Foscam FI9928P review: weatherproof surveillance camera with 1080p for $319,99

Surveillance cameras have often been criticized for lack of IP certification. In addition, particularly with cheaper models it is questionable who has access to the camera. The Foscam FI9928P offers a solution to these problems. This is a night vision function Full HD security camera  which is weatherproof, has an optical 4x zoom and has a solid metal housing.

• Foscam FI9928P
  • bei Amazon for $319.99 | AliExpress for $359.99

Specifications: Foscam FI9928P

Packaging & Delivery

The camera comes packaged and padded in a red/white cardboard box. The scope of supply includes the camera, the antenna, an Ethernet cable with water-proof shielding, four screws with dowels and an Allen key. There is also a little paperwork, including the warranty card, and a CD.

Not a lot of accessories, but you do not need more!

Design & processing

If you are looking for a rather unobtrusive surveillance camera, the FI9928P will be less happy. With a solid metal case, dimensions of 23.4 x 20.9 x 13.8 cm and a combat weight of 1.85 kg you get a real clopper in or front of the house. Whether you like the design is natural taste. Sure, the camera is  high-quality processed. Unevenness, sharp edges or similar. Stay out – but you can also expect at the quite high price.

As already torn, the Foscam is weatherproof. However, the manufacturer does not provide details of IP certification. I suspect that this is an IP65 certification. This means that the camera is dustproof and protected against water jets. In addition, it also makes fairly high/low temperatures (-20 to 60 ° C). It can also be used for outdoor use.

Another cool feature is that not only a certain area is covered, but the camera can be moved horizontally by 355 ° and tilted by 90 °. With the angle of incidence of the lens a  360 ° vision is  possible. Unfortunately, there is no motion tracking function. The camera can not “track” any person.
The motors that enable movement are hardly audible even in a quiet environment.

Operation & App

Access to the camera is possible in various ways. The simplest way to use is through the “Foscam” app. This is available for Android 4.1 or iOS 8.0 or higher and mostly in German. Firmware updates can be downloaded from the app and played directly.

Unfortunately, the app is forced to create an account. Once this step has been completed, the setup is simple and fast: first connect the camera to the Ethernet cable and connect it to the power. To add it in the app, click on the plus sign in the upper right corner. Then you have to scan the QR code on the camera and it was basically synonymous already. If you want to use the camera via WLAN, can do that after the initial setup. In general, the app is quite clear and uncomplicated.

Now you can access the live image of the camera. The delay of the image depends on your Internet connection. The faster this is, the less latency you have. I also noticed that the image is displayed faster and more smoothly in the browser than in the app.
The control can be used for movement, here also the optical 4x zoom and the focus can be adjusted. However, the latter can also be used by itself, so that there is no need to manually set the manual.

The movement, sound and alarm detection can be slightly modified (eg sensitivity or time schedule) and in case of emergency also give a push notification to the smartphone. Parallel recording is started (a constant recording is not possible), this is stored on a microSD/microSDHC microSDXC card (max. 128 GB) and optionally stored in a cloud memory. At this point, however, it is said that the Foscam Cloud is paid for. The manufacturer offers various subscriptions; The cheapest option is available for 4,99 € per month.

Photos, videos & features

Photos and videos are recorded at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD) at 25 frames per second. For the picture are an Ambarella chipset and a 2 megapixel Sony image sensor (presumably the IMX290LQR, but there is no official data).

The night vision mode is automatically switched on in the dark, but can also be activated manually. It has a  range of about 60 meters. This is 20 times as much as the YI Dome Camera! This is made possible by the 6  infrared LEDs. They radiate with a wavelength of 850 nm. A small drawback is that this wavelength is invisible to the human eye but the LEDs can still be seen as red dots in the dark.

Thanks to the special Sony STARVIS image sensor, the f/1.6 aperture and the WDR (Wide Dynamic Range), color shots are possible even in almost complete darkness. Awesome!

Safety

How secure are my shots and how secure am I? These are two questions, which are most likely to arise in surveillance cameras (from China). With the Foscam FI9928P one must think in my opinion few thoughts and for the following reason. Although Foscam is a Chinese company, it is considered a well-established and trust-worthy brand, which is also represented in the US and Germany. In addition, the push notifications, the cloud storage, the I/O alarm and the backup of the camera by a user account give a good feeling.

Conclusion

The Foscam FI9928P offers many features and great Full HD recordings, whether you’re looking to a good option for your home or for your company. A big downside, however, is the price. If you accept the price, you will get a solid IP Cam optical with 4x zoom, night vision images and weather resistance. In addition, the setup is extremely simple, and the camera even offers a lot of different extended settings.

The main drawbacks are that the camera is not compatible with 5 GHz WLAN networks and there is no motion tracking function. Although we are not experts in the field of surveillance cameras, the Foscam FI9928P makes a strong first impression. In future, the camera will definitely serve as a comparison to other cameras from China.

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