IMOU vs Tapo vs Xiaomi cameras

[capd]

How are the IMOUs vs Tapos vs Xiaomis?

I've been running a few of the older Xiaomi Mi Home Security Camera 360 1080p cameras for around 6 years and they've been solid other than the low resolution, poor audio quality, and the Xiaomi Home app which doesn't feel very camera-centric. When ever I've needed footage things have for the most part worked fine, and I've been able to easily save clips to my iPhone.

Takealot had a few of the IMOU cameras on Big FNB Day special, so I quickly snapped up a few Ranger 2 (3MP) 2K cameras after some light research. I then realised that where the old (and some of the new) Xiaomis shine is that they have rather wide FOV at 110'.

The IMOU Ranger 2s are:

Resolution & Sensor: 3MP (2304 × 1296) using a 1/2.8" or 1/3" progressive CMOS sensor
Lens & Field of View: 3.6mm fixed lens (F2.0 aperture) with 83° (H), 46° (V), and 100° (D) angles

Old Xiaomis:

Aperture: f/2.1
Resolution: 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080)
Lens Angle / Field of View: 110° wide-angle
Focal Length: 3.9 mm

So I'm not quite sure what to do. Is the Xiaomi FOV at 110' referring to diagonal, meaning only a 10' difference to the IMOUs? That should be able to work for me.

I went ahead and ordered a few of the Ranger Dual cameras which are 2x 3MP 84' FOV, in case the Ranger 2s didn't cut it.

It seems that Tapos generally offer wider FOV on their cameras. I'm a big TP-Link fan however at twice the price of the IMOUs it doesn't seem worth it. Are they worth the premium, and is the app really much better than the IMOU one?

Your thoughts?

 

[capd]

Anyone?

 

[FiestaST]

 

[icarusza]

I have Tapo and am happy with the cameras and the app. I like their motion sensors and smartbulbs too.

Nice automations. It's nice having the porch light and lounge lights come on when we arrive home at night for example.

Nice.

 

[Grubscrew]

I have tapo cameras for theast few years and the tapo robot vacuum cleaner. Can't see myself moving out of that Eco system. Just works and the quality is top notch.

 

[capd]

I have Tapo and am happy with the cameras and the app. I like their motion sensors and smartbulbs too.

Nice automations. It's nice having the porch light and lounge lights come on when we arrive home at night for example.

Nice.

The variety of Tapo products is impressive but I almost don’t want to be tempted into more stuff and connections! I have my Xiaomi cameras, a thermometer and sensor light which all work well.

Which Tapo cameras have you got?

 

[capd]

I have tapo cameras for theast few years and the tapo robot vacuum cleaner. Can't see myself moving out of that Eco system. Just works and the quality is top notch.

Nice. Which cameras?

 

[Grubscrew]

Nice. Which cameras?

Cw520 ws I think and then the 320s that I started off with. looking at getting some c545d now to replace the 520s and move them to somewhere else as supplementary cams in the garden somewhere.

 

[spidaman]

Reolink

 

[capd]

After much deliberation I ended up going with a few EZVIZ (Hikvision) C6N G1 4K indoor cameras. For a number of reasons, mainly because they offer 110’ FOV and F1.6 for under R800. They feel a bit lighter/cheaper than my old Xiaomis and the app is surprisingly not polished and full of Engrish. But the video quality is excellent and there are loads of features. Cool that they have LAN ports.

TP-Link Tapo C260 was the closest equivalent, with a larger sensor but costs over R1,200.

The only downside thus far is the C6N G1 cannot tilt downwards past 0’, which the Old Xiaomis did.