Eufy Security Camera (long term usage review)

Long term usage review of Eufy Security Camera.  

Term of usage is about 3+ years for the oldest model.   

 

Cameras/Accessory in use:

• Home Base 2
• eufyCam 2C Pro (2)
  
• Floodlight Cam S330 (2)
  
• SoloCam S230 (s40)
• eufyCam 2 Pro
  
• eufyCam Solar Panel (2)
• Indoor Cam 2k
  

 

Pros: 

• Local Storage.  
• PTZ for the flood Light Cameras. 
• Anker makes nice PowerBank (I think this may have filter down to the cameras).   

Cons:

• No Batch Download. 
• Note there is software to do batch download but this only works for the older cameras
• This cannot do this from the apps
• Download cannot not be done in the backgroud - you have to stay in app for the download. 
  
• Download from app sometimes fails and video may be lost if it rotates out
• No function to lock video that you need to keep. 
  
• For the battery camera, there is a 1-3 sec delay in video capture when triggered
• This may not an issue if you are walking into the camera. 
• But walking across then subject is "half" way through or already out of frame.  
  
• Motion detect for the battery cameras:
• It seems to miss quiet a bit of motion. 
• Neighbor put up a 30 foot Santa and camera does not pick that up or when it is swaying with the wind.  
• Video when camera is initially "waking up" may have Video issue.
  
• For the Floodlight Cam S330
• If there is an obstruction such as a column, this seems to be enough to block some motion detection in that area.  
• If it detection motion, there is a delay in moving the camera to where the motions is.  
• If the motion stops for about 5 seconds but subject is still there, then the camera will return home. 
• This is a major problem if the subject has back to camera but no motion detected then it will not record that action unless subject moves again.  
• Tracking is no perfect and can be off completely.   
  
• Battery camera may not detect some motion even if all motion is set. 
• Lose access to videos, when camera goes offline: 
• Note that if camera completely fails and video is on Home Base then you will not be able to retrieve any videos.  
• Also watch this video on access to videos when camera is removed 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TlQcg-_zoQ
• There is no notification when camera goes offline.  
• I usually find out when going into the app.  
• Refresh may not bring camera back on line
• Rebooting homebase may bring camera online.  
• In my case it seems inclement weather seems to be the cause (rain and maybe wind). 
• In almost all cases, I have to bring down the camera and jump start it via outlet.
• Depending where the camera is location, it may not be easily reset. 
  
• Other than the camera that have an SD card slot for storage, the homebase 2 is not expandable. 
• The issue here is not that is is not expandable, but that Eufy promised that this feature is forth coming but then negated it later.
• Hardware Quality may not be there
• SoloCam S230 has completely failed. 
• 1 eufyCam Solar Panel is having issue (not completely sure if it is this or camera)
• 1 eufyCam 2C Pro is having issue when used outside.
• 1 eufyCam 2 Pro is having issue when used outside.
• Most started having shortly after warranty ended. 
• Delay in promise functions. 
• Adding camera support to the new Home Base 3.   
• Note I did not buy the Home Base 3 but tracked Eufy timeline for adding support for the older cameras (specifically the ones I have).  These were delayed up to 1 year. 

Sample Videos:

Floodlight Cam S330:

• Bad Tracking
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• Return Home (miss footage)
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Battery Cameras (various models listed above - all have exhibited similar symptoms):

• Delay recordings (subject in Mid Frame)
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• Video Quality on initial motion trigger
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• 30 foot Santa (camera will not detect at night but seems to detect in the day).  
• Picture here is manual connect to show what it is camera will see if it actually capture something:
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• Video on motion detect in day
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With all that being said.  I would give Eufy Security Cameras a 1 star as it is missing some very critical functions.  Functions such as missing footage, camera initialize on motion trigger, motion trigger does not always work (especially with 30 foot santa), access to footage when camera goes offline or removed (home base recording not local to camera).  

I would not recommend Eufy, unless you just need access to the live view but note that the battery camera seems to go offline for me often. 

With this being said, one of the camera did pick up one of my neighbors house burning down.  This was about 2 streets over.  I was surprise that it picked it up: 

Here are the points that I find to be the most critical functions: 

• Access to all videos even if the camera is removed or offline. 
• Exception are the cameras that are not connected to homebase.  
• Cloud backup is not an option if the product promotes local storage.  
• Faster camera activation on movements.  
• There are instances where it will not capture the event or miss parts.  
• For the PTZ cameras, it must keep recording on the position where the last movement was.   
• If the movement stop, then it currently returns home after about 5 seconds. 
• Hence the footage is missing.  
• Batch download with ability to download in the background.  Currently this is no longer available for the newer cameras and not sure if it still works for the older cameras.   
• For a 2 min recording it will take about 2 min to download.  This is not good if you have back to back footage to download. 
• Quality for software and hardware.   
• Out of my 7 camera, 3 have had issues when used outside.  1 has completely died.  
• As for software, there have been issue downloading some video footage.  It is unclear if this is fixed as this seems to be random.
• Eufy seems to be focus on new functionality over some of the necessary function that I consider a requirement for security. 
• In some camera (non battery), having the ability to record continuously would be good.