TP-Link Tapo C425

With this IP camera I store my images without an additional subscription and I choose what notifications I receive. I do need a strong WiFi signal, otherwise my image sometimes freezes.

Image storage without additional subscription I save the images from this camera on an SD card. I do not take out an additional cloud subscription for this. If I do want cloud storage, I pay a fixed amount per month. Most other functions, such as talking to visitors and setting motion zones, also don't require a cloud subscription.

Quick and easy installation I find the installation of this IP camera easy, because it is completely wireless. To do this, I first charge the battery with the supplied USB cable. I screw the base of the camera to the fence. Would you rather not make holes? Then you stick it on. There are strong magnets in the base and the camera. This makes it easy for me to click the camera onto the base. However, this is slightly less resistant to theft than a camera with a screw mounting.

Keep an eye on everything via the app I connect the camera to the app on my smartphone. Here I watch the live images, which are very sharp. For this I need a good WiFi connection with the camera. Otherwise the image stutters or even freezes completely. I solve this by placing my WiFi extender closer to the camera. After that I no longer have connection problems. In the app I also set exactly what kind of notifications I want to receive. I turn on personal and pet recognition. I also set the built-in lamp to turn on in the evening when there is movement. This way I can see exactly who or what is in the picture. I leave out extensive notifications with screenshots, because I need a cloud subscription for this.

I was able to test this camera for about 2 weeks. It is a sturdy, quite heavy, camera. Installation was very easy. The wall holder can be attached using a magnetic plate or screws. Here you click the camera, which has a strong built-in magnet, into place. You can connect the camera via the Tapo app (Wi-Fi required) and set it to your own wishes and preferences. There are many options, including who or what the camera should respond to, adjustable distance, video quality 720 P, automatic or 2K QHD, frame rate, night vision, sensitivity, etc. This camera also has the ability to communicate clearly with each other. In the settings you can also indicate whether an alarm will sound upon detection, the sound can then be heard via the camera and also via your mobile phone. If you are at home, you can switch on the privacy mode, the camera will go black and nothing will be detected and/or recorded. The view of the camera is very clear, both during the day and at night. I have installed a micro SD card to record and play back the stored videos, which I personally prefer. The built-in battery has a battery life of about 300 days, but I can't say anything about this. The test period was too short for that. The only downside, which is nice for charging and cleaning the camera, is that the camera is easy to remove from the holder due to the magnetic attachment, making it more susceptible to theft.

I'm happy with it, but not as happy as I would have been with 300 days on a charge