Pros: When it works, it works well. The software that was available when it was new is/was awful. The latest software, D-ViewCam 2.03, runs great and was VERY easy to setup. Works so well now that I'm thinking about getting a few more D-Link cameras.

Cons: D-Link's support is horrible on their website. Firmware is not the latest on their site. Does not work with any other browser than IE.

Other Thoughts: Make sure to update the firmware to v1.06 since there is an issue with Microsoft Silverlight and IE. I had to the firmware from the D-Link Australian site.

Pros: Wide range of features compared to other cameras of this price.

Cons: Horribly inconsistent and unreliable.

I purchased the 5300G, which includes wireless connectivity. I did a fair bit of research before purchasing, and noted that there are a lot of poor reviews out there for this camera. Wishful thinking won out. I figured that I was savvy enough and would have a better time with it.

I was wrong.

Right out of the box, this thing had problems. I could not get it to remember a static IP address. Each time it rebooted, it would keep the first DHCP address it was given. Even when the DHCP lease was deleted from the server and replaced with a reservation pointing at a different address the camera simply refused to pick it up, even when resetting it using the paperclip or by unplugging it. The only way to change the address was to set up a DHCP reservation and restore the camera to factory defaults.

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Other Thoughts: After getting it connected, I configured the wireless functionality, because that was how I intended to use it. I set it up for WPA on my Linksys WRT-54G. It could not maintain a reliable connection to my wireless network. According to the router, it would drop off then come back on randomly, even when signal strength was good.

After resetting/restoring it dozens of times trying different configurations, it started dropping off my wired network! Eventually, it simply would not connect (the blinking red LED of death).

I'm an IT consultant with a fair bit of networking experience. All other devices on my network play nice. I don't have time for this.

I'm going to try a different camera from a competitor. Judging from the reviews, it'll probably fair better. It's got less features, but reliability is more important to me at this point.

Pros: Easy to setup. It works OK if you have very basic requirements.

Cons: The digital zoom is useless. Picture quality is marginal. Camera is frequently unresponsive. Cannot rotate 360 degrees.

Other Thoughts: I use the DCS-6620G in a manufacturing facility and have had good luck with this unit. The DCS-6620G is also unresponsive at times. I have the camera attached to a wired 6 Gb DSL connection and at times you think you are on dial up.

Pros: Price was good

Cons: I bought this to have the 2 way sound, but the built in microphone has a loud hum (no matter where I put the camera) and the color rendition is poor. Image sharpness is not as good as DCS-5220. I have two DCS 5220 and they both work very well.

Other Thoughts: I'll try to return this and get another DCS 5220 (even though it has only one way sound)

Pros: Reliable, easy to script.

Cons: surveillance software not good

Other Thoughts: As other reviews mentioned, the multi-cam surveillance software can be tricky. A simple link to to the web interface works well though. No problems with the hardware, no need to power-cycle. We wrote a Windows Mobile device application (pocketPC or smartPhone) to view and control up to 4 of these. Free download at l

Pros: First of all, the DCS 5300 has a max video resolution of 640 x 480 (at 10 frames per second) not the 320 x 240 that Newegg has posted in the product description.

You won't find a better value than this thing. Tilt, pan, digital zoom, audio. Put it together with a DLink power-over-ethernet adapter and you have the best bang for the buck in an ip surveillance camera currently out there.

The documentation which accompanies the software does leave something to be desired, so don't bother with it. Just fiddle around with the software and you'll figure it out. Make sure you have the current version of D-View Cam. Most recent iteration as of this writing is version 1.2. If the CD that accompanies your camera is a different version, the latest version is available for download on D-Link's site.

Cons: The software is a little kludgy to set up, but once it's set, it is rock solid and perfectly reliable. The software is compatible with a variety of D-Link cameras and will allow monitoring up to 16 cameras total. It is a bit cpu intensive, so don't expect stellar results if you intend to run it on a five year old P3.

Other Thoughts: This camera has auto-pan and auto-patrol features that, if enabled, will disable the motion detection feature. If you need motion detection, get a DCS 900 or DCS 2100. These models are also compatible with the D-View software.

Pros: I have two DCS 5300's/DCS 70's running 24/7 on the exterior a my Apartment Building in the Carribean, 4,000 miles from my home. I record motion to my desktop at home. They have operated flawlessly. Take the time to learn the camera and the IP Survailance software. It will be well worth it. I travel all over the world and I am always in touch on my laptop.

Cons: None as far as I'm concerned. I had to update my IP software to improve video. Very simple.

Other Thoughts: Terrrifc value. Learn the camera, be patient. Learn the IP software, be patient. It wil be worth it. These cameras live in a inhospitible inviornment. Flawless.

Pros: This a a great camera if you want to record full time or peek in on a remote location to take snapshots.

Cons: Software is terrible. Documentation is terrible. Motion detection is very difficult to understand and configure.

