What would be a good 4k poe camera?

danieldbird

danieldbird

n3wb
Mar 17, 2019
20
10
New Zealand
Hi all, I am currently having a bit of analysis paralysis because of the huge amount of cameras available.
I was wondering if anybody could offer some informed advice on what camera would suit my particular needs, while having a good price to performance. (I don't have unlimited funds). Looking to get around 4 cameras each of around $200 - $300 budget.
I would like:
- 4k image quality
- Great day / night vision
- Microphone for audio triggering
- Power over ethernet
- 90 - 130 degree fov
- Known, quality and reliable brand

PTZ would be nice to have but not necessary.

I saw a review of this Amcrest and it was touted as being brilliant. Just after some more information, or alternative / better options from more experienced people.
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07C7W91YR

Thanks.

Kind regards,
Daniel.
 
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danieldbird said:
Hi all, I am currently having a bit of analysis paralysis because of the huge amount of cameras available.
I was wondering if anybody could offer some informed advice on what camera would suit my particular needs, while having a good price to performance. (I don't have unlimited funds). Looking to get around 4 cameras each of around $200 - $300 budget.
I would like:
- 4k image quality
- Great day / night vision
- Microphone for audio triggering
- Power over ethernet
- 90 - 130 degree fov
- Known, quality and reliable brand

PTZ would be nice to have but not necessary.

I saw a review of this Amcrest and it was touted as being brilliant. Just after some more information, or alternative / better options from more experienced people.
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07C7W91YR

Thanks.

Kind regards,
Daniel.
Click to expand...
That camera will not perform well in low light...see threads on low light cams and 4k cams with 1/2 or larger sensors. ..the 4k large sensor cams dont have built in mics
 
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Welcome to the forum.

Please read the cliff notes and other items in the wiki. The wiki is in the blue bar at the top of the page.

For night vision use dahua ( starlight) or hikvision ( dark fighter) or ipct ( hikvision) cameras.

More megapixels is not the best way to judge cameras.

No wifi cameras.
 
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danieldbird said:
Hi all, I am currently having a bit of analysis paralysis because of the huge amount of cameras available.
I was wondering if anybody could offer some informed advice on what camera would suit my particular needs, while having a good price to performance. (I don't have unlimited funds). Looking to get around 4 cameras each of around $200 - $300 budget.
I would like:
- 4k image quality
- Great day / night vision
- Microphone for audio triggering
- Power over ethernet
- 90 - 130 degree fov
- Known, quality and reliable brand

PTZ would be nice to have but not necessary.

I saw a review of this Amcrest and it was touted as being brilliant. Just after some more information, or alternative / better options from more experienced people.
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07C7W91YR

Thanks.

Kind regards,
Daniel.
Click to expand...

Welcome @danieldbird

FYI - the Amcrest bullet you noted is a Dahua OEM camera

Do take a look at the various reviews members have shared on cameras. For Dahua OEM camera models look for IPC-HxWx8xx models if you are interested in 8MP cameras.

5xxx models have varifocal lens ( nice to customize your FOV )

typically 5xxx > ( "better than") 4xxx > 2xxx > 1xxx

Better is relative and subjective - so perhaps just think the higher model numbers should be providing something additional compared to the lower models ( at an additional $ )

Remember to check out the cliff notes
 
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8MP/4k and 'great night vision' are mutually exclusive, for the most part.
While newer 4k's (especially with larger sensors) are better in low-light than they used to be,
the best low-light cams are still 2MP starlights from Dahua and darkfighters from Hikvision and their resellers.

Re-branders like Amcrest don't always get the best from their OEM's, usually the middle-of-the-road (hi-volume) units,
and they also tend to lag (or be non-existant) in terms of support and firmware updates...
 
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SouthernYankee said:
Welcome to the forum.

Please read the cliff notes and other items in the wiki. The wiki is in the blue bar at the top of the page.

For night vision use dahua ( starlight) or hikvision ( dark fighter) or ipct ( hikvision) cameras.

More megapixels is not the best way to judge cameras.

No wifi cameras.
Click to expand...

Fantastic, I will have a good read. This is exactly what I am after, some narrowing down and pointing in the right direction of where I should be looking. The best camera for my money.
Quite an investment without seeing them for myself, so really have to go with the consensus of people more knowledgable than I am.

My plan is to select cameras first, then determine PoE switch.

With regard to software I am assuming for the moment Blue iris is the best for my requirements.

I first started this journey looking at nest, then Arlo, then wyze cams, and I just couldn't stomach not owning my data or being "allowed" to store it locally. What they claim are features do not suit my personal needs, as I dont need my data uploaded anywhere.

I had a quick play last night by setting my phone up as a local IP camera, then installed the evaluation version of Blue iris in a VM and was able to get it all working in about 30 minutes. I set up a web hook with ifttt, and got alerted on motion detection which was really amazing. So from this test, I assume I can set it up with other smart home hardware and have motion detection turn on a light etc.

