D-Link DCS-2530L review

We liked

The 180-degree wide-angle lens makes this one of the few cameras that can successfully monitor an entire room on its own. Also impressive is the 1080p picture quality at which this camera operates. Recorded images are above-average and the motion sensor is quite reliable too, so you can rest assured that nothing is going to sneak past your camera.

The on-board microSD card slot means you’re free from subscription charges as well, because you can store video locally rather than in the cloud. 

We disliked

The flimsy all-plastic build quality does not inspire confidence from the start and there’s a possibility that a burglar could just crush the thing in their hands. The lack of an Ethernet port could also be an issue if your Wi-Fi network doesn’t cover your whole premises. 

We found the setup procedure unnecessarily long-winded and fraught with problems, some of which could have been of our own making, but others were definite D-Link issues. 

The D-Link app leaves room for improvement too. It implies there’s another full-fat app, but we couldn’t find one that supported this camera.

Final verdict

This little IP camera offers a simple and cost-effective springboard into the surveillance game, as it comes complete with local storage on a microSD card and a free app that makes it easy to monitor your property remotely. And by recording a wide 180-degree view whenever its motion sensor or mic are triggered, it does a good job overall.

The plastic construction does feel a little vulnerable, however, and app support is decidedly less sophisticated than the competition, so we would advise spending just a little more if you’re serious about surveillance.

• Here’s how you can turn an old laptop into a CCTV camera