Ring - Spotlight Cam Pro (2nd Gen), Plug In, Retinal 4K for ultra-clear video, 10x Enhanced Zoom, 2 LED Spotlights - Black

The 2nd Gen Ring Spotlight Cam Pro is not my first Ring product. I love their video doorbells and have installed several of them for friends and family. While Ring is not always perfect, none of the other camera systems I have installed and tried are as easy to use. Ring offers cloud storage at a reasonable cost, Alexa integration, and reliable remote monitoring alerts. I am able to use a variety of devices to monitor multiple properties all in one easy to use app. The 2nd Gen Pro is an upgrade for one of my original Spotlight Cams that I have mounted on my garage. Years ago, I chose to use two of the original spotlight cameras to cover my walkway and driveway. Mounted on opposite sides of the same garage corner, the spotlight cameras provide video coverage of the entire area and their lights perfectly fill in between the breezeway light (on the side of the garage) and a wall light (on the front of the garage). I did not want to use a glaring floodlight. The spotlight camera lights provide the perfect amount of light without blinding guests as they walked in or pulled into the driveway. Although the base plate screw patterns were different between the older and new camera, the installation was easy. Once you scan the QR code on the side of the camera, the app guides you through the setup to connect the camera to your network and provides step-by-step install pictures. The camera can be mounted on a wall or ceiling. I chose ceiling because the decorative USB port cover can only be used with the ceiling mount and the ceiling provided a better downward view of the walkway just below the camera. The power cord has an overall length of about 17.5 feet, with an integrated/mountable USB power supply at the 7.5 foot mark (after which the cable transitions to a thinner DC cable that should be easy to route). The install kit includes a variety of screws for mounting and cable routing (including anchors for drywall/masonry), but you will need to supply your own smaller screw drivers and possibly a drill with bits (for harder woods or masonry). The biggest changes for the 2nd Gen are an increase in resolution to 4k, a different form factor, and warmer LED color. I liked the compactness of the old design and the warmer LEDs don't match my old camera's whiter LED color (they still offer good brightness), but the new camera is sleeker and the video quality is the best of any Ring camera I have used. High resolution, HDR, and low noise night vision combine to deliver good results regardless of lighting. Mounted about 8ft above the ground, the wide angle lens covers a large area. I am able to see the area just below the camera, my 3 car driveway, the street, and a significant portion of the surrounding yard on either side. Color night vison increases the color you can see at night in mixed light, but video looks gray (like a standard black and white camera) with the spot light off and low ambient light. There is two-way audio and a warning siren to let you listen in, speak with people through the camera, and warn away unwanted visitors. Audio is clear and you can actually have a conversation through the camera. The only negative is that wind noise is pronounced above winds speeds of around 10mph. I already mentioned the Ring app, but it really is good. It works well on both my Android and Apple phones. It is easy to enable the camera, view historical events in timeline, change settings, and manage multiple Ring devices. Notification popups include the type of smart alert and a few seconds of video. You can set up smart notifications (for just people or cars), schedules, detailed motion areas, and linked triggers to capture multiple camera views on one triggering event. Ring also offers Alexa integration, allowing you to view cameras and make basic changes from an Alexa device (we have an older Show that works well). One important thing to note if you are new to Ring: You need a GREAT internet connection for the best image quality and two-way audio. Even with a modern mesh network (including a node in the garage) and fiber internet, I still sometimes have minor blips and compression artifacts. Even with 4k, the images are not as clear as they look on the Ring website and are noticeably more fuzzy (due to compression) some other video systems I have used with local storage.

The Ring Spotlight Cam Pro 2nd gen is an excellent addition to my existing Ring setup, and it finally came with the features that sealed the deal for me, convincing me to go ahead and get one. The previous generation was lacking in several areas that mattered to me, chiefly in terms of resolution and looks. In appearance, the last generation was just too blocky for my taste. This camera just looks like an outdoor pro camera, but larger and equipped with the most excellent spotlights! There are a few quirks I will share, but overall, it fits perfectly into my setup! I specifically wanted a spotlight camera for my backyard. I have a relatively large and dimly lit backyard, and while low light recording alone would have been fine for my rear camera security, this is one of the parts of my property that I would actually want lit up in the eventuality that an intruder or unexpected visitor decided to enter my backyard. The spotlight works fantastically and is just bright enough to cast a good beam throughout my whole rear yard, but small enough not to be blinding my neighbors through their windows, which I feel is the respectful approach! The camera’s two-way audio function works fantastically as well. My wife and I were able to carry on a full conversation while she was at work on the Ring app and decided to tune in to see how my daughter and I were doing playing in the backyard. Setting up, as with every other Ring product I have installed (which is over two dozen now, between sensors, cameras, and related products), was very easy. Connection is incredibly stable over Wi-Fi and I the visual image is crisp and lovely to behold whether it is day or night vision being used. Now for the quirks. You should just know that while this does use a USB-C plug, it requires about a 20-watt power supply, which is built into the cord. This works fine for my application, but some people might be disappointed that they can’t use a usual USB-C cable and plug into power the device. Furthermore, there is no battery backup and related feasible solar powering for this; a direct AC plug-in seems to be the way to go. While I have no problem with this in my application, I just want others to be aware of what they are getting into here. Altogether, this camera gets a solid 5/5 stars for my Ring Security setup! I would highly recommend you check it out!

What got me excited I have many ring products, but never had a 4K camera and I wanted an extra camera to place on the exterior of my house. What I’m expecting I’m expecting the same easy set up using the ring app. I’m also expecting to see clarity on my app the likes which I haven’t seen before. What’s included in the packaging? Out of the box you get the camera, a power adaptor with a very long chord, 2 types of mounts, and the setup and warranty inserts. Let’s try it out The most difficult part of this installation was the actual physical installation. I don’t have a readily available outlet on the exterior of my house near the installation location, so I had to grab my power drill and create a path for the power adaptor. Once that installation was complete, you use the ring app, and off you go. You will need the subscription, so keep that in mind. You have features like live view, 2 way talk, and with the spotlight cam pro’s name suggests, you have a light. My first impressions I like the clarity. The light is bright and works well. I do wish that it came with a swivel motion. At least a few degrees in either horizontal direction. What stood out that was positive The clarity is easily the most positive aspect of the camera. What stood out that was negative I wish ring packaged some 3M adhesive mounts or something comparable. Sometimes you just don’t feel like drilling anything in, and want a way to mount a camera an easier way. All in all Ring continues to make great cameras. Adding a device on your subscription/app is easy and literally takes a few minutes. For anyone who wants some security on the exterior of your house with an actual floodlight configuration, this is a great way to go.