specifically, I'd use an Echo show cause the integration would allow you to bring them up automatically when they were needed. Otherwise, it depends on what you have!
Thank you for a great review what seems to be finally a great product. There's been a vacuum in this field for ages and this devices seem to fill the void left because there are hardly good cameras out there that could offer all of these features (as partially hitting a few of them won't cut it for many of us): 1) High quality (not just resolution) in daylight as well as night and low light conditions, 2) No forcing into cloud-only storage or subscription-based AI features, 3) Ability to store locally, mainly NAS rather than microSD (often unreliable and easy to steal), 4) Good AI feature-set also able to detect objects, animals, humans, 5) Work quickly as far as responsiveness and saving, over wifi, 6) Good set of features for automation and easy to manage settings, 7) Good range to cover small and large properties, 8) Decent price point If nitpicking, I'd want to better the mounting options. While I understand the magnetic holder (well engineered nevertheless) as it could be used inside a house perhaps, but I'd never use one even indoors since I'd want to make it as difficult as possible to physically remove the device from where it's been mounted. In fact I'd love if there was an option to place them in a more tamperproof and theft-deterring casing which could achieve maximum concealment so that they'd be even hard to spot.
Great review. 1) Could these be mounted inside behind a window and still detect movement outside? 2) Without connecting to 3rd Parties like Amazon, will it send instant notification/footage to a phone app? 3) Can you deactivate some cameras when I'm at home to conserve battery life?
1) No because it's a PIR motion sensor being used to do initial detection. 2) Yep! 3) Yep! They have an automation portion of their app for that. I use Amazon though for a few additional options.
@@AutomateYourLife does this have motion tracking and can we move view from application And can we screw them Because magnet mount can be stolen easily
Hi Im in the Market looking for the same setup. It's so many options but haven't found 1 to suit my needs at all!! If you do happen to find any information before I do please let me know. thank you
I have the C125 and can not find the 'clip settings' in the app, how do you get to it? I am thinking this is a software feature not a hardware feature...
Have you tested the cameras recording when under attack by a 2.4ghz de-auth attack; For example using a flipper zero? I ask because both of my Eufy door bell cameras stop recording events even to local storage if I de-auth them with a flipper. This is a serious problem for any 2.4 camera that stops working while disconnected from wifi.
Since these are 2K cameras, they look pretty good. I have never been left wanting on my phone but you could definitely see some grain on the larger screens if you were zooming in
Is there a way to monitor on my computer instead of an app on the phone only? I use my computer more than my phone and I hate dealing with apps. I know I'm weird but I would really like to monitor from my office computer.
Hey Carl (thanks for earlier by the way) I'm not sure which cameras you're talking about. But in general I think these cameras look great and I find that they are very clear for me in every situation I've put them in. You can absolutely look at the feed of these cameras when you're away from the house. They work pretty well too, as I don't usually have a ton of delay. That will depend on your network but they've been great for me
This was a great video. I'm looking for doorbell/outdoor cam setup to replace my older ZMODO setup and TP Link checks all my boxes. No other cam system matches price, features, capability and no subscription like the TP Link cams. Much appreciated.
It's tough to stop signal jammers at all. You'd have to have a stronger signal than the jammer to basically override it. But if you put an SD card in these (and most cams), they will still record. Check that with any other cameras but these do it
Brian, thank you very much for your video. Question: records conversations, music? If you have tested these parameters thoroughly, and at what distance? Thanks in advance for your answer.
It records audio, but I haven't really checked an exact distance. Music, I haven't tested specifically either. Sorry! I can tell you that I heard the kids out over 15 feet away.
Looks like a great camera, Confused on how it compares to the C420. The C425 (or TC85) doen not need the hub ( not sure if that is a positive or negative - the SD card would be in the hub and record all cameras - less sd cards necessary and its away from the camera so no one can just steal all the cameras (and its recording). No idea what the hub does to the range compared to a good wifi router. The magnetic mount looks much better on the C425.
Great review, we have been looking high and low for a decent security camera setup and I think these may be the ones. I run Homebridge, with connects to HomeKit and there is a TP-Link TAPO plugin for it. May have to get one to test the waters.
Well I know one which is installed here in my customer.. Whenever I come inside his house it will siren and I need to call the owner to disarmed it so that I can work inside his house
Good review. What isn't clear to me is the camera able to send the clip via wi-fi to a hard drive so that the home owner doesn't have to pull out the SD card.
Great video I have been using the Tapo c325WD and had it on my garage but in saying that where I am moving there is no place to run wires is the magnet strong enough for like a side mount or would I have to get the tripod mount
Thanks for this video. I was wondering if a resurve battery is available? Seems to me it would be easist to have one fully charged for one trip up the ladder to replcace then 2 trips to remove and ger it charged.
Brian, this camera looks really interesting, but for me it has to also work in Homekit. While it doesn't have native Homekit support there is a Homebridge plugin called "Homebridge Tapo Camera" which I think could bring in the camera feed as well as some notifications for automation purposes. The plugin appears to be being maintained as there was an update last April. I'm hoping one of your viewers will read this and comment on it. I don't know if you have a Homebridge, or Hoobs set up there or not. Anyway, thanks for the review!!!
