Dropcam has been around since 2009, but only truly became a player in the app-enabled home security space early last year with the release of the Dropcam HD Wi-Fi video monitoring system. It separated itself from the normal cast of IP video cameras by offering an insanely easy setup process, beautiful software, and effortless mobile device integration (iOS/Android). These wireless cameras have become so popular that Dropcam is now processing more video than YouTube on a daily basis.
Building on the success of the Dropcam HD, the San Francisco-based startup is now launching the Dropcam Pro. It will not be replacing the HD, but rather joining it as ‘step-up’ version for users who want to get the absolute most out of their video monitoring setup. The Dropcam HD will now be known simply as “Dropcam.” We had the opportunity to spend an entire week with the Dropcam Pro. Keep reading to find out if it lives up to the high expectations set by its predecessor.
What does it do?
Dropcam aims to bring a fully-featured video monitoring experience to consumers by cutting out the over-technical setup process, cable running, and expensive equipment usually associated with these types of systems. The mobile apps make ‘dropping’ in on your family, pets, or empty house while you’re away on vacation an extremely simple task. Within seconds of tapping the Dropcam app you are viewing and controlling all of your cameras. They even offer a cloud-based service to add DVR-type functionality to your video streams, making it easy to jump back in time and review noted events or any specific moment in recent history. Additional features like two-way audio, 8X zoom, and a 130-degree viewing angle help it match up to other IP video cameras currently on the market.
Setup
Dropcam boasts that a new camera can be setup in just 60 seconds and our experiences absolutely confirmed this claim. In the past, the initial setup of a Dropcam HD required a Mac or PC, but the new Pro version takes advantage of Bluetooth low-energy technology to allow setup to be completed exclusively on a mobile device. This feature requires an iOS device no older than an iPhone 4S, iPad 3, or iPad mini. The first time we tested the Dropcam we went through the Mac setup process and it couldn’t have been any easier. You simply tether your new camera to your Mac or PC via USB and launch the installer app from the desktop. This setup wizard will walk you through creating a Dropcam account, connecting to Wi-Fi, and placement of the camera. The entire process really is a breeze.
The camera is not completely wireless, as it requires the unit to be plugged in at all times and does not include a battery backup for power outages or other downtime. This makes it a bit tougher to find the perfect place to setup, but it is not uncommon for these types of cameras. The actual camera is about 5 inches tall and stands on a circular base for maximum stability. The body is made of aluminum with a nice matte black finish and feels strong. It includes a plastic mounting bracket and screws in case you wish to affix the Dropcam to your ceiling or wall. The arm of the unit manually tilts to help you find the perfect viewing angle.
Video/Audio quality
The Dropcam Pro features a new six-element all-glass camera lens, more sensitive microphone with double the sampling rate of the HD model, and a louder speaker. The Dropcam Pro supports up to a 1080p HD video resolution, compared to just 720p on the regular Dropcam. However, it isn’t all about the resolution here. The new larger image sensor produces amazingly smooth video even during high-action events. I had no problem identifying people entering a room, reading a nearby sign or understanding exactly what was going on at any given moment.
Both the standard and Pro models will be recieving an over-the-air software update which will bring a new enhancement and zoom features to both systems. The zoom feature is activated in the mobile app by simply pinching on an active video feed. In my experiences the zoom feature worked smoothly and was extremely responsive. Dropcam Pro will zoom up to 8x, while the regular Dropcam can only go up to 4x due to its limited hardware capability. The ‘enhance’ feature can freeze the current frame and really bring that static image into focus. Colors become more vibrant and true to real life. I could imagine this type of feature being perfect for snapping a shot of a potential burglar or license plate of a thief outdoors.
I was most impressed by the night vision mode. In a completely dark room I was still able to dial into my video feed and get a clear picture of the items in the room and the current activities. Dropcam Pro’s low-light capabilities are seven times stronger than the original Dropcam. This improvement alone may be worth the upgrade price for some. You can choose to have the camera auto detect low-light and adjust accordingly or you can manually turn night vision on or off from the setting menu. This option comes in handy in areas with extreme variances in light levels. In this situation the camera may get confused and continually turn night vision on/off, but you can combat this by overriding the auto-detect feature and manually activating night vision.
The Dropcam Pro features a 20% larger field of view over the Dropcam, which makes it easier to get an entire room in your shot. It is worth noting that the video image will have a slight fish-eye effect due to the 130 degree field of view, but it’s not too distracting and does not take away from the overall video quality.
