We have already tested several cameras from the IMILAB brand, whether indoor or outdoor. The EC board has a newcomer in the form of a model this time IMILAB EC4. It is an outdoor, wireless battery-powered camera, the successor to the popular EC2 model.
The camera impresses with its modern design, 2.5K resolution and long life. Since we have been using the EC2 model so far, the review will also lack a short comparison.
Where to buy IMILAB EC4?
You can purchase the IMILAB EC4 security camera from our international partner Banggood. It is currently only available in the Chinese warehouse, but shipping costs Banggood Express will guarantee you a problem-free delivery without any customs fees.
IMILAB EC4
Technical specifications
Imilab EC4 | |
---|---|
Model designation |
CMSXJ31A |
dimensions |
82 * 86.8 * 50mm |
Resolution |
2.5K - 2560 * 1440 |
Image sensor |
4 MPx; 1/3 " |
Angle of view |
150° |
Clone |
f / 1.6 |
Certifications |
IP66 |
Audio |
bidirectional with noise reduction |
Drums |
3.6V 5200 mAh |
Operating temperature |
-20 ° C to 50 ° C |
Connectivity |
WiFi 802.11 b / g / n 2.4 GHz |
Memory card support |
max 64 GB |
Contents of the package
The IMILAB EC4 security camera is sold in a black box, on which we can find basic information about the camera. We had a version with a gateway, which is needed to connect the camera to the home network.
In addition to these two main components, there are also numerous accessories. It consists of a stand with a thread for the camera, a cable with an adapter for the gate, an Ethernet cable with RJ-45 connectors, a micro USB cable for charging the camera, a wall mounting bracket and instructions for use.
The manufacturer also includes a double-sided self-adhesive sticker as a gift, if you would like to stick the camera stand somewhere namidrilling certificate and a voucher for activating the 2-year warranty. The packaging is rich, it contains everything necessary for assembly, but we would have expected better protection of the camera from the top of the box, where there is no foam reinforcement.
Design and quality of workmanship
Compared to the previous EC2 model, we have seen a more modern and very successful design. The camera was slightly shortened, widened and given rounder shapes with a glossy finish.
The gateway, which is needed to connect the camera, has also undergone a change. It is larger and has a vertical orientation. Although design is a subjective matter and everyone likes something different, we would like to say that in terms of design, this camera together with the gate were very successful.
Both the camera and the gate are made of high-quality plastic, which is why processing is at a high level. All parts fit together perfectly, so we also evaluate the quality positively.
Element layout and connectivity
The IMILAB EC4 camera itself has, in addition to a wide-angle lens, a large PIR sensor for motion detection, a signaling LED, as well as a light-emitting diode in the dark. At the bottom we find a power button and a micro USB port for charging the battery in the camera. The charging port is perfectly protected against water and dirt with a rubber cover.
The gateway used to connect the camera is this time portrait and includes a speaker, an alarm button, a reset button and three ports. The USB port is used to charge the camera, the Ethernet port for connection to the network and the third is the power port, through which it is connected to the electrical network. There is also a signaling diode in the front part, which shows the status of the gate, and on the side there is a slot for a MicroSD card.
There is one camera in the basic package, but it is possible to connect more cameras to the gateway. An interesting accessory that can be purchased is a solar panel. Ideally, you would not have to charge the camera to use it.
Camera installation and gate connection
Installation of the IMILAB EC4 camera is very simple and the package contains everything you need except a screwdriver. Since a sticker is also supplied with the camera, you have the choice of sticking or screwing the camera stand somewhere. We chose the second option, so we attached the pedestal to the wooden gazebo with the enclosed screws. Then you just attach the camera to the metal rod with a thread and insert it into the stand together with its holder.
The next step is to position the gate correctly. According to the instructions in the instructions, we placed it right next to the router in a small cottage that we have in the garden. During the first setup, a wired connection to the router is required, but since the gateway also has WiFi, it can later connect wirelessly. The gateway switches on automatically when connected to the mains, but the camera must be switched on with the button on the bottom.
