Most of your consumer security options tend to focus on user-friendly positioning and simplistic design. Usually plump with features, covering everything from night vision to motion detection. However, there are some options that take things a little further by adding smarter options that cover a larger area and respond more accurately to various situations. Options like the upcoming Bosma EX Pro Outdoor Security Camera.
The EX Pro offers many of the features you find common with most models, but it also pushes further to offer users functions you used to only find in commercial options. Some of these are features that you used to be limited to seeing in fictional sci-fi movies just 5 (or so) years ago. How times have changed.
These options have slowly been rolling out by a few companies like Bosma, and at this point in time, are still considered to be a rare find for consumers. Features like auto-tracking, facial recognization, AI, and person detection (although that latter of these options is becoming more common within the last year). Turning home security cameras into intelligent sentinel devices that are only going to get smarter in the coming years.
Design
This is a uniquely designed model with a cylinder approach in shape that can tilt up and down and pan left to right. The overall design of the camera leads to a very positive impression when it comes to both style and durability. It is IP66-rated for both water and dust, preparing it for battling the forces of nature as it stands guard.
It also comes ready to install with a very user-friendly approach to mounting.
Installation
There is a back-plate that comes attached to the back of the base that very easily slides right off with a press against the release tab. This back-plate is then mounted to a wall/surface with the provided screws. Bosma even provides you with a proper drill bit. Once you have easily mounted the back-plate, the camera/base (all-in-one unit) slides and locks right into it. At this point, you are done, outside of managing the cable (USB-C to USB-A).
The company provides you with small clips that you can use to run the cable around with, although we’d recommend finding a better method as they would likely stand out like a sore thumb. Maybe find crevices or other gaps to hide the cable, or preferably, run the cable right into the wall (and yes, the backplate allows for that). This makes for a much cleaner install.
Once you have finished the easy mounting procedure, you are ready to pair the camera with its app.
Pairing
This step is still a little testy since it is still within its beta testing period. The app itself functions quite well, providing a very attractive interface. It walks you through selecting the model you are wanting to pair to it and walks you through the steps of getting the job done.
The hard part (for us) was getting it connected to the local Wi-Fi. Either it doesn’t have a strong chipset inside or it is still working on this at this stage within the beta period (so, hopefully, this is something that can be improved on via firmware updates).
For us, it took a number of tries until it finally joined the network. It then had some stability issues when it comes to remaining connected, but over time this somehow came to an end on its own. Although it still seems the stream is slow for the resources available to it.
This includes making sure a powerful satellite unit for the network was within 10ft away from the camera, showing a perfect signal for all broadcasted SSIDs on other test devices both at the installed position of the camera and then 2-3x the distance further away. So far, this is the only thing that needs attention with this model.
The App
As mentioned, the app functions quite well. It is very informative when it comes to walking you through the setup process, including the installation of the back-plate and camera. Once you get the camera connected to the network, you can begin playing with it’s various features.
This includes configuring the event detection and recording settings and how you’d like to be notified of such. Many of these features you’d find to be common with most cameras. Like the ability to schedule the detection mode to only certain times, flip the image, configure night vision modes, and the ability to specific detection zones (to help prevent false positives caused by nearby trees or other objects that may move around in the wind).
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This is also where you configure some of those more advanced features, like face recognition and auto-tracking. These features can play a big role in the success of the camera’s ability to really deliver. The auto-tracking being an exciting feature to have. Instead of setting the camera to a fixed position, it can look for movement and follow it as the object moves around the viewing area. So if someone walks up to your home, the camera can lock onto them and follow them as they continue their path. This can help to eliminate blind spots caused by individuals walking out of the frame.
Then you have the feature of a built-in spotlight and 110dB siren. This way, at night you have multiple deterrents if motion is dissected. There is nothing like lighting up the fight or flight responses of a would-be thief lurking around. The light won’t work much for the day, but the siren should still do a great job. It can even be set to go off if the camera is tampered with (ie, someone pulls the cable out from the top of it). That latter part is thanks to a built-in backup battery. A fun example of the camera in action can be seen in the following (cheesy) video by the company.
