Ezviz C8C

[testman78]

Introduction

Home security camera systems have exploded in the past few years, in no small part thanks to the rise of IoT and smart home products. It's too easy to get lost in a sea of smart security cameras to choose from, many of them offering nearly the same things. From time to time, you do come across one that promises a new feature so incredible it sounds almost too good to be true. Those already familiar with EZVIZ's outdoor security cameras will already know what to expect from its latest product. Designed to meet the challenges of outdoor video surveillance and security, the new C8C has smart features including panoramic view, human recognition with built-in AI technology, color night vision, and environmental protection technology.



The C8C has the following specifications:




Packaging & Contents

The C8C packaged in a nice retail box that shows off the Camera quite nicely on the front cover.




Helpful information can be found throughout the box, but most of what you need is on the back in 9 languages.



Ezviz also lists a few of the more prominent features of the Camera.



The Camera itself is packed very securely. Foam pad is made in the most vulnerable places.



The Camera is supplied with power adaptor, a CE declaration of conformity and short instructions - both in English. The quick start guide has a QR code to enable you to download the full user guide and the app.





There is also a drilling template for the pre-assembled bracket, screws and dowels for wall mounting and a coupling to protect the LAN cable from water and dirt.






Performance

With its air of a black and white color magic ball, the Ezviz C8C goes quite unnoticed and will not be spotted by an intruder. The plastic used seems resistant and the quality of the finishes is there. The frame has a large black front, highlighted by the lens camera system that gives the C8C its headlining color night vision capabilities and a 352 degree Pan-Tilt 95 degrees of view. The Ezviz C8C Cam is 158 x 157 x 149 mm in size. It weighs 510 grams.



The camera also has two external antennas for better Wi-Fi connectivity. A power/data lead comes attached right out of the box, simplifying installation, and again, keeping the whole package weather-resistant. The attached lead consists of a 12V barrel connector for power, and an ethernet port if 2.4GHz Wi-Fi isn't your thing, which was a pleasant surprise. The IP65 rating ensures the camera won't sustain damage from the weather. EZVIZ includes a weather-proof cover, again showing just how thoughtful the whole package is. Looking at the stand, this camera can only be mounted on the wall or ceiling of the house, using four screws on a flat or vertical plane.



The camera uses a 2mp sensor that can record 1080p at 22fps. It delivers videos using H.265 codecs and has a built-in microphone. It relies on four optical lenses with floodlight support.



Underneath the body of the C8C is a single compartment - accessible via screwdriver, which houses a microSD card slot, and a tiny reset button. It may irritate those that want to access the memory card often, but I love how EZVIZ put both components in a position that requires more than just reaching around the back to get to as I have seen with other cameras. It supports up to 256GB micro SD card.



On the back there is a sticker with the product information as well as a QR code for easy setup via app. On the body of the camera, there is an LED indicator, which is blue to show the Wi-Fi connection status or whether a video is being viewed in the app. The LED flashes red if the Wi-Fi connection has failed. A microphone associated with noise reduction technology is provided for listening.




Performance

Installing the hardware is similar to most other cameras, so you will need to drill four holes and screw the camera arm into place and then, you have to choose the power source. To install it, the camera can be placed on a wall or the ceiling thanks to its wall bracket. In both cases, you must have a socket nearby in order to connect the camera to the mains. Like most of the outdoor camera, it does not have a battery. The camera doesn't have Power over Ethernet (PoE) to deliver data and power over one cable.



Next, you need to download and install the Ezviz app on your mobile device. The pairing process is quick and detailed in the Ezviz management application. I started by downloading the mobile app creating an account.




I tapped Add Device in the app and used my phone's camera to scan the QR code on the front cover of the quick install guide (there's also a code on the base of the camera). I plugged in the camera, verified that it was powered up, and tapped Next. It's also where you will connect the camera to your home Wi-Fi router since it works only on a 2.4 GHz connection.





The EZVIZ app, available on both iOS and Android, features a clean interface, with loads of settings and options available behind a main camera overview screen.



Tapping on the camera on the home screen takes you immediately to the live view which is convenient, and the app presents you with handy controls on both portrait and landscape orientation. Advanced features are available outside of the live view, with some highlights like the ability to establish motion detection zones, setting smart notifications, and assigning alarm tones. Unfortunately it doesn't support preset points or patrol so if you want to move the camera to a new position you have to do it manually in the app.




It works with both Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant, letting you start recordings and take other actions all through your choice of voice assistant. On top of that, its connection to the EZVIZ Cloud means that you can easily back up your footage automatically and store it remotely - that also lets you access it from whatever device you need, which can be really useful in a pinch. The head only turns on command of a virtual joystick available in the Ezviz app, which more exactly allows you to rotate the head by 352 Degrees, but also to tilt it by 95 Degrees to see beyond the field. The recognition of people is on the other hand well in the game.



