D-Link HD 180-Degree Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-8200LH) - Review 2022

If your current home security camera is just giving yous half the picture, consider a wide-angle model like the $139.99 D-Link 180-Degree Wi-Fi Photographic camera (DCS-8200LH Hard disk drive). As its name implies, the camera offers a wide 180-degree field of view and so you won't miss what's going on in the far corners of your home. It besides has motion and sound detection, works with other D-Link smart abode devices, and supports If This Then That (IFTTT) recipes. Moreover, in that location are no cloud storage fees as video is recorded locally on a microSD card, but yous'll have to supply your own media.

Design and Features

The DCS-8200LH looks nothing like the D-Link 180-Caste Wi-Fi Camera DCS-2630L that we reviewed last twelvemonth. It has a glossy white rectangular enclosure as opposed to the black puck shape of its predecessor. Overall it measures 3.7 by three.7 by v.4 inches (HWD) with the round stand that offers tilt and swivel adjustability. Information technology can sit down on a apartment surface or exist mounted on a wall or ceiling.

The camera has a 720p resolution, an 8x digital zoom, and a 180-caste field of view. It uses two infrared LEDs to provide upward to 16 feet of night vision, has motion and sound sensors, an 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi radio, and a congenital-in microphone. Nonetheless, it lacks a speaker and therefore does not support two-fashion audio communication. The left side of the photographic camera has a microSD card slot for belongings event-triggered video recordings and snapshots. It supports media with capacities up to 128GB, simply a card is not included so you're on your own if yous desire the camera to tape movement and sound events. Effectually back are reset and WPS buttons and a mini USB port for power.

D-Link HD 180-Degree Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-8200LH)

The DCS-8200LH camera uses the same mydlink Home app (Android and iOS) as the DSP-W215 Smart Plug and the DCH-S160 Water Sensor. It's listed on the My Devices folio along with any other D-Link Connected Home devices. Tap the camera to launch a live stream, with buttons along the bottom for turning the microphone on and off, taking a snapshot, irresolute the resolution (720p or 360p), playing recorded clips, turning Privacy mode on and off, and configuring lighting (Daytime, Nighttime, Auto). For a full-screen view, turn your mobile device sideways.

Borer the three dots in the upper right corner opens a settings screen where you can accommodate motion and sound detection settings, change the picture orientation, and view device information such as MAC address, time zone, and firmware version. The app also has a My Actions screen, where yous can configure the camera to collaborate with other D-Link devices, and a My Places screen where you can create rooms (groups) for each device. Tap the gear icon in the upper left corner to add a new device and link your devices to your IFTTT business relationship.

Installation and Operation

To install the DCS-8200LH, you take to download the mydlink Domicile app and create an account (I already had an account from previous reviews). I opened the app and followed the instructions to add a new device. I then powered upward the camera, and when the LED began to blink orange, I used the Wi-Fi settings on my phone to connect to the photographic camera's SSID. I return to the app and entered the Pin code from the dorsum of the card included with the camera. I selected my dwelling's Wi-Fi network, entered its password, hitting Next, and the camera came online immediately.

The DCS-8200LH delivered sharp 720p video with proficient color quality in testing. It does indeed provide a 180-degree angle, but forth with the broad field of view comes a measure of butt distortion. It's non overly distorted, merely it is noticeable. Blackness-and-white dark vision remains abrupt out to effectually 15 feet with good contrast and uniform lighting, and the motion and sound detection features work perfectly.

I tested the camera's IFTTT performance by creating couple of applets (recipes); I had the camera'due south motion detector trigger a Belkin Wemo Mini Smart Plug to turn on and so off, and information technology worked perfectly. I also created a recipe to receive an email when sound was detected, and this likewise worked like a charm. Integration with other D-Link devices, such as the D-Link Smart Plug, also worked without issue.

Conclusions

With the D-Link DCS-8200LH Hard disk drive 180-Caste Wi-Fi Camera, yous get a nice broad view of your home with sharp image detail and rich colors. You'll have to deal with some barrel distortion, but it's non dramatic, and a small price to pay for the big viewing angle. Unlike its predecessor, the DCS-2630L, this camera works with other D-Link smart devices, and information technology can trigger third-party devices using IFTTT applets. You don't have to subscribe to a deject storage service because it stores video locally, only yous do have to supply your own SD card.

If you're looking for a camera that offers 2-way audio and professional monitoring, check out our Editors' Choice, the LG Smart Security Wireless Camera LHC5200WI. It's around $sixty more than the DCS-8200LH and it requires a subscription, but you can use it to control Z-Moving ridge abode automation devices. If your upkeep is limited, the Tend Secure Lynx Indoor offers 1080p video and face recognition engineering for only $59.99, but information technology doesn't interact with other smart domicile devices.