Test panel report Foscam X5 5 MP indoor camera

Hans Heemkerk Gigantic improvement

The content is complete, including a plastic plate with screws for mounting on the wall. The user manual refers to a concise (English) manual on the eu website, an extensive (English) manual can be found at www.foscam.com However, the quick guide appears to be sufficient to install the camera. The clear Dutch-language instructional videos on the website are not camera-specific, but apply to all models. The installation goes smoothly

The camera has two settings, person detection and motion. With both settings you can set three sensitivities, with person detection the camera does not respond to pets. In the app you can set part of the recording area to black (privacy mask). You can also set a detection area, so that the sensor only responds to a specific zone.

The photo quality is good, especially the night shots. With fast movements, the videos are of slightly lower quality, but certainly still sufficient to provide recognizable images. Unfortunately the sound isn’t great.

My old Foscam was a C1 with 720p image, the X5 with 5 MP is a huge improvement in image quality and possibilities. The pan/tilt option is a welcome addition. In terms of price-quality ratio, this cam deserves 4 stars, the small problems with the app ensure that I end up with 3.5 stars.

Dirk Decoene vSurprisingly nice package for home use

There is a wide choice in terms of storage, such as the FOSCAM VMS. Activating and setting up is clear, a space is reserved on a hard disk and the first recordings are coming in. Plenty of options for home use.

Local recording on an SD card is an easy option, the cloud solution with tryout period, however, catches my attention more. It looks very practical and well thought out with different subscription formulas. The link to my Synology NAS requires some searching. Once the port number for ONVIF (port 888) has been set, it is quite easy to record with 2 streams.

The image quality is very nice, and for more difficult light there is a WDR option. Not unexpected, with a generous 5MP sensor on board. When night falls, 4 infrared lights come to the rescue and the recordings are remarkably noise-free. What is less in proportion is the maximum frame rate of 15 fps, which is minimal for smooth moving images.

You will find plenty of options in the app and the ease of use is really enjoyable. The built-in audio is also useful and the sound is clearly audible.

For its price, the X5 offers a lot of quality and options for home use with a striking ease of use and fun application of AI and Alexa / Google Assistant. Even though the PTZ functions are not lightning fast, a range of 350° all around is very nice. Speaking of ‘versatility’…

Leo Ramaekers Excellent image

Installation of the Foscam X5 will not be a problem thanks to the enclosed guide.

You control the X5 with the Foscam app on your phone. The setup menu is clear and user-friendly. The camera responds quickly to pan, tilt and zoom commands. The colors of the video images are extremely bright and sharp. In the evening/night, the images are still very sharp and people are up to ± Easily recognizable from 6 meters thanks to the automatic night mode with 4 strong SMD IR LEDs. While viewing the real-time video images you can address people through the 2-way audio via built-in microphone and speaker.

Image and sound can be stored on a micro SD card (max. 256 GB), but also in the cloud, which will incur costs. The Foscam X5 supports Google Assistant, Homey and Alexa for voice control.

The network protocol is complete with support for IP and ONVIF, among others. Settings are possible for hue, brightness, contrast, saturation and sharpness as well as sensitivity, trigger interval and detection area. With WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) increases the dynamic range of the video image, making the background brighter.

In the setup menu it is possible to set 1 or more (3) detection areas in the video image (privacy masks), where you can indicate where you want to detect or not.

By default, the X5 starts up in QHD image where colors are displayed naturally and surprisingly sharp. Even when zooming in, you still have a sharp image.

The Foscam X5 is a flexible, user-friendly, no-nonsense indoor camera with excellent image and many useful setting options. The camera fully meets my expectations of a usable and reliable security camera. Due to its small dimensions, the camera is also easy to set up concealed.

Harry van Meurs Good value for money

The Foscam X5 camera comes with a USB power cable and plug. Furthermore, the box contains material to hang it on and a manual written in English. By scanning the QR code mentioned in the manual with your camera, you can download the Foscam app. You must create an account in the app to use it. Installation was really a piece of cake via the supplied manual. You can set the camera in the app, for example that it notifies your phone when someone enters. In the app you can then see who is in your house. It is also possible to set that you can speak via the camera via the app. You can then scare off an uninvited guest. The image on the phone is reasonable and you can zoom in. In the app you can take both a photo and a video. You can view this later in the app at Album. The app is very complete and also gives good help if you want to know something.

Photo and video storage is also possible by inserting a micro SD card into the camera, up to a maximum of 128 GB. You can also take out a cloud service at Foscam for which you have to pay. This subscription does contain many extras such as facial recognition, so that you can exclude family members from detections. The disadvantage is that the camera does not work on batteries. It must therefore always be placed near an electrical outlet.
For approximately € 50, you get a reasonable security camera.