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Pros
- Wide field of view.
- Sharp image quality.
- Works with other smart home devices.
- Motion and sound detection.
- Local event recording.
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Cons
- No two-way audio.
- SD card not included.
- Some barrel effect distortion.
If your current home security camera is only giving you half the picture, consider a wide-angle model like the $139.99 D-Link 180-Degree Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-8200LH HD). As its name implies, the camera offers a wide 180-degree field of view so you won't miss what's going on in the far corners of your home. It also has motion and sound detection, works with other D-Link smart home devices, and supports If This Then That (IFTTT) recipes. Moreover, there are no cloud storage fees as video is recorded locally on a microSD card, but you'll have to supply your own media.
Design and Features
The DCS-8200LH looks nothing like the D-Link 180-Degree Wi-Fi Camera DCS-2630L ($74.42 at Amazon) that we reviewed last year. It has a glossy white rectangular enclosure as opposed to the black puck shape of its predecessor. Overall it measures 3.7 by 3.7 by 5.4 inches (HWD) with the round stand that offers tilt and swivel adjustability. It can sit on a flat surface or be mounted on a wall or ceiling.
The camera has a 720p resolution, an 8x digital zoom, and a 180-degree field of view. It uses two infrared LEDs to provide up to 16 feet of night vision, has motion and sound sensors, an 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi radio, and a built-in microphone. However, it lacks a speaker and therefore does not support two-way audio communication. The left side of the camera has a microSD card slot for holding event-triggered video recordings and snapshots. It supports media with capacities up to 128GB, but a card is not included so you're on your own if you want the camera to record motion and sound events. Around back are reset and WPS buttons and a mini USB port for power.
The DCS-8200LH camera uses the same mydlink Home app (Android and iOS) as the DSP-W215 Smart Plug and the DCH-S160 Water Sensor. It's listed on the My Devices page along with any other D-Link Connected Home devices. Tap the camera to launch a live stream, with buttons along the bottom for turning the microphone on and off, taking a snapshot, changing the resolution (720p or 360p), playing recorded clips, turning Privacy mode on and off, and configuring lighting (Daytime, Nighttime, Auto). For a full-screen view, turn your mobile device sideways.
Tapping the three dots in the upper right corner opens a settings screen where you can adjust motion and sound detection settings, change the picture orientation, and view device information such as MAC address, time zone, and firmware version. The app also has a My Actions screen, where you can configure the camera to interact with other D-Link devices, and a My Places screen where you can create rooms (groups) for each device. Tap the gear icon in the upper left corner to add a new device and link your devices to your IFTTT account.
Installation and Performance
To install the DCS-8200LH, you have to download the mydlink Home app and create an account (I already had an account from previous reviews). I opened the app and followed the instructions to add a new device. I then powered up the camera, and when the LED began to blink orange, I used the Wi-Fi settings on my phone to connect to the camera's SSID. I return to the app and entered the PIN code from the back of the card included with the camera. I selected my home's Wi-Fi network, entered its password, hit Next, and the camera came online immediately.
The DCS-8200LH delivered sharp 720p video with good color quality in testing. It does indeed provide a 180-degree angle, but along with the wide field of view comes a measure of barrel distortion. It's not overly distorted, but it is noticeable. Black-and-white night vision remains sharp out to around 15 feet with good contrast and uniform lighting, and the motion and sound detection features work perfectly.
I tested the camera's IFTTT performance by creating couple of applets (recipes); I had the camera's motion detector trigger a Belkin Wemo Mini Smart Plug to turn on and then off, and it worked perfectly. I also created a recipe to receive an email when sound was detected, and this too worked like a charm. Integration with other D-Link devices, such as the D-Link Smart Plug, also worked without issue.
Conclusions
With the D-Link DCS-8200LH HD 180-Degree Wi-Fi Camera, you get a nice wide view of your home with sharp image detail and rich colors. You'll have to deal with some barrel distortion, but it's not dramatic, and a small price to pay for the big viewing angle. Unlike its predecessor, the DCS-2630L, this camera works with other D-Link smart devices, and it can trigger third-party devices using IFTTT applets. You don't have to subscribe to a cloud storage service because it stores video locally, but you do have to supply your own SD card.
If you're looking for a camera that offers two-way audio and professional monitoring, check out our Editors' Choice, the LG Smart Security Wireless Camera LHC5200WI. It's around $60 more than the DCS-8200LH and it requires a subscription, but you can use it to control Z-Wave home automation devices. If your budget is limited, the Tend Secure Lynx Indoor offers 1080p video and face recognition technology for only $59.99, but it doesn't interact with other smart home devices.
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