WVC54GC

The Linksys Compact Wireless-G Internet Video Camera is affordable, but it still has 802.11b/g support, 10/100 Ethernet, and security services all in a slim, disc-shaped device perched on a tilt-enabled desk stand. With the exception of the camera not using DHCP by default (you must use Linksys’ bundled camera finder program and enable DHCP in the settings), configuration is simple.

Configuring, viewing, and capturing images are all browser-based, while advanced features are accessible via the Camera Viewer Recorder Utility. This is a drawback, because any remote computer you want to access the camera from requires you to install this software locally in order to do things such as record from the camera or use motion detection functions. That said, the motion detection is sophisticated enough to let users select specific areas of the screen for monitoring. Just highlight the pixels containing an object or area to monitor and set the desired level of sensitivity. The program will then capture video when triggered by motion of that object or within that area.

We found the WVC54GC’s image quality sub-average for this roundup. You can see that people are in an area, but detailed features are too indistinct to identify an unfamiliar face. Image quality also drops off very quickly as light levels dim below full indoor illumination. However, color is more vibrant than expected, probably because of post-processing in the camera, and frame rate performance is similar to or better than some of the more expensive cameras.

This camera is versatile because of its small size and wireless capabilities, but is a poor surveillance option, owing to its QVGA resolution (unless your goal is to see that there’s no activity in the field of view). Note that DDNS functionality only works through Linksys’ SoloLink service, and only a free trial is included.

HNC290G

Hawking’s HNC290G NetVision Wireless-G Network Camera stands up against Linksys’ unit in the budget category, sporting similar 10/100 Ethernet and 802.11b/g connectivity but adding adjustable tilt on the lens. The external antenna is removable for those who want a high-gain substitute. Hawking promotes this as the first network camera with automatic router configuration, but this function didn’t work on our D-Link DIR-635 router, forcing us to perform a manual installation.

Hawking requires remote service via the TZO DNS service, which has only a 75-day free trial. Another weakness is that motion sensing sensitivity isn’t adjustable. Also, some configurations require Hawking’s bundled camera viewing software, meaning you can’t change certain settings with the HNC290G’s internal Web server via a browser.

The HNC290G’s image quality on this device is fair, showing greater detail than the Linksys camera but lacking its color depth. Many test scenes look darker than they should, and you’d be hard pressed to identify an unknown visitor at normal range. The camera showed sharper motion results than expected in lower resolutions, but the 10fps rate in VGA mode is a known limitation—don’t expect miracles. In low light, the HNC290G did well for its price and even triggered into recording upon motion detection, although the image quality was very poor. Again, this camera would be a better choice for casually monitoring a well-lit area than for reliable surveillance.

DCS-1110

Built like a half-pound brick with a camera peeking over its edge, the D-Link DCS-1110 really delivers on features and performance. PoE, a desk stand, and two mounting holes make this unit more versatile for placement than one might suspect. The DCS-1110 integrates one-way audio for recording and a powerful Nightshot mode that uses the full 0.5-lux sensitivity of the image sensor. You can monitor up to three different zones within the field of view, each with its own percentage of sensitivity. The DCS-1110 even lets you preview the amount of motion it detects in each area so you can set a more realistic threshold.

D-Link keeps this camera easy to use without sacrificing flexibility or quality. The DCS-1110’s setup software displays D-Link’s usual simplicity, and its only awkward requirement is that it requires you to install ffdshow (an open-source DirectShow and VFW codec) to play back the MPEG-4 recordings, which, by the way, can spool straight to a NAS box. There are no proprietary DDNS service issues, you can manually adjust the lens focus, and we like D-Link’s thoughtful touches, such as an antiflickering mode when used under fluorescent lights and the ability to set bit rate along with resolution.

For the price, D-Link does extremely well at preserving shadow detail and not showing blockiness. The Nightshot mode maintains impressive video down to surprisingly low light levels, and despite showing a noticeable delay between real time and what it displays on your screen, the DCS-1110 shows comparatively little blurring when shooting at VGA in 30fps mode. For those needing a general purpose IP cam on a budget—especially for businesses looking to deploy a bunch of PoE cams around a facility—this is your winner.

DCS-3420

The DCS-3420 takes the usability attributes of the DCS-1110 and piles plenty of extra functionality on top, starting with 802.11b/g (WEP and WPA security included), moving from support for four cameras to up to 16, and accommodating interchangeable lenses (chief among them the optional infrared unit for shooting in total darkness). We didn’t receive the IR or auto iris lenses for testing, and our unit seemed biased by default for shooting in low light as images were very over-exposed (see online sidebar “The Eye Of The Beholder”).

However, altering the video settings for optimal balance between bit rate, frame rate, and quality and tweaking the image settings (brightness, hue, etc.) yielded substantially better results. Even with the stock lens, though, low-light video proved remarkably clear.

D-Link integrates a BNC video output for connecting to a standard monitor or CCTV system. Another cool feature unique to this camera is the 4X digital zoom capability, which can operate like a mouse-controlled magnifying glass zooming in on a portion of the full frame. Other hot bonuses include two-way audio with the built-in microphone, a removable 802.11b/g antenna, email/FTP of video snapshots, and AVI export.

