Montavue vs Amcrest Security Cameras (2025)

The Montavue PoE Turret camera can record low-light footage through infrared and color. It switches on a warm spotlight whenever motion is detected.

It allows the camera to record motion-triggered events in full color. Other times, it simply records in infrared to save power.

Meanwhile, the Amcrest camera doesn’t have a spotlight. However, it can only record in full color if the illumination levels are higher than 0.007. Otherwise, it will switch to infrared.

Both cameras can detect vehicles and people. However, the Amcrest camera has an additional feature that allows it to detect faces.

The Amcrest camera can perform optical zoom for a maximum of 5x. The Montavue camera has a fixed lens. It cannot perform optical zooming.

Both cameras can capture footage at 30fps on a 4K resolution of 3840x2160. They can also use True WDR to process footage and improve contrast.

Both cameras are IP67-rated and can record audio thanks to built-in microphones. However, only the Montavue camera can perform two-way communication.

The Montavue and Amcrest cameras are fully IP-based devices with PoE support. However, You can operate them standalone and record footage to a micro SD card.

Both cameras support integration into 3rd party systems through RTSP or ONVIF. They also support alternative storage methods such as NVR, NAS, and FTP.

The Montavue and Amcrest cameras float around the same price range. However, the Montavue counterpart tends to be more affordable overall.

Also, it offers good value for money since you receive a 100ft network cable right out of the box.

Meanwhile, you only get the Amcrest camera and the necessary documentation. You must purchase cables separately to set it up with an NVR.

That said, you can configure both cameras for standalone operation. You can do this via the respective mobile apps.

The Montavue and Amcrest bullet cameras are PoE devices. Both cameras can capture 4K-resolution footage at 15fps.

That said, they can also operate without an NVR. However, you must provide DC power separately and use a Micro SD card for local storage.

Also, both cameras are rated at IP67. This makes them ideal for outdoor installations. Also, you don't need to set up separate shade structures.

The Amcrest PTZ camera is handy for object detection. Its computer vision capabilities allow it to identify and detect many objects.

These include people, faces, and vehicles. It can even differentiate non-motor vehicles like bicycles, handcarts, and wheelchairs.

The Montavue camera doesn’t have such elaborate features. However, it can still differentiate between humans and vehicles.

The Montavue PTZ camera focuses on subscription-free storage options. It includes the MicroSD, NVR, and FTP.

The Amcrest device supports all these alongside optional cloud storage.

Both are indoor/outdoor compatible PTZ cameras with an IP66 rating. They can perform a maximum of 25x optical zoom and 16x digital zoom.

They use a 4MP camera with a maximum 2K resolution of 2650x1440. Both cameras can record at stable framerates, with Amcrest at 25fps and Montavue at 30fps.

Both include motorized lenses for 360° panning. The tilt angles can vary slightly. However, both manage to offer 90° tilting.

The wide-angle FOV of the Amcrest camera is 60°. Montavue’s is not far behind, as it also sports a zoomed-out FOV of 56°

The Montavue MTF5360X fisheye lens camera is more expensive than the Amcrest IP5M-F1180EW-V2. However, it doesn’t support DC power or two-way communication facilities.

The Montavue camera lacks a wider array of storage capabilities as it can only record footage to an NVR or local Micro SD card. The Amcrest camera, on the other hand, includes these two features while also providing support for cloud storage.

In terms of object detection capabilities, the Amcrest camera can detect and even count people. Along with that, it can also provide a heatmap of motion zones. The Montavue camera can only detect people and objects.

Also, the Amcrest camera has the better True WDR feature over the Montavue camera’s software-based digital WDR.

These cameras are both indoor cameras and they do not have a weatherproof IP rating. They both can operate independently but otherwise need PoE for data and power.

The maximum resolution on these cameras is 2592x1944 through a 5MP camera. There are no integrated sirens but these devices can record audio as there is a microphone built inside.

In low-light environments, they can only rely on infrared, and like many fixed focus lens cameras, they cannot perform PTZ functions.