Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Consider These Flood Cameras
Photo: Simon Hill
Reolink Elite Floodlight WiFi (Wired) for $230: Similar to our Reolink pick above, the difference with the Elite Floodlight is that it’s a standard camera with dual lenses designed to give you a 180-degree field of view (59 degrees straight), rather than a tilting camera. If you need a fixed camera to cover the entire area, this would be a solid choice. It records up to 4K video up to 20 frames per second, has a 105-decibel alarm, and supports two-band Wi-Fi 6. Everything else, including two panels, 3,000-lumen, temperature control, the same as TrackFlex above.
Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam for $99: The floodlights on both sides of this 2K camera produce 1,000 lumens, which is impressive for a battery-operated camera. There is also solar built in to keep it going. I love the adjustable brightness and color temperature, the loud 110-decibel siren, and the local recording system. You can use a Reolink hub, NVR, or microSD card (all sold separately). But because the solar panel is fixed on the top, you need a sunny place to work properly (you can buy a second panel if you want to run a cable and put it under the eaves, but I’ll just get a different camera). The onboard AI can distinguish between people, animals, and cars. For me, video quality lets this camera down. It is not as sharp as the one I chose above, and the price goes up to 15.
Google Nest Cam With Floodlight (Wired) for $180: This aging waterproof camera might be your best bet if you want Google Home and have a Nest doorbell. The low resolution of 1080p is offset by high definition (30fps), HDR, and 6X digital zoom. The two-color light can emit up to 2,400 warm light (4,000K), and the brightness is adjustable. Google’s AI detection is probably the smartest in the business, and this is a reliable camera, but you’ll need to subscribe to make it worthwhile, as there’s no native recording option. Google Home Premium starts at $10 a month or $100 a year, but that includes all your devices. It might be better to wait, as Google has released recently 2K Nest Camerasand there’s a good chance it will replace its floodlight camera soon.
Photo: Simon Hill
Philips Hue Security Camera and Discover Floodlight (Wired) for $200: I used this setup in my old house, and it worked great. If you have money The light of the hueDiscover Floodlight is one of the My favorite outdoor lights it’s a versatile way to light up your space. It can output 2,300 lumens, and you can easily adjust the temperature, color, and brightness in the Hue app, which also allows for customization and animation. Add a Philips Hue Wired Security Camera and you can make it turn on lights and any other lights you have. It’s only 1080p, but the wired camera worked well for me, booting reliably, and Philips Hue now offers 24 hours of video history for free. But if you want AI recognition, reverse recording, action zones, and 30 days of video history, you’ll have to sign up for $40 a year for a single camera.
Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera (Battery) for $150: While I like the Arlo camera above, this battery-powered camera allows for wireless installation, though you’ll need to charge it. It offers 2K photos with HDR and the best Arlo app and alarm system, though you need an Arlo Secure plan ($10 per month or $96 per year for one camera, $20 per month or $216 per year for unlimited cameras). The water light is a single unit that rotates around the front of the camera and provides 2,000 lumens. You can increase the brightness of 3,000 lumens and eliminate the delay in recording events and Arlo Outdoor Charging Cable ($50)even if you need to run it to the exit.
Eve Outdoor Cam (Wired) for $220: This smart camera can adjust the ambient light to give you motion lights (up to 1,500 lumens), 1080p video (157-degree field of view), and two-way audio. As a HomeKit camera, you will need an Apple HomeKit hub (Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad) and iCloud+ storage. Sadly, the videos and audio tracks are limited. This camera also works on 2.4-GHz Wi-Fi, and there is no Android support.
Should I Buy a Flood Camera?
The short answer is yes. A waterproof camera is a great way to add light and video to your space, and works best in dark areas. They can act as lights on and off while you or your family take out the trash, adding security and comfort to your space. Security camera integration allows you to receive intruder alerts, record video events that you can review later, and download and review the video whenever you want from anywhere. Most have two-way audio and sirens to deter intruders. Smart notifications and AI detection allow you to filter people, traffic, and packages, though some may require registration.
Although it can be difficult to install (some people prefer to hire an electrician to do this), you don’t have to worry about charging for wireless security cameras, and they can provide more light than battery-operated cameras.
How Bright Are Floodlight Cameras?
Our standard floodlight security cameras range from 800 lumens to 3,000 lumens. To give you an idea, 800 lumens is what you can expect from a 60-watt bulb. While 800 to 1,500 lumens should be sufficient for a driveway, enclosed space, or small yard, you may need between 2,000 and 3,000 lumens to light a driveway, front yard, or backyard. Most flash cameras have several control panels that can be adjusted to your needs, and you have to adjust the brightness of the app. A few, like the Reolink mentioned below, allow you to change the color temperature, so you can choose a cool or warm light. With bright lights, it’s also important to consider your neighbors, so think carefully about the installation.
Should I Hire an Electrician?
The best floodlight security cameras are durable. Wireless security cameras tend to perform better than battery-operated cameras because they do not need to be powered. This is especially important for busy locations or if you want to shoot continuously. Wired surveillance cameras also have high-brightness panels for the same reason.
Wiring isn’t too complicated, so if you have an existing outdoor light and you’re confident in isolating and turning off the power, an experienced DIYer can easily install a floodlight camera. That said, it’s always safer to hire an electrician, and it should be a quick and inexpensive job.
How I test security cameras
I test each security camera for two weeks, but usually longer. I run the installation process and identify any issues. I check that notifications have arrived correctly on my phone when I’m at home, connected to Wi-Fi, or when I’m away and connected to a mobile network. I often place two or more cameras in the same location to compare image quality, motion characteristics, etc. I think about image quality, frame rate, and audio quality for videos and live feeds. I also look for slow and live food. I test the performance during the day and see how it performs with the sun in front of the lens, and how it performs in the dark at night (testing water brightness and night vision). I look at the time when the live feed and recorded videos take a long time.
I play around with the settings in the app to try every color and shape. I test every smart device to see if it can recognize people correctly. I test two-way audio for short conversations and test the siren when appropriate. I also try local and cloud storage options for video recording. If there are any smart home appliances, I put them on and check how much food is added to the smart display. I only recommend cameras that support 2FA and always test any other security or privacy features.
Boost it with unlimited opportunities THE WIRE. Get the highest quality reports and subscribers only that are too important to ignore. Register Today.
