ANNKE CZ400 AI security camera review – Part 1: Specs, unboxing and teardown

We’re starting to see more and more security cameras with built-in AI features such as Reolink RLC-810A 4K camera with people & vehicle detection or the lower cost Vacom Cam Full HD camera with person detection only, which I have not reviewed yet due to some technical issues. I would not buy a camera without AI now as such features greatly reduce false positives.

Another model has now come my way with ANNKE CZ400 (aka I91BK) 2K security camera that comes with even more advanced AI-accelerated computer vision features with not only face detection, but also intrusion detection, line crossing detection, region entrance detection, region exiting detection, object removal detection, unattended baggage detection, and audio exception detection.

In this first part of the review, we’ll check the specifications, the content of the package with an unboxing, as well as a partial teardown that is needed to install a microSD card.

ANNKE CZ400 specifications

  • Camera
    • Image Sensor – 1/3″ OmniVision Progressive Scan CMOS
    • Video Codec – H.265+/H.265/H.264+/H.264
    • Video Resolution – 24 fps (2560 x 1440), 30 fps (2048 x 1536, 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 960, 1280 x 720)
    • Video Bitrate – 32 Kbps to 16,384 Kbps
    • Lens – 2.8-12 mm, 4x Optical Zoom, 16x Digital Zoom
    • Min. Illumination – Color: 0.005 Lux @ (ƒ/1.6, AGC On), B/W: 0.001 Lux @ (ƒ/1.6, AGC On), 0 Lux with IR
    • Wide Dynamic Range – 120 dB True WDR
    • Field of View (FoV)
      • Horizontal – 33° – 100° (Wide-Tele)
      • Vertical – 18° – 53° (Wide-Tele)
      • Diagonal – 37.5° – 119° (Wide-Tele)
    • Night vision – 4x Infrared LEDs up to 20 meters
    • Image Enhancement – 3D DNR, HLC, EIS, Regional Exposure, Regional focus
    • Pan tilt
      • Movement Range – Pan: 0° – 330°, Tilt: 0° – 90°
      • Speed – Adjustable  0.1°/sto- 100°/s (default)
    • AI features
      • Smart Event – Intrusion Detection, Line Crossing Detection, Region Entrance Detection, Region Exiting Detection, Object Removal Detection, Unattended Baggage Detection, Audio Exception Detection
      • Face detection
  • Audio
    • Built-in Mic
    • Support mono Audio input and mono Audio output via external wires
  • Storage – MicroSD Card and NAS support
  • Networking
    • 10/100M Ethernet RJ45 port
    • RTSP, ONVIF support
  • Power Supply – DC 12 V, or PoE (802.3at)
  • Dimensions – 130.7 x 101.7 mm (Aluminum Alloy, PC, PC + ABS)
  • Weight – 530 grams
  • Temperature Range – -20°C to 60°C
  • IP Rating – IP66
  • Impact protection – IK10
  • Safety – TVS 4,000 V Lightning Protection, Surge Protection, and Voltage Transient Protection

If you need WiFI that camera is not for you, as an Ethernet cable is required. If like me, you’ve never heard about H.265+, that a “solution” developed by Hikvision based on H.265 but with a lower bitrate at about the same quality thanks to prediction encoding, noise suppression, and flexible bitrate control.

ANNKE CZ400 unboxing

The company sent me the camera together with a 15-meter Ethernet cable.

Annke CZ400 package with ethernet cable

The camera ships with screw kits, a 24-hour surveillance sticker, and a user manual in English and German for hardware setup and getting started with software either using Internet Explorer, Annke Vision app for Android or iOS, Annke program for Windows/Mac, or third-party software that support RTSP or ONVIF protocols.

Annke CZ400 unboxing

You can also download the user manual online. What’s not included is the wall mount bracket listed in the user manual. I expected it as I do not intend to mount the camera on a ceiling, but attach it to a wall/fence. So I’ll have to see what I can do.

security camera wires audio in/out, 12v

The cable from the camera comes with Ethernet/PoE and 12V DC jack, as well as wires to connect audio in/out for external microphone/speaker, and/or 12V output for an alarm.

Annke CZ400 AI security camera review

The camera is a bit heavier and larger than most other cameras I’ve played with partially because of the motor required for the PTZ function. The build quality feels better too, and matches with the price.

mounting plate

The mounting plate is clicked to the camera, and we’ll need to remove it for installation.

Annke CZ400 ceiling mount

ANNZE CZ400 teardown

If you’re not going to connect the camera to an NVR or NAS, you’ll probably want to install a MicroSD card. Since there’s no external slot, we’ll need to teardown the camera, but don’t worry as the company designed it for easy opening.

Annke CZ400 teardown

There are four small openings around the black plastic ring where we can insert a small flat head screwdriver to pop it out. We can now loosen the four screws in the grey plastic part to access the board.

Annke CZ400 camera board

We can see the MicroSD card slot on the bottom center of the above photo. There are quite a lot of cables and wires connected underneath the board.

PTZ motor security camera

On the opposite side, we can see the motor for the pan and tilt function. I considered taking out the main board, but I was not confident not messing things around as some wires seem fragile, so I skipped that step, and simply install a MicroSD card.

MicroSD Card installation Annke CZ400

The camera comes with a hinge-type MicroSD card slot, where the metal part needs to be slid and lifted up. If you have fat fingers installation is a bit cumbersome, and I end up using up a small screwdriver to move the MicroSD card into place. When reassembling the camera, make sure the grey ring is properly aligned and oriented with the two extra positioning holes.

I’d like to thank ANNKE for sending the camera for review. If you are interested, the ANNKE CZ400 AI security camera is sold on Amazon for $259.69. The next steps will be to install the camera and test the different methods of controlling with a PC and mobile phone.

Continue reading “Annke CZ400 AI security camera reviewed with basic and smart events

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2 Replies to “ANNKE CZ400 AI security camera review – Part 1: Specs, unboxing and teardown”

  1. I asked about the wall mount bracket… Answer:

    Would you mind buying one bracket yourself? We’re not selling them for the moment. I’ll be happy to cover the fee for you.

    Please do use some surface spray treatment for the contact part if you’re using the cam daily.

  2. Thank you for the information on the Annke CZ400 poe camera, but nowhere on the net can I find the width of the base. I can find the width of the camera, 101.7 mm but the base is smaller in the picture and I want to buy a fixing bracket! Anybody know? Thank you.

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