Best Door Peephole Cameras

Successful home security starts right at the front door. And what better way to keep an eye on your property than installing a few cameras outside your house? A surveillance system is a good start, but unexpected guests certainly require a closer examination by a specialized camera, known as a peephole camera. By placing a small camera inside the door, homeowners on the inside can inspect visitors in true HD without having to first open the door. This is a considerable advantage, since it’s possible that brutish thugs might force their way in once residents have opened the door even an inch.

‘But why should I opt for expensive tech when most doors already come with a traditional peephole?’ you may ask. Well, door viewer cameras are superior in every possible aspect. First of all, they offer a bigger field of view, not to mention the picture quality is highly detailed – often to a better degree than a tiny slot in the door. Traditional peepholes use bended lenses to enlarge the visitor’s image, but they also distort the view to a considerable degree – but only in the best case scenario will you see the person’s face and upper torso. On the other hand, a camera is capable of capturing both the visitor and the environment surrounding them.

For homeowners who already own a door with a peephole, Brinno’s special security camera is a stellar choice. The main selling point of the product is that it disguises itself as a normal peephole. The package comes with the company’s own base flange that looks like a regular peephole from the outside. Then all you need to do is snap the camera system onto the inside end of the flange and voila, the system is all set up.

The camera is powered by four AA batteries that can be easily replaced in the back of the product. Since the screen only flashes up when the button is pressed, the device uses very little power and can last up to 3,000 triggers. Other than showing live events on a 2.7-inch LED screen, the camera can also record and play back footage if needed.

One of the biggest issues with peephole cameras is that they typically run on AA batteries. The Greeter Door Viewer by Eques, on the other hand, has rechargeable batteries, a function that is both convenient and cost effective. The package includes a notable wide-angle camera that fits into the peephole socket, while the LCD monitor can be mounted at the back end of the door.

Since it has a display panel instead of a separate smartphone app, Greeter is easier for kids and seniors to use. Its convenience is further underlined by the fact that the product also incorporates a doorbell. By pushing the button on the camera bracket (the part that is on the outside of the door), the monitor plays a loud chime to notify residents about the visitor. For this reason, Greeter makes smart doorbells completely obsolete.

Debuting at the 2018 CES conference, the EZVIZ Lookout brings top-tier features to the world of peephole cameras. The stylish round camera sports a ring button, effectively doubling as a smart doorbell. Even better, the device has two-way communication built into it, which makes it easy for the residents to talk with the visitor. But, most importantly, EZVIZ Lookout supports HD video footage and is capable of facial recognition too, meaning that the device remembers faces and can tell humans apart from animals.

Of these three here, EZVIZ Lookout has the largest monitor with its 4.3-inch touchscreen that activates automatically when someone approaches. The fully rechargeable lithium ion battery also means it is easier to keep the power running in the device.

At first, peephole cameras seem to be inferior when compared to smart doorbells. The Ring doorbell camera, for example, only requires an easy setup that just takes five minutes, and since it connects to existing wires, there’s no need to drill a new hole at all. Additionally, it notifies the residents when a guest arrives, and also has a camera that streams the footage to the company’s app.

On the other hand, homeowners often find it tedious to boot up their smartphones just to see who pressed the doorbell. Sometimes it’s more convenient to take a glance at the monitoring panel on the door, especially since you’ll most likely need to go there to open it anyway. However, Ring, Nest and most other manufacturers don’t include an inside monitor with their smart doorbells, which is where peephole cameras have the upper hand.

Luckily there are products like the Eques Digital Viewer and the EZVIZ Lookout that marry the two features together, meaning you won’t need to choose between them.