Motion tracking in 320 x 240 resolution mode was excellent, with very little noticeable blur or frame drop even over a wireless connection. The 10fps inherent at top resolution (704 x 480), however, shows a clear trade-off between detail and motion capability; you get one or the other, but not both. On the plus side, this unit’s MJPEG and MPEG-4 footage is viewable in any browser without a special application. Given its quality, rugged design, and flexibility for various lighting conditions, we highly recommend this as an upper-midrange security camera.

KX-HCM110

The Panasonic KX-HCM110A is one of the more affordable pan-and-tilt cameras on the market. It offers a substantial 173-degree pan and 105-degree tilt range to monitor a much larger area than fixed lens cameras. Though it’s missing optical zoom, the camera’s 10X digital magnification (still with scroll wheel control) adds to its flexibility. Dual-stack support for IPv4 and IPv6 may appeal to future-proofing fans, and IPsec support (the same technology used in many VPN connections) eliminates nearly any chance of a hacker viewing your video. Panasonic also included an integrated microphone and a jack for speaker output.

Additionally, the KX-HCM110 features an I/O port so that, for example, when motion or a door sensor triggers an alarm, an external light might be switched on to assist recording. The camera can remember up to eight preset location and zoom combinations for quickly “patrolling” common areas in its field of view. Other basic extras, such as cell phone compatibility, configurable motion detection, and FTP, round out Panasonic’s midrange offering.

The picture quality on this camera fit well with the other lower-midrange cameras. Daylight results were noticably below the KX-HCM280A, but our low-light tests were surprisingly good (but still not on level with our higher-end cameras). Strangely, this unit does not support multiple cameras in the viewer application, and VGA mode still holds you to a 12fps limit. So although this is a solid choice for wide-area general monitoring, we wouldn’t count on it for surveillance image precision.

IK-WB15A

Wow. The IK-WB15A impresses to the hilt with its sterling image quality powered by a 630,000-pixel CCD—twice the count of most competitors. This enables a maximum resolution of 1,280 x 960 (SXVGA), which it can stream at 7.5fps. Its regular VGA reaches 30fps, making it one of only two cameras to hit this sweet spot. Even though Toshiba only delivers 2.6X optical zoom, you still get very clear close-ups, and the camera’s backlight compensation, white balance, and other image controls are among the best we’ve experienced.

You can auto-patrol or remotely control the pan (112 degrees) and tilt (54 degrees) functionality, and, like the Panasonic models, zoom with your scroll wheel. Toshiba accepts SD flash memory cards as a backup method in case of network failure, or you can simply copy stills and clips to cards for easy transport. The IK-WB15A is weatherized for outdoor use but still suitable for mounting on an inside wall. One external trigger input gives additional flexibility when devising your security setup.

There are only a few drawbacks. The two-way audio is purely external, which can be tricky in an outdoor arrangement. There’s no wireless support, and we wonder if top resolution speeds might have improved over Gigabit connection. An IR option would have been good, but Toshiba’s quality remains impressive in very low light, all the way down to 0.18 lux (4fps), in part because it switches from color to black and white—a smart choice given how low light usually mangles a camera’s color reproduction.

Liberal DDNS, alert emailing, full browser-based control and monitoring, and a very aggressive price all conspire with the above observations to make this our network camera roundup favorite.

KX-HCM280A

Boasting a massive 21X optical zoom, 350-degree pan, and 210-degree tilt, Panasonic’s KX-HCM280A is the little Samson of security. At 21X, you can focus clearly on a person’s nose from 20 feet away. (But, as we found, whether you can maintain focus on it in moderate light is a different issue.) A mouse or browser-based directional controls dictates all of the camera’s movements. The KX-HCM280A can patrol up to eight preset positions, and the included hardware lets you mount it on your ceiling or desktop—simply flip the image orientation in the device settings.

External I/O, cell phone access, and all the other nifty perks from Panasonic’s lower-end models remain here. The internal buffer can stash up to 125 frames, then email or FTP them. Drawbacks include lack of wireless connectivity and a maximum of 12fps at VGA resolution. This reliance on 320 x 240 video for acceptable full motion seems inexcusable when compared to Toshiba’s camera.

At QVGA and 30fps, the camera looks excellent, with crisp edges, clear detail, and accurate color. The low light resolution down to 3 lux was not as good as some of the other cameras, but Panasonic’s Color Night View (0.09 lux) rivals daylight images from some cameras, provided you have no concern for frame rates.

In sum, this is a fantastic surveillance camera. It’s loaded with configuration options and possesses some dynamite optics that compensate for its shortcomings.

by Billy Ristle

View Chart

The Eye Of The Beholder Let’s face it. We won’t be snapping any prize-winning stills with any of these cameras, but that’s not really the point. But we do expect a network camera to take reasonably clear pictures at an acceptable exposure level, especially if it’s the difference between being able to identify an unwanted guest or letting him slip through the cracks because of sloppy image quality. We setup each camera in the same position to test its ability to accurately capture an image, but the proof is in the pixels. These side-by-side images will give you a good idea of each network camera’s ability. Linksys WVC54GC Hawking HNC290G D-Link DCS-1110 D-Link DCS-3420 Panasonic BL-C20 Panasonic KX-HCM110A Toshiba IK-WB15A Panasonic KX-HCM280A