Hello Yoof! I just noticed these on Amazon and they interested me. I also knew i knew a man that would know the details and so here i am. Lol. I hope you are doing well my Yoof? Thanks for a great video as ever.
The most important feature I look for is web access for the camera. Most camera companies don't offer it for low cost cameras and reviewers don't mention negative things about the item they are reviewing.
I'm in the process of adding a few outdoor security cams as part of a kitchen reno. In our (Eastern Canada) winters, battery-powered solutions really don't make sense - and the abundant heavy sticky snow here isn't likely to play nice with a solar panel either - so I've opted for POE-powered wired cams exclusively (though I haven't ruled out a battery-powered option inside the garage). I have a NAS for local storage as well - though I'm not ruling out a monitored security subscription (if I can get one) for when we're in travel mode...
You will have that heavy snow, so you gotta watch out for it! You know, the Eufy ones I had out there with the solar panel on top always did alright. Never ran out :)
@@AutomateYourLife I'm not surprised a solar panel would work fine on the Prairies: the winter days may be short, but with the cold climate they generally don't lack for sunshine!
So loving my TP link Tapo system! Only thing missing is 4k cams . I'm also a bit upset you need a 2nd subscription after 10 cameras. I'm up to seven already, and most likely would like 15 total.
@@sx20Ramar At six, zero issues wireless. Minus learning curve on where to adjust settings. That is a bit confusing. FOR THOSE new, YOU MUST do your settings in HOME, and AWAY! Otherwise, settings are lost immediately! In Home and Away, you must press the three vertical dots and than edit from there. NOT FROM MANAGE! Whoever designed the software app STINKS! BIG TIME. NO reason for it to be so stupid and confusing. Should be only ONE WAY to set and edit cameras. Otherwise, you will be wondering why your camera keeps ignoring your settings and resetting.
Would it make sense to use a solar panel even for indoor use? That way you don't have to take the cameras down to charge up the batteries. You just turn the light on in the room?
I think if you get it up against a window then the solar panel can be useful but inside of a house using ambient lighting isn't really going to charge much. I haven't seen it work very well even with panel lights that put out a lot of light at different frequencies
I'm looking for a outdoor camera to monitor my driveway. The distance away it needs to be mounted is about100 ft. I need it to connect without wires to a desktop computer and not a cell phone or wifi and has a memory card. Any ideas?
You can put cameras into privacy mode by pressing a button for each camera in the app. I believe there is an automation option to do that as well and if I remember correctly, Alexa has an option in their routines to turn on or off privacy for each camera. I have to do that for memory because I recently moved and haven't set everything back up yet
In the video, you'll see it pick up cars 50ft+ away. It'll depend how you set them up and what you want to trigger based on, but that's been the performance if I wanted it.
Love the info. Thank you. Will it work in Fairbanks, Alaska with cold winters? (-25 F) Will any system? I was thinking light socket camera may stay warmer? I have only just started looking and landed on this video first. If you have the time to reply, I'd appreciate it.
I would be curious to find out if you’ve experienced any issues with the night vision when it gets cold outside. I’ve had a couple of other brands that literally fail to detect motion at night when the temperature gets below 40F ~ 4C.
Do you know if you're using the micro sd card for storage and you lose internet for a while and get it back, will you be able to access the recorded clip during the outage?
A couple of questions please. Will it record brightly at night without the spotlight having to be used? And can you purchase spare bases so you can just move the one camera around various locations?
It can, you'd need just a little light to see things but it does pretty well with the IR lighting. Just if you want color at night the spotlight is normally used. As for the bases...I don't know sadly!
I like the compatibility with other systems better than EZVIZ's options. I think that's worth any differences in Night Recording, but sadly I don't have that specific camera to be able to tell you for sure that it's better. I can say that I've been very impressed with the night recordings on these cameras.
Is it true that the Tapo TC85 doesn't support the RTSP/ONVIF profile(S) protocols, therefore making it unable to stream the camera from NAS/NVR/PC via RTSP/ONVIF. In other words no wall or tiles of live cameras to monitor?
I really wish does cameras comes here also,. and in single or dual pack. would be perfect for my balcony where i got a Tapo C320WS. Ofc if it would work with HA or ST in the future.
Great video. Thanks for all the detailed information regarding the features of the camera. I want the ability to have local storage with no subscription. You mentioned RTSP in the video but I’m not familiar with that and how it works with an NAS. Can you point me in the right direction of a video that explains that whole concept pretty well?thanks again
Last I checked, they were RTSP but the setup was a little complicated. Nothing difficult, but it required a second account. Haven't tried in a while though
i would be interested in this but you didn't clarify if there is actual loop recording, meaning when the sd card fills up will it automatically record from the beginning over the old footage as some cameras do?...this would save people from having to buy sd cards every few months or pull the existing one to format it again. which some people can forget to do.
You said in an earlier comment about leaving the TC85 plugged into a charge bud permanently, that it leaves a port open to weather. But is that not same situation with the solar panel plugged into the TC85? Also where are 3 packs in Canada?