The audio quality is adequate. In my testing it was able to pickup conversations from all around the main viewing room with ease, and even caught sounds from a bedroom down the hall (with the doors open). Even the creak of a door was registered and clearly heard on the video feed. I do not think the overall audio quality or microphone sensitivity is less than desirable but I do think there is room to make it even better in future Dropcam releases. Carrying over from the original Dropcam, the Pro version also includes two-way audio. This means that you can broadcast sounds over the camera via a built-in speaker. This is a great way to scare off burglars or ease a baby to sleep. I used this feature to play with my dog and utterly confuse her. The projected sound is clearly audible throughout the room, but don’t expect to hold a conversation with someone through the camera as it has a slight delay that will throw off speech timing.
Cloud Video Recording (CVR) and event notifications
All Dropcam purchasers can freely ‘drop in’ on their video stream whenever they’d like, but if you’d prefer to have a recording of stream for future playback you will need to subscribe to one of Dropcam’s CVR plans. They offer a couple of plan options: $9.95/month for seven days of continuous recording, $29.95/month for thirty days, and discounts for annual subscriptions and multiple cameras.
The Dropcam Pro unit we used was equipped with the CVR service and it works exactly as advertised. I setup event notifications for both movement and sound. When Dropcam detected a change in the environment it immediately alerted me via email and/or a push notification. I was then able to pop on to my Dropcam app and re-watch the segment of video that triggered the notification. If you don’t have a CVR plan you can only jump into the live feed when you receive an alert. If you are planning to use a Dropcam for any level of security I highly recommended you opt for CVR. Don’t worry, this is the only ‘add-on’ feature to speak of for the Dropcam. A brand new beta feature coming to the web player only is Activity Recognition:
Using advanced computer vision and machine learning technology, Dropcam Cloud Recording can now recognize motion patterns in your video stream and group together like activities. Customers can name these activities and customize alerts for them.
Room for improvement
The Dropcam Pro is a truly wonderful product but there are a few areas where it could improve. The CVR works seamlessly and is a breeze to setup, but I would love to see the option for users to store their video recordings locally. I understand that in some cases it is less expensive to use Dropcam’s cloud service due to upfront hardware costs and excessive electric bills, but I think this option should be available for power users who want maximum security. To be fair, when I spoke with Dropcam CEO, Greg Duffy, he mentioned that they have been discussing this feature but haven’t launched it yet. Also, the Dropcam Pro’s 130 degree field of view is superb but I still wish it had the ability to tilt/swivel the camera remotely so it can truly capture every inch of the room. Finally, I’m not sure it is realistic to expect a completely wireless 24/7 surveillance camera, but I would like for Dropcam to include some sort of battery so it can withstand short power outages. A small built-in battery would be much more convenient and versatile than positioning a bulky UPS near the camera.
Availability and pricing
The new Dropcam Pro is available beginning today from Amazon and Dropcam.com for $199 and the original Dropcam remains at $149. Dropcam expects to offer their cameras in brick and mortar retail stores within the next few months. More on that later.
Update: As of today, 10/24, the Dropcam Pro is now available in Apple retail stores and the Apple online store.
Wrap-up and giveaway
The new Dropcam Pro is a tremendously easy to setup and offers great audio/video quality for consumers and small businesses. The addition of Bluetooth LE, dual-band Wi-Fi, and a wider field of view are all worthy updates that help make the Dropcam Pro one of the best Wi-Fi video monitoring systems available. It truly makes checking in on any location as simple as can be thanks to the iOS and Android mobile apps. There are a few areas of opportunity for Dropcam but not enough to hold it back or stop me from recommending it. It may not stack up spec-for-spec with some competitors’ offerings, but it makes up for that with a brilliantly designed web interface and mobile app.
At its core, Dropcam is a software and services company. That means Dropcam gets better over time with hassle-free automatic updates to the camera, cloud service, and apps, said Greg Duffy
That type of company outlook and vision shows their dedication to costumer satisfaction and overall value of their cameras. I can absolutely recommend the Dropcam Pro as one of the best ways to monitor your family, pets, and business.
Update: the contest has ended and the winner has been contacted.
