Pros & Cons
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- Good daytime color quality.
- Local storage.
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi.
- Easy to install.
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- Expensive.
- No cloud storage option.
- Low light color could use a boost.
Nearly all of today's wireless home connected webcams use multiple infrared LEDs to capture night vision video, but most of them only deliver it in black-and-white. Enter the D-Link Wireless AC Day/Night Camera With Color Night Vision (DCS-2136L)See it at Amazon UK, a 720p home security camera that uses a single white LED to capture full-color night vision video. At $324.99, this indoor Wi-Fi camera doesn't come cheap, but you get a lot for your money, including the latest wireless technology, onboard storage capabilities, and motion detection recording. However, it doesn't offer cloud-based video storage and its night vision color could use a little more pop.
Design and Features
The DCS-2136L looks like other D-Link Wi-Fi cameras we've reviewed, including the Day/Night Network Cloud Camera 1150 DCS-933L£59.99 at Amazon UK and the HD Wireless N Day/Night Outdoor Cloud Camera DCS-2330L£601.93 at Amazon UK. It measures 3.7 by 2.3 by 1.7 inches (HWD), and is supported by a round stand with a 2.5-inch mounting arm. The camera attaches to the arm with a ball-joint mechanism that lets you swivel and rotate the camera for optimal coverage.
View All The camera housing is white with a round black lens enclosure that holds a Sony 1/3-megapixel CMOS sensor and a fixed 3.6mm lens. The front of the camera has a single white LED that provides light for color night vision, a passive infrared motion sensor, power and WPS status indicators, and a microphone for two-way audio communication. The camera offers wireless 802.11ac networking, as well as wired gigabit Ethernet networking, and it has a 10X digital zoom.
The rear of the camera is host to a LAN port, a speaker, a power jack, a WPS button, a Reset button, and a DI/DO port for connecting to external devices. The left side of the camera has a microSD card slot for storing captured video and still images, but you'll have to supply your own card. D-Link does not currently offer cloud-based video storage for their cameras, so you may want to back up your memory card on a weekly basis.
Final Thoughts
D-Link Wireless AC Day/Night Camera With Color Night Vision (DCS-2136L)
The D-Link Wireless AC Day/Night Camera With Color Night Vision (DCS-2136L) delivers color video in any lighting environment, but it doesn't offer cloud-based storage and its night vision color could be more vibrant.