Today I’ll be reviewing the IMOU Ranger 2C 4MP Security Camera. A newly released and updated CCTV camera to the successful Ranger product range from IMOU. This is the first review for IMOU for the My Helpful Hints website.
IMOU are a part of the Dahua Technology, a well-known internationally recognised brand that has over 2,800 patents, including more than 150 international patents. The company currently have 20M+ global users, using 50M+ devices, and can be found in 2000+ retail stores. Dahua Technology have huge plans to expand production by 50% in 2022. This could potentially involve 3.4 million units being produced monthly. Yes monthly, not yearly!
When I was offered the opportunity from their PR department, I grabbed it with both hands.
Anyway, back to the review. The IMOU Ranger 2C 4MP Security Camera features some impressive features. These include a 4MP QHD recording capability, 360° pan, 90° tilt, night vision, two-way speaker, smart tracking, motion detection, 16x digital zoom and more.
But is this CCTV camera any good? Time to test it out!
Packaging and Contents.
The IMOU Ranger 2C 4MP Security Camera comes packaged in a white/orange coloured cardboard box which features printed product images and specifications. The box measures 18.0cm x 10.0cm x 8.5cm and weighs 420G.
Inside the box you’ll find the following: 1x Camera, 1x UK Power Adaptor, 1x USB Cable, 1x Position Map, 1x Fixings Kit, 1x Mounting Plate, 1x Multi-Lingual User Guide.
IMOU Ranger 2C 4MP Security Camera.
The IMOU Ranger 2C 4MP Security Camera is white in appearance, with a black lens area. The camera measures 10.6cm in height x 8.0cm in diameter and weighs 225G. On the back you’ll see the speaker. and the Micro USB charging port. If you manually move the lens upward, you’ll discover the Micro SD card slot and a reset button.
The supplied Micro/USB A cable measures 2M in length, and it’s a nice touch from IMOU to also supply a UK Plugtop to supply the required 5V DC power source.
App Control.
To fully use the IMOU Ranger 2C 4MP Security Camera you’ll need to download the IMOU Life app, it’s available for free for both iOS and Android devices. Once downloaded, the IMOU Life app assists you to set up your camera, you’ll firstly need to create a user account. IMOU take GDPR data protection very seriously, the camera even features a privacy mode for extra peace of mind too.
Power on the CCTV camera, a green LED light will flash, if not make sure you’ve fully pushed in the Micro USB plug, happened to me, it’s a nice and tight fit!
Head over to the app, press the plus icon in the top-right hand corner, you’ll see two options, scan QR code (located on the underside of the camera) or ad a product manually. I chose the QR code option, it’ll recognise the Ranger 2C 4MP Security Camera. The next steps involve connecting via your WiFi network, this takes around 2 minutes to complete. It’s advisable to keep your smartphone and the Ranger 2C 4MP Security Camera within range of your router.
Once paired, you’ll be able to control the camera using the screen on your mobile phone. You can also set up user preferences including, geo-fencing, push notifications, detection schedules, alert tones, and so much more.
Using the Camera.
I’ve reviewed a few smartphones controlled CCTV cameras over the years, the app is usually a big let-down. But I can honestly say the IMOU Life app is so user friendly. It has a nice, clean user interface which includes everything at a touch of a button. The pan/tilt onscreen joypad is smooth and works perfectly, zooming (16x digital zoom) inwards and outwards is so easy, simply by pinching on the screen.
You can use the IMOU cloud to store your recordings, you get 30-day free trial, thereafter it’s only £2.59 per month. I, however opted for the traditional Micro SD card option. I used a 16GB card (all I had knocking about) you can use a card upto 256GB.
You can set it up to only detect human movements, you’ll get alerts that a human had been detected and it’ll record these detections. I chose to record all movements; I wanted to record my cat Tammy and see what she gets up to when she’s on her own. Apparently, she loves to investigate the camera and then bird watch at the window. The smart tracking feature also follows her about the room, fully, with no blind spots too.
Night Vision and Speaker.
It’s rare to find a CCTV camera that features decent night vision capabilities. But the IMOU Ranger 2C 4MP Security Camera totally smashes it when it comes to the night vision feature. You get built-in infrared LEDs (Advanced IR algorithms) provide a clear, crisp picture up to 10M, which allows you see everything clearly even in pitch-black, and I mean absolute pitch-black. Night vision mode automatically switches on and off when the camera detects low light.
I can’t believe just how good the night vision is, it’s so clear, you can also still pan/tilt and zoom too.
The IMOU Ranger 2C 4MP Security Camera also features a two-way speaker too. You can talk into your smartphone, and it’ll confuse your cat from the camera, or you could use it to warn of intruders. The sound recorded is clear too, no muffled sounds. Another feature (yes another) of the Ranger 2C is the sound detection feature, it’ll send you an alert if the camera detects sound, it makes an ideal baby monitor.
The IMOU Ranger 2C 4MP Security Camera can also be used with your Google Assistant and is also Amazon Alexa approved.
Technical Specifications.
- Brand: IMOU
- Model: Ranger 2C 4MP Security Camera
- Manufacturer Code: IPC-TA42P
- Manufacturer Reference: N/A
- EAN: 6923172550071
- ASIN: B0953798KS
- Voltage Input: 5V DC
- Maximum Current: 0.2A
- Power: 5W
- Zoom: 16x Digital Zoom
- Night Vision: Yes
- Compliance: CE, FCC, RoHS
Conclusion.
I absolutely love the IMOU Ranger 2C 4MP Security Camera. It’s hands up, the best CCTV camera I’ve ever reviewed, it’s so easy to navigate the app and control the camera. After nearly a month of use, I can’t find a single fault, it’s literally perfect. Perfection usually costs a lot too, but IMOU is seriously affordable too, less than £45, for a superb camera which features a 24-month warranty too.
Phew!, what a product, and a great review for the Ranger 2C 4MP, but there’s more, IMOU have offered me an exclusive 20% discount to give you too, not just for this brilliant model, but across all of the IMOU product range on Amazon, just enter code HELPHINTS until 31st December 2021.
If you’d like to purchase this item, please check out the purchasing options below. The RRP for this product is £44.99.
Amazon Best Option | eBay |
Product sample provided by IMOU in exchange for a detailed, unbiased review.
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