Subscriber Discussion

Need Help Picking Out A Good Residential Surveillance System That Won't Break The Bank

NT
Nick Tinsley
Jan 29, 2017

IPVM Friends, I hope you can give me some ideas. I am looking for a NVR/IP camera combination for a residence that is good quality and won't break the bank, cat5e ran to each location.  Around the home there is decent ambient night lighting so I am looking for resolution/features that will provide the best balance for 24/7 surveillance, I am hoping to have something in the 2-3mp range that will fit the bill most angles 2.8/4mm fine.  Good wide dynamic range is a must, low light capability is preferred over ir overblast.  I would like an NVR/IP camera combination that allows you to adjust camera settings WDR, etc without having to go into the gui of the camera if possible. I prefer ease of use over tons of features.  I appreciate any feedback.

 

Thank you

 

Nick T

JH
John Honovich
Jan 29, 2017
IPVM

Good wide dynamic range is a must, low light capability is preferred over ir overblast.

Those are likely the most challenging requirements for most residential kits. You can get those kits in the $300 - $800 range (depending on camera count) but almost all of them do not have true WDR and use strong IR to compensate for weak low light performance.

The ones with true WDR and better low light will generally be significantly more expensive than the kit cameras.

Nick, what price range do you consider breaking the bank?

NT
Nick Tinsley
Jan 29, 2017

Thanks for the response John, I would like to stay under $1,000 for the 16ch Poe NVR (not including storage)and $200 - $300 a camera, outside domes a must. Is it possible to get good quality at these price points for a residential setting?

JH
John Honovich
Jan 29, 2017
IPVM

Nick, that gives you more options. At that price point, it still will be most likely Hikvision / Dahua products but you can afford to buy moderately better models.

We'll get you some recommendations soon.

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NT
Nick Tinsley
Jan 29, 2017

Sounds good, I'll await your recommendations sir

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Jan 30, 2017

HIK's green line in their catalog is going to be the best fit. I would probably go with a hik nvr as well. You'll get true wdr and a sub 300 camera.

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Ethan Ace
Jan 30, 2017

What exactly is the green line? In the Product Quick Guide (at least in the USA), the Value Plus is color coded green. Is that what you mean?

I also seem to recall them having something actually called "green", but it was a couple years back at least.

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JH
John Honovich
Jan 30, 2017
IPVM

Nick asked:

Do you think Hikvision is a step up from Flir? I have used Flir a lot in the past but if you think Hik is a step up I'll definitely take your recommendation. I know each manufacturer has good better and best versions. Flir just came out with a N247V3 and a N247B3 that looked a bit enticing. Is there something else that is also a step up from Hik or Flir that you really like?

Those Flir cameras are typically Dahua OEMs so they tend to be similar in product performance / pricing to Hikvision.

In terms of 'a step up' from Hikvision / Dahua, Hanwha / Samsung is the most common choice, see: Hikvision Best Alternatives Picked By Integrators

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PS
Paul Shah
Jan 31, 2017

John,

Does Flir ever use another OEM other than Hik or Dahua? Aren't some of their products Digimerg?

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Ethan Ace
Jan 31, 2017

FLIR bought Digimerge in 2013. Digimerge was OEMing from others, I think Sunell among them. Now, most, if not all FLIR branded product is Dahua or Dynacolor based. FLIR claims that they do some customization, but we haven't fully investigated exactly how different products are. 

We have hear stories that FLIR's Lorex brand is OEMing from others, in addition to Dahua. But not 100% sure which.

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Jan 31, 2017

If it was my house for Hikvision I would pick a combination of the following: 

Fixed Dome with WDR - DS-2CD2122 (2mp) or DS-2CD2142 (4mp)
Fixed Dome - DS-2CD2112 (1.3mp) or DS-2CD2132 (3.0mp) 
Varifocal Dome with WDR - DS-2CD2722 (2mp) or DS-2CD2742 (4mp) 

NVR - Hikvision DS-7604, DS-7608 or DS-7616 that comes with a built in POE switch.

This should keep you in the $100 to $300 per camera and sub $1000 for the NVR. 

The only things you are not getting from your preferred list would be great low light images, the cameras listed are going to use IRs at night. 

Hope this helps. 

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NT
Nick Tinsley
Jan 31, 2017

Thank you, I am assuming excellent low light capability would come from the pro series Darkfighter

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Feb 01, 2017

I don't have much personal experience with the Hikvision Darkfighter cameras. Maybe someone who has used them can provide you with some feedback. 

Usually, when a customer is looking for good low light cameras and has the budget we will recommend an Axis P3364LV(E). Roughly you would be looking at $700 to $900 a camera with this option. 

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Jon Dillabaugh
Feb 06, 2017
Pro Focus LLC

Yes the Darkfighter technology is currently only available in the Smart series. I have tried out their multi-imager with Darkfighter and it surely lives up to expectations.

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Mark Jones
Feb 06, 2017

Shop for Bolide Technology products as well.  Very competitive, ideal for a DIY with a minimum of experience and the QR sticker is ideal for P2P simplicity.  You will find it well documented and plenty of help from the factory.  They are a Chinese company, but in that price range all of them will be.  If geo-political concerns are important to you, Korean made products are 5-10% more.  Good luck.  

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JH
John Honovich
Feb 06, 2017
IPVM

They are a Chinese company

But that's not how they market themselves:

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #3
Feb 06, 2017

My first thought was Hikvision as well but to make finer image adjustments like WDR, don't you have to log into the camera's web GUI? Nick (OP) had said he rather be able to access those settings straight from the NVR. Thought, at least the Hikvision NVR will allow you to access the camera's web GUI through the NVR's LAN IP address.

NT
Nick Tinsley
Feb 06, 2017

That is very helpful that the Hik nvr will allow you to access the private ip from the cameras from the LAN ip, that would save a step and I would not have to connect my laptop directly to the IP scheme of the NVR's. POE Ports

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