Ezviz C4W review – Outdoor Wi-Fi CCTV with strobe and siren

The C4W is the latest camera in the ever-growing range of Ezviz security cameras which is now available from Argos for £99.99.

Features

• Sensor: 1/2.7″ Progressive Scan CMOS
• Lens: 2.8mm, view angle: 103° horizontal, 118° diagonal 4mm, view angle: 87° horizontal, 104° diagonal
• Day & Night: IR-cut filter with auto-switching
• DNR: 3D DNR
• WDR: Digital WDR
• Video Compression: H.265 / H.264
• Video Bit Rate: Ultra-HD; HD; Standard. Adaptive bit rate.
• Max. Resolution: 1920 × 1080
• Frame Rate: Max: 30fps; Self-adaptive during network transmission
• Smart Alarm: Motion detection; Active sound and light alarm
• Protocol: EZVIZ Cloud Proprietary Protocol (No ONVIF)
• Storage: MicroSD card slot (Max. 256 GB) or cloud
• Wired Network: RJ45 × 1 (10M/100M Adaptive Ethernet Port)
• Wi-Fi: IEEE802.11 b/g/n
• Power: DC 12V/1A (no POE)
• IP Rating: IP67

Set-Up

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Like most cameras, I have reviewed in the past couple of years, set up is quick and simple. I already have the Ezviz app, so it was just a case of hitting the add camera button and scanning the QR code.

I opted to use ethernet for my data, but you can optionally use Wi-FI using the 2.4Ghz channel.

This has options for MicroSD recording, cloud or you will be able to use an Ezviz NVR. So you will need to buy and install the microSD card if this is your chosen medium.

Performance

Daytime

Daytime performance has been excellent, which is the norm for most cameras nowadays. There is not much to say here, video is clear and identifying objects or people is easy.

Nightvision

I have had issues with the night time performance, this is not advertised as being a colour night vision camera, but this is what it has been recording as.

However, the addition of colour causes a loss of clarity and some slightly dark spots on my recordings.

It looks like the problem is due to bright street lights which keep the camera in colour, but there is not enough light to illuminate my path, in particular where a tree casts a shadow, then the IR light does not appear to be capable of hitting my path properly.

Unlike many regular security cameras that use ONVIF, there are minimal settings to adjust the image, you have an IR switch, and that’s it.

With a bit of tweaking on the position, I did find the dark spots to be better. They appear much worse on the small screen of my phone, but when you open the images on a PC they are much clearer.

In well-lit areas, the image appears better than normal BW night mode, and the overall quality is good, but some consideration will need to be used when positioning this.

Alerts

The alarm is moderately loud, not as loud as a burglar alarm, but activating it just outside my closed office window I can easily hear it and it is loud enough to wake me up during the night, and quite likely my neighbours.

Within the settings you settings to customise if the camera makes a noise on detection, this is intense, soft, or mute, then also if the light comes on. Unlike the Ezviz Floodlight, this does not have AI object detection, so it is prone to triggering to random things in your garden. I had to immediately switch the intense noise notification off where it is located on my property. However, if you can locate the camera somewhere more secluded from the weather such as a porch I can see how this could be useful as a deterrent for would-be thieves.

Price and Competition

The Ezviz C4W costs £99.99 from Argos

I can’t think of any direct competition that offers a siren and strobe lighting from other brands. The Ezviz C3W is an appealing alternative to this, costing less, but being Wi-Fi only, I used it for several months with no issues at all. Night vision was black and white but the quality was excellent.

Beyond Ezviz, there is extensive competition.

Reolink is the obvious alternative, they are similar to Ezviz in that they offer a range of excellent cameras, but they are restricted to their own system. It could be argued the Reolink system is worse because their NVR only works with Reolink cameras, whereas the Ezviz NVR will accept ONVIF cameras.

If you can live without the siren and light, then you have almost any ONVIF camera to choose from. This includes the more expensive but superior Hikvision cameras. There is also Annke which has a 4K POE camera at the same price as this, or H.View which has a colour night vision POE camera at the same price.

Overall

If you already invested in Ezviz, then this camera is another excellent option in an expansive line-up. The active defence with siren and strobe light are clearly the stand out features, and if you can perfect the motion detection, this should work very well.

The night vision performance is a bit hit and miss, the colour night vision that I have been getting offers better than normal performance for semi-lit areas, but suffers on very low lit parts of my garden.

Overall, this is a good camera, but if you want to use Wi-Fi for your connection, I would be tempted to save some money and go with the £69 Ezviz C3W.

Last update on 2024-12-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API