Security Cameras

I just got off the phone with Foscam sales, and the rep gave me answers to most of my questions satisfactorily, but he also said that unlike their indoor camera, on their outdoor cameras the LEDs can't be turned off...I wish they could. He also said that if I used a software program called Blue Iris, that it would put date/time stamps on the video.

The LEDs aren't very bright at all, I'd say it's unlikely they will be seen from 100-150ft away. I forget why you're concerned about this. Wouldn't knowing a camera is present-and-lit be a deterrent? Isn't the camera itself going to be visible from the lot during the day?

The reason was not about the thieves seeing it, it was about other residents seeing it and complaining. That now seems like less of a concern that it was, since talking with the apt. manager, but I still see no reason to invite trouble. Yes, it could be seen in the daytime anyway, but considering the cloud that many of the residents are in, I doubt that they could see it through the fog. The LEDs are like light houses, piercing the darkness. Even if no one complained, I just don't want to have to answer any questions about it.

I hope that I don't regret it, but I went ahead an ordered the Foscam FI8905W. It was as much due to the fact that I was tired of thinking about it, as it was deciding that it was really the right one. If nothing else, it will provide a learning experience for me.

One more thing that bothered me about it, is that on a forum specializing in IP cameras, one poster spoke of a problem with exactly that model, saying that he was having a problem with color saturation. If he got it right for night viewing, the image was washed out during the day and if set for the day, it was blacked out at night. He never got a response to his question, but that wasn't very surprising because the forum had very little activity.

The camera arrived today, and I'm preparing to set it up, but I have one question first. I ordered an optional lens for it (12mm), not sure if it is 22 or 27 degrees viewing angle, because it says both angles in different places on the Foscam website, however that is not the basis of my question.

Before ordering it, I called Foscam sales and touched on it, to the point that I understand that the glass shield has to be removed, and it appears that there are 8 tiny phillips screw to remove the LED panel, but before tearing into it, I want to confirm that is the right thing to do?

In addition, I recall him mentioning something about manually focusing the lens, which I'm guessing that the small screw protruding from the side of it is for...true?

It would have been a lot of help, had some kind of instruction sheet had been provided with the lens, because I didn't see anything on it in the manual. I posted this question on their forum, but with as little activity as it has, I hope to find an answer faster here.

The 12mm lens that they sent will not fit the retaining ring in the camera. It is a smaller diameter, and doesn't make contact with the threads as needed. I just got off the phone with Foscam sales, and was told that they would send me a replacement lens, but after looking more closely at the photos on their website, I don't know that will help, because the lens that came in the camera doesn't match the photo of what a 6mm lens is supposed to look like. The camera is marked as the model that I ordered, so it must be that there was some kind of change in it that isn't reflected on their website.

Their first response was that all of the lens are of the same size for that model, and that I must have been sent one for the F18904W instead, but looking at the photos of it's lens, they don't match either the original or replacement lens that I was sent. Actually, they don't even show an optional 12mm lens for the F18905 camera. I'm beginning to get the feeling that I would be better off sending the entire order back to them, and finding another brand instead. The problem with that idea is that I've not found another brand with a model that will do what I want. This is turning out to be a real headache.

The Foscam is going back. Since I didn't hear anything after sending them the photos of the lens that they asked for, I called them again. This time I got a different rep, and he kept insisting that ALL of the lens for the F18905W are identical in terms of physical size. He offered to send me a replacement lens, but that wouldn't do any good, since it still would not fit the retaining ring inside the camera.

I asked for a prepaid shipping label, since the problem is not of my own making, and he said "we don't do that". When I said that apparently Foscam expects for their customers to pay for Foscam's mistakes, he just hem hawed some, then repeated his previous statement. This has thus far been a very bad experience.
If anyone can make a suggestion for a camera of another brand with similar specifications, please let me know.

Not quite sure that I understand your question, but the original does screw out, it is that the new one won't screw in.

Not only won't they provide a prepaid shipping label, they are going to charge me a 15% restocking fee. Foscam...a business with no business virtues.