It can be directly connected to your home's wifi :) It should work off an extender, but watch out...that might slow down your video feed. Generally use Mesh
Anyone have issues with the camera not wanting to format the sd card? What brand and size SD card did you use for this video? I am hearing of many issues of people not being able to format their SD cards.
There is a help file on which brands of SD cards to buy with Tapo. We talked about that in our latest review of their doorbell, but you should be able to find a help file on that :)
Hey Ken - I actually think it's the right thing that they're not using WiFi 6 on outdoor cameras. Even 5 GHz just isn't going to work well. As for Max Recording Time, 2 minutes :)
Just picked these up to get away from Ring and the subscription. In the Video you state they can be used with RTSP to record to the NAS but I just contact TP Link and they're stating this cannot be done on any of their wireless cameras, onlyn on the hardwired version. Looks like this setting should just be advanced settings > create camera account but I dont have that option. Any thoughts on this or know if it can be turned on?
If it's not there, it's no longer available. You filled through the right way. What I think is happening is TP Link is about to sell their own Homebase and that will likely be the way they record to an off-camera source going forward
@@AutomateYourLife Unfortunately everything Im seeing is saying its due to battery life and that even with solar the cam couldnt support it. But with that large of a battery with a solar panel I imagine it would do fine. Was really excited about these since its rare for a wirelss cam to offer this feature at all.
Since you got the 3 pack of cameras do you also need 3 solar panels? Do you need a memory card for each camera or will all three feeds record to one card?
Brian, yes these camera's look very promising - short of the Google Home integration you mentioned. Followed the links you put in but not seeing any CDN retailers for this model?
Brian, what's the best type of SD card for this use, and which outdoor mounts with a threaded camera connector work with this camera? I just got one, and I have a 128 GB card, but I don't know which one to replace it with. Does it matter?
In both cases, the answer is that this camera is very flexible. I'd buy smaller cards that don't cost you a ton. Outdoors conditions can be harsh and cards will die no matter what after a lot of writing. As for the mounts, I'd been using a few different ones from other cameras. Since these cameras have the mount at the back of them, they are very flexible with a style of mount that you use. So it just becomes a question of how do you want it to look on your house?
@@AutomateYourLife Mate, you are the man! Also, I found a generic temp-proof, 512 GB, Class 10 Micro SD card for $11 on Amazon. I'm willing to spend that much to try it.
I purchased a three-pack of cameras, but one has a battery problem. It doesn't hold a charge for long and needs to be recharged every 40 days or so. I'm unsure whether I should return the entire package to Best Buy and risk getting another faulty camera or keep what I have and accept the loss. What do you suggest?
You will be surprised that using the same Tapo eco system the old Tapo 1080p C200 (£$30 each) cameras are super cheap, but if set to DAY mode permanently you can simply point them out of your windows to your yard or car park area and they have great colour night vision so long as you have some basic street lighting. This is the remote control camera so you can steer it from the app. Don’t get the newer 2K version though as it’s DAY mode night vision is not suitable. The camera has to be set to DAY mode otherwise you will get infrared reflections off your windows.
@@AutomateYourLife I uploaded a sample capture through glass, although it looks like we have very bright street lights that is not the case. To the naked eye it looks quite dark but to the C200 it looks bright and colourful, hope you don’t mind the link ua-cam.com/video/7dwoTQt7Sdc/v-deo.html
I don't know if im in the right place but i figured id ask. Im getting a crested gecko soon and they're active at night, so im looking for something simple to record activity and review later, perhaps save and see how he's doing. I currently don't have WiFi so what are my options?
I'd say anything I tell you here is going to be too pricey. Maybe just fine a camera with an SD card that records constantly and doesn't connect to an app. Then pull the SD card out to review
To show your laptop with the camera? I think you could. If you're trying to show the camera ON your laptop...you could with home.google.com if you connect it there.
This hit all the points I have been trying to satisfy in my search for the right cameras with the right combination of features. It feels like users designed it.
They seem to have come to a great place!
Brian, great review & coverage of this Tapo camera. Love the fact that you don’t need a subscription to get the features your really need & want. Love the fact it works well with Amazon Alexa! I think this is the camera to beat that’s feature rich with NO subscription necessary! Thanks!
Thanks Dan! This is a good one! :)
@@AutomateYourLifehi
Much better than anything coming from Wyze!! Better picture, sound and value for the money! :-) Excellent review.
It better be since it’s 3x the price.
Wyze now has multi-cam view where you can view 4 live streaming cameras all at once and you get 3 cameras for $100. $10 a month membership would would take 2 years before you even reach the cost of Tapo's $300 price tag
Its a huge flaw IMO for the camera yo have local video storage ON the camera. It would be as simple as the perp taking the SD card out, or breaking the camera off and taking it, along with the footage...
Also, there's an NVR option. Not a flaw, just an option :)
@@AutomateYourLife Where is the NVR option for this camera?
Not even have to break it, it’s magnetic so just pick it up
Not if you buy a different mount.
In the recording settings, there's an option for NVR but it takes a second account setup
My brother bought this and absolutely loves it. He did his research and picked this one out of them all. Now I’m going to buy it. Thank u for the great n thorough review. ❤
Enjoy!
