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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful.
Low price comes with drawbacks...
By Hyside
I had previously purchased two of the predecessors to this new camera, the Zonet ZVC7610 and found both the cameras, and the interface software they used, comparable to more expensive brands of IP cameras. In fact, comparing the older model to another *****net branded IP cam, I found the physical camera to be nearly identical. Only the color of the plastic injected into the mold and a couple of cosmetic exterior pieces differed. The hardware contained within was the same but at a lower price than the competing brand. The interface software was a little "clunkier" than the other brand, but all the same functions were there.This new model, the ZVC7611, is a step backward in my opinion. This new model camera has actually gotten almost an inch taller and half-inch wider. The camera feels very light weight (as though the case was nearly empty) and while this new model is black (the older model was bright blue) it still retains the giant cartoon-font logo right on the front of the camera. The camera can no longer rest on its base since the cables now connect on the bottom instead of the back necessitating the use of their included stand, but the stand itself is flimsier than the one included with the older model making me hesitate to trust it.The biggest drawback is the new interface that Zonet has chosen to use with this new camera line. Firstly, this is geared for use almost exclusively with Internet Explorer and requires you install additional active-x support software. This software forces Vista (and probably Windows7) out of the Aero interface due to a "change in the Windows color scheme" while you are viewing the video. Other browsers will not be able to display video within the interface. You CAN access enough of the screens to do basic configuration of the camera (set IP address, NTP servers, etc), but will need to use one of their two "special" URLs to view video or a still photo on other platforms or browsers. Even in IE, the interface is clumsy, ugly, and lacks several features present in other brands base models (granted, usually at a higher price). Things like:* Scheduled FTP/Email of still photos* Scheduled operation of motion detection* Scheduled reboot of the cameraMotion detection is full-screen only (not definable detection areas) so I found it doesn't work well in applications like pointing it at a door across the room with a window next to it. If the wind blows the tree outside viewable through the window, the motion detection is triggered. On other cameras you can set the detection area to watch just a portion of the viewable area so I could detect things like the door opening without changes through the window having an effect. I tried adjusting the sensitivity of the motion detection, but then it occasionally misses the door opening (depending on how bright it is outside when the door is opened).The interface included with the previous model (ZVC7610) allowed in-browser viewing both in other browsers (like Firefox) and on other platforms (like Mac OSX using Safari). With this new model, you can still VIEW both streaming video and still photos on these other platforms and browsers, but you will need to use their special URLs to see them: CAM.IP.ADDRESS/snapshot.cgi (for video stream) and CAM.IP.ADDRESS/snapshot.jpg (for a still photo). You will be seeing just the raw photo or raw streaming video. Adjustment of the video settings can still be performed on other platforms or browsers by blindly adjusting the numbers in the interface, then reloading the raw steam to see your changes, but setting up this camera via a platform or browser other than Windows/IE, is a bit of a pain.This camera does display video or still photos and the price is certainly tempting, but the trade off is a seemingly less-solid camera, using an inferior software interface that limits both the browsers and platforms you can easily view video/images on. For a new model, this certainly feels like a step in the wrong direction for Zonet. Perhaps a firmware update in the future will address some/all of these issues, but until then, you will probably want to be using the Windows OS, and the IE browser to make good use of this camera. Users of other operating systems or browsers will want to look elsewhere.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
Internet Ip Camera 640X480 Audio Motion Detection 1 Way
By Jimmy
Works fine. The video looks grainy but for the price, I can't complain. Since the power and ethernet port are on the bottom, the camera needs to be mounted.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Does the job
By VMX Tech
Bought for a client that did not know if it was worth doing. They wanted to visually record an overnight run of an lab experiment. Set it up on a camera tripod in front of lab bench and plugged into local Lan port. Camera was easy to setup using supplied software. Installed camera recording software on a local PC(XP Pro SP3)and presto. Instant overnight recording. With just the exit sign above the door and a few instrument LEDs and indicators on in the room night vision was excellent. Lab crew was able to easily see video recorded overnight. Cheap camera body. Would not use it in an enviroment where it may be banged up or exposed to extreme conditions. For occasional use or just for Gee whiz kicks it fits the bill. Customer ended up keeping it (as a backup after purchasing a professional Lan cam.) for overnight monitoring of Lab projects. Note: Audio was useless. Was unintellegible but was not needed in this application anyway.
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simple camera
