Annke FCD800 security cam review: A single camera that sees all
At a glance
Expert rating
Benefits
- Smooth 180-degree panoramic view
- Reliable PoE connection
- No subscription required for smart features
Disadvantages
- Requires a PoE switch or PoE-enabled NVR to operate
- Slight lens distortion near frame edges
- No cloud storage option
Our Verdict
The Annke FCD800 offers crisp panoramic coverage, intelligent detection, and solid deterrence at a great price, making it an easy recommendation for anyone who needs to monitor a large area with a single, reliable camera on a tight budget and has the required infrastructure in place (or planning to add it).
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It wasn’t that long ago that surround-view security camera coverage required installing multiple units and you were always left with blind spots. Then dual-lens models came along and promised to solve this problem by merging two views into a single wide shot. However, the results weren’t always pretty, sometimes producing visible seams, annoying distortions, and mismatched lighting in the stitched image.
Annke’s new FCD800 aims to change that. This 8-megapixel Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) camera blends feeds from its two lenses into a seamless 180-degree view, providing a viable replacement for multi-camera setups.
Design and features
The FCD800 is a turret-style camera housing two wide-angle lenses side-by-side (it’s also available in Bullet format for the same price). The camera’s metal housing is attached to a plastic bracket and connects via Power over Ethernet (PoE), in a cable carrying both power and data. A separate mounting bracket allows for both wall and soffit placement, making it easy to position the camera for complete yard or driveway coverage.
The Annke FCD800’s high-resolution image sensor produces a wide, detailed panorama without the visible seams that plague some dual-lens cameras.
It’s IP67 rated for protection against the elements, meaning it’s dustproof and can withstand submersion in up to one meter (about 3.3 feet) of water for up to 30 minutes. It is designed to withstand year-round exposure. Its industrial look won’t blend into every home’s exterior, but it’s suitable for garages, side yards, and any scenario that values functionality over subtlety. Want to learn more about IP codes? Check out TechHive’s IP Codes Guide.
Each of the camera’s two 1/2.4-inch CMOS sensors captures video with a resolution of 4,096 × 1,860 pixels. These are integrated into a continuous 180-degree panoramic image without the distortion or fisheye effect that you often get with single-lens wide-angle cameras. Nighttime performance is managed by an intelligent hybrid lighting system that uses both infrared and white LEDs.
The FCD800 automatically switches between these two light sources based on available ambient light, providing up to 30 meters of illumination. According to Annke, this represents a jump of about 50% compared to the 20 meter range of the FCD600. In complete darkness, it can operate in stealth IR mode or turn on white lights to flood an area with full-color night vision.
The FCD800 stitches images from two separate lenses into a single, seamless panoramic image.
Annke
Annke Motion Detection 2.0 adds AI to this wide field of view. The system can distinguish between people and vehicles, ignoring distractions such as swaying branches or passing animals. If the camera detects a problem, it can also serve as a deterrent with a built-in active defense system that combines a 97 dB siren, flashing white strobes and custom voice warnings that can be triggered automatically by motion or manually from the app.
The FCD800 gives you several storage options. A built-in microSD slot supports cards up to 512GB, enough for several days of continuous recording depending on bitrate and motion settings. The camera also works with Annke NVRs and other ONVIF-enabled recorders, allowing you to integrate it into a larger PoE system. If you prefer network storage, you can point the camera at a NAS. It seems that Annke has not introduced a subscription service for this model, so registration is strictly local.
Configuration and performance
Setting up the FCD800 requires a little more planning than a typical Wi-Fi camera, but the process is simple once you understand how PoE works. Instead of plugging into a wall outlet, the camera receives both power and data through a single Ethernet cable. This cable connects to a PoE switch or PoE-enabled NVR, which provides both power and network access. (If you prefer, you can power the camera with a 12V DC adapter, but you’ll still need to connect it to your router with an Ethernet cable: it doesn’t have a built-in Wi-Fi adapter). It’s a clean, reliable setup that also eliminates worries about weak Wi-Fi signals. The camera easily connects to Annke’s NVR systems, which might be the best choice for beginners, and is managed via the Annke Vision app.
Once connected, you will scan the barcode sticker on the bottom of the camera to add it to the app. Then the app walks you through the steps to connect the camera to your network. Once the camera is added, you can view live video, view a timeline of recorded clips, and manage camera settings within the app. The interface is clean and responsive, and the connection remained solid during my testing.
A built-in microSD slot supports cards up to 512GB, enough for several days of continuous recording.
Michael Ansaldo/Foundry
Video from the FCD800 looks sharp and evenly exposed. The high-resolution image sensor produces a wide, detailed panorama without the visible seams that plague some dual-lens cameras. I noticed a little curvature near the edges of the frame, slight distortion of the ultra-wide lenses. This is common with panoramic cameras and most noticeable when the camera is pointed sharply downward, like mine. Raising it at horizon level keeps this to a minimum.
The hybrid night lighting was also impressive. In IR mode, you get strong black and white visibility, with decent edge sharpness and minimal flare. Switch to white LEDs and the scene fills with vibrant, balanced colors. You can choose one or the other and let the camera’s intelligence decide which one to use on the fly.
The camera’s AI detection is quite accurate and distinguishes people and vehicles from background movement. I didn’t get any nuisance alerts in my testing, but if you find that environmental activity is triggering the camera, dialing back the sensitivity or reducing the detection area in the app usually fixes the problem. You should ensure that these settings are optimally suited to your environment, as active camera defenses attract attention. The siren is loud (97 decibels is enough to startle anyone nearby) and the strobe flashes are hard to miss. They will quickly test your neighbors’ patience if they frequently misfire.
The Annke Vision app gives you access to live video, a timeline of recorded clips, and camera settings.
Michael Ansaldo/Foundry
Should you buy the Annke FCD800?
At $139.99, the FCD800 offers value for money. It’s an ideal solution for anyone who wants to cover a large area like a driveway or yard without juggling multiple cameras. You’ll need a PoE connection, so be sure to factor in this cost if you don’t already have the required hardware (a PoE-supporting Ethernet router or switch, a PoE injector, or a PoE-enabled network video recorder).
If that’s right for you, it’s a solid, no-frills upgrade that works as advertised.
This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras.
