Posts

 Introduction

Wyze camera is a brand of smart home security cameras that are designed to help users monitor their homes remotely. These cameras are typically small and easy to install and can be placed in different areas of the home to provide a comprehensive view of the surroundings. Wyze cameras can connect to Wi-Fi networks and are designed to be controlled using a mobile app. This app allows users to view live video feeds from the cameras, as well as access features like motion detection, two-way audio, and night vision. Some Wyze cameras also come with built-in features like pan and tilt, which allows users to adjust the camera angle remotely. Wyze cameras are generally affordable compared to other brands of smart home security cameras, making them a popular choice for budget-conscious homeowners. However, it is important to note that the affordability of these cameras may come at the expense of some features or performance when compared to the more expensive options. The features that these cameras do have though are sufficient for the typical security conscious but not overly techy consumer. Wyze has several offerings in the electronic security arena. So much so that it would take several pages of reviews to even cover a portion of their catalog. Today, we will be covering one of their most versatile offerings. The Wyze Cam Pan V3! This camera is a variation of what is known as a Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) camera in the CCTV industry. Since this camera does not include a zoom feature it cannot be classified as a PTZ which is why Wyze just called it the “Pan”. It does tilt though so you still have a solid device that competes with other typical Chinese sourced hardware on the market.

Why Wyze

You may be asking “Why should I purchase this camera instead of one of the many other options available on the market”? I’m going to be honest, there are a lot of devices available out there and many of them are as good if not better than the Wyze camera I’m reviewing today. I’ll tell you why I bought it. Wyze is a company that tries to take the best that China has to offer and repackage it for a western market. The company was founded by a few guys that used to work for Amazon, they realized that there was a void that needed to be filled in the Smart home market and they decided that they were going to be the ones to fill it. They started with a few offerings, mainly cameras and now they have an entire ecosystem that falls under the Wyze umbrella. They even have a “Wyze Car” which is a remote control all terrain toy vehicle. Wyze has strived to overcome the typical obstacles faced by companies that source their products from China. For instance, they develop their firmware in-house to ensure the security and reliability of their devices. The Wyze Cam reviewed here today carries on their legacy of providing quality products at an affordable price. At the time of writing this camera could be had for just under $40. They also have multi-packs and several accessories available directly from the Wyze website along with their other offerings. I’ve had practically every version of Wyze camera since they entered the market and I’ve had very few problems. The problems I did have though were mainly related to connectivity. My network is a little more secure than a typical home network so that may have contributed to these issues. Wyze cameras have basic but usable smart functionality compared to some of the pricier CCTV options on the market. Initially they had a 3^rd party analytics (AI) provider that would handle their smart features such as Person, Vehicle detection etc. using the camera’s own hardware. They then transitioned to their own server based analytics after the provider was acquired by another company. They have now gone back to on camera analytics with their new Wyze Cam Pro model, which will be reviewed at a later date.

The Details

Overall, the Wyze Cam Pan is good value when compared to the competition. You get 1080p Full HD Color Night Vision which is typically known in the industry as Starlight or StarVis. This is a technology that allows the image sensor to produce clear color images in moderately low light environments. There’s also the typical IR night vision that uses infrared LED’s to illuminate the scene in extremely low light environments. Wyze allows you to fine tune the intensity and wavelengths of the IR LED’s which is welcome at this price range. The camera features an IP65 Weatherproof housing, IP means Ingress Protection and there are several levels. The number on the left indicates the level of dust protection while the number on the right denotes the level of liquid protection. According to the rating this camera is “Dust-tight” meaning that no ingress of dust is permitted to enter the housing and it should be protected against powerful jets of water from all directions. Take these ratings with a grain of salt because I’ve seen several instances where cameras with these ratings have been damaged over time by the rainy weather down here in the south (Florida). The Wyze Cam Pan allows a user to remotely rotate it 360° and tilt it up to 180°. It also has Automatic Motion Tracking, so that the camera can lock on to and move with an object, typically a person. In my usage this feature was hit or miss, shadows from trees would trigger it and it would constantly move around and miss all the real action. You have the option to receive Motion and Sound Detection Notifications via the Wyze app and the camera features a Privacy Mode which when enabled makes the lens of the camera point down and into itself so that none of the surrounding area can be seen. The camera Includes a wall mount which makes for easy installation both upright and inverted based on your needs. In summary this camera is great value, Wyze also provides a subscription to their analytics service in addition to the basic cam plus service that ships with the camera. They provide discounts from time to time, and I fully recommend signing up for it as it provides more features compared to the basic sub.

Summary

If you’re in the market for a cloud-based camera the Wyze is the way to go. I use them on the outside of my property since I’m still not convinced that China isn’t spying on me and my family :P. If you want cameras with local (non-cloud based) recording capabilities, Ubiquiti has a line of cameras that may meet your needs, I’ll be reviewing those another time. For the typical consumer though, this and the other Wyze cameras are good deals, if you’re not too concerned about privacy that is, if you are then look for a system with local Digital Video Recorder (DVR) or Network Video Recorder (NVR) based recording capabilities.

Wyze Cam Pan V3 Specifications

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A Wyze Decision

Wyze Cam Pan Rules

The Wyze Cam Pan v3 is a strong contender in the consumer surveillance market. You get a lot for your money, but in order to maximize your experience you'll need the Cam Plus subscription, which is not free.

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