Dropcam was nice enough to provide a brand new Dropcam Pro as a giveaway for 9to5Mac readers. To be eligible to win the camera simply retweet this post and make sure you are following 9to5Mac on Twitter so we can direct message the winner. It also wouldn’t hurt to leave a comment on this article. The winner will be chosen at random next Thursday, October 17th.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Wow awesome update and giveaway!! woot woot
I love my dropcam. A pro would be a nice step up!
Looks great. Yes please.
looks cool, please can i have one :)
I think DropCam has something really interesting and cool on the market. Taking something so simple and making it special.
i have been looking at this product for a long time. nice update.
Well you guys definitely saw me coming with this one… “Oh, you don’t typically like things on facebook and or twitter? We’re giving something away though if you do!” **Ernie clicks like/follow/hashtag without thinking twice.**
Me!
Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
It’s nice to have some kind of security at home especially one that alerts you as quick as this one.
Have the DropCam HD already as a baby monitor and would love the upgrade!
It sounds like the perfect thing to catch the dog that leaves his “calling card” in my front yard. ;o)
Pick me!
I like it!
Awesome giveaway! I’d love to win one!
I want to win! Please really need this dropcam for my house/fish tank!
I’d love to have one of these in the house. I can think of so many ways to use it.
Great product! – saw it on TV (yes it is an “As Seen On TV” product) but was very impressed with the features and functions and quality – had my father order 2 for remote locations.
I’ll take a free Dropcam!
Ive been wanting to setup a home security system that I would maintain
this sounds great would love to win one.
Would love to have this!
I’d really like to have this camera. Sounds great :)
Would love to use one of these to monitor our new puppy while we are at work!
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner! lol I do hope I win. I need this ASAP
My wife and I are expecting and would love Dropcam as a baby monitor! Looks really nice.
Awesome prize.
This would be great for home security!
looks amazing, I would love to win this as my birthday present, thank you :-)
Would love to have one for the home!
Sweet
Interesting article, and it would be good to try one of these out up against the Mobotix gear I current use at the moment for myself and clients.
Woot this would be awesome!
I can use a DropCam pro. Been wanting to add another dropcam to my setup but funds are low.
me!
Would be awesome
Great review! Sounds like an awesome product that I knew nothing about!
I’ve got three of the original Dropcams running in my house..amazing when you have little kids! Will absolutely be getting into a couple more of the new ones. Nice review.
Very nice, would like to use one as a baby monitor.
Winner winner chicken dinner
This would be a great addition to the baby room with our baby on the way! Thanks for the chance and what a great product!
I’d love to have a DropCam Pro for a baby monitor!
OOO….I have a baby on the way!
Greg Harris(@sandiegogreg) Sweet new product from DropCam!
For me!? Thank you!
Great! I’ve been looking at these for awhile. Time to take he plunge I think. Thanks for the writeup!
Looks nice, sign me up!
It’d be awesome to have the DropCam Pro as a baby monitor!
Me please!
seems very nice…
Looks great! Would love to have one for home security!
Do we have to follow and like both 9to5mac and 9to5toys? I love twitter but I hate facebook. Anyway, great review :)
I love gadgets so please think of me, thank you.
Looks awesome! I want one! Hoping that I win!
I would love to win one of these!
This looks great! Wish they could come out with one that I could use outside though. Or at least have some kind of enclosure that I could put it in. :)
Just a random post to enter the giveaway.
i need one for my house!
I just need something to check my existing cameras – so far they doesnt get past my router, even when wide open.
I always wanted to have a dedicated camera pointing outside my bedroom window. Nice to see what I see when I’m away at work, even if it’s just a view of the trees, stores, and traffic on the highway. (Would’ve helped a few days ago when there was a massive pile up and we were stuck several miles south of it coming home).
I would like have this because baby due December can I have this please? :)
This would be a great way for me to keep an eye on the dog while i’m away!
I could really use one! Thanks!
It’s mine! All mine!
Tytt;)
Nice to see the upgrades, have a HD and love it.
Have the dropcam hd and would love an upgrade
Want to win.
Would love to have this!
Would love one of these.
Hey!
Sounds like a good product!
Will certainly be buying several of these! Can’t wait!
I want to win one!!!
Would love one to test!
Great device for parents with kids and nannies.
Who wouldn’t want to have a Dropcam Pro? Great product!
Nice Giveaway and review.
Sounds like a great camera.
Looks awesome! I’m definitely in need of a new baby monitor, this looks like it would be perfect!!
