Ann, the company who makes the smart doorbell I was looking at (Logitech) has a “STOP! Go through this checklist before purchasing!” on their website (even the Amazon listing has a link to it). So I was able to determine (after taking the cover off our doorbell clanger) that it would work. It also had a “and here’s what to do if your doorbell has the wrong voltage” suggestion.
No workaround for “Doorbell facing dead into the sun most of the year,” alas. 😕
New development from the front camera, though — we started getting alerts of motion at the front door this morning, which turned out to be flashes of wings blocking most of the view for split seconds. And the mic is picking up frequent loud chirps. It appears our finches have started building nests behind our front shutters again. Seems early, but these are great locations from a little bird’s POV — totally sheltered under the porch overhang, six feet off the ground, snug-but-not-too-snug fit between the shutters and the front stone facade. Now if they could just not poop all over the shutters on the way in and out… <sigh>