Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsEXCELLENT WI-FI SURVEILLANCE CAMERA WITH MOTION DETECTION, VIDEO RECORDING, & REMOTE ALERTS
Reviewed in Canada on January 20, 2022
For the past month, I have been using this (Tapo C200) home security Wi-Fi camera on a daily basis to monitor my apartment while I am at work. Typically I keep the camera set on "motion detection," so that it only records video content (with an optional micro SD card; max 128 GB) when an intruder is present. There are various other options as well. For example, it's possible to schedule the exact hours for each individual day of the week that the camera will (constantly) record video content. The mobile app is loaded with many useful controls and features.
In real-time, notifications are pushed to the app on my mobile device (iPhone) when motion is detected within a proximity of roughly 10 feet from the camera. Each notification is linked to a time stamp which means - with the simple click of a button - I can immediately play-back the segment of recorded video content which corresponds with each separate notification / intrusion. This can be done remotely while I am at work. There is NO requirement to be on-site and remove the micro SD card from the camera for reinsertion into a card reader which is attached to a computer. This is VERY convenient.
The quality of both video and audio recording is excellent. The FREE mobile app (also no subscription required) is very user-friendly and offers many different features and controls. When panning, the camera's motor is smooth and surprisingly quiet. There is a "privacy mode" which can be activated with a single touch - which is convenient when I return home after work. This ensures that no recording will accidentally take place while I am home. The infrared night vision is useful ONLY when some amount of light is present - though not very much illumination is required.
Cloud storage and other premium features are available at a price - which I do not require. The front of the camera has an LED status indicator light. Initially I supposed this to be a design flaw, as it would accentuate the location of the camera for any would-be intruder. However, later I discovered there is a VERY handy "on-off" switch within the app for this indicator light within the mobile app.
In my opinion, the ONLY negative feature of this camera is its colour. As a "surveillance" camera, a stealthy black colour would have been more appropriate - rather than a brilliant white colour which tends to draw more attention.
Note #1: This camera "speaks" aloud various status updates during the (simple / user-friendly) initial set-up process. Anyone within earshot will be made aware of the fact that you are installing a surveillance camera. During usual operation, the camera is silent - unless you decide to remotely sound an alarm or speak through the camera for a 2-way conversation.
Note #2: Obviously, it is necessary to input the WEP key for your network during the initial set-up process. With a cloud based mobile app, this could potentially be a privacy concern for some users. Hopefully, Tapo is a reputable and honest company which does not store (or otherwise misuse) such confidential information on their own servers.
Note #3: There is no ethernet connectivity. This camera operates very well by Wi-Fi only.
Note #4: Assuming you install an optional micro-SD card (max 128 GB), ensure that you initially format the card from within the mobile app. The feature is located - along with other controls - by touching the cogwheel icon in the upper righthand corner of the app interface.
Note #5: This product is manufactured in China. More specifically, the company's (Tapo's) head office is based in Hong Kong. This product does NOT include a Canadian safety standards certification. There exists only a CE certification, which is a EU designation applied by the manufacturer. You will find this to be the case for almost all other such cameras sold on Amazon. Thankfully, this camera does NOT seem to generate any noticeable heat.
If you do not mind the (white) colour of this camera, my suggestion would be to stop wasting any more time reading through the customer reviews for countless other surveillance cameras. After about 6 hours of reading on the weekend, eventually I purchased this camera. This is an excellent camera at an excellent price. No regrets! :)
Update: It seems that a lot of would-be buyers are inquiring about the power source for the camera. This TP-Link Tapo Smart Cam Tilt Home WiFi Camera includes an AC power adapter which has an output of 9 volts & 0.6 amps. It's labelled "TP-Link Model T090060-2B1." Although the cable for my camera is currently bundled together (due to excessive length), I would be quite surprised if the full length does not exceed 10-12 feet. Although I have NOT measured its length, it's VERY long.
Two months after buying this camera and using it everyday, I remains very pleased with its overall performance and features.