What's the difference between the Tapo TC85 & Tapo C425 (from this vid) cameras? The Amazon link calls it out as both and the tp-link website has both as separate as well.
Any answers to this?
Support told me they’re the same. Between the 2 cameras Amazon only sells the C425. Didn’t make sense TP link website sells both.
They are the same cameras. Only difference is that the one camera that you purchase has a different model number than the ones you buy in the three pack.
The one thing I can't wrap my head around is the magnetic base. What's to stop someone from walking up to your cam and 'Yoink, my cam now' ?
Nothing if you put it at a reachable level. But it has mounting capabilities.
Same. Too much trust these days. Too many products rely on the perp not having a ladder or not covering their face from the cameras or running away when its anti-tamper features sound off alarms. I want to like Tapo because their home automation sensors can make for one really nice custom alarm system but they don't even sell any loud outdoor-safe alarm sirens. Can make it really loud inside your home with lots of hubs but that's it. Too many flaws.
@@E71 Not covering their face or running away? I mean... cameras can't chase perps, detain them or physically snatch off their masks. 😂There is a perpetual degree of vulnerability from living among other human beings that cameras cannot solve for. Bullet proof windows can't control for someone driving a military tank into the building they're installed in, you know?
I guess maybe the magnetic plate is for non-destructive mounting indoors ?
@@cjjuszczak I have aluminum siding, so I screwed the mag plate into the siding and attached the camera high enough, that a perp would need a ladder to grab it, which would be recorded in the cloud.
So very helpful and comprehensive thank you. As with you, nights here in the UK seem very dark suddenly and I was thinking about my first external camera(s) purchase.
Wonderful! Good luck!
Can't find it the UK, have you had any luck
@@Cylindermaster unfortunately no.
@@Cylindermaster I've been looking too and it looks like the model number is different, look for TC425 not 85. You have probably found them 4 months later though :)
@@jimmcdonald6465 I've been looking too and it looks like the model number is different, look for TC425 not 85. You have probably found them 4 months later though :)
Thank you for this. :)
What do you recommend as a permanent display, say on your kitchen counter, for all your cameras? Old tablet?
With these specifically, I'd use an Echo show cause the integration would allow you to bring them up automatically when they were needed.
Otherwise, it depends on what you have!
@@AutomateYourLife thank you. Good point. I'm about ready to upgrade my echo show anyway!
@mssbjh watch out next unboxing video :)
Thank you for a great review what seems to be finally a great product. There's been a vacuum in this field for ages and this devices seem to fill the void left because there are hardly good cameras out there that could offer all of these features (as partially hitting a few of them won't cut it for many of us):
1) High quality (not just resolution) in daylight as well as night and low light conditions,
2) No forcing into cloud-only storage or subscription-based AI features,
3) Ability to store locally, mainly NAS rather than microSD (often unreliable and easy to steal),
4) Good AI feature-set also able to detect objects, animals, humans,
5) Work quickly as far as responsiveness and saving, over wifi,
6) Good set of features for automation and easy to manage settings,
7) Good range to cover small and large properties,
8) Decent price point
If nitpicking, I'd want to better the mounting options. While I understand the magnetic holder (well engineered nevertheless) as it could be used inside a house perhaps, but I'd never use one even indoors since I'd want to make it as difficult as possible to physically remove the device from where it's been mounted. In fact I'd love if there was an option to place them in a more tamperproof and theft-deterring casing which could achieve maximum concealment so that they'd be even hard to spot.
Agreed on all of this! Thanks!
Great review. 1) Could these be mounted inside behind a window and still detect movement outside?
2) Without connecting to 3rd Parties like Amazon, will it send instant notification/footage to a phone app?
3) Can you deactivate some cameras when I'm at home to conserve battery life?
1) No because it's a PIR motion sensor being used to do initial detection.
2) Yep!
3) Yep! They have an automation portion of their app for that. I use Amazon though for a few additional options.
I bought 2 a few months ago. I love them!
Oh! Ahead of me on that one!
Ahead of you? NEVER!
@@AutomateYourLife does this have motion tracking and can we move view from application
And can we screw them
Because magnet mount can be stolen easily
@@muhammadsaeed6057 No, yes, and you put it high enough that someone would need a chair or ladder to reach.
I have a FireTV that I want to use as a monitor for live cameras. Can I have all 3 cameras displaying live images on the TV at the same time?
I haven't been able to do that
Hi Im in the Market looking for the same setup. It's so many options but haven't found 1 to suit my needs at all!! If you do happen to find any information before I do please let me know. thank you
@@AutomateYourLifeCan it display one location/camera feed on the TV if motion is detected?
Comprehensive review! Well done for covering everything!
Thanks!
I have the C125 and can not find the 'clip settings' in the app, how do you get to it? I am thinking this is a software feature not a hardware feature...
Have you tested the cameras recording when under attack by a 2.4ghz de-auth attack; For example using a flipper zero? I ask because both of my Eufy door bell cameras stop recording events even to local storage if I de-auth them with a flipper. This is a serious problem for any 2.4 camera that stops working while disconnected from wifi.
