Many of us today are seeking a solution to home security, here I’ll be reviewing a camera from EzViz, parent-owned by Hikvision who are a major player within the global security market and have been since 2001.

The China based company manufacture a number of security devices such as cameras, alarms and sensors and my review is based on one of their cameras, the C2C Mini O.

What does the C2C Mini O do?

The Mini O is a very small, very nice looking Wi-Fi enabled camera with the ability to record footage that can be both cloud-based (subscription required) and/or via SD Card storage (purchased separately and installed within each individual camera).

Like most of the cameras available in today’s market it boasts the following features:

• wide-angle 720p lens
• infrared for night-vision recording
• auto-switching between day and night-vision
• live streaming and alerts
• two-way audio

EZVIZ Mini O C2C Indoor Camera with WiFi

I feel EzViz have built the Mini O around simplicity, the camera is very small in size and very unobtrusive but packs a powerful punch when compared to the bigger players within the market such as Nest. While the body of this camera is plastic, the build feels very good.

Packaged within the box is the Camera, Mains Adapter with accompanied Micro USB Cable and Metal Plates for magnetic use should you wish to install it onto a metal area.

Within the smartphone app there is the ability to create a ‘Motion Detection Area’ and pick exactly where in the cameras view you wish to be alerted of an intruder. This particular setting is ok, I feel it requires some tweaking as I was still sent alerts in areas I had not selected but I like the feature and with improvement can be a very useful tool.

You can also change the sensitivity of the motion detection to the level you are happy with, as well as change the notification sound from Intensive to Soft or Mute.

How easy are they to setup?

Very easy!

After downloading the app (I am using an iPhone, EzViz have their own designated iOS app) I was prompted to create a login, after which I was then prompted to install my first device.

First you scan the QR code, the app detects your device and then you are prompted to connect it to your Wi-Fi network. Within a matter of minutes your camera shows within the app with a live view.

What’s the connectivity?

EzViz have IFTTT capability and I tested this using the designated IFTTT app, I was able to trigger a Philips Hue light to turn on if motion was detected.

Connectivity like this provides the user with many more features to be enabled such as

‘Turn on Sleep Mode when I arrive home’ and ‘Turn your camera off when you leave home’.

These applets were presented when I logged into IFTTT as it recognised I had the EzViz app installed.

The Mini O is also Alexa enabled.

How much does it cost?

The Mini O retails on Amazon for £39.55.

When you consider this price it’s extremely affordable and on the lower end in comparison to it’s competitors.

What’s it like living with it?

It’s a very good camera, it does exactly what it’s expected to do. The app is good, has the required settings and more.

However I feel the UI could do with updating and simplifying as people who may not be tech savvy may struggle with the settings. That said you do get a very solid package for the price.

Footage can be downloaded to your phones picture folder and takes just a couple of minutes to process and you can also view footage via their desktop application for anyone who prefers a laptop or PC view.

For cloud storage, there are four options; two for 7-days and two for 30-days, billed monthly or annually. The costs are:

• 7-days, monthly: £4.99
• 7-days, annually: £49.99
• 30-days, monthly: £9.99
• 30-days, annually: £99.99

One thing I like about the camera setting is the date and time are visible on screen so when footage is stored it’s automatically written into the image. Some market competitors do not have this feature and EzViz have included this which, in my opinion, is a very good decision on their part.

What are our final thoughts?

This is a great camera, especially for the low price!

Anyone looking for security that is simple to set up, has many features available to tailor the experience and does not want to break their wallet I would recommend the Mini O. If you require a camera that has the ability to connect to other third-party apps, this could be the one for you.

As you can expect from Smart Home Geeks this article will be updated when more features become available.

For more information visit: https://www.ezvizlife.com/uk

Review by David Camilleri for Smart Home Geeks.

KODAK has always been synonymous with Cameras and tech, since 1888! Fast forward to 2018 and KODAK has made a move into the Smart Home space, releasing a KODAK Smart Security System. This has been done via a licensing deal with Liz Invest.

The system includes a range of HD indoor and outdoor cameras and sensors. We are having a look at the EP101WG the outdoor HD motorised camera.

What does the EP101WG outdoor KODAK camera do?

This is a monster of an outdoor camera, not a stealth or discreet outdoor camera. The camera itself is inside a done mounted on an arm – this allows it to offer impressive pan, tilt and zoom functionality.

The camera is full HD 1080p is IP66, so fully safe for outside and has internal SD recording option as well as Google Drive. This means no on-going subscriptions are required, great news as most of the new cameras in this space come with hefty subscriptions.

The camera also has 10-meter night vision and infrared filter, for clear vision.

As the camera is part of a full security system it can be connected to KODAK sensors. When these sensors are triggered the camera will automatically turn to the sensor if triggered.

Kodak EP101WG Motorized Security IP Full HD Outdoor Camera

How easy is it to setup?

First you need to install the camera, this is straightforward as the cables run nicely through the arm. The cables and connectors are not waterproof so these need to be ran inside.

However, as the cables both come together through the arm a small hole can be drilled for the power cable and ethernet if needed. We didn’t use the ethernet just WiFi. It can then be fitted flush to the wall.

The next step is to download and installing the free KODAK Security mobile app.

Like most smart home tech, the setup is done by connecting to the cameras own WiFi signal then adding it to the local network WiFi. We did have a small hiccup during setup, but a quick reset fixed it.

(If you are reading this and having issues the reset button is not labelled and hidden inside the SD cover. Press it in for 8 seconds to rest)

Once setup one essential step is to change the default password as it is 123456. This can be changed inside the advanced settings.

What is the connectivity?

The KODAK system connects to Google Drive to store recordings however that aside it has no third party connectivity. We can only assume this is by design as it is a security system so not wanting IFTTT is understandable. However a Amazon Alexa Skill or some smart home connectivity does seem like a missing feature.

How much does the EP101WG cost?

£169.99 for the camera, additional security accessories are sold separately.

Alternatively If you are after the full solution you can buy a starter kit that contains a camera and sensors for a reduced price.

What’s it like living with it?

The camera is great, excellent picture day and night – the super smooth pan and zoom work very well.

The app is packed with features  although all oddly hidden within settings, the cog, and  advanced. These include:

• Email alerts – receive emails when motion is detected
• Video settings – change quality, light and flip image
• Cloud settings – connect to Google Drive
• Sensitivity settings  – change motion sensitivity including masking an area

Most of these options normally are setup within the main menu so why they decided to hide them under advanced we are not sure.

What are our final thoughts?

This is a great subscription free camera solution, especially if you add the functionality of the sensors. The app is packed with features, even if it does take a while to find them all. Motion masking is great, not all cameras offer this.
The only thing missing is third party connectivity. For example; Alexa show my garden camera or triggering Philips Hue lights if motion. Hopefully that will come later!

For more information please visit their website: https://be-connected.com/