If you're an Apple iCloud+ subscriber, check out their end-to-end-encrypted (E2EE) video offering, "
Homekit Secure Video" . Works with several brands of camera, the cameras talk to a "home hub" (e.g. a HomePod, Apple TV, or iPad) and video uploaded to iCloud is encrypted.
Ring also
offers an opt-in E2EE option, but it is more limited.
We ordered something off Facebook made in China, had some sort of app download etc. in the trash!
Every camera brand mentioned in this thread is made in China, mostly by a company complicit in the ongoing genocide in Xinjiang. To be fair, there are maybe a half dozen camera brands sold in the US
not made in China, all expensive "commercial" PoE cameras from the likes of Axis (Sweden), GeoVision (Taiwan), Arecont, Bosch...
Most cheap consumer IP cameras are cloud-tethered, and can only be deployed via their proprietary app.
The wireless outdoor that take lithium aa batteries
Battery-powered cameras intrinsically offer the worst results in terms of detecting and recording motion.
All such cameras obtain their battery life by putting everything except for a passive IR detector to sleep, then when the PIR sees motion, hopefully the "camera" part wakes up in time to capture the tail end. Best solution to get good evidence is to go with hardwired (power-over-ethernet) cameras, unlike battery cameras they can be set for continuous recording, and unlike WiFi cameras will reliably send video to your recorder at full framerate/resolution.