Dahua or Amcrest?

[ilikeme87]

New to the whole IP security cam world and am looking for some help/recommendations. I was originally looking at Reolink, but apparently they are not as good as they seem (from what i can tell at least). After doing some research I cam across this bundle on Amazon that I though would fit me well

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RYBHWZM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AM1AKWRN957PC&psc=1

Basically I am looking for 4-6 cameras around the perimiter of my house with decent night vision. Most of the house does have existing good exterior lighting at night. Currently I have a Samsung analog kit that was purchased at Costco many years ago and is not very good quality, plus it is dying. I had seen on here that Dahua might be a better option, so I am looking for opinions on if the bundle linked is good, or if there are better alternatives that are somewhat close in price. Thanks.

 

[mat200]

Welcome @ilikeme87

Before jumping on a kit, take some time to learn more here.. see the cliff notes, see the reviews by members.

Try to determine what your functional needs are.

Perhaps buy a couple of newer cameras to compare in person, as a lot has changed in terms of quality of image from the older CCTV cameras of the past.




FYI - The Amcrest cameras appear to be Dahua OEM 8MP 1/2.5" sensor models...

 

[ilikeme87]

Welcome @ilikeme87

Before jumping on a kit, take some time to learn more here.. see the cliff notes, see the reviews by members.

Try to determine what your functional needs are.

Perhaps buy a couple of newer cameras to compare in person, as a lot has changed in terms of quality of image from the older CCTV cameras of the past.




FYI - The Amcrest cameras appear to be Dahua OEM 8MP 1/2.5" sensor models...




View attachment 78021

Thanks. I had heard that Amcrest was re-badged Dahua minus some features possibly, but was not sure if the price difference was worth it or not. I am possibly thinking about a mix of 4k and 2-3Mp cameras to balance out the daytime and night time images, but am actually more concerned about during the day mostly.

 

[SouthernYankee]

start with one variable focus 5442 dahua camera. Build a test rig ( a bucket of rocks and a 2x4) so that you can test the proposed location of the camera and the type of lens to use.

====================================================
My standard welcome to the forum message.

Read Study Plan before spending money
Cameras are for surveillance to get information for after the fact.

Please read the IP Cam Talk Cliff Notes and other items in the IP Cam Talk Wiki. (read on a real computer, not a phone). The wiki is in the blue bar at the top of the page.

Read How to Secure Your Network (Don't Get Hacked!) in the wiki also.


Quick start
1) If you do not have a wired monitored alarm system, get that first
2) Use Dahua starlight cameras or Hikvision darkfighter cameras if you need good low light cameras.
3) Start with a good variable focus camera, so you test for the correct lens,lighting, camera placement.
4) use a VPN to access home network (openVPN)
5) Do not use wifi cameras.
6) Do not use cloud storage
7) Do Not use uPNP, P2P, QR, do not open ports,
8) More megapixel is not necessarily better.
9) Avoid chinese hacked cameras (most ebay, amazon, aliexpress cameras(not all, but most))
10) Do not use reolink, ring, nest, Arlo cameras (they are junk), no cloud cameras
11) If possible use a turret camera , bullet collect spiders, dome collect dirt and reflect light (IR)
12) Use only solid copper, AWG 23 or 24 ethernet wire. , no CCA (Copper Clad Aluminum)
13) use a test mount to verify the camera mount location. My test rig: rev.2
14) (Looney2ns)If you want to be able to ID faces, don't mount cams higher than 7ft. You want to know who did it, not just what happened.
15) Use a router that has openVPN built in (Most ASUS, Some NetGear....)
16) camera placement use the calculator... IPVM Camera Calculator V3
17) POE list PoE Switch Suggestion List
18) Camera Sensor size, bigger is general better Sensor Size Chart
19) Camera lens size, a bigger number give more range but less field of view. Which Security Camera Lens Size Should I Buy?
20) verify your camera placement, have a friend wearing a hoodie, ball cap and sunglasses looking down approach the house, can you identify them at night ?
21) DO NOT UPGRADE your NVR or camera firmware unless you absolutely have a problem that needs to be fixed and known what you are doing, if you do you will turn it into a brick !!

Cameras to look at
IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED . Review IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED (Full Color, Starlight+) - 4MP starlight
.................... Dahua IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED review
IPC-T5442TM-AS ..... Review-OEM 4mp AI Cam IPC-T5442TM-AS Starlight+ - 4MP starlight+
IPC-HDW5442t-ZE .... Dahua IPC-HDW5442T-ZE 4MP Varifocal Turret - Night Perfomance testing -- variable focus 2.7 mm-12mm 4 MP Starlight
IPC-B5442E-ZE ...... Review - OEM IPC-B5442E-ZE 4MP AI Varifocal Bullet Camera With Starlight+ -- variable 2.7mm-12mm bullet
IPC-B5442E-Z4E .... bullet 8mm-32mm variable focus zoom 4MP
IPC-HFW7442H-Z ..... Review - Dahua IPC-HFW7442H-Z 4MP Ultra AI Varifocal Bullet Camera -- 4 MP variable focus AI
IPC-T2347G-LU ...... Review of the Hikvision OEM model IPC-T2347G-LU 'ColorVu' IP CCTV camera. (DS-2CD2347G1-LU)
IPC-HDW2231R-ZS .... Review-Dahua IPC-HDW2231RP-ZS Starlight Camera-Varifocal
IPC-HDW2231T-ZS-S2 . Review-OEM IPC-T2231T-ZS Ver 2, 2mp Varifocal Starlight Camera
IPC-HDW5231R-ZE .... Review-Dahua Starlight IPC-HDW5231R-ZE 800 meter capable ePOE
IPC-HFW4239T-ASE ... IPC-HFW4239T-ASE
IPCT-HDW5431RE-I ... Review - IP Cam Talk 4 MP IR Fixed Turret Network Camera
IPC-T5241H-AS-PV ... Review-OEM IPC-T5241H-AS-PV 2mp AI active deterrence cam
IPC-T3241-ZAS ...... Review-OEM IPC-T3241-ZAS 2mp AI Lite series Varifocal -- 2mp AI Lite series Varifocal
IPC-HFW2831T-ZS ... Review-Dahua IPC-HFW2831T-ZS 8MP WDR IR Bullet Network Camera -- 8MP Bullet 1/1.8” sensor variable focus.
DS-2CD2325FWD-I
N22AL12 ............ New Dahua N22AL12 Budget Cam w/Starlight -- low cost entry
IPC-T2347G-LU....... Review-Loryta OEM 4MP IPC-T2347G-LU ColorVu Fixed Turret Network 4mm lens & Junction Box -- 4MP ColorVu
.................... Review of the Hikvision OEM model IPC-T2347G-LU 'ColorVu' IP CCTV camera.
SD49225XA-HNR ...... Review - Dahua SD49225XA-HNR 2MP 25x Starlight + IR PTZ AI Camera with Deep IVS & SMD Plus -- 2mp startlight AI


Read,study,plan before spending money ..... plan plan plan
Do it right the first time saves money over having to do it twice.
Test do not guess

 

[Flintstone61]

I bought a Costco / Nightowl 8 channel analog system about 2.5 years ago. For her. Without much knowledge. Impulse buy at best. I feel your pain. That system is definitely an upgrade from your Costco machine. I have heard that there are limitations to what you can do with the NVR software menu's compared to Blue Iris. Do I take the Blue Pill or the Red Pill? "You take the blue pill—the story ends, you wake up in your bed with the Amcrest system and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the Blue Iris rabbit hole goes. Remember: all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more."

 

[Flintstone61]

Did you read all of the reviews Amazon? Looks like some folks had Live view drop 2 cams to display the other 2 in 4k. Or that recording with 5 cams had issues. I wonder if you can get the 16 channel version so it has more horsepower to run more than 4 Cams. Or take the Red Pill.

 

[ilikeme87]

I bought a Costco / Nightowl 8 channel analog system about 2.5 years ago. For her. Without much knowledge. Impulse buy at best. I feel your pain. That system is definitely an upgrade from your Costco machine. I have heard that there are limitations to what you can do with the NVR software menu's compared to Blue Iris. Do I take the Blue Pill or the Red Pill? "You take the blue pill—the story ends, you wake up in your bed with the Amcrest system and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the Blue Iris rabbit hole goes. Remember: all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more."

No kidding. lol. This kit is about 6 years old. I am now starting to lean towards the Dahua 5442's after doing some more research. Debating on the NVR still though.

 

[Juristo]

I have both. My Amcrest doesn't constantly try dialing back to two separate domains in China. My Dahuas do. No more Dahuas for that reason alone.

 

[SouthernYankee]

@Juristo

Absolutely no IP cameras should have access to the internet.

Where were the Dahua purchased? Were they purchased from a reliable dealer or from aliexpress or amazon ? I have had a number of Dahua cameras but they were not hacked Chinese's cameras. never had a problem with call home.

 

[Juristo]

@Juristo

Absolutely no IP cameras should have access to the internet.

Where were the Dahua purchased? Were they purchased from a reliable dealer or from aliexpress or amazon ? I have had a number of Dahua cameras but they were not hacked Chinese's cameras. never had a problem with call home.

None of the cameras have access to the internet. I said they TRY to dial back to China. That alone erodes my confidence in them.

I purchased them from EmpireAndy. There are several threads that complain about the v16+ firmware and the issues with them trying to connect back to China.

 

[Flintstone61]

We should let one phone home with a nasty picture in front of the lens. Like goat fuckers or something.