this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2023
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A camera platform small enough to fit a standard door frame isn't going to be able to hold serious optics. The sensor sizes are going to be too small for good night vision, if nothing else.
The temperature issue is probably an issue of economics. Most people don't need such a wide range, so off the shelf products don't support the application, as it would incur additional cost.
Both of these are solvable issues however if you're willing to use a standard security camera mounted over the door instead. There are many cameras that you could pick with large sensors, heating elements, and more.
We clearly have even smaller optics in smart phones, the limiting factor on doorbells seems to be depending on cheap optics, poor FOV lenses and then cutting the bit rate by only supporting 2.4Ghz vs offering 5Ghz or POE support. There are a number of cameras with good optics or secondary package cameras now to cover the FOV issue. There are even cameras that meet all the clarity requirements I have but are cloud only or are knowing to not work in cold weather at all.
The MAIN job of a doorbell camera should be for the security role of identification. As it will point directly at the face of someone the cheap ones do a bad job of this.
There are some videos showing just how WIDE the quality range is, but sadly very few tick all the boxes.
BEST Wired Video Doorbells 2022 Edition
Ultimate Battery Doorbell Showdown 2022
I think a mobile phone camera is vastly superior to these, although might not be great at night vision for the reasons you said, but is it entirely crazy to not just use a spare phone? It has built in backup power, can store videos locally if there is an internet outage, and can use its own data connection if wifi is not available.