Swann Maxi Day/Night Security Camera
by Swann
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List Price: Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Swann Maxi Day/Night Security Camera
Customer Review: They need a Swann song for their pathetic brackets
Summary: 2 Stars
I'm drawing more attention to the prior comments on the brackets. I've been using the camera in a Phoenix summer and it's picture for the price is better than the other sub $100 night visions I've tested but the bracket is not only ineptly designed it's dangerous to your investment. The camera's come off twice once from the clamp on the ball slipping and the camera "headbutted" the door beneath it .. cracked lens. It's fatally flawed without making you own bracket hence the 2 stars, would be 4 other wise.Customer Review: Good for the price.
Summary: 4 Stars
I have been using four Swann cameras for about six months now and I have not had any problems with them. The day and night vision is great and I have had the opportunity to record and report on a hit and run accident that occured just recently and detect some vandals in the area. Living in Michigan I thought the low temperatures in the Winter, the rainy, windy days in the Fall and the hot, humid temperatures in the Summer would eventually damage the cameras, but they are still going strong.
PROS:
1) Excellent for accessing on my computer
2) Night vision works good for the price, but I still added some
lighting (solar motion lights did the job) to help in the really
dark areas.
3) Constant recording based on the size of your harddrive and will recyle
over pre-recorded data instead of just stopping
4) Can access over the internet, but have not turned on that feature just
yet
5) Price has dropped about six dollar since I bought
6) Well protected from harsh weather
7) Functions extremely well for the price... My only other options would
have costs three times as much or more.
CONS:
1) I have a major problem with the mounting bracket, I am able to get it
to function with some effort... Major pain in the @$$ to keep the
cameras in position after mounted. The mount I received is not the
one in the photo.
2) A wide angle lense does not come with the camera, so I have to place
the cameras on an angle to see, as much as, possible.
3) No microphone added... just something that would be nice to have.
4) The wiring that comes with the equipment could be about 4ft longer,
but not a major problem.
Customer Review: Great camera, but no wide angle lense
Summary: 1 Stars
This camera got great reveiws and seemed to fit the bill for what I was looking for, but when I hooked it up, the field of vision was only my driveway. That isn't gonna help me much for home security. I called Swann and they told me to get a clear wide angle lense. After calling every place in the phone book and on the internet, I gave up and sent the camera back. All the lenses out there are red tinted, not clear. I wish you luck finding the right lense if you have bought or are thinking of buying this camera.Customer Review: Great security cam
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought the Swann Maxi Day/Night Security Cam's based on the price, the 420 TV lines of resolution, color video for daytime, and super low lux night time visibility at greater distances than other security cams at this price advertise (though I haven't hooked them up outside yet, so I can't say just how far the cameras see day or night). This camera comes with a 1/4" SuperHAD CCD. I would have prefered a 3/8" CCD (the bigger the better), but the cams with a 3/8" CCD usually had less TV lines of resolution (usually about 360 TV lines). Others with better resolution were lots more expensive. Also, from what I researched, 420 TV lines of resolution should be the minimum of any camera you want to buy. 520 TV lines is much better, but cost way more than this camera. Testing the Maxi Day/Night cams indoors with a Samsung SHR-1040 DVR-4 (4 channel DVR with a 160 GB hard drive to record video on) seems to have good enough resolution and color accuracy (for indoors). The Maxi Day/Night cameras come with 60 or so feet of power cord, which includes video, all in one cord. The cord has BNC video connectors, but it also comes with a BNC to RCA adapter. So you really don't need to order the extra 120ft power cable, unless you just need the extra length. The mounting bracket is not what is pictured here... I am planning to modify the bracket myself if it is not sturdy enough. I won't really know until I hook it up outside. I ordered the Swann Maxi Day/Night Security camera and the Samsung SHR-1040 DVR-4, and the only other thing you will need to have is a video cable to go from the DVR to a VCR or TV, which is the way I hooked up my cameras... security cameras to one DVR-4 to VCR then to TV.Customer Review: Good for the price.
Summary: 4 Stars
It's a pretty good camera for under a hunderd dollars. I don't think you'll be able to read a license plate from 60', but the resolution is respectable. Night vision also works well. It came with the wrong documentation which Swann kindly remedied by email. The stand that came with it was crap - the screw fitting stripped out with the slightest pressure and the thing couldn't even support the weight of the camera. I complained to Swann and they sent me a better stand. One thing, plug the camera in and test it before you mount the hood so you don't mount it upside down like I did!