The sexy Imilab EC4 looks like a big deal, but its feature set needs some updates to compete with bigger players.
We last reached out to Imilab in 2021 when we reviewed the C20 indoor pan/tilt camera.Imilab is now moving upmarket with a static outdoor camera – the Imilab EC4 – aiming to raise the bar and compete with the big names in the market.
Designed in the familiar rectangular bullet format, the camera itself is smooth and glossy and is a massive upgrade over the Pedestrian C20.Weather-resistant to an impressive IP66 rating (we explained the IP code in the previous link) and powered by a 5200mAh battery, the camera can be installed almost anywhere – as long as you can take it off for regular charging (via the included micro-USB cable).
This review is part of TechHive’s coverage of the best home security cameras, where you’ll find reviews of competitors’ products, as well as a buyer’s guide to the features you should consider when buying such a product.
Or, you can opt for Imilab’s optional solar panel ($89.99 MSRP, but $69.99 at press time) to keep your battery charged.Note that the design of the camera largely requires installation using a wall mount adapter that screws into the back of the camera.The camera’s round base means you can’t easily place it on a stand without wedging it between two other objects to keep it upright.
Before installing the camera, you will need to set up the Ethernet bridge included in the box.Oddly, this is not a requirement for the C20, which communicates directly with your Wi-Fi router.The bridge is a rather anonymous piece of hardware that differs in that it includes an onboard microSD card slot (card not included) that can be used to capture video directly.
After installing the bridge, you can move directly to the camera.In my testing, both were fairly easy to set up; once I plugged it in and powered it on, the app automatically discovered the bridge.Setting up the camera involves scanning the QR code printed on the chassis and going through some basic configuration steps; I had some minor issues getting the camera to connect to Wi-Fi (only 2.4GHz networks are supported), but everything worked fine after a few tries .
Imilab’s app isn’t the most intuitive, but it covers the basics.However, the camera’s ability to only respond to human motion is odd.
The EC4 has solid specs, including 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution and a 150-degree (diagonal) field of view.The camera is equipped with standard infrared night vision and a medium-brightness spotlight for full-color photos at night.I found daytime video to be sharp and focused—albeit with some muted colors—and the infrared night vision mode was excellent.The spotlight isn’t bright enough to provide more than 15 feet of light, but it works fine in tight spaces.
The system includes intelligent motion detection that can be customized to activate only at times you set, configurable activity zones that allow you to ignore motion in certain parts of the frame, and optional “sound and light alarms” that can be set to sound 10 seconds, and selectively blink the spotlight when motion is detected.
The maximum clip length is configurable up to 60 seconds, and the cooldown interval is 0 to 120 seconds, also user configurable.Of particular note: the system includes an AI system tuned to capture human activity, which is flagged as “human events” in the app.While the app hints at capturing other types of events, that wasn’t the case in my testing: the EC4 only captures human-like activity, so it’s not keeping tabs on pets, wildlife, or passing traffic.
Imilab offers an optional solar panel to keep the EC4′s 5200mAh battery fully charged.The panel has an MSRP of $89.99, but was on sale for $69.99 at the time of this review.
A key feature here is MIA.While you can now download videos from the cloud, the only way to get them off the SD card is to eject the card from the bridge and plug it into your computer.Other functions, such as entering a screen that can activate a siren or use two-way audio, are less intuitive.
Oddly, the app is also fully tuned to record clips to the cloud.If you prefer to use a microSD card, you might be surprised to find that clips aren’t collected in the app’s playback system.To find them, you’ll have to venture into the settings menu and tap SD card video to find the separate repository for video files.The good news is that Imilab’s cloud plans are affordable (and play videos fast).Pricing is even cheaper than last year, at least for the 30-day plan: a 7-day history run costs $2/month or $20/year, while a 30-day history run costs $4/month or $40/year.Currently, the camera is bundled with a trial period of up to 3 months.
solar powered outdoor camera
Pricing for the camera is all over the place, with a list price of $236 (including the hub), and Imilab is selling the combo outright for $190.Shop around and you’ll find the duo for even less, though Amazon doesn’t have one as of press time.Unfortunately, even at $190, this camera in its current state has too many limitations — and makes more than a few false promises — to really recommend it over its more full-featured rivals .
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Christopher Null is a veteran technology and business journalist.He contributes regularly to TechHive, PCWorld, and Wired, and runs the Drinkhacker and Film Racket websites.
Post time: Apr-09-2022