Good info. If the feature is available, you didn’t mention how the quality of video looks if/when you zoom in during live viewing.
Since these are 2K cameras, they look pretty good. I have never been left wanting on my phone but you could definitely see some grain on the larger screens if you were zooming in
Is there a way to monitor on my computer instead of an app on the phone only? I use my computer more than my phone and I hate dealing with apps. I know I'm weird but I would really like to monitor from my office computer.
You're not weird. Just not possible with this one as of yet. :)
How do you like this in comparison to the small 2K QHD Indoor/Outdoor camera?
Plus, can uou view these cdneras when you're away from the house?
Thanks
Hey Carl (thanks for earlier by the way)
I'm not sure which cameras you're talking about. But in general I think these cameras look great and I find that they are very clear for me in every situation I've put them in.
You can absolutely look at the feed of these cameras when you're away from the house. They work pretty well too, as I don't usually have a ton of delay.
That will depend on your network but they've been great for me
@@AutomateYourLife You're welcome. 😃 I meant your thoughts between the Tapo C120 outdoor/indoor vs the Tapo Mag Cam.
This was a great video. I'm looking for doorbell/outdoor cam setup to replace my older ZMODO setup and TP Link checks all my boxes. No other cam system matches price, features, capability and no subscription like the TP Link cams. Much appreciated.
Great system. Still using them to this day!
Thank you for the recommendation. These cameras work great! They work great with my automations with Alexa. I have 6 of these cameras.
So happy you're enjoying them!
Hello Brian. I would like to know if the TAPO also can work if someone is using a signal jammer or how to protect my cameras from being jammed
It's tough to stop signal jammers at all. You'd have to have a stronger signal than the jammer to basically override it.
But if you put an SD card in these (and most cams), they will still record. Check that with any other cameras but these do it
Brian, thank you very much for your video. Question: records conversations, music? If you have tested these parameters thoroughly, and at what distance? Thanks in advance for your answer.
It records audio, but I haven't really checked an exact distance. Music, I haven't tested specifically either. Sorry!
I can tell you that I heard the kids out over 15 feet away.
@@AutomateYourLifeThank you very much. If need to buy some property in Soth Florida let me know. :)
Picked up the Tapo C425 due to your great coverage on the product on Amazon Prime Days! Thanks Brian for your product thumbs up!
Nice! Enjoy so much Dan!
Looks like a great camera, Confused on how it compares to the C420. The C425 (or TC85) doen not need the hub ( not sure if that is a positive or negative - the SD card would be in the hub and record all cameras - less sd cards necessary and its away from the camera so no one can just steal all the cameras (and its recording). No idea what the hub does to the range compared to a good wifi router. The magnetic mount looks much better on the C425.
Do they support ONVIF, RTSP streaming?
to NAS over RTSP
@@AutomateYourLife Would have opened up so much more if they could be added to Blueiris.
Great review, we have been looking high and low for a decent security camera setup and I think these may be the ones. I run Homebridge, with connects to HomeKit and there is a TP-Link TAPO plugin for it. May have to get one to test the waters.
Yeah I think someone else had said they wanted to do that or had used the homebridge to get it into HK. Good luck!
@Tuxuser2003
Hey. Did you tested this security camera with HomeKit? If yes how it went?
@@vladasss I did not purchase them yet. Still looking.
I didnt hear anything about the camera having a siren?
Sorry about that! It does!
The video was excellent and great information. Can you offer suggestions on tripod to facilitate a permanent install.
Well I know one which is installed here in my customer.. Whenever I come inside his house it will siren and I need to call the owner to disarmed it so that I can work inside his house
Good review. What isn't clear to me is the camera able to send the clip via wi-fi to a hard drive so that the home owner doesn't have to pull out the SD card.
Yes, so you'd have to go through a bit of a setup process. You can do NVR/NAS through RTSP.
NVR/NAS through RTSP means what actually? @@AutomateYourLife
Great video I have been using the Tapo c325WD and had it on my garage but in saying that where I am moving there is no place to run wires is the magnet strong enough for like a side mount or would I have to get the tripod mount
The magnet is very strong. Exceedingly
I have the subscription and SD card installed. The subscription covers up to 10 cameras and it's really affordable.
10 cameras is a lot!
Thanks for this video. I was wondering if a resurve battery is available? Seems to me it would be easist to have one fully charged for one trip up the ladder to replcace then 2 trips to remove and ger it charged.
No sorry, just a solar option that I've seen
Hi 👋, what is the diameter of it, If you could, please let me know, but not sure whether I can get it in Europe yet,
Thank you, from the moulin,
Does it record 24/7? Can it be permenantly hardwired to a power source?
What if I use AT&T internet service will it still work and if so how do I connect it?
Any 2.4 GHz WiFi network should be just fine. Make sure you have that with a strong signal out where you're going to install these.
whats the max clip length this can be set to for motion events?
Another great video, might pick a 3 pack when I move house 🤔
Can you access history of videos remotely from the app, from local SD card storage? Does the app work well with Android phones?
Yes, yes, and yes!
can it record 24/7 or is this just motion trigger events?