Excited to try it out! ;-)
Would love this to keep an eye on my fish tank when I’m on vacation. đŸ˜‰
Great review, I’d love to have one and I agree on the local recording option.
Great Giveaway and Great Article
I could really use a DropCam Pro as our baby monitor! :D
cool camera
sweet giveaway
I’ve always wanted some sort of video surveillance, this would be great to have!!
Great review 9to5. We own 4 Dropcam HD’s and have loved them from the get go. Would love to win this Pro version to add to the collection. Thanks
Great review! Does the giveaway counts for Canada?
I have a couple different cameras I use, but I have wanted this one for a while now! I’d love to win this!
This would be awesome to try and win.
I have heard nothing but great things about Dropcam. I hope I win!!
Looks like a great tool to have, if you travel a lot.
i’ll take one…
Was just fantasizing last night about acquiring such a camera (or cameras). Hadn’t heard of this one and it sounds pretty nifty so…here’s hopin’!
Looking for a good way to monitor our home and puppy while we are at work!
Sounds like a great product – thanks for the contest!
I’d love to get it!
I’ve seen rave reviews about the Dropcam. Can’t wait to have one!!
Thanks for the review. Would love to see what my dogs are up to while I’m away from home.
Dropcam should build apps for existing camera hardware
http://ykwwbc.com/home/2013/7/29/home-surveillance-at-the-crossroads-of-hardware-and-software
Nice review, here’s hoping.
Would love to test one of these for my house!
Thanks, great review.
This would be a nice addition to my home security.
Excellent article. Ive been thinking about getting one of these for a while and think I may now take the plunge.
I would be able to check in on my dachshunds destroying my place.. . .Wait. Is that a good thing?
cool product!
I would like to win this great camera
I have always wanted to get a wificam with decent video quality. This might be the one I have been waiting for!
I hope I win
Cool camera. I can’t wait to get my dirty hands on that bad boy!
Thank you very much for your interesting articles, I’ve followed you and retweeted it :)
Would be great to win. If not, I look forward to buying. Great review.
Nice Camera
I’ve always wanted the first one, but now this one looks even better!
I’m hoping to use this as a baby monitor – the baby’s due in January.
Great review and giveaway.
I want!!!
Sounds cool
Will be to awesome to try it. Got the Logitech at home now.
Thanks for giveaway. The screenshot image quality looked excellent. CVR is nice but I worry that monthly cost can add up quickly if you needed a few cams to monitor your perimeter.
much better than those cheap baby monitors. Need me one of these!
I’d love one!! I would watch my cat & kid at home. Then I would know who really is eating the cookies from the cookie jar.
Hope I win!
Great giveaway.
Yes, please!
Nice giveaway! If I win one, I’ll be purchasing a 2nd one for another room.
Just last night we were considering security camera..with a bit more research Dropcam looks like it could be the one.
This is awesome. Great review, too.
Who doesn’t love anything that does HD.
@9to5mac This would be wonderful for my families house sense we have been broken into twice.
I NEEEEEED this, got a baby on the way!
I can watch my baby with this :)
Can’t wait for Dropcam to let me drop in!
Time to watch the cat and kids get into trouble with a Dropcam Pro!
Dropcam has impressed me since I first saw it on a TWiT Network show and though I have yet to acquire one for myself, I have suggested it to friends who have purchased units. It would be very nice be able to see when packages arrive and thus avoid being a victim in the trending delivery thefts.
Great post. Long time reader, first time poster. Baby coming any day now, this would just be amazing to be able to cross off my to do list.
This would be a great tool to have, especially as a concerned parent. Thanks so much for the opportunity!
Would love to have a Dropcam, my friend let me borrow his, now I’m addicted
Great Product, would love to own a Dropcam
Would love to have a Dropcam, then I could stream the construction of my Model Railroad
This is great!
Will be nice to have one!!!
It’s a great product for checking in on your kids and pets. Poses problems on kids’ intimacy these days tho :-S
Would be great to use this to monitor the backyard at night when the unknown critters come out for a visit.
Following and retweeted! Thanks for the giveaway, this would be perfect for our family!!
Very Cool
This looks pretty awesome.
I’ve been looking for a IP camera for a while and this one looks like the best option!
Great product. Great review. Thanks guys!
Awesome!
My bike was stolen out of our garage, and it would have been great to have had a camera to catch the guy. The Dropcam also seems WAY better than the baby monitor we’re using right now, and it was around $199.
