INTRODUCTION

   We live in strange times and so regardless of the where you happen to reside owning at least one security/surveillance camera to safeguard either your home and/or your office is never a bad idea. This of course is something the electronics industry is all too aware which is also why the list of companies in this specific segment of the market gets longer every day. This of course is a double edged sword since on one hand consumers have a plethora of security/surveillance cameras and systems to choose from but at the same time it's nearly impossible to know which of those is actually worth their hard earned money. HeimVision is a rather new addition in this market and following my review of their HM302 Smart WiFi Camera today I’ll be testing the HMD2 Battery Powered Security Camera.

   Here at HeimVision, we believe that everyone of us deserves a safer world, to smile freely and to share willingly. We aim at making the world a safer place by providing exceptional home security solutions - This has always remained the core motivation that kept us moving forward and our products evolving. Up till now, we have gained recognition from many of our happy customers. Our HM241 NVR system and HM211 outdoor camera were certificated "Best Seller" on major e-commerce platforms - We are grateful for all these and can't wait to put smile on more faces. Covering two product categories for the moment, we put full dedication to new product innovation just to make the world a safer place.

   The HeimVision HMD2 is a wireless (WiFi 2.4GHz connectivity) Full HD (1080p@25fps) battery operated (rechargeable 6000mAh - 2x18650 Lithium Ion Batteries - can last up to 4 months with 10 motion records per day) camera that features a IP65 certified housing (dust and water proof), 130 degrees wide angle lens (2.5mm), two-way audio communication (microphone/speaker), micro SD card slot (supports cards up to 128GB in capacity - a cloud recording service for a limited monthly fee is also available), PIR motion sensor and a night vision mode (via 3 IR-LEDs) effective up to 30 feet (almost 10 meters). Aside getting bundled with a very convenient magnetic mount which allows the end user to attach/detach it at will another interesting feature of the HMD2 is the ability to connect it with the HMS1 external solar panel (sold extra by HeimVision) which should allow it to operate indefinitely (as long of course as there’s direct sun contact for several hours per day).

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The main product features are listed at the front of the box right beneath a product picture and of course the company logo.

A network topology drawing is located on the left side right over two 2D barcodes pointing to the iOS and Android apps.

HeimVision has placed a few words about the main product features on the left side.

At the rear we find both the specifications and bundle contents lists and the product serial number.

Included in the package are the HMD2 camera, metal stand, magnetic mount, two plastic bags with screws and a reset pin, two 3M adhesive pads, microUSB Cable, warranty information paper, discount paper (future orders) and the quick start guide.

THE HMD2

The 498g heavy white enclosure of the HMD2 measures roughly 99mm in height, 58mm in length and 53mm in width.

HeimVision chose to go with 2.5mm lens with a wide viewing angle of 130 degrees (and of course Full HD 1080p recording resolution at 25fps).

The PIR motion sensor is located just under the lens and over the built-in microphone.

Turning the camera around we see a perforated section (in front of the speaker), the company name and the area where the magnetic mount gets attached.

At the base we see the microSD card slot, microUSB charging port and the power and reset buttons.

THE HMS1

As mentioned earlier the HMD2 can be connected to the HMS1 solar panel for use outdoors without having to recharge it every now and then.

This panel is bundled with a silicone cover for the HMD2 (increases its durability against sun and rain), wall mount with screws, rate card and the quick start guide.

The HMS1 is not only IP66 certified meaning waterproof and dustproof but it's also cold resistant.

By attaching the silicone cover on the HMD2 you ensure that it can endure even harsher outdoor conditions.

HEIMLIFE APP

The HeimLife Android/iOS app is unified which means you can use it with other products by HeimVision as well.

To pair the HMD2 camera to your smartphone (and your modem/router) you will need to follow the detailed on screen instructions seen above.

Once this is all over the feed from the device will be available in the main tab (for some reason the feed didn't appear at first).

When a new message is available the messages menu will have a red dot next to it so you will need to check and see what has happened.

You can check share the device with other people, watch the saved material, provide feedback to HeimVision, clear the cache and deactivate your account from the me tab.

Accessing the settings tab can be done from the main device tab and from here you can enable/disable notifications, share the device, access device information, adjust the basic functions (speaker volume, power management), adjust the alarms (motion detection), format the microSD card, use the cloud service (disabled by default - 7 day trial is available) and check for firmware updates.

From the main camera tab, you can see a live feed (bit rate and signal strength are both being displayed), use the 2 way audio feature and watch recorded media either from the microSD card or from the cloud (if enabled).

IMAGE QUALITY

I used the HMD2 outdoors for a total of 18 days and as you can all see even though this is a Full HD camera image quality although far from great.

The same can be said about the zoom function but to date none of all the similar models I’ve used and/or tested did well in that area.

Night vision on the other hand is very good for up to 7-9 meters tops, everything past that looks pixelized as seen above.

CONCLUSION

   HeimVision sells affordable security/surveillance cameras and systems and so with that in mind i don't and shouldn't really have very high expectations from their products. Take the HMD2 for example, it's a Full HD model which costs almost half (less than half in some cases) what many other companies are asking for their own similar models and even though yes some of them do outperform the HMD2 the extra cost is not easily justified. Overall, however the HMD2 does very well, image quality is good (for its price range) both during the day and at night, the battery can last for just over 3 days of almost continuous recording (with the solar panel i never had to recharge it - however sun is very strong in my parts so do keep that in mind) and in terms of durability i can't say anything bad since after 18 days outside the enclosure is still good as new. Signal strength however is really not that good so make sure that the camera is no more than 7-8 meters away from your modem/router (especially if there's a concrete wall in between). Speaker clarity could also be better (at times I couldn’t make out what I was saying) but again this is something I see a lot with compact cameras like the HMD2.

   So just how affordable is the HMD2 Battery Powered Security Camera by HeimVision? Well you can currently get one for just USD74.99 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 75Euros inside the EU (Amazon.co.uk) and as for the HMS1 solar panel well that retails for USD30.99/39Euros. Overall, I think that HeimVision has once again found the sweet spot between performance and price and even though there are certainly much better choices out there if you’re on a tight budget then I certainly recommend checking the HMD2 out.

PROS

- Full HD 1080p @ 25fps (Good Overall Quality)
- Two Way Audio
- Easy Setup & Use (Magnetic Mount)
- PIR Motion Sensor
- IP65 Certified Enclosure
- Micro SD Card Slot (Local Recording)
- Cloud Recording (Monthly Fee)
- HeimVision Android/iOS App
- Price (For Some)

CONS

- Wireless Signal Strength
- Average Bitrate
- Wireless Use Only
- Speaker Clarity