The Ukrainian company Ajax Systems is known for its wireless security system, stylish and minimalist products. However, relatively recently, Ajax has introduced new, importantly, wired products that also focus on video surveillance. I’ve been testing some of them, DomeCam Mini and TurretCam cameras, as well as the Ajax NVR, for over a month now, and now I’m sharing my experience and nuances with you.
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Since we have three products in one review, this section should either have a giant table that doesn’t fit on one monitor screen, not to mention smartphones, or three separate ones, which is also too much for this section. So I’ll just leave a link to the specifications from the website for each of the devices: DomeCam Mini, TurretCam, Ajax NVR.
As you will see if you follow the links, DomeCam Mini and TurretCam have four versions that differ in viewing angle, resolution, and frame rate. Everything else is the same, including the design.
DomeCam Mini, TurretCam, and Ajax NVR are shipped in identical white cardboard boxes with pictures of the devices.
Inside, we see the gadgets themselves, a set of documents with a warranty and instructions, a screwdriver, a sticker, and a set of fasteners (each model has its own and does not fit another).
The DomeCam Mini looks like a flat circle with a bulging layer where the camera module is hidden. Its dimensions are 113 × 60 mm and it weighs 360 grams. The device has a body made of glossy and matte plastic. On the front panel, we see the Ajax inscription, and on the back — a recess and two short but thick cables. One of them is DC 5.5×2.5, i.e. a power cable, and the other is RJ-45.
The TurretCam looks like a medium-sized layer with a round mount around the perimeter. The bottom is the same as another camera with the same cables. The model’s dimensions are 103 × 98 × 98 mm, and it weighs 496 grams.
Ajax NVR — is a minimalist square box with dimensions of 193 × 193 × 47 mm and a weight of 700 grams. It looks very much like an Apple Mac Mini, or «brains» Ajax Hub 2 Plus, only twice as big. It also has a luminous Ajax inscription, and everything else is hidden under the back cover.
As you can see, the Ukrainian manufacturer continues to make minimalist devices that fit any design. They clearly take inspiration from Apple and don’t seem to shy away from it. There are black and white colors to choose from, which also contributes to versatility.
Ajax NVR (Ajax Network Video Recorder) is a network video recorder for the company’s new wired video surveillance system. It can work not only with the manufacturer’s cameras, but also with competitors’ models that support the RTSP or ONVIF protocol. The DVR also allows you to integrate any IP camera into the Ajax security system.
Ajax NVR can accommodate an SSD drive of up to 16 TB and record video from connected cameras. Depending on the selected quality and capacity of the storage device, the recordings can be stored from a month to six months, or even longer. However, it all depends on the number of cameras. If there are two cameras, as in my case, then the recordings can be stored for up to a year, depending on the set recording parameters, etc. For an accurate calculation, the Ajax website has video archive calculator, which allows you to calculate the estimated duration of record storage.
When the space runs out, the oldest records are automatically deleted and a new one is written instead. All of this can be configured in detail in the app, which will be discussed below.
The Ajax NVR body is protected against moisture according to the IP20 standard, it has versions for 8 or 16 communication channels, can be connected via Bluetooth or Eternet, and supports video streaming up to 100 Mbps in popular H.264 or H.265 formats.
DomeCam Mini and TurretCam work with the fast, peer-to-peer and encrypted JetSparrow video protocol developed by Ajax Systems. The cameras have several versions of themselves, differing in the viewing angle (from 75 to 85 and from 100 to 110 degrees), resolution (up to 2880 × 1620 and 3840 × 2160 pixels) and frame rate (up to 20 or 25 fps). However, all of them are equipped with microphones.
We have reviewed the top-of-the-line versions with 8-megapixel modules and a 110-degree viewing angle, which can record 4K video at 20 frames per second. Support for video encoding formats — H.265 or H.264. There is support for video streaming up to 100 Mbps.
Each camera can operate separately without Ajax NVR or become part of a joint system managed by Ajax Hub 2 Plus. In these cases, video will be recorded on a microSD memory card up to 256 GB inclusive, which is available in the camera body.
The cameras also have tamper protection in the form of accelerometers. That is, if someone tries to remove them without your knowledge, they will notify you.
The cameras use artificial intelligence. It helps to identify and recognize a person, animal, or vehicle in the video. The cameras also respond to motion.
The cameras also have infrared illumination, which allows them to record video in low light or in the dark. In this case, the picture will be black and white, but contrasty and detailed.