Just motion
Brian, this camera looks really interesting, but for me it has to also work in Homekit. While it doesn't have native Homekit support there is a Homebridge plugin called "Homebridge Tapo Camera" which I think could bring in the camera feed as well as some notifications for automation purposes. The plugin appears to be being maintained as there was an update last April. I'm hoping one of your viewers will read this and comment on it. I don't know if you have a Homebridge, or Hoobs set up there or not. Anyway, thanks for the review!!!
Thanks Hugh! I do have a hoobs setup but I barely use it so I'm not well versed enough to comment!
Hello Yoof! I just noticed these on Amazon and they interested me. I also knew i knew a man that would know the details and so here i am. Lol. I hope you are doing well my Yoof? Thanks for a great video as ever.
Ahahahaha, well look who the cat dragged in! :) Doing well over here, and hope you are too!
The most important feature I look for is web access for the camera. Most camera companies don't offer it for low cost cameras and reviewers don't mention negative things about the item they are reviewing.
Web access is a rarely asked for feature since apps are normally used, but if you want that, you can look at Wyze or Ring with a subscription
What if someone steals the camera or destroys it, how can I get the video clips?
Get a cloud subscription or mount it up high (or with a different mount) so they can't :)
I'm in the process of adding a few outdoor security cams as part of a kitchen reno. In our (Eastern Canada) winters, battery-powered solutions really don't make sense - and the abundant heavy sticky snow here isn't likely to play nice with a solar panel either - so I've opted for POE-powered wired cams exclusively (though I haven't ruled out a battery-powered option inside the garage).
I have a NAS for local storage as well - though I'm not ruling out a monitored security subscription (if I can get one) for when we're in travel mode...
You will have that heavy snow, so you gotta watch out for it! You know, the Eufy ones I had out there with the solar panel on top always did alright. Never ran out :)
@@AutomateYourLife I'm not surprised a solar panel would work fine on the Prairies: the winter days may be short, but with the cold climate they generally don't lack for sunshine!
@@AutomateYourLife I was looking at the Eufy S340, however don't know how they would handle the -30c in Alberta.
So loving my TP link Tapo system! Only thing missing is 4k cams . I'm also a bit upset you need a 2nd subscription after 10 cameras. I'm up to seven already, and most likely would like 15 total.
I'm sure we'll see them up to 4K soon :)
Having that many cameras, you should be going wired! Much better but also more expensive.
@@sx20Ramar At six, zero issues wireless. Minus learning curve on where to adjust settings. That is a bit confusing. FOR THOSE new, YOU MUST do your settings in HOME, and AWAY! Otherwise, settings are lost immediately! In Home and Away, you must press the three vertical dots and than edit from there. NOT FROM MANAGE! Whoever designed the software app STINKS! BIG TIME. NO reason for it to be so stupid and confusing. Should be only ONE WAY to set and edit cameras. Otherwise, you will be wondering why your camera keeps ignoring your settings and resetting.
Would it make sense to use a solar panel even for indoor use? That way you don't have to take the cameras down to charge up the batteries. You just turn the light on in the room?
I think if you get it up against a window then the solar panel can be useful but inside of a house using ambient lighting isn't really going to charge much. I haven't seen it work very well even with panel lights that put out a lot of light at different frequencies
I'm looking for a outdoor camera to monitor my driveway. The distance away it needs to be mounted is about100 ft. I need it to connect without wires to a desktop computer and not a cell phone or wifi and has a memory card.
Any ideas?
Get a SIM card camera that meets that requirement?
Any info on camera specs .sensor size, f ratio lense size
Everything we have is in the video. You'll see it in the titles
Can you disarm the tapo mag cams from the TP Link app, or do you have to press a button on each camera?
You can put cameras into privacy mode by pressing a button for each camera in the app. I believe there is an automation option to do that as well and if I remember correctly, Alexa has an option in their routines to turn on or off privacy for each camera. I have to do that for memory because I recently moved and haven't set everything back up yet
At what range do these cams pick up motion? I have cams that can't see further than 10 Ft. In terms of triggering cam
In the video, you'll see it pick up cars 50ft+ away. It'll depend how you set them up and what you want to trigger based on, but that's been the performance if I wanted it.
Love the info. Thank you. Will it work in Fairbanks, Alaska with cold winters? (-25 F) Will any system? I was thinking light socket camera may stay warmer? I have only just started looking and landed on this video first. If you have the time to reply, I'd appreciate it.
It worked in Canada at -30 C. The batteries definitely drain quicker in that situation, but I was impressed :)
When you use a magnetic setup, what stops someone from throwing a brick at it (dropping it on the floor)
Absolutely nothing. What's stops that normally though? Even with a regular mount, you're going to break the camera with a brick.
How is the person detection? Does it give a lot of false alarm compare to Google outdoor battery cam. thanks
I thiiiiiink I spoke about that in detail, but suffice it to say it's been excellent. Near perfect, actually.
I would be curious to find out if you’ve experienced any issues with the night vision when it gets cold outside. I’ve had a couple of other brands that literally fail to detect motion at night when the temperature gets below 40F ~ 4C.
Nothing I've noticed. That would likely be based on motion sensing using PIR sensors not being able to pick up the changes in infrared
Do you know if you're using the micro sd card for storage and you lose internet for a while and get it back, will you be able to access the recorded clip during the outage?