Monitoring everything that happens outdoors is a complex practice. EZVIZ has sought ways to reduce false or irrelevant alerts, as well as provide an active defense system. To do so, EZVIZ programmed an advanced AI algorithm into the C8C camera so it can recognize and detect human shapes intelligently. When strangers trespass on the property, alerts will be sent to users' mobile devices and a strobe light will be activated on the spot for deterrence.



The camera has three night shooting modes. Video is recorded thanks to built-in spotlights and professional optical lenses. Even at night, the "Color" mode provides vivid color images. If you need additional lighting, just open the application and switch the camera to the "IR" black-and-white shooting mode. The field of view in this case will be 30 meters. And the Smart mode will automatically switch between black and white and color shooting, as well as turn on the spotlights when human movement is detected. The video will be recorded in color quality, which will allow you to distinguish all the necessary details. The quality of the video recording is very good, but in low-light scenarios, it's not quite as good as more expensive security solutions. For most homeowners, the day and night recording quality is more than good enough.







All videos are recorded in 1080p high-definition and efficiently compressed with the H.265 standard. The user will get a sharp display. This camera can display a bright enough view to the entire playground. Users can either store footage on the camera's local micro-SD card or subscribe to EZVIZ's CloudPlay for cloud storage, which now provides a free trial for up to 30 days. You set the camera to record 24/7 or only when motion is detected. The microphone is also efficient and picks up voices well. The rendering is clear and nothing disturbs the listening. Unfortunately, this device does not have two-way communication.






Final Thoughts

EZVIZ C8C comes with a design that remains attractive. The camera has a black and white cylindrical enclosure which supports the ability to rotate almost 360 degrees horizontally (pan) and 95 degrees vertically (tilt). With a 360 degree field of view, the camera covers quite large areas. Pan and tilt functions help you overcome blind spots when monitoring space, which is not the case with most outdoor cameras. Many security cameras drop off at night, and experience a significant loss in quality. Even if you have night vision, it's often in black and white, grainy, or both. The camera delivered sharp daytime video in our tests and color night vision was impressive. The Ezviz C8C records night vision in full color, so you can see far more details than many cameras. Moreover, the range of 30 feet isn't bad for a full color night vision system. Also, it's well-suited for covering a large area, like an entire backyard. That said, the built-in spotlights are exceptionally bright. If you do need extra range at night, just switch on the lights. It uses an advanced AI algorithm with person detection. When it sees a person, it starts recording. When the person is no longer visible, it shuts off. You can optionally turn on push alerts and emails for when a recording is triggered. This ensures you'll always know what's going on at home. Alternatively, if you'd rather not be bothered, you can turn alerts off. When you do receive an alert, you'll not have a lot of options. The camera is equipped with a noise canceling microphone but you can't activate two-way audio (cause there isn't any), in order to talk with the person. You can activate the spotlights but there isn't any siren. These can terrify an intruder, and will usually be enough to make them run away. The mobile app is excellent, letting you configure a whole host of settings, view live feeds, receive motion detection alerts, and view recorded footage. It works with both Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant, letting you start recordings and take other actions all through your choice of voice assistant. Of course, even the best video isn't very useful if you can't record it for later use. There are two storage methods on the Ezviz C8C, each with its own benefits. For local storage, you can use up to a 256GB Micro SD card. There's none included, but it's not as if they're terribly expensive. This is especially true if you use a smaller 32GB card, which is still enough for hours and hours of footage. The camera uses loop recording, so the oldest footage is always overwritten first on a full card. The second option is to use Cloud storage. This costs a monthly fee(free trial for up to 30 days). On the other hand, it allows more flexibility in accessing and transferring your videos. Unfortunately the camera doesn't support ONVIF so it will not work with third party NVR's.



The Ezviz C8C is one of the most budget-friendly security cameras at $100 but has everything you need for a compelling solution for the outdoors. The C8C, which works brilliantly can replace a video surveillance system consisting of several cameras. It is a really good, solid camera that gives excellent coverage of your space -with the need for mains power. It also a versatile security cam that provides sharp color video day and night. The IP65 rating ensures the camera won't sustain damage from the weather. It's not a wire-free-PoE camera since it requires an AC power source. This is a slight bummer for those who prefer to not have cables running everywhere and would prefer to charge an internal battery instead, but this does allow Ezviz to keep the camera size compact. Because there's no internal battery at all, should your home lose power, so too will your Ezviz security camera. It would be good at the very least to have a small battery backup in case of power outages, even if it is to record but a few minutes of footage. For another thing, it connects easily to WiFi. You can take advantage of storage on both an SD card and in the cloud. With this many capabilities and so few flaws, the Ezviz C8C our Special Recognition Award.