The DomeCam Mini and TurretCam cameras, as well as the Ajax NVR, are designed to be connected by specialists. Ajax Systems has a network of partner security agencies throughout Ukraine, and it is through them that you can buy these and other gadgets and arm your apartment or house.
For example, I had these new products installed security agency «Center». They are located in Odesa, Chornomorsk, Bucha, and Kyiv. But you can choose any similar agency in your city, and it will probably have an agreement with Ajax Systems and will be able to install their system for you.
A person comes to you, you tell them where and what you want to install, they may advise you on other places and explain why, and then they do everything themselves, drill, install, add, etc. Everything is convenient and fast.
If you have the appropriate knowledge and skills to install it yourself, you will need cables to connect the cameras to the hub or DVR, Ajax JunctionBox. You will also need a SATA SSD drive and a power supply for Ajax NVR.
Then, you will need to install the Ajax proprietary application, which is used by DomeCam Mini, TurretCam, and Ajax NVR, as well as all the company’s products. Each device has a QR code on the body that needs to be scanned through the app to add the device to a specific room.
The entire system is connected to a router and a power outlet. Therefore, if the power goes out, no recording is made. Of course, this can be solved by connecting a sufficiently powerful power bank (minimum 12V 2A) via adapters or a charging station.
The app itself is modern and easy to use, as far as its functions are concerned, and there are a lot of them. The program allows you to monitor the status of cameras and DVR, select bitrate, codec, recording resolution, monitor the filling of memory cards or disk, etc.
Of course, you can view the live view of the cameras or watch the recordings. You can simply view them as you wish, or filter them by movement, passing of a person, animal, or vehicle, for example, if the camera is installed near the road or looking into the yard where they drive.
A separate segment of the video can be downloaded as a file to the phone and then played back without any problems. For example, if there was a robbery or some kind of violation, and the camera captured the criminal, you can not only show the police the picture or recording on your phone, but actually provide them with video evidence in the form of a file that can be played on any smartphone, laptop, or system without any problems because the codecs here are H.265 or H.264, and these are the most common video codecs today.
I’ve been using Ajax for several years now, but these are their wireless solutions. The new wired products differ only in the presence of this very wire, but otherwise they are the same stylish, modern, and versatile solutions.
I like their minimalist design and the ability to choose black or white to match your interior. In my case, it’s the white option. I like the fact that these Ajax devices seem to merge with the interior and are almost invisible after a while. And this is true not only for the family — guests rarely notice anything in the apartment, and the neighbors in the entrance did not notice the camera until we officially told them about it.
The good thing is that you can either install the cameras yourself or use a wide network of security companies. That is, the company leaves the choice up to the buyer. There are many partners in every city, oblast, and region. If you have the hands on, you can buy and install them yourself. However, the manufacturer still insists on professional installation of the system and its components by official partners and Ajax installation engineers, as this guarantees the correct configuration and efficient operation of all devices. They will come to you not only in a big city, but also in a small town or village, as in my case. You can also arm the system along with the installation.
The versatility also applies to the type of object to install cameras. It can be an apartment, a private house, a large office, a separate rented room in an office, an institution, an enterprise, a factory, a warehouse, etc.
The cameras themselves are also convenient to use. The picture quality is excellent, and the 4K image is detailed, you can clearly see people’s faces, and you can zoom in almost without losing quality. Keep in mind that the better the picture quality, the more space the video takes up on your disk, and it also «eats» the Internet, but only when you watch live video.
Cameras really recognize and track movement, whether it’s a person or an animal. When you’re watching, you can easily select people and see all the appearances of any person who has passed by the camera in the last week. So you can quickly find the right moment of recording and download it to your smartphone. This is very cool. And thanks to the infrared illumination, the picture at night is also detailed. Yes, it is black and white, but its quality is good, as is the detail, so you can see everything.
It’s good that there are microphones, so you can watch and hear. The sound recording is good, you can hear it very well, because even at the lowest volume, the sound is still very loud. That is, if, for example, some intruders were discussing something a few meters away from the camera, you will hear what they were saying.
The price tag for DomeCam Mini starts at 5299 UAH and depends on the camera version, its resolution, viewing angle, etc. The price of TurretCam starts at the same price 6299 UAH. The price for Ajax NVR is from 6299 UAH.
In my opinion, these are adequate prices, but they will definitely be expensive for some people. Because there are many cheaper models on the market, but there are also more expensive ones. But you have to look into it, see if they fit together, etc. I’ll just leave you with a selection cameras and video recorders and you can see for yourself which is best for you.