Yes! It seems to continue to record for me :)
Can you add an nvr to view on a monitor?
Not at the moment
A couple of questions please. Will it record brightly at night without the spotlight having to be used?
And can you purchase spare bases so you can just move the one camera around various locations?
It can, you'd need just a little light to see things but it does pretty well with the IR lighting. Just if you want color at night the spotlight is normally used.
As for the bases...I don't know sadly!
Great review!
Do you need an SD card for each camera?
You will, yep!
Hi there. Good job. You think is it better than ezviz bc1c? I think that are similar but i dont know if the night record is better.. thank u
I like the compatibility with other systems better than EZVIZ's options. I think that's worth any differences in Night Recording, but sadly I don't have that specific camera to be able to tell you for sure that it's better.
I can say that I've been very impressed with the night recordings on these cameras.
I,m having a heck of a time finding the 3 pack of camera's in canada is there any other link the works thx Morris
It's not available Morris. Sorry!
Thanks for the video, is it possible to record 24/7?
Nope
@@AutomateYourLife and do they have such camera like eufy that can record 24/7 to homebase and not just SD card?
Is it true that the Tapo TC85 doesn't support the RTSP/ONVIF profile(S) protocols, therefore making it unable to stream the camera from NAS/NVR/PC via RTSP/ONVIF.
In other words no wall or tiles of live cameras to monitor?
There's a method in the advanced settings to create a second account to make it work with rtsp
I really wish does cameras comes here also,. and in single or dual pack. would be perfect for my balcony where i got a Tapo C320WS. Ofc if it would work with HA or ST in the future.
I'll let you know if I see it go international Finn
amazing review this sealed my decision on getting this camera!
Enjoy! They are so good
Great video. Thanks for all the detailed information regarding the features of the camera. I want the ability to have local storage with no subscription. You mentioned RTSP in the video but I’m not familiar with that and how it works with an NAS. Can you point me in the right direction of a video that explains that whole concept pretty well?thanks again
I don't actually have a video on that Frank! Sorry about that!
Love Tapo, tried so many different brands but hands down tapo is the best.
They've been great for us here!
Do they make a lte 4g camera for places where wifi is not available?
I haven't seen that from TP Link just yet. I bet they make one though
Great video, I have a few questions…does the sd card fill or overwrite when full? How far does it reach for detection? Thank you
Overwrite!
Detection...I've had a solid 20-25 feet be no problem. Vehicles I've detected 50+ feet away no problem
not available for sale in most countries yet
No it is still taking time to get these rolled out!
Great video, can the cameras be added to the H200 hub and have the recordings be sent there instead of the local sd card?
I don't know that actually! I don't have the H200. Sorry
Is the battery removable? Can the Tapo A100 batteries be used with this camera?
No sorry. All internal
Are they ONIF or RSTP compatible? I want to connect them to Blue Iris. Thank you.
Last I checked, they were RTSP but the setup was a little complicated. Nothing difficult, but it required a second account. Haven't tried in a while though
i would be interested in this but you didn't clarify if there is actual loop recording, meaning when the sd card fills up will it automatically record from the beginning over the old footage as some cameras do?...this would save people from having to buy sd cards every few months or pull the existing one to format it again. which some people can forget to do.
Yes it does loop the recordings and writes over them
You said in an earlier comment about leaving the TC85 plugged into a charge bud permanently, that it leaves a port open to weather. But is that not same situation with the solar panel plugged into the TC85? Also where are 3 packs in Canada?
3 packs in Canada is impossible still...
Yes it is the same, but it's fairly well handled with location. Just warning folks
Can you remotely review locally stored clips from a location / city other than where the cameras are installed?
Yep, through the app you can review incidents
Does it have a built in wifi or can it be connected to my home wifi service directly? Will it work off of a wifi extender?
It can be directly connected to your home's wifi :)
It should work off an extender, but watch out...that might slow down your video feed. Generally use Mesh
They are really good. Installing solar panel #2 in a few days
😀😀🔥
Anyone have issues with the camera not wanting to format the sd card?
What brand and size SD card did you use for this video?
I am hearing of many issues of people not being able to format their SD cards.
There is a help file on which brands of SD cards to buy with Tapo. We talked about that in our latest review of their doorbell, but you should be able to find a help file on that :)
Isn’t it odd it doesn’t have WiFi 6?
What is max recording time?
The fact that it can be set to record to a NAS is impressive!
Hey Ken - I actually think it's the right thing that they're not using WiFi 6 on outdoor cameras. Even 5 GHz just isn't going to work well. As for Max Recording Time, 2 minutes :)
2k @ 30fps is only 16 Mb/s. It's not the speed you have to consider but range and penetration.
Just picked these up to get away from Ring and the subscription. In the Video you state they can be used with RTSP to record to the NAS but I just contact TP Link and they're stating this cannot be done on any of their wireless cameras, onlyn on the hardwired version. Looks like this setting should just be advanced settings > create camera account but I dont have that option. Any thoughts on this or know if it can be turned on?
