Best Motion Detection Camera For Home Security System?

I've used the DCS-930L from Dlink. The motion detection can email a snapshot on alert. I know the motion detection works because I used it on vacation and got a ton of pics e-mailed because the cat triggered it 10 times a day. This is not an outdoor camera though I suppose it could work if only pointed outdoors, at a small FOV, like a small porch to detect trespassing or maybe at your welcome mat, then in a year you would have a nice slideshow of NY Times cover pages.

BRS Labs on the other end of the spectrum, is threatening to bring military grade exception based analytics into the home; BRS is apparently not content to simply rest on their competitors laurels any longer...

The fact we're talking 'home' quality gear makes this question a little awkward coming from the commercial space, because there is typically a step down in performance.

With that said, these Movement Tracking LEDs / Camera combo units are popular in my neighborhood:

They aren't integrated with any alarm system, the cameras don't send out alerts and are pretty lousy in low light, and of the ~15 units my neighbors and I have installed over the years, maybe 50% of the cameras still work as advertised after 5 years of weather and exposure. (The lights still work, the cameras break.)

But: They only cost ~$100 - ~$160 new. I've noticed that more 'moving lights' are being offered by other vendors now.

The fact the light turns on and moves in total darkness is the best feature, in my opinion. When combined with a standard fixed surveillance system, the triggered ambient lighting alone serves to spook the riffraf and result in better quality recorded segments.

Any additonal options out there? I have yet another exec asking for guidance. Although he could easily afford AXIS cameras I doubt he will want to pay that much.

IMO, it's as much or more about expectations as it is about technology.

You're not going to find any motion-based camera that is going to give you the range and accuracy of the VideoIQ/Avigilon technology. Some may appear to have range, but at the sacrifice of excessive false alarms.

Howver, for a lot of residential applications you don't really need to cover 30,000+ sqft with a single camera. You're mostly looking at area like upper driveway, front walk, back deck and so forth. If you take that approach, then you can do motion based on larger objects or high-percentage (depending on the exact systems).

What I would look for is a camera that let's you set motion masks, not just overall motion percentage, with some flexibility for what you look for in that area. The Avigilon cameras work good in this case. I've also seen mobotix work good. Mobotix doesn't have the wide VMS support or ONVIF/etc., but that's less of a concern for most residential users. I'm sure there are lots of others as well, I just don't have first-hand familiarily with them.

tl;dr don't try to cover large areas with outdoor motion, look for a camera with good masking options.