SD4 2k 4MP Outdoor Security Camera, 5G/2.4GHz WiFi PTZ IP Surveillance Camera with 4X Optical Zoom, Smart AI Human Detection, 2-Way Audio, 165ft Night Vision, CMOS Image Sensor, IP66

For over 10 years now, we've had several wi-fi cameras positioned around our property to help give us peace of mind. The cameras in the beginning were from a variety of vendors, most of which are gone now. As the cameras are aging out, I've started replacing them with newer models. When it came time to replace our two cameras around our deteched garage, I started looking deeper at Foscam. Previous experience with Foscam wasn't the best (about 5 years ago), but WOW, was I blown away with this latest product. Solid, dependable, easy to setup, it's all there. It's a solid build, not some cheap plastic product that leaves you wondering how long it'll last. The setup for the product is really easy. Via their app it generates a QR code that you aim at the camera, and it does the rest. The Foscam app is great and gives you access to like 80% of the features of the camera. To get access to the other 20% you need to go to Foscam's website and down their NVR software, a small price to pay to configure things like using a static IP. The images this camera generates is amazing. Crisp, clear and vibrant! It's a night and day difference between this camera and my older bullet camera from 8 years ago. All this, for what kind honestly is a great price. 8 years ago i paid over twice what I paid for these cameras. A few minor things I'll point out: 1. I recommend configuring the camera first before mounting it. Plus, if you're going to put a SD Card in the camera, best to do that as well before mounting it. It's just easier to work with the camera up front before mounting it. 2. When you first configure the camera, it'll annouce it's finished. After that, it takes about a minute or two before you can access the camera via the app. Not sure what it's doing during that time, but it eventually connects. Maybe it's checking for updated firmware?? 3. Mounting the camera on a 'mounting block' or a Foscam mounting box gives the camera a polished appearance that really makes it look amazing. Update - November 2025 - After 11 months, one of the units had experienced a leak, resulting in water inside the camera. I immediately reached out to Foscam support and began a dialog with Nora Chau. Nora was wonderful to work with. After I provided her with the requested information (order information, date, a few pictures showing the damaged camera) she immediately dispatched a replacement camera to me at no additional expense. The new camera is up and running and everything is back to normal. Overall I've been happy with the support I received from Nora and Foscam on this issue and am returning my rating back to 5 star. Thanks so much, Nora Chau. Your help was wonderful

I've been looking and testing various camera brands for quality and dependable cameras at a reasonable cost. Foscam cameras fill that need for me. Considering quality build, needed features, mobile and desktop APPs and accessories for installation. Before retiring, I was an engineer responsible for designing, testing, implementation and installation of Security systems including cameras, wireless systems, Headends/Hubs, custom kiosks/displays, etc. I have tested many brands of cameras. Unfortunately the cost of these cameras are extremely expensive as they are usually for large scale install that cover a great amount of real estate. It's not the kind of cost effective solution for the average consumer such as myself. That being said I have settled on the Foscam cameras and this is my review for one of them as I have 7 Foscam cameras at present. One of them is the Foscam SD4. The FOSCAM SD4 2k 4MP Outdoor Security Camera, 5G/2.4GHz WiFi PTZ IP Surveillance Camera with 4X Optical Zoom, Smart AI Human Detection, 2-Way Audio, 165ft Night Vision, CMOS Image Sensor, with a IP66 rating is the one that I recently tested. The SD4 met my needs for a dependable PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) for day/night viewing and recording. I ran it in the snow and 22 degree temps without any issues and great response for the Intelligent Detection (Human for me), Cruise settings (which there is a video attached demonstrating this by using set scenes that I programmed for my location. You can program up to 8 scenes. I used the WDR (wide dynamic range) which worked well for my application. The night time video using the 6 LED IR lights was impressive as some of my distances were over 100'. The spec for this is up to 165'. The 4x zoom worked fairly well. You really need quite a bit of megapixels in order for the zooms to work well on a PTZ. Wireless testing went well with no issues and the setup with the QR code was extremely fast and easy. Although any time you install a system you want to use ethernet cables for your final installation. The last thing you want is for wireless to drop out or lose power. I use a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) for my install in case of brown outs (short power outages) based on how you design and implement it. The Apps for me, Android and Windows were easy to install and intuitive. Works great with Alexa and Google as I am one of those geeks that has almost everything automated and linked together. Also there was an IP cam finder plugin or APP that was available to help for configuration documentation. I always keep spreadsheets for documentation and quick reference. The APPs provide for FW (firmware) upgrade or update date checks via internet. Also easy for push notifications, etc. Only other thing I can think of is to realize this is a Non PoE.xx camera and it would be easier to run power over ethernet for install purposes. All you would need if you rather power it via PoE is to use a Gigabit PoE Injectors and PoE Splitter Kits- High-Speed Passive PoE Adapters (5-48V), up to 825ft Range, Ideal for Non-PoE IP Security Cameras as an example. Also, be aware of the limit for the MicroSD card. For the SD4, limit is 256GB. In regards to the Intelligent Detection, it has Human and Motion detection for the SD4. Anything more detailed or for cloud storage if you are not able to set up your own or FTP, etc., Foscam does provides these additional services for a cost if you need it.