So you have plenty of deterrent options built into the camera while also having a good amount of adjustment that can be made to help filter out a lot of false-positive situations. It is filled with functionality and fun settings to dial everything in with.
Subscriptions
The only catch to it all is that there is no local recording. Not really, at least. The camera does brag about supporting local recording, but it isn’t really that useful. You can only record and snap images of live views. So you have to actively be logged into the camera and viewing it. At that point, you can record or snap images that can be saved to your mobile device. That is it though.
After only a few minutes of playing with the app, it was quite obvious that you couldn’t really take advantage of the main function of recording video without buying into the subscription service. You can get notifications of movements and you can jump on it and right into live view. Hopefully, at this point, the movement is still occurring so you can see what’s going on and manually record it. However, if you miss it, you’ll be shown small thumbnails of what would have been recorded events, asking you to subscribe if you click on any of them. There is no option of internal SD cards or anything that could allow you to host content within your own network. Options like AI or fascial recognition will also not work unless you are subscribed.
The subscription service starts off at $1.99/mo or $19.99/yr and works its way up if you want better options (ie, long storage times of videos, etc).
Update: Bosma has reached out explaining that the company plans to offer a free 12-hour subscription option in the future. This is a big win for the product for anyone looking to stay away from subscriptions, while still likely being able to reign in a lot of paid subscribers due to the benefits that come with it.
Performance
The camera results in a very crisp image of up to 2K. Given, that 2K is quite compressed and the saved snapshot files are around 1080×607 in resolution and the videos around 2304×1296.
This is quite common with most security cameras as compression is needed in order to keep up with the average internet connections throughout the country. Sadly, ISPs aren’t providing the speeds required to stream in full 4K with minor compression, and many areas are still plagued with slow/outdated internet packages.
The auto-tracking features of the camera are enjoyable and work quite well. Although foot traffic has been quite slow at the installed location this past week for some reason, we did get a few comments already from delivery drivers and one of our own dropping something off, who all noticed it following them.
Although you are pretty much locked into a subscription with this model (as no one is going to pay for a camera with so many features just to only be able to use a fraction of them), the number of features you have access to and the fact that the standard entry-level subscription price isn’t that much, there is a strong value to everything. A value that sets the camera apart from most of the other models out there. This can change as other companies begin to integrate similar features into theirs. However, for now, this is a killer camera with a reasonable subscription.
Contents
You do get everything you need, right in the box, including a lengthy USB cable. Although depending on where you install the camera, you may still find yourself extending the cable. Another reason we recommend running it through the wall and to the nearest outlet.
We mentioned the drill bit, screws, and clips. You do get a decent amount of both and the clips are screwable to surfaces vs using sticky pads in order to last a long period of time vs eventually falling off as the elements get them as many stick-on solutions would.
Price/Availability
We do not have a price yet for this model as it hasn’t been announced or offered to us just yet. Although, it will begin crowdfunding next month (July 13th). There will likely be discounted prices for early bird backers within their crowdfunding campaign.
Update: The price is $119.99 and we updated the below table with a link to Amazon where it can be found.
Our Conclusion
This makes for a very powerful security camera. Perfect for those looking to cover a decently large viewing area while minimizing blind spots and providing plenty of deterrent options to chase away would-be troubles. The overall build of the camera is tough and should last a long time outside.
It has a winning set of features to draw in many consumers with and the price of the subscription isn’t that much. It is unfortunate that you are absolutely locked into a subscription though. We personally feel that offering some kind of local storage option is a huge benefit in some of these models. So it is unfortunate this one lacks this. Again though, the subscription is at least affordable, and it supports up to three cameras before you likely have to upgrade things.
*Update: Bosma says they plan on offering a 12-hour free storage option in the future. This would absolutely bring the score up a little. 12-hours may not seem like much to some, but it gives you plenty of time to log in and download the recent videos you want to keep. It’s a good idea.
The camera also kind of sells itself, making it quite easy to cough up the money to subscribe to everything. There is a lot of potential with this model. As long as any Wi-Fi strength issues are resolved before it launches, of course.
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