Yes, it is very expensive. Check my thread before proceeding.
The 2-pin connectors on the back are normally open (no continuity), they will close when activated by the remote unlock or via the doorbell push button. I connect them to a PLC and then feed them to my ISY to handle controls from there. You can connect them to a Z-Wave door module but keep in mind that "door closed" would mean that it is being activated and "door open" would mean that it is not. The "door closed" timing may be an issue, depending on your module and how you are responding. You can control how long the relay is closed when the unlock is activated (in seconds) but not for the doorbell button. I started with Z-Wave modules but then switched to a PLC.
FYI - I use a single CAT6 cable to my DoorBird - 4 pins for 100Mbit PoE, 2 for chime relay, 2 for unlock relay. In theory, you don't need to use the physical contacts for the unlock relay if you have some programming abilities. They expose an API that provides callbacks for these events - I found them to be buggy so I didn't use them. I worked with Ken@
Blue Iris and he attempted to integrate what he could, this callback being one of them. I have not tested this portion via Blue Iris.
When you hit the phone button in the DoorBird app, it opens a full duplex audio connection along with showing you the video. It works well in general albeit possibly higher latency.
If you forgo installing their app, don't get a DoorBird. Without it, the device is not very useful. Blue Iris
cannot currently transmit audio to it. If you decide to isolate it, you will be able to capture video and audio from it along with the doorbell contact but you will not be able to speak to the person. You can isolate the DoorBird from the Internet and use their app via a VPN, in which case their cloud services will not be involved. However, a VPN is not wife approved IMO.
More concisely, yes it will operate as a normal PoE camera if we ignore the two-way audio issues.
Are you convinced there is exists camera that works well with two way audio via Blue Iris? Even with removing the door bell form factor, I have yet to see one. I haven't had a setup that would have a natural feeling conversation with anyone. I have pretty much given up on Blue Iris two-way.