Other Thoughts: I got this camera because I wanted to be able to have the camera record when it detects motion(so it's not recording all the time). The motion detection setup is very poorly (if at all) explained in the documentation. Plus it doesn't seem to work the way it's supposed to. Web only interface is good but still not consistant. I just don't know what its supposed to be doing?!?

Pros: It has good motion detection, and it is very easy to setup given that you have an ftp server.

Cons: After a few months, the Up/down (tilt) on the camera quit working. I opened it up to find that the gear had slipped off another gear. I reattached it, and a day or two later it slipped back off, and I can't fix it. Also, you *CAN NOT* view the camera in Firefox, it requires IE with Activex.

Other Thoughts: If all you need is motion detection, get something cheaper!

Also the software it comes with is absolutely worthless.

Pros: When the camera works, it has great image quality and nice features.

Cons: I am very dissatisfed with this camera. I am using it with 2 other cameras in a restaurant. The other 2 cameras (different brand) have poorer quality images, but run reliably and the software works. This camera freezes 2 or 3 times a week and needs to be rebooted. I had a security incident and the camera was down. The software that came with the unit does not work.

Pros: The camera's picture quality is not bad and the web interface is great and easy to use. Buy this ONLY if you plan on using the web interface.

Cons: Wow not sure where to start!
1) Manual focus camera lens! You have to twist the camera til you find the right spot... and mine got stuck
2) REALLY TERRIBLE software! If you want to use this camera for video recording, motion detection, etc, this is NOT the camera to get. I am not the average user, I am a software engineering that is designing real user interfaces. This has GOT to be the prime example of BAD user interface design. IT is also an example of a bad software because it crashes at every turn on a 2ghz, 512mb, 32mb video card computer.

Other Thoughts: I am returning this product. In terms of image quality, perhaps I am spoiled by the Canon VB-C50i cameras I have used before. The overall rating is higher than my feeling I have for this camera, but I don't feel right to judge the camera based on the software's terrible performance alone, but at this day and age, software and hardware must co-exist in order to have a good product.

Pros: Easy to put up and install and it has a lot of neat tricks

Cons: Well - the price really does show how cheap it can be - i am having trouble with one camera paning and tilting it got caught on some thing during testing - now - it sticks when every panned too far - also these camera are for very close up - i would not think about using them from a ceiling - if you do, you will get a image but it will be fuzzy

Other Thoughts: if you just want some thing to know whats going on in an area - with not alot of detail - and you want the security frills (pan and Tilt, Etc) Its perfect - if you want some thing more than that - well think of some thing else - probably some thing costing $$$$ more

Pros: The Camera works as advertised. It can pan/tilt/zoom (although the zoom is digital and so basically usless). Image is pretty good.

Cons: Software is terrible. I use 2 of these cameras to monitor my store and save the images on a hard drive. The software crashes about 3 times a week. DLink tried to help, but they just don't have a viable software product. The sent me the latest updates/patches, even a beta-version update, to no avail. If you just need to camera to check on something across the internet. The camera is fine. If you want to record the images for future use. The camera is fine but the software just doesn't work.

Other Thoughts: I ended up buying another 3rd party software program that actually worked without crashing. However this cost me an additional $xx in addition to the cost of the camera. Think about it.

Pros: The camera has good image quality albeit only 352x288 size. Network setup is fairly easy and straightforward. I like the zoom feature but since its digital its more gimmick than practical, however, the overall value of the camera is good. The feature/price ratio is attractive with caveats:

Cons: THE SOFTWARE PACKAGE IS TERRIBLE. The accompanying 'DView' program refuses to recognize the camera and will not allow windowed operation (full view on a widescreen LCD screen at non-native resolution looks bad). But since the camera is not recognized, the resoution is irrelevant. Dlink product support is also dismal and the included documentation is minimal. The mounting hardware is not very stable/does not stay tightened; could easily loosen over time (vibration of the motors) and either allow the cam to slip out of position or fall off the mount. I wish the lens had a wider field of view, the pan/tilt operatons compensate adequately though. I wish the 'patrol' mode could be set to repeat at intervals instead of having to be manually initiated.

Other Thoughts: I like this camera, its affordable and does enable remote surveillance; but the disapointing software does not deliver the promised ability to monitor and control multiple cameras through a convenient interface.

Comments: Very nice camera and software. I have set it up as my security system and it works very well at a fraction of the cost that I have been quoted for other systems that did not provide the same functionality. Software is amazing considering the cost (FREE)! Had no problems at all setting it up. I suggest you get the updated version of the IP surveillance software off of Dlink's site.

Comments: For the price this is a great webcam considering the features it has. Picture quality is great for a low priced webcam. I can login from any internet browser and see whats going on in my driveway, lawn and my pond-- the 270 degree movement is awesome!!!

Comments: Video quality is pretty decent at a framerate not available on competing low cost cameras. Software is somewhat crude but works; if you are running XP you might have to run IPSurveilence software in win98 compat. mode, that was only way it would start for me and DLINK tech support was worse than useless, hand to find out hard way. Also, the firmware is buggy for setting user permissions. All in all it is great buy however given the available products at this price point.