Video cameras have become fairly ubiquitous. And that’s a pretty good thing- we’re able to watch police officer bodycams, to video chat with our family far away or check in on a baby in the next room without disturbing him or her. And we’ve tested out dozens of different types of video cams, with lenses and setups of various shapes and sizes, from handycams for travel to sports-focused models to help you capture ski trips and skating tricks.
The FLIR FX is a multi-purpose camera with a body that can fit into a few different cases, each with different functions. Inside is a rechargeable battery with a couple of hours of life depending on use, and the FX can record 1080p footage to an included on-board 8GB micro SD card. Unlike most other similar competitors, this one includes sensors for temperature, humidity, sound, and of course motion with smart alerts and notifications that you can configure in a variety of ways. With a wide viewing angle of 16o degrees, two-way audio, and built-in 802.11 b/g/n wireless networking, you can set the FX up in a corner and ensure that you’ll see everything- plus be able to hear and even talk back.
The brand might be familiar to some, as they make an interesting case that allows you to see in infrared (thermal imaging). The same company also manufactures Lorex security cameras, so they have quite a history with these sorts of applications. Three different cases are available- a dash camera mount for use in your car on your dashboard, a waterproof shell that works underwater or in the air, and a weatherproof outdoor security housing that adds night vision and makes the FX look like a little surveillance cam. You’ll have to purchase the other cases as optional additional accessories, as the FX is available in two default packages, dashcam or security cam bundles.
As a home nannycam or indoors security cam, we liked the FX- it’s image quality and color balance are decent, and setup was simple. Their iOS and Android app is solid and easy to use, and FLIR offers a couple of features that set this one apart- RapidRecap (a nifty technology which condenses action into a timelapse view) and SmartZone (to help isolate zones of interest so that, say, light moving in a window won’t trigger an event). They also have a cloud storage system with a few different plans, including a free one which limits you to 48 hours of saved footage (and three RapidRecap videos per month). There’s no desktop application at the moment though one is expected later this year, and it’s a little questionable if users will want to take their security camera out and about in their car on a drive, and then carry a separate case for use at the park. The price is fairly competitive, starting at $199 for the basic FX, online and in stores.