LG LW130W 720p Wireless HD Network IP Camera with Flash LED/PIR Sensor/MSDCard Recording (White)

The LG LW130W (LG) is one of the new batch of inexpensive "Onvif" compatible, multi-stream, H.264, IP cameras which can output 720P images at reasonable frame rates…mostly for surveillance uses. The LG camera is similar in basic features to the Panasonic BL-VP104(w) and BL-VT164(w) (104/164) which I currently use with a VioStor VS208Pro for security. I have added a LW130W (LG) into my 6 camera system…here's what I found out.

Like the Panasonic 104/164, you need to use a PC and the MS IE browser for setup. There is provisions to set up the LG directly with a wireless router using WPS, one button setup, but I don't do wireless. In any case, viewing and detail configuration of the camera also needs to done with MS IE, so it looks like the same situation as the Panasonic 104/164 cameras….no MAC OS support.

The LG camera has no physical PTZ, but will do it electronically. It has a wide angle lens with noticeable fisheye. The LG does have a built in mic, speaker, buzzer sound, LED light (for stills and video to help with low light) and 3 LED indicators on the front (that don't seem to be able to be turned off…unlike the Panasonics). The setup features seems to all be there (but not as many setup items and details as with the Panasonic 104/164). The LG also has both motion and IR detection.

However, the big advantage of the LG is it's performance in low light which is far superior to the Panasonic 104/164. Of course, the LG won't see in the dark without turning on it's front mounted LED (which it can do when it senses IR/Motion).

Like the newer Panasonic 104/164, the LG is OnVif compliant, which should make it compatible with the new batch of NVR's coming out of China. However, getting these cameras to work dependably with NVRs is not always that easy…I have had lots of issues with my VioStor NVR and these inexpensive 720P cameras.

Given enough light, both the Panasonic 104/164 and the LG cameras put out a great picture at 720p compared with the older 640x480 surveillance cameras. I'm not that impressed with electronic PTZ. I guess I'll have to wait for someone to come out with an optical zoom with physical Pan/Tilt 720p camera for under $300. Till then, I will be replacing a couple of the Panasonics (104/164) in stiuations that have low light with LGs.