When comparing Infant Optics DXR-8 vs Dropcam, the Slant community recommends Dropcam for most people. In the question“What are the best baby monitors around or under $200?” Dropcam is ranked 2nd while Infant Optics DXR-8 is ranked 4th. The most important reason people chose Dropcam is:
The camera has a 130-degree viewing angle lens that can cover a large area and shoots good 1080p video due to its 1/3" sensor. It has built-in high-sensitivity microphone and a reasonable speaker that allows communicating to anyone near the camera. The audio communication is loud and clear.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Ideal for noisy homes
LED lights will alert you when there is noise coming from your baby's room. This is best for when the audio can easily be drowned by sounds in the room you're in.
Pro Have total control of the camera's scope of view
You can easily switch the lenses to suit your needs. You can use a close-up lens for intimate vision of your baby and swap for panoramic lens when your child becomes more mobile to provide a full view of your child's room.
Pro High quality video and audio
The camera has a 130-degree viewing angle lens that can cover a large area and shoots good 1080p video due to its 1/3" sensor. It has built-in high-sensitivity microphone and a reasonable speaker that allows communicating to anyone near the camera. The audio communication is loud and clear.
Pro Easy setup
The camera comes with a single-page quick-start guide. PC/Mac setup is done by connecting the camera via USB and following the on-screen prompts. Companion app setup is done by pairing the devices via Bluetooth LE and following on-screen prompts. Prompts guide through creating a dropcam.com account, logging in and giving Wi-Fi login credentials.
Pro Built on open source software
Pro Dual-band Wi-Fi
Dropcam Pro has dual-band 802.11n that allows connecting over 2.4GHz or 5GHz. By default it chooses 5GHz if available.
Pro Optional 7 or 30 day cloud backup service
An optional cloud backup service, called CVR, is available for $10/mo for 7 days or $30/mo for 30 days. Videos stored in CVR can be downloaded.
Pro Good companion apps
Android and iOS smartphones have polished companion apps that allow accessing camera's live feed from anywhere. It's possible to pan and zoom via the apps.
Pro Great night vision
Dropcam has great night vision capabilities due to its 1/3" sensor.
Pro Motion and audio detection and alerts with programmable zones
Movement and sound-based activity alerts can be sent via email or smartphone's push notifications. It's possible to set which zones should trigger alerts and which zones should be ignored as well as schedule times when alerts should and should not be sent.
Pro Live feed and two-way communication
A live feed can be accessed via web as well as Android and iOS apps. It can even be used for two-way communication thanks to Dropcam's built-in microphone and speaker.
Cons
Con Spotty reception
The camera can sometimes lose signal.
Con No local video storage
A subscription to CVR is required if storage is needed.
Con Wireless only
Dropcam Pro lacks an Ethernet port, it's wireless only.
Con CVR subscription is too expensive
CVR subscription costs $10/mo for 7 days or $30/mo for 30 days.