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Can the doorbell see a package on the step?
Updated
Listings lead with one big angle, such as 155 or 180 degrees. That is usually side to side. A package sits at your feet, so the number that counts is the vertical view, or a square 1:1 picture. The Ring Video Doorbell Wired lists 155 degrees across and only 90 up and down. The Ring Battery Doorbell 2K lists 140 both ways.
What each listing states
| Doorbell | Field of view (degrees) | Picture shape |
|---|---|---|
| Ring Battery Doorbell 2K | 140 horizontal, 140 vertical | Square, head-to-toe |
| Blink Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) | 150 (listed as 150 HV) | 1:1, head-to-toe |
| Tapo D225 | 180 (maker claim) | Head-to-toe (maker claim) |
| Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen) | 180 | 1:1, head-to-toe |
| Ring Video Doorbell Wired | 155 horizontal, 90 vertical | Wide (not head-to-toe) |
| eufy Video Doorbell E340 | 160 on the front camera, plus a second camera aimed down | 4:3 plus a downward camera |
| Google Nest Doorbell (Wired, 3rd Gen) | 166 | Not stated on the listing |
Arlo's FAQ puts it this way: the 1:1 aspect ratio means you can see a package on the ground and a visitor from head to toe. eufy goes a different way. Its spec page lists a main camera and a second camera, and the listing says the second one points down at the doorstep.
Why a bigger angle is not always better
A very wide lens bends straight lines and makes faces at the edge small. "180 degrees" on a listing is a maker claim and often a diagonal figure. Compare the shape of the picture, not only the angle.
Wedge and corner kits
Where the old button sits decides what the camera sees. Ring's support page says a Wedge Kit changes the vertical angle and a Corner Kit changes the horizontal angle. Most Ring Wedge Kits stack three 5 degree mounts for up to 15 degrees up or down, and most Corner Kits stack three 15 degree mounts for up to 45 degrees left or right. They are model-specific and sold separately.
- Button on a wall beside the door, facing across the porch: a corner kit turns the view toward the visitor.
- Door at the top of steps: a wedge tilts the view down to faces and the step.
- Button set back in brick or trim: one owner comment on the Ring Wired listing describes brick blocking part of the view. A wedge or corner mount moves the lens out.
The Tapo D225 listing shows a 15 degree horizontal wedge and a 5 degree vertical wedge in the box.
Run your own door through the wiring checker, or compare all seven picks on the roundup page.