
In this review I bring a camera for IP66 video surveillance, so we can use it both outdoors and indoors. It is the classic bullet camera, it requires a power cable and communicates with the router via WiFi or directly via LAN cable. It integrates a spotlight and infrared sensors for ultra-defined night vision and has artificial intelligence to recognize people and avoid false alarms. We are talking about the Ctronics 650C, a brand that you probably don't know but that you will probably start to take into consideration.
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Package Contents
Even though it is a cheap product, we can understand from the packaging that the brand wants to make itself known, offering an attractive and complete packaging in terms of equipment, finding inside the package:
- camera with dual WiFi antenna;
- 12V-1A/12W power supply (3m long cable);
- Ethernet cable;
- waterproof Ethernet port protectors;
- screws and dowels;
- wall/ceiling mounting template;
- instruction manual.
Construction features
Let's move on to the construction features. The body of the camera is entirely made of plastic, even the arm and the fixing base. On the sides of the dome we find 2 WiFi antennas which support both 2,4 GHz and 5 GHz WLAN frequencies, ensuring a more stable network connection and higher data speed. The security camera supports wall or ceiling mounting, so you can position the outdoor camera on external walls, roofs or wherever you want. In addition, the IP66 waterproof certification guarantees operation even in extreme weather conditions, ideal for video surveillance of open areas such as parking lots, garages, courtyards etc.



We find a cable that splits into three, offering the power socket, the Ethernet port, which allows us, if we want to connect the camera to the router via cable and finally the reset button with waterproof cap. Coming to the real protagonist of the review, the Ctronics 650C surveillance camera, is of the PTZ type with the possibility of adjustment up to 355 ° horizontally and 90 ° vertically, integrating a smart algorithm capable of distinguishing the movements of people and other objects, reducing false alarms by up to 95%. When it detects human movement, this camera automatically starts tracking. If the automatic zoom function is activated, the camera automatically changes lens and zooms in on the subject, using a 2X optical crop. When the subject disappears for 60 seconds, the camera automatically returns to the original surveillance screen.


On the front there are 4 white LEDs for illumination and infrared for black and white night vision, lens and sensor that detects brightness, but there is also a microphone and a speaker on the back, as this product allows two-way conversation with bidirectional audio, so you can talk to visitors in real time or warn unwanted intruders that you are calling the Police. Finally under the lens there is a silicone door that reveals a micro SD slot (support up to 128 GB, card not included). Videos are automatically stored on a micro SD card, accessible anytime and anywhere via smartphone or computer.

Configuration, commissioning and app
As mentioned, this surveillance camera is equipped with a dual lens: Sensor A captures close-up details, while sensor B uses a wide-angle lens for a wider view of the scene. A high-definition resolution of 2.5K is supported via a 4MP sensor (2560×1440P), and the 355° pan and 90° tilt functions offer a clear and customized view. The 4 white light LEDs and infrared sensors are able to provide clear night vision, even in color, up to 20 m. You can choose between two night vision modes and also set customized alarm sounds, with your voice, or choose a siren or a dog's barking, in order to scare away the intruder on duty.





That said, for the setup, we need to power the Ctronics 650C and then proceed with the configuration via the companion app, which can be downloaded for free, but if necessary there is also a PC software that also allows some goodies, such as zooming on a specific area of a recording and setting some video parameters, such as contrast, brightness, etc. For the smartphone app you need to create an account and once logged in you can proceed with the association of the camera, generally by scanning the QR code on the sticker with user and password, stuck on the wall/ceiling anchoring arm.

Without spending too many words on the app, I can tell you that it is quite complete, allowing you to manually manage the commands as well as customize the alarm alerts to receive and their sensitivity level. We can decide whether or not to activate the recognition of human figures or cars, decide whether to also take photos when the alarm goes off, but also set whether to send an email or save photos and videos on an FTP server. Of course, we can customize an alarm time slot, for example for monitoring during the hours when we are away from home or for predefined days, or leave everything at the basic level for continuous recording 24/24. The video will be made up of many segments with the duration we set. So for example, if we write 7 seconds, or 7 minutes, for every hour we will have 900 segments lasting, in fact, 15 minutes each. We leave First stream selected if we want to record in HD, second stream is the lowest quality, which allows us to save space on the memory card. By default the FPS is set to 4 but we cannot change this value from the app, to do so we must necessarily use the PC software.



We can also access the camera from a browser and with software for Windows PC and Mac. To access from a browser, the PC must be connected to the same WiFi to which the camera is connected, so for example if we are away from home we cannot use this access method. From the software settings we can change the FPS value for a less jerky images recorded by the Ctronics 650C. The software is called HIP2P and can be found on the manufacturer's website.




Test
Well, we are finally ready to test the Ctronics 650C and take advantage of the maximum resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, which allows you to view clear details even at several meters away. The viewing angle is wide and allows you to monitor not only the area in front of the camera, but also the lateral one. At night the camera performs well: with the active infrared night vision, the level of detail is good, ideal for monitoring large spaces.






For smaller environments we can use color night vision, through the LEDs that remain on and allow the area adjacent to the camera to be illuminated. The digital noise is quite low but the details may be less defined. By setting the Auto vision mode, when someone approaches the camera the spotlight turns on as a warning and deterrent. We can also reproduce the sound of a siren or the barking of a dog or a customized alarm.
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Conclusions
In conclusion, the Ctronics 650C is a good surveillance camera, with unique features in its price range. It has both infrared and color night vision, offers simple configuration and installation, within everyone's reach. It can also record audio and has two-way communication. The app is a bit crude, but the functions and settings are numerous. We can also access the camera from a browser and with PC software. Artificial intelligence is effective in containing false alarms but above all the performance of the captured images is more than satisfactory.