If it's not there, it's no longer available. You filled through the right way. What I think is happening is TP Link is about to sell their own Homebase and that will likely be the way they record to an off-camera source going forward
@@AutomateYourLife Unfortunately everything Im seeing is saying its due to battery life and that even with solar the cam couldnt support it. But with that large of a battery with a solar panel I imagine it would do fine. Was really excited about these since its rare for a wirelss cam to offer this feature at all.
Is there a way to turn off the sound it makes when motion detection is activated?
Mine makes no sound, so yep
Great review! Do you know if I can have the recordings stored to my NAS instead of the SD card on each camera?
You can!
What battery? Where are you supposed to plug in a 3 inch usb? Very little on powering the camera. I don't want a 1 sq ft solar panel.
The battery is inside the unit
@@AutomateYourLife how long douse the battery last?
Can view on iMac beside iphone.
Nice!
Did they fix 24/7 view...wifi was the problem? On t/p link
Sorry, what's the Q Gary? I don't remember everything I said in these videos anymore!
I may have missed it but, how long does it take to charge the battery and what SD card do u recommend? Thanks!
I haven't ever timed it actually. I take them down for about half a day and they're all charged up.
No SD Card recommendations. Don't spend too much as they're outdoors and will take some punishment :)
Since you got the 3 pack of cameras do you also need 3 solar panels? Do you need a memory card for each camera or will all three feeds record to one card?
You need 3 of each!
I just have a 256gb card in the h200 hub + 2 camera
Looking for some nice wifi cameras any brands you recommend would be appreciated . . Thank you
You're watching a great one here. :)
can record 24/7 on the micro sd with automatically erasing the old videos?
Not 24/7 as far as I remember
Brian, yes these camera's look very promising - short of the Google Home integration you mentioned. Followed the links you put in but not seeing any CDN retailers for this model?
It's been a painful wait for us Canucks. It should come to Best Buy asap.
Brian, what's the best type of SD card for this use, and which outdoor mounts with a threaded camera connector work with this camera?
I just got one, and I have a 128 GB card, but I don't know which one to replace it with. Does it matter?
In both cases, the answer is that this camera is very flexible. I'd buy smaller cards that don't cost you a ton. Outdoors conditions can be harsh and cards will die no matter what after a lot of writing.
As for the mounts, I'd been using a few different ones from other cameras. Since these cameras have the mount at the back of them, they are very flexible with a style of mount that you use. So it just becomes a question of how do you want it to look on your house?
@@AutomateYourLife Mate, you are the man! Also, I found a generic temp-proof, 512 GB, Class 10 Micro SD card for $11 on Amazon. I'm willing to spend that much to try it.
Thanks for the detailed video! Do these cameras support RTSP or ONVIF. I would really like to be able to use them in Blue Iris.
RTSP yes. It's in the middle of the video :)
I see where you mentioned local storage with NAS but not where the settings are for it. I’ve looked and just don’t see it.
Does it support masking in battery mode?
You mean the privacy zones? Yep!
I purchased a three-pack of cameras, but one has a battery problem. It doesn't hold a charge for long and needs to be recharged every 40 days or so. I'm unsure whether I should return the entire package to Best Buy and risk getting another faulty camera or keep what I have and accept the loss. What do you suggest?
You paid good money. Get it back and get a camera that works.
Maybe contact Tapo Direct though and see first?
You will be surprised that using the same Tapo eco system the old Tapo 1080p C200 (£$30 each) cameras are super cheap, but if set to DAY mode permanently you can simply point them out of your windows to your yard or car park area and they have great colour night vision so long as you have some basic street lighting. This is the remote control camera so you can steer it from the app. Don’t get the newer 2K version though as it’s DAY mode night vision is not suitable. The camera has to be set to DAY mode otherwise you will get infrared reflections off your windows.
Nice! Good use case Paul!
@@AutomateYourLife I uploaded a sample capture through glass, although it looks like we have very bright street lights that is not the case. To the naked eye it looks quite dark but to the C200 it looks bright and colourful, hope you don’t mind the link
ua-cam.com/video/7dwoTQt7Sdc/v-deo.html
Brian, does the camera show a live view without recording 24/7 or does it just activate when there is a detection?
There's a privacy mode that you can turn on and off, but it's always on for a live view if you want it :)
I don't know if im in the right place but i figured id ask. Im getting a crested gecko soon and they're active at night, so im looking for something simple to record activity and review later, perhaps save and see how he's doing. I currently don't have WiFi so what are my options?
I'd say anything I tell you here is going to be too pricey. Maybe just fine a camera with an SD card that records constantly and doesn't connect to an app. Then pull the SD card out to review
@@AutomateYourLife I figured. Any suggestions?. Like brands?
Great video ! Will they trigger alexa routines?
They do, and fast enough to be useful. That comes later in the video :)
I would like to get an update of battery life after the cold season passes
Sure, just remind me! I'm happy to let you know how it goes. I have to charge one, but I've been letting it record about 30-40 clips a day. :)
Updates?
Can i use this camera to indoor use to show my laptop
To show your laptop with the camera? I think you could. If you're trying to show the camera ON your laptop...you could with home.google.com if you connect it there.