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D-Link DCS-2630L review: No distortion here -- D-Link's 180-degree camera is fisheye-free

There's a pretty decent camera hidden inside the $180 D-Link DCS-2630L's comically oversized frame.

Megan Wollerton Former Senior Writer/Editor
4 min read

I'm conflicted about D-Link's $180 DCS-2630L indoor security camera. Complete with a 180-degree wide-angle lens, local storage via a microSD card slot, highly customizable settings and fine performance, it's definitely recommendable.

6.5

D-Link DCS-2630L

The Good

The $180 D-Link DCS-2630L offers a 180-degree distortion-free live stream along with local cloud storage (up to 128GB, microSD card not included), one of the first DIY models with these combined options.

The Bad

Setting up a connected D-Link product is notoriously complicated (according to our experiences, at least) and the DCS-2630L is no exception. The camera is huge -- literally. It's way bigger than Nest Cam and other competitors.

The Bottom Line

If you are specifically looking for a wide-angle DIY indoor camera with local storage, the D-Link DCS-2630L will work well. Just don't expect stellar design or a headache-free setup process.

D-Link's huge camera has the wide-angle lens to match (pictures)

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But, there's one big caveat, and I mean that literally: This camera is huge.

Where competitors like the $200 Nest Cam, the $150 Kodak CFH-V20 and the $190 Samsung SmartCam HD Plus stand somewhere in the 4-to-5-inch range, D-Link's DCS-2630L is closer to 6 inches. Its width and depth are similarly super-size, too, meaning this camera will take up noticeably more space than most other models.

Dimensions may not be a deal-breaker for most, but the idea with home security is discretion. And if a camera isn't especially discreet, it should at least be pretty, a nice design element that works with your home decor.

D-Link's DCS-2630L is neither, so I'm stumped. Sure, the glossy, black plastic finish is fine, but it also isn't something I'd want to draw undue attention to.

A not-so-simple set up

This camera is also difficult to set up. As with the brand's Pan & Tilt Day/Night Network Camera and its Wi-Fi Smart Plug, the step-by-step instructions are convoluted at best and glitchy at worst. For instance, the last step in the setup process is creating a new account on the Mydlink Lite app (available for Android and iOS devices). Typically that happens at the beginning of gadget configuration, and it's a logical first step. Not so with D-Link.

In this case, I received an error message when I tried to create an account even though I had already successfully connected the camera to Wi-Fi and finished all of the other steps. Specifically it said, "Could not connect to the Mydlink server."

And instead of taking me to the previous step so I could try again, it canceled the entire configuration, forcing me to reset the camera (there's a tiny pinhole on the back of the camera for resetting; press it until the light begins to blink red). Other times it said "Connection timed out" before I could complete the installation. Thus, I became very familiar with the DCS-2630L's reset button.

When I finally did get through all of the steps, the software told me that the email address I had been trying to register for the good part of an hour was already registered. So, even though the app gave me several error messages that prevented me from completing the set-up, it must have actually worked during one of those earlier attempts. Frustrating.

A better D-Link?

Things did get better after that initial configuration, though. The app, although not as intuitive as Nest's, was easy enough to navigate.

You can view a live feed in either 720p or 1080p, two of the best possible high-definition streaming resolutions available to DIY security cameras today (even so, this camera's feed isn't as crisp as the Nest Cam's). The DCS-2630L has two-way talk so you can surprise an unsuspecting family member -- or, more seriously, yell at an intruder. You can take a picture on demand, and it will show up alongside other photos you take with your phone.

It also has night vision, motion and sound detection, activity zones, optional push alerts, a Web app and local storage with clips you can view within the app (I used a 128GB microSD card) -- everything worked well. But local storage is the feature worth highlighting here, because it's something that will either make or break your security camera buying decision.

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You can see most of CNET's appliances warehouse with this camera.

Screenshots by CNET

Many cameras, like the Nest Cam, the Kodak CFH-V20, the ArcSoft Simplicam and others rely on cloud storage. Cloud storage means that your continuous footage or activity-based recordings are stored on a remote server.

From both a security and an accessibility standpoint, a lot of folks prefer local storage. That's one way the DCS-2630L sets itself apart. While it isn't the first to offer this feature, it is the very first DIY model we've reviewed that has both a 180-degree field of view and local storage.

And unlike Icontrol's Piper NV, a DIY security system with a built-in 180-degree fisheye lens, D-Link's lens doesn't have nearly as much of that classic fisheye distortion, making it easier to actually see what your camera is seeing.

The one thing sorely missing from the D-Link camera is integration with products from other manufacturers. Today's smart home market is all about open APIs and creating opportunities for third-party devices to join forces. Strangely, D-Link does have an assortment of IFTTT channels and compatible products through Samsung's SmartThings, but none that work with this specific camera.

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D-Link next to the relatively diminutive Nest Cam.

Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Conclusion

I feel pretty ambivalent about the $180 D-Link DCS-2630L. While it offers a 180-degree field of view and local storage, it's hard to set up, it doesn't work with third-party products, and it's giant. Its live stream isn't as clear as the Nest Cam's either, even with the same 1080p resolution.

Still, it's hard to overlook the DCS-2630L's relatively distortion-less 180-degree lens and its ability to store footage locally. If these are two features you prioritize, this D-Link camera will be worth your money. If not, I'd take a look at some other options.

6.5

D-Link DCS-2630L

Score Breakdown

Features 7Usability 6Design 6Performance 7