New IMILAB Home application
The change compared to the older EC2 camera is the application. While we used the older model through the Xiaomi Home application, unfortunately the new EC4 model works with the new IMILAB Home application, similar to the IMILAB C21 indoor camera. With an interior camera, the application turned out to be a slight negative, we will see how it will be in this case.
The application immediately searched for a camera nearby, but then prompted us to add a gateway. The whole process of adding a gateway is perfectly processed in the application and supplemented with images, so that really everyone can do it. After connecting the gateway to the router, the pairing process took place automatically and did not take more than a few minutes.
Connecting the camera to the gateway is similarly easy. It consists of finding the gateway and then connecting to its WiFi network. In the last step, the signal quality between the camera and the gateway is tested. The application also offers a choice of monitoring mode - immediate recording after motion detection, recording only if the person stays in the field of view of the camera longer, or you can turn off monitoring.
Pairing with the application is complete in this step and the camera is ready for use. Although the whole process takes a bit longer due to the need to pair two devices, everything is very simple.
Application environment and image quality
The environment of the camera in the application is almost identical to what we are used to from the older version of EC2. However, the annoying opening of the application is annoying, during which a 5-second interval is unnecessarily subtracted, which fortunately can be skipped. However, it is useless and it makes no sense to watch the initial graphics of the application, where nothing is present for 5 seconds.
At each opening, the application also offers us a free cloud for 3 months. By default, the main screen of the camera contains a preview of the live broadcast, under which we find several buttons with different functions - image quality (SD, HD and 2.5K), mute or unmute, capture photo and record video, turn on the LED and full screen mode. .
In the lower part, there is also the activation of an alarm or sound transmission and the switching between events and live transmission. The battery status is displayed at the top of the screen using the symbol and the setting button.
As for the image quality, it is at an excellent level. Especially if you watch the camera on a small screen of a smartphone in 2.5K resolution, the quality is excellent. It will also please a wide angle of view, which is better than with the older version of the EC2. Only the possibility of rotating the camera is missing.
Night mode also in color version
The image quality has also improved in night mode compared to the EC2 camera. The character in front of the camera no longer looks like a ghost, and in addition we have the option of a color night mode, which is on by default.
In color foot mode, the white LED on the camera lights up, which causes higher power consumption and shorter life per charge. However, the choice between color and black and white night mode is interesting.
Space monitoring and its settings
Since the IMILAB EC4 is a battery-powered camera, we do not have continuous recording to a memory card. Recording is available only after motion detection in the monitored area. Monitoring settings are quite rich. They offer the setting of the exact time when the space monitoring should be turned on, the detection mode, which we talked about when pairing with the application, as well as other options.
The length of the video that the camera records after motion detection can range from 6 to 60 seconds. The interval between individual recordings can be set in the range of 0 - 120 seconds and we can also adjust the sensitivity of the PIR sensor in four levels.
Of interest is the possibility of creating monitoring zones. You can only select certain parts of the image that you want to monitor. The camera supports a maximum of 4 zones. We created the zone in the left part of the image, as you can see in the screenshoots, but we only received a warning if the person was moving in this zone near the camera. Thus, the functionality is not one hundred percent.
Notifications and uploads
Unfortunately, notifications are the stumbling block of this camera. Although we did not receive any false and unnecessary notifications, which is an improvement over the EC2 camera, their very operation is not good. After clicking on the notification, the IMILAB Home application will only open. The recorded video will not play automatically. Another problem is that if you use a micro SD card and not a cloud from IMILAB, videos from notifications are not among the events.
To view the video from the notification, you have to go to the camera settings, where the SD card video item is located. You can also find notifications under the "Messages" tab on the main screen of the IMILAB Home application, but even after clicking on these messages, you will not get to the actual video from the notification. An event screen will open with an offer for free cloud for 3 months, namihere's a short video from the notification.
This solution is very unfortunate and spoils the overall impression of the camera. So we tried to activate the cloud for 3 months. From that moment on, notification videos began to appear in our app between events. However, the video still didn't play automatically when the notification was clicked, so the cloud didn't resolve the issue. In addition, after activating the cloud, we occasionally noticed a few seconds delay between motion detection and the notification itself.
