There is a crazy number of cameras for sale. I’m guessing the features im looking for are similar to what many in this community would prefer.
Hardware Requirements:
Needs:
local Wifi Accessibility.
Internet Connection not required.
IR Option.
Streams in a format compatible with OpenCV
reasonable video quality(1080 or better) and stability.
Wants:
Python API to control camera features
under $100.00
Are there any good off the shelf choices that don’t require modifying firmware?
LOL…
I have five Wyse Cam3 cameras all flashed with the RTSP hack.
So what does that do? Isn’t that tool used to get into wireless cameras? Basically a security issue for those with wireless cameras setup on home networks.
Real Time Streaming Protocol. It turns the camera into a streaming camera on my local network. No cloud and the Internet is not used. How in the world can that be a security risk? Besides, even if a hacker does get past my router, past my firewall, what can they possibly do? Look at my driveway and porch?
Okay as long i guess, if no kids or babies are being monitored. Remember that stuff being hacked with audio and video.
What are you trying to say?
That a camera flashed with a firmware allowing it to function purely locally is more dangerous than a camera sending videos to some random “cloud” you don’t own and have no clue who can have access to?
The standard you may looking for is called ONVIF and sometimes even available for cheapo $25 cameras (with PTZ, IR, WIFI, etc.) 
Still, as a ONVIF capable camera is still able to ‘phone’ home into the clouds 
(other people computers 
).
Best practices is always to have your CCTV in a VLAN without internet access or - at least - block internet access on mac/device base. 
Just remember that you are not in control of any hardware where you don’t have control over the software It’s not necessary for someone to hack your camera when the manufacture already included a backdoor 
for convenience 
I think Foscam has some nice camera’s. Used to have a Foscam C2 which costs around 50 euro.
Placed the device in a IoT VLAN with no internet access to be sure, only to Home Assistant on the used port.
Right now i own several UniFi camera’s with the UniFi Protect integration. To get into UniFi is not a budget option but works flawlessly. Just my 2 cents.
Amcrest IP4M series, fully ONVIF, Dahua ISAPI, about $60 USD.
https://www.amazon.com/Amcrest-Security-Two-Way-4-Megapixel-IP4M-1041B/dp/B095XCGKTF
I currently use 3 hikvision (two are branded hi-look but they are make by hikvison) based ONVIF camera’s.
A dome based one for my front door and 2 of the fixed turret for the other two external feeds I need to monitor tied to my synology as the NVR.
The internet access for all camera’s is blocked via both VLAN and on the setting on the router I am using as I use an openvpn server config available on my router to connect when I am not home. Keeps everything local and nothing is internet facing that I don’t need.
That still needs the app to set it up right?
i have the Wyse cam black with the RTSP hack and it needed the Wyse app to get the RTSP adress and password
Yes, but if you are among the paranoid, you can delete the app and the RTSP still works.
Reolink works awesome