7 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Very low quality, poor support
Date of Review: Aug 25, 2006
The Bottom Line: Don't buy! Poor construction and below average performance. Not totally Windows compatible. I would suggest a Canon or Axis or Sony
I have had a live webcam site for 10 years, 6000 hits a day, and linked to by all Pacific Northwest news sites and the Weather Service. This is the worst camera I have used and they don't give refunds.
It was trouble from the start as the 4XEM active-x controls require you to lower Windows security settings, very bad.
Lens quality is below average. The auto white balance doesn't balance properly. Autofocus constantly hunts for focus so you have to use manual.
Wireless range is very short, It didn't work through one wall at ten feet. The base was almost too hot to touch after 1/2 hour of operation. When the camera pans the gears grind very loudly. You can't hear any of the audio from the camera if it is moving such as in pan or patrol operation. A mpg capture showing this problem can be viewed here http://www.drdale.com/temp/4xem.mpg
The software is a standard program used by many IP cameras but 4XEM has crippled it so it only works with their cameras so if you have a mixed multiple camera system you will have to buy more expensive software.
The worst problem involves the electronic shutter system. All modern CCD cameras have an autoshutter to protect the CCD from Sun damage. This camera's doesn't work. The camera CCD was ruined by the Sun after one day. An example of the burned image can be seen here http://www.drdale.com/temp/live4xem.jpg
I researched this camera before buying and specifically asked 4XEM if this would be a problem, even sent them a link to my webcam site to see how it is used for landscape viewing. Their sales department was not truthful about the camera's deficiencies and they refuse to give a refund when it failed after one day. Their only response is that it "is not our policy"
I have used other webcams, (Phillips) and low end Sony camcorders and none of them fail in this manner.
I tried this 4XEM camera because I wanted PTZ function and web control but it is a failure. They use the same CCD chip and shutter system in their other cameras so beware of those also. The unit is certainly not "plug-and-play" because it is wireless and requires it to be setup via a cable ethernet connection before the wireless features can be used.
The other review of this camera that gives it 5 stars doesn't address any of these issues