I would make so much use out of this…
Would love to win this. My wife is a teacher and I’m a law student. This would be fun for us during the day to what our puppy was doing around the house. Also, when we have kids, this would be great for the baby’s room.
The “new” dropcam sure looks sweet.
I follow via Twitter & retweeted! (@collifornia)
I’ve been waiting for something just like this.
Nice I want one!
This device looks cool, hopefully it will work with multiple cameras
I have old version and love it, also their support is great too. I would love to buy another soon, but it dies not hurt to get one free;)
Neat. Not sure I’ll upgrade, but I am intrigued. Dropcam’s site itself says both cameras are 720p, but this review says the Pro is 1080 – wonder which is true?
I can tell you that the box I received from Dropcam states 1080p, as well as the product listing on Amazon. I know Dropcam.com is showing 720p so I have reached out for clarification. I will update as necessary. Thanks!
Excellent review. I am definitely considering Dropcam pro as my first home surveillance camera. Seems to be just what I am looking for. Was very pleased to see some examples of the low light mode. Thanks for the review!
Would love to try one of these. Thanks for review!
Cool Technologz
Thanks for doing such a thorough review. Definitely looks like I’ll have to try these for my setup at home.
Pick me please :-)
Awesome
Great review! Love the new Dropcam!
I would love to be able to spy on my dog during the day and see what trouble he’s getting into.
I would to see what my labrador does while the humans are out…
Nice device. I want one.
Just moved, so this would be useful.
Looks awesome!! Well worth the money!!
Very good review, Thanks Dan.
This will be be my baby monitor because of hearing of the improvements in this review….thanks
Great, just what I need!
I was always looking for a camera like this. The Dropcam Pro seems to be the perfect choice.
I love this camera! Nice review! Thanks!
Very nice. Just please make it able to record locally.
I’ve been looking at these for some time and when you compare it to the others on the market it stacks up very well. As a bonus the industrial design it top notch. Suitable solid looking. Any chance of winning it? Probably not but happy to say that it’d be my choice of cam when I have to buy one and with a little kid now at home I’m thinking it would be a great idea.
Great article about Dropcam Pro. My wife is hesitant about products like this. This article will be a great way to educate her on this product. I would love to watch my dogs while my wife are at school and work. Good luck to who ever wins this AMAZING product.
Great review! U sure the Pro is 1080p?
Nicely done
I have seen talk about these for a while..considered ordering…please PICK ME!
….you know you wanna
That would be nice in my apartment complex. Not the best area in town…
I would love this Dropcam to keep an eye on my rescue APBT puppies. My little girl puppy has already chewed the control on my spa and my sprinkler system! Thanks for the chance to win such a valuable prize!
would love one of these, working third shift and leaving my wife alone every night is pretty scary.
This would be awesome to have. Some loser broke into the storage area under our house and stole our lawn mower.
We’ve been having issues in our neighborhood and this would be great for my front door!
Very nice review. I would love to win! Been looking into security cameras for a while now. Netgear’s VueZone is nice because it runs on batteries and is truly wireless. But this new DropCam is nice as well.
Very good review! I hope to win this one because I just gave one of my other ones away to a neighbor to hopefully help him catch a thief that has broken in to his house twice. We are hoping with me watching the front and him watching the back we can catch this person! It would be nice to be able to have his/her butt on camera to plaster all over the local news.
This is the perfect solution to my slight paranoia, hah!
wow, this is great product. I like it. kind of price for student with out a job. But This is awesome.
Very nice post.. Thanks a lot for sharing…
Found this awesome universal mount for dropcam on amazon http://www.amazon.com/popmounts-com-Dropcam-Universal-Mount/dp/B00NG98N7E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410820938&sr=8-1&keywords=dropcam+mount
The cost to get this cloud service is completely ridiculously priced to where the com’mon person couldn’t even think of affording it.. is this for the rich only. Com’mon get real. Sell it where the average person can afford it otherwise don’t offer it. What a joke. Love the dropcam pro but if this is the only way to record than its cost is way beyond the poor persons dream of having….
Did you notice now that Nest turned this into a 720p camera? The 1080p is no longer an option on the DropCam Pro… defrauding customers and making the new nest cam seem like an upgrade by downgrading the old top of the line – NEST IS SHADY and this cannot be legal!!