Tapo TP-Link 2K QHD Security Camera Outdoor Wired, Starlight Sensor for Color Night Vision, Free AI Detection, Built-in Siren, Cloud/SD Card Storage, Works with Alexa & Google Home C320WS

Camera setup was easy and has some nice features like an option to use WiFi or Ethernet, geofencing, being able to alert you to specific occurrences such as a car detected, person detected, animal detected, and if someone crosses a defined area or line. It has an alarm, although not very loud but enough to let someone near it know they’re being recorded. There are also 2 LED lights for recording, but it’s not something that will light up anything (like the ground), even when set to 100% brightness, but is intended to enhance the video quality. I turned it off so it’s not obvious when it detects motion and is actively recording. You can also turn off the LED status light so it doesn’t call attention to it as much.The thing I don’t like is that the inside of the lens sometimes “fogs up”, even when mounted indoors, making it impossible to identify anything. It tends to clear up if I turn the camera off for a few minutes. Other times, in daylight when the lens isn’t foggy, the video isn’t bad. I have concerns it will get extra foggy should it be humid, cold, or raining.Overall it has nice features, but poor video (or perhaps this one is defective). I set the video resolution to the max of 2K and also tried HDR mode for increased clarity, so this was as good as it gets. Even at that, after dark with outside lights on, it’s impossible to identify someone 7’ below where the camera is mounted.UPDATE: The video has been clear after that first day or so. I’m thinking some moisture had gotten in and it just had to burn off in the sun. I added another photo of someone about 25’ out with a leaf blower, and the quality is pretty good. I would definitely recommend.

Pros:1 - High-Quality Imaging: Offers 2K resolution with impressive low-light color night vision, delivering clear footage at an affordable price point.2 - Ample Storage: Supports up to 512GB of onboard storage via microSD card, providing extensive recording capacity without relying on cloud services.3 - Ethernet Connectivity: Unique to the C300 series, the Ethernet option ensures stable and fast connections, a rare feature in this price range.4 - Easy Installation: Simple setup process—add the camera to your system, insert a microSD card, and mount it with minimal hassle.5 - Scheduled Rebooting: Allows automated reboots to maintain optimal performance over time.6 - RTSP Support: Enables offloading of recordings to a self-hosted NVR, a feature absent in TP-Link’s battery-powered cameras to preserve battery life.7 - Minimal Latency: Zero lag when using Ethernet; only minor lag on wireless connections, ensuring smooth real-time viewing.8 - Choices of resolution. 720P, 1080P and 2K.Cons:1 - No Detection Tagging: Lacks detection tagging (e.g., person, vehicle), a feature available in the cheaper Tapo C120 model.2 - Basic Support: Customer support is minimal, though this aligns with expectations for a budget-friendly consumer product.3 - No WPA3 Security: Only supports WPA/WPA2, missing the more secure WPA3 standard for Wi-Fi encryption.Additional Notes:Some reviewers lament the absence of Power over Ethernet (PoE) in TP-Link’s consumer cameras, though PoE is available in their premium Enterprise models. This can be addressed with an affordable PoE splitter (5mm x 2.5mm barrel connector). Others report lens fogging in high-humidity environments after prolonged exposure. To mitigate this, consider a Pelco climate-controlled dome or indoor placement, as I do. Complaints about pixelization during digital zoom are common but stem from unrealistic expectations. Digital zoom merely magnifies pixels, unlike optical zoom. For better detail, opt for cameras with narrower fields of view or position the C310 to keep key areas centered, where pixel density is highest. Wide-angle lenses coupled with digital zoom inherently involve trade-offs in detail.This is my tenth Tapo camera, and for the price, the C310’s quality, functionality, and reliability are unmatched. TP-Link, a well-established networking specialist, even offers unique features like 3D floor plan integration for their smart home ecosystem. I also manage three TP-Link Omada SDN sites, and while TP-Link isn’t flawless, the value they deliver at this price point is exceptional. I've tried many name brands and no-name brands. I can't name another brand that matches this combination of affordability and advanced features Tapo by TP-Link offers. People just have to be realistic with what they spent and what they received.

I had to stop using my Arlo cameras( which were DOUBLE the price of this Tapo outdoor camera) as Arlo was charging me $5 per month per camera to record any videos. Arlo would record a maximum of 20 to 30 seconds of any video even if the object or person was still in the view and moving!This Tapo outdoor camera was relatively easy to set up and install as well as easy to connect to my WiFi all the way in the back of my garage. Only issue I had was to purchase separately a 256MB SD card to record videos locally. I have estimated that I can have continuous recording at 2k for at least two weeks or more before old ones get overwritten. Individual videos can be set once triggered to record for various length of times which could not be done with the Arlo cameras. Then I can review videos anywhere from 1/4 speed to 16x! Very useful. I can then save the videos I want to my photos on my phone. 2k quality is good. Electric wire does not detach from the back of the camera which is a flaw but the wire is thin enough to get past my garage door opening and the garage door. The camera is very easy to adjust to get the view you want unlike the Arlo camera.Half the cost of Arlo with no monthly fee and about 10 times more features than Arlo.Only problem is the SD card slot and reset button is underneath a 1/2 inch plastic piece secured by 2 minuscule Philips head screws. One screw was impossible to remove but somehow the plastic piece could be bent without breaking to expose the area underneath. This was a big problem as after about 2 months suddenly I could not connect to the camera even with all kinds of manipulations. Finally I had to climb a ladder to access that minuscule screw to open the latch and press the reset button. After all that the problem was not fixed. I then removed the camera from my network and got it back onto my network in about 3 minutes. The system remembered my WiFi password so the connection was seamless and it is working fine now.The camera is outside but under the eave of the garage roof. So far it seems to be fine outdoors.There is no easy way to get hold of customer service. They encourage you to read many troubleshooting steps before getting in touch with them as they state that all the steps would have to be done anyway if I contact them. For me none of the steps worked until I removed the camera from my network. I will try that first next time as that step was easy to do.So far this is a good buy. I wish I had not wasted my money on the Arlo cameras.