What are the best webcams?

[jimsflies]

Thinking about connecting a webcam to my reef. I'm wondering what everyone is using? I mostly have mac equipment and iphone, so would want it to work with that.

Also as a followup, I am running LEDs...how bad in the picture on these cams with led lighting. My photos suffer a lot from LED lighting.

[jimsflies]

Anyone?

[scuzy]

You should look into ip cams, like foscam or I just bought a dericam m801w that has 3x optical zoom too.

[jimsflies]

Do you run LEDs? I'm concerned with some of these cams, I will see a bunch of blue blobs and not be able to even make out what its supposed to be.

[scuzy]

On my foscam I can definitely see my fish under led but without optical zoom I can't tell much from where the cam is installed. I will be testing out the dericam when it arrives as that is suppose to have better coloring.

[blakeorme]

No experience with it, but check out Dropcam. Seems like an easy to use Apple type webcam.

[Hawkdl2]

I used a linksys wireless cam for several years and recently changed to the Foscam. I get about the same resolution, though the Foscam might be a tad better. The Linksys is less obtrusive if this is on the wall in your living room. I can't get directly to the Foscam through the web with a URL as I could with the Linksys, but that could be me and the Netcamviewer app gets me in and the Foscam allows me to remotely pan and tilt the camera, though it's a bit quirky.

Both work very well, are high quality, and you can usually get them for $65-80. The resolution on neither of these is particularly impressive, but they do let you see and check on your tank. I've done this from as far as South Africa, Brazil and Sweden.

The Foscam has IR and while it's a bit of a novelty for a tank, it is occasionally fun to show my friends my tank in the middle of the night.

[NH Fish]

On my foscam I can definitely see my fish under led but without optical zoom I can't tell much from where the cam is installed. I will be testing out the dericam when it arrives as that is suppose to have better coloring.
keep us posted on that camera. I've been looking for a cam with optical zoom but they are all quite expensive. This one is doable at just over 100.

[scuzy]

Here is the dericam in action


http://user:guest@scuzy.dyndns.org:9091/videostream.cgi

My cam is on the other side of the room and i can zoom in pretty well. Image quality was better than the foscam fi8910w

[NH Fish]

Here is the dericam in action


http://user:guest@scuzy.dyndns.org:9091/videostream.cgi

My cam is on the other side of the room and i can zoom in pretty well. Image quality was better than the foscam fi8910w

I still cant view your link but ordered one yesterday.

[scuzy]

Cams pretty good i have no complaints yet

[JerkinJohn]

Just ordered the dericam also. I'll let ya know what I think.

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2

[GusDiaz]

I also ordered 2 of the Dericam M801W. I will mount them at each end of my 155 bowfront. If they work good I might get one for the sump area to know what is happening while I am outside the house.

[Lucifa68]

tagging along

[Lucifa68]

Here is the dericam in action


http://user:guest@scuzy.dyndns.org:9091/videostream.cgi

My cam is on the other side of the room and i can zoom in pretty well. Image quality was better than the foscam fi8910w

hi i just tried viewing your cam but all i am seeing is the top of your canopy i think

[scuzy]

I moved it back to position 1

[NH Fish]

Got my new Dericam.. Its awesome..

[scuzy]

Got my new Dericam.. Its awesome..

The optical zoom is great.

[turtlespd]

For those who purchased the dericam, are u able to pan and tilt via app? How does that work if we are linked into our apex? I would love to just run one and not need one for the tank and one for my sump. I looked at a few YouTube reviews and is the resolution that good? Usually when I see ip cam online it's usually very standard def! If someone can post a screen shot that would be awesome.

[scuzy]

You can pan tilt with any ip cam app that supports foscam since they use the same api. The only think it cant do is zoom since foscams has no zoom. You will need to manual zoom from the web interface.

[turtlespd]

So there is an app also! Nice. How is the resolution? True 720? Or standard def looking.

[scuzy]

Its vga 640x480 but since i am watching from my phone 720p does nothing for me and also i rather have the optical zoom

[NH Fish]

yes you can zoom from the ap with the Dericam I'm using the "Live Cam Pro " ap

[scuzy]

Ah i am using my nas built in software that is free on the iphone app store

[mseepman]

I have the 801W and I'm wondering if anyone has got it working on their APEX dashboard yet? What was the string you used if it worked?

[scuzy]

I have the 801W and I'm wondering if anyone has got it working on their APEX dashboard yet? What was the string you used if it worked?

Yes i have

Http://username:password@iporurl:portnumber/videostream.cgi

[mseepman]

Just to make sure...I tried what I think you put above...but still nothing. Near the end, did you mean port.videostream.cgi ??

[scuzy]

Port/videostream.cgi

[scuzy]

So basically


Http:// usernamer:password@123.456.789.123:80/videostream.cgi

[mseepman]

Thank you...it worked! Really appreciate the help.

[McCrash]

scuzy,

I tried searching to see where you purchased your Dericam from but failed to find that info. Is it possible that you can disclose that info without vialating any rules here?

I don't have enough posts here to PM you ( I am one of the lurkers) or I would have tried that route.

Thanks in advance

[scuzy]

Search ebay

[chaaban]

do you think this is better?

http://www.lorextechnology.com/Wireless+IP+camera/prod330037.p

[scuzy]

No ptz its pointless for me

[chaaban]

I see, for the price it seems that the one you chose is the best....any others that compare?

[dotcommer]

Nice thread was looking for an optical zoom PTZ camera. Just ordered the Dericam , I am hoping the video quality is realistic, Right now, I am using a logitech webcam C910 and the image quality and clarity is incredible, however no pan / tilt or optical zoom.

[dotcommer]

Since it is hooked up to my computer, I use a software called "Log me In" and I can remotely access my computer from Ipad, Iphone, Android or another computer etc.. and whatever is showing up on my computer I can see, and the video quality is amazing. Better than, my Dlink 5222L $250 IP camera, better than the trendnet as well, and the webcam is only $79.

[NH Fish]

do you think this is better?

http://www.lorextechnology.com/Wireless+IP+camera/prod330037.p

Absolutely not

[GusDiaz]

Dericam M801W. Very good PTZ IP camera. Easy to install and program in Apex.