Zetta Z86

[testman78]

Introduction

In the past few years, cameras have gotten smaller and smaller. Now, small spy cameras have been around for decades. But they've traditionally been fairly low quality. You could wear one on your lapel and get grainy video that looked bad even on a CRT screen. But today, you can get quality, 1080p video even from a compact camera. Today, we're going to be reviewing the Zetta Z86 Spy Camera. It's a compact little beast. And it's designed to take high quality videos. But what sets it apart from the other spy cameras on the market? We'll take a close look, and tell you everything you wanted to know about this well-engineered camera. Is this camera is as intelligent as it looks? Let's find out!



Specifications.




Packaging & Contents

The Z86 arrived inside a very small white box with the name of the unit.



The bundle is not really impressive so aside the Z86 you will get a mini-USB cable and the user's manual in two languages.





A Closer Look

From a physical standpoint, the Z86 Camera is highly compact. With 9.7 x 3.7 x 2.5cm It is pretty clearly intended to be hidden away, or otherwise made easy to obscure behind various obstacles.The chassis is mostly made from ABS plastic, which helps the camera maintain an exceptionally lightweight design while also being relatively shock-proof. That's not to say this camera is ready for roughhousing, but it would be able to survive being dropped from hand-level. Which isn't something you can take for granted when it comes to relatively delicate equipment like cameras.



This camera has a decent design. Although it's not disguised as another object, it's small size allows you to conceal it in many locations, such as on a bookcase or between photo frames. We can clearly see some holes on it for air exchange.



The lens used may offer Full HD quality but its extremely small size will most certainly affect image quality. The lens has an built-in 940nm fiter to prevent stray light interference. The lens has Covering a 72 degree viewing angle, it records in full HD 1920 x 1080p resolution. Right next it we see the microphone and a pinhole motion detector which helps to identify the camera as a camera for anyone who spots it. At the back are the reset and upgrade pinholes. It requires a small straight tool to be inserted into it to activate the feature.



The left side of the camcorder has the data transfer/charging mini USB port to connect to your PC, MAC, or the power adapter. There's also a standard SD card slot for hard storage options, status led and a basic on/off power button.You can use up to 256 GB and 156 hours recording via microSD.



The camera comes with a 2400 mAh built-in rechargeable battery.



Novatek NT96658 processor.



For more discretion, this small 15cm module can be connected to the Z86 camera which will be used as a portable recorder.



When the mini camera module is connected, the default camera of the Z86 won't be in use.



You can use also motion detector module.



Installation is required. User will need to open the Z86 camera to connect the camera motion detector modules.






Software

The Zetta Z86 Full HD camera offers advanced settings such as settings for video quality, image orientation, date and time display, loop recording, motion detection sensitivity, etc. For these settings you must download the PC program Camera Widget for Z86, which is available free of charge. All videos are time-stamped for better record keeping. Low power saving motion detection means that device will start recording when there is an object in the monitoring range, saving memory space and easy to search when the event occurs. Motion detection works through glass. Record immediately when an object is detected, even works through the glass of doors and windows.




Performance

The large capacity internal battery continously record for 8 hours on a single charge. Z86 can do 25 day motion trigger standby, while other camera's can only do 10 hours motion trigger standby. On a fully charged battery you will get up to 9 hours of constant video recording. This also includes the option to automatically split video recordings into separate files, with options for 10, 15, and 20 minute intervals. This means gaplesss video recordings for easy downloading or uploading without the fear of missing footage. Additionally, you will have the option for looped recording, saving the most recent recordings and writing over older video footage you may no longer need. With motion activation, it will only record when something moves in front of the camera's sensors. Motion trigger can work through glass / window. Other motion detection like PIR body heat detection, ultrasound detection, Infrared detection does not work. So this is particularly useful in the car.




The Z86 records in full 1080p. The video is crisp and clear, with no fuzzy edges or granulation. That said, keep in mind what you're dealing with. A camera this small has a very small aperture, along with proportionally small light sensors. As a result, you're not going to get the same vibrancy that you'd expect from a larger, full-sized camera. That said, for security or surveillance purposes, the quality is more than good enough. You'll be able to identify faces without any difficulty. Despite the wide viewing angle, I didn't see any fisheye distortion during my testing. The view angle is 72 degrees. You can put it on a shelf with a bunch of knick-knacks, and an intruder will never notice it. The framerate is 30 frames per second, which is standard for most HD video. If it's good enough for most Hollywood movies, it's going to be good enough for everyday purposes. The motion detection is even through a glass window so this camera so perfectly suited for securing a parked car. One thing that Z86 does very well is glare resistance. The lens is multi-coated to resist both scratches and glare. So you're not likely to lose part of the image because the sun is at the wrong angle. It's not hard to do okay-looking night vision. If you're willing to sacrifice clarity, and you're not trying to see what's happening in far-off distances, then night vision isn't too challenging. But if you want to maintain clarity or see what's going on in dark places, then you really need some more specialized equipment like Zetta's Z22. When used for video, the Z86 also records sound. This is only a secondary feature, so the sound quality is only so-so. That said, it's good enough to make out conversations from 30 feet away or more. And let's be honest. This is a security camera. You're looking for accurate recording, not for studio-quality audio. The Z86's audio is more than good enough for a security camera. High-quality condenser microphone and 32KHz audio sampling rate, suitable for various environments that require video and voice recording. You can Disable the voice recording feature.





Final Thoughts

The Zetta ZN86 Intelligent Security Camera is a great choice for all of your surveillance needs. It has a compact design that makes it easy to hide around your house or at the office.If you want to discreetly record video at home or the office, you'll need a camera that doesn't bring too much attention to itself. The Zetta ZN86 has a dark, sleek design that's less than 4 cm wide, making it easy to hide just about anywhere. This isn't the most compact camera on the market, but it's up there. You can tuck it on a bookshelf or inside of an empty box to hide the fact that you're recording. Packed with useful features, the Zetta ZN86 has the versatility to handle any surveillance situation. It's built to provide 1080p quality, night vision, and record audio-all wrapped into a long-lasting battery. The camera also features a 72-degree wide-angle lens for a greater scope of view. You can customize the settings on the Zetta ZN86 so that the camera will only record in certain situations. With motion activation, it will only record when something moves in front of the camera's sensors. Motion trigger can work through glass / window. Other motion detection like PIR body heat detection, ultrasound detection, Infrared detection does not work. So this is particularly useful in the car. Although the indoor and outdoor video quality of the Zetta Z86 was excellent as long as there was ample light or low light, I was disappointed in the quality of the near dark video recordings. This camcorder does not have IR night vision capability which improves night recording. That's why you will need for sure the Zetta ZA22 Portable IR Nightvision Illuminator. It's a must-have accessory if you want your security camera to see in the dark. Whether you're primarily interested in the subtly of the camera, or you're mostly concerned with recording features, the Z86 gives you plenty to think about.



The Z86 Spy Camera is an innovative camera with a lot to offer. Z86 can do 25 day motion trigger standby, while other camera's can only do 10 hours motion trigger standby. Motion trigger can work through glass / window. So this is particularly useful in the car. If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive way to monitor your home, car or shop and need to see the video in real time the Z86 might be for you. The Zetta Z86 has an MSRP of $150. You also get Zetta's one-year manufacturer's warranty.