In a review of the IMILAB EC2 camera, we stated that we often observed a delay between motion detection in front of the camera and the start of recording. This delay is slightly improved in the new version.
For some scenes, recording starts immediately, but for others, you can still see the delay. You will notice it especially if you run into the field of view of the camera and continue to run. The video that the camera usually recorded during such a test does not start until we were about 3 meters away from the camera. She started recording late.
Sound quality
The IMILAB EC4 intelligent security camera supports two-way audio transmission. Not only does it record sound, but it can also be used as a means of communicating with a person at the camera, as it also has a speaker.
The sound in the recorded videos from notifications is great. You can clearly hear the music and the human voice. Two-way audio transmission through the camera also works very well, the spoken word can be heard perfectly on both sides, but only if the person is close to the camera and when the camera has a good signal towards the gate. With a worse signal, the sound is already interrupted. What's worse is that the camera must be very close to the gate for a good signal. A distance of 6 - 7 meters is enough and one wall as an obstacle and the signal immediately weakens significantly.
Endurance and charging
The camera has a built-in 5200 mAh battery. The endurance, of course, depends on the use and frequency of motion detection. The manufacturer states that endurance at the level of 100 days is achievable under the following conditions: a temperature of 25 ° C and a maximum of 10 motion detections per day with a video length of 30 seconds.
We tested the camera intensively, so we often watched the live broadcast, we also had the LED light on at night and we received several dozen notifications a day. With such a really intensive use, we missed about 20% of the battery in 10 days of testing. In normal use, the battery capacity would certainly be slower, but we would not expect up to 100 days.
As for charging, the camera came to us almost discharged, so we immediately tested the length of charging. From 20% to 100% it took almost 3.5 hours.
Customization options in the application
You will find a relatively wide range of customizations in the application settings. In addition to the aforementioned monitoring and night mode settings, we will also find a wide-angle lens correction, which gives a less rounded image. However, the correction works at the expense of the shot, from which it cuts slightly.
Here we also find information about the percentage of the battery and the option to set a low capacity warning at the selected value. The default value is 20%. Another helper in the settings is the so-called WDR (Wide Dynamic Range), which serves to improve the image, similar to the HDR function known from cameras.
It is also possible to test the signal strength in the settings. We placed the camera about 7 meters from the cottage where the gate was. There was also a wall between the camera and the gate, so the signal was weak. When we put the gate away, behind another wall, the signal quality was already so poor that the application recommended that we move the camera closer to the gate.
You'll also be pleased with the FAQ section, which redirects you to frequently asked questions that can help you solve problems.
IMILAB EC4: Final evaluation
The IMILAB EC4 wireless security camera is a successor to the popular EC2 model. It brings a more modern design, higher resolution, wider viewing, an LED diode to illuminate at night, as well as the new IMILAB HOME application.
It was the choice of a new application that turned out to be a bad decision. There are several shortcomings in the current version 2.4.9 that can be crucial for potential customers. After clicking on the received notification on the smartphone, the created video will not be displayed, but you have to click on it manually. Space monitoring videos appear between captured events only if you use the IMILAB cloud. If you want to use a memory card, you can only access videos through the settings, which is impractical.
IMILAB EC4
However, the image quality during the day or at night is very solid and overall the camera has great potential. However, we can only hope that the manufacturer will improve the application after bad feedback from users, and that some of the updates will offer us improvements.
There will be a geteway from the Imilab EC2 camera compatible with the EC4 camera
No.
Hi!
I know in this price segment I could not expect more than it costs. 🙂
I see many bad feedback about EC2, Will you suggest to buy EC4 based on your experience for a regular use if I accept all the disadvantages (like frequent charging, bad application structure, etc.)?
Thanks!
The EC 4 camera has a lot of negative reviews, but my colleague and I have a problem that no one can deal with, and for this reason I don't want to buy additional cameras.
Through the camera, if there are neighbors nearby in the MT-wifi setting - available networks - the camera code and HUB (gateway) will appear. The hub has its own security (password), but the camera does not.
And with that, anyone can connect to the Internet in the dark and use my data.
Thank you for your response