Dahua HDW3649H-AS-PV-PRO IP camera 6 MP, 2.8 mm, IR 30 m, siren, IP67

An ordinary security camera records what happened; this one tries to stop it happening. When intrusion or tripwire detection picks up a person or a vehicle, the camera can set off a sound and light alarm with red and blue lights. Arming and disarming take a single tap. Two built-in microphones and a speaker provide two-way talk, so you can speak to someone in the yard straight from your phone.

The camera has two illuminators, infrared and warm light, each reaching up to 30 metres. In the dark it normally runs on IR, which adds no light pollution, but when an alarm fires the warm light can switch on and the event is recorded in colour. A minimum illumination of 0.0003 lux keeps the picture usable at dusk. Smart IR prevents nearby objects from being overexposed.

The six-megapixel sensor records at up to 30 frames per second and the 2.8 mm wide-angle lens covers a large area. WDR, BLC and HLC balance bright and dark areas, for instance when the camera faces an open doorway or car headlights. 3D noise reduction cleans up the picture in low light, and the signal-to-noise ratio is 56 dB. Up to 8 privacy zones can be masked out of the recording.

A microSD slot lets the camera record even without a separate recorder, and H.265+ compression shrinks the stream to save storage. You can view and configure it in a web browser, with Smart PSS and DSS, or in the DMSS app on Android and iOS, with up to 20 users at a time. There is one alarm input and one output for sensors or a siren, plus HTTPS for secure connections.

The IP67 metal housing is dust-tight and withstands immersion in water, so rain and snow are no concern. It operates from −40 to 60 °C at up to 95 % humidity. Power comes over PoE or from a 12 V adapter, with a maximum draw of 8.3 W. The camera is 122 mm in diameter, 110.9 mm tall and weighs 745 g; it mounts on a ceiling or a wall.

Owners of private houses, summer cottages, warehouses and business yards who want a camera that warns and deters rather than only records. Installers who value a wired PoE connection, an IP67 housing and simple setup. And anyone who wants to talk to a visitor or courier through the camera.