Just got to focus now on researching and narrowing down choices of cameras. Thanks to all for the welcome and advice thus far. I'll get there. Now to read the cliff notes. Cheers.
 
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I’ve been through what you are currently going through and for a long time couldn’t get past the “I want more pixels” mindset with 4Mp as a min but I just yesterday placed an order for 6 2Mp Dahua starlight varizoom cams after watching what must have been hundreds of day and night clips.

Not suggesting you shortcut your research but as others here have drilled into me, don’t chase pixels, work out what is most important to you in terms of day, night or both captures and then watch clip after clip after clip.

I created a thread in the Dahua section and for me the final persuader was a still that was posted showing the actual difference in night time between the 2Mp starlight and another 4Mp cam.
 
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Hi all, so I have narrowed my search to this camera.
https://www.amazon.com/EmpireTech-IPC-HDW5231R-ZE-Starlight-Eyeball-Network/dp/B07B7K1P28
US $175.3 |IPC HDW5231R ZE 2MP WDR IR Eyeball IP Camera 2.7mm 13.5mm motorized lens Starlight Network Camera Replace IPC HDW5231R Z-in Surveillance Cameras from Security & Protection on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

Can anyone see any problems with this selection?

Will now be reading up on switches, so any suggestion on a good value poe switch to narrow my search would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all.
 
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danieldbird said:
Hi all, so I have narrowed my search to this camera.
https://www.amazon.com/EmpireTech-IPC-HDW5231R-ZE-Starlight-Eyeball-Network/dp/B07B7K1P28
US $175.3 |IPC HDW5231R ZE 2MP WDR IR Eyeball IP Camera 2.7mm 13.5mm motorized lens Starlight Network Camera Replace IPC HDW5231R Z-in Surveillance Cameras from Security & Protection on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

Can anyone see any problems with this selection?

Will now be reading up on switches, so any suggestion on a good value poe switch to narrow my search would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all.
Click to expand...

Perfect choice of camera.
Switches: IPCamPower - Power for Your IP Security Cameras
 
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Hey all so this specific seller and link is the lowest cost, including shipping to me.
Is there anything suspicious or worrying about buying this from AliExpress or is it legitimate?
The two identical photos of the product with and without the Dahua logo worries me somewhat. Also is the front glass missing? Or is there just no reflection from that angle.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

US $140.0 |Original Dahua logo IPC HDW5231R ZE 2MP WDR IR Eyeball Network Camera 2.7mm 13.5mm lens Starlight Network Camera with micphone-in Surveillance Cameras from Security & Protection on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
 
danieldbird said:
Hey all so this specific seller and link is the lowest cost, including shipping to me.
Is there anything suspicious or worrying about buying this from AliExpress or is it legitimate?
The two identical photos of the product with and without the Dahua logo worries me somewhat. Also is the front glass missing? Or is there just no reflection from that angle.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

US $140.0 |Original Dahua logo IPC HDW5231R ZE 2MP WDR IR Eyeball Network Camera 2.7mm 13.5mm lens Starlight Network Camera with micphone-in Surveillance Cameras from Security & Protection on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
Click to expand...

Hi @danieldbird

Having good experiences purchasing from Andy EmpireTech - I would recommend him first for purchases as he has done a good job with customer service issues.
 
Thank you. Question; I plan to install this on the underside of the eave of the house. Do i need the Junction box accessory? It says it is optional, so I hope I don't.
 
Message Andy from EmpireTec, you can find him in the vendor section. The problem with buying from anybody else is you’ll most likely get a hacked Chinese version of the camera which might be a pain, not perform as expected and you might have problems upgrading. You’ll also get little to no support from the other sellers.

I got a junction box for each of my cams as there’s is nowhere where the cables can be hidden without one.
 
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@danielbird, $140 shipped w/ DHL is unusually cheap. Usually the cheaper listings use ePacket for shipping, which can take several weeks to arrive (with minimal tracking along the way).

It's also unusual to get hardware with the Dahua logo on it for less than the official MSRP, IMO. The version of Dahua equipment sold by non-authorized Dahua resellers is typically the "no logo" version, which is meant to be sold under other brands who will put their own logos on it. It's the same hardware/firmware, just no Dahua logo on either. Andy (@EMPIRETECANDY) sells the no-logo version of Dahua products under his company's Empire Technology brand, but he doesn't put his company's logo on the hardware/firmware.
 
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danieldbird said:
Hey all so this specific seller and link is the lowest cost, including shipping to me.
Is there anything suspicious or worrying about buying this from AliExpress or is it legitimate?
The two identical photos of the product with and without the Dahua logo worries me somewhat. Also is the front glass missing? Or is there just no reflection from that angle.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

US $140.0 |Original Dahua logo IPC HDW5231R ZE 2MP WDR IR Eyeball Network Camera 2.7mm 13.5mm lens Starlight Network Camera with micphone-in Surveillance Cameras from Security & Protection on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
Click to expand...

I highly suggest buying here: Empire Technology Co., Ltd - Small Orders Online Store, Hot Selling and more on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
Or email andy directly: EmpireTech Andy
 
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