Opinions on Ubiquiti (Unifi) Cameras?

[nbstl68]

Hi,
Does anyone have any personal experience with or opinion on the cameras from the Ubiquity line? ( I'm just now seeing these..so guessing not so popular at least not on this forum maybe?)

I know they make good wireless connection products for long range but was not aware they had a camera line.

I like the look and what appears to be a small form factor for ceiling\wall use, especially if I put them inside, I'd prefer a cleaner smaller profile like this...but looking for any info on hardware, firmware, video, build quality first.
I have read all the specs but pref if someone has some real world use opinions.


Specifically:


Unifi ceiling mount dome. (Model: UVC‑Dome)
https://www.ubnt.com/unifi-video/unifi-video-camera-dome/


Data Sheet: https://dl.ubnt.com/datasheets/unifi/UniFI_Video_DS.pdf


or


UniFi G3 dome. (Model: UVC‑G3‑DOME)
https://www.ubnt.com/unifi-video/unifi-video-camera-g3-dome/


Data sheet: https://dl.ubnt.com/datasheets/unifi/UniFi_Video_G3_DS.pdf




I assume these would work ok with BI like most other cams?

 

[Del Boy]

It appears to be the same sensor as the Hikvision and Dahua 4MP cameras so I expect the image quality would be very similar.

They are ONVIF so will work with BI.

Can't help with hands-on experience as have never seen one before.

 

[nayr]

Avoid at all costs, they are horribly pripotary, and expensive for what they are.. I am a big fan of Ubiquiti and especially Unifi, but I'd never pay for one of there cameras.. 720p? please, nobody should be buying anything less than 1080p now days.

 

[Del Boy]

Avoid at all costs, they are horribly pripotary, and expensive for what they are.. I am a big fan of Ubiquiti and especially Unifi, but I'd never pay for one of there cameras.. 720p? please, nobody should be buying anything less than 1080p now days.

Agree with the 720p thing except that the 2nd camera spec sheet is 4MP. I made that mistake checking at first.

 

[nayr]

it dont matter if it has a 4MP sensor in it, the spec sheet also says the max resolution is 1080p.. so you get all the shitty low light performance of 4MP and the poor resolution of 2MP, instead of using a 2MP sensor that has better low light capabilities.

I also dont see any claims to ONVIF compatibility, where did you see that?

 

[nbstl68]

4MP sensor but only allowed 1080 res?..that's odd.

 

[Redemption]

I seen lots of complaints on the 720's. But have seen no complaints from the people owning the new G3's, however while I do not know much about specs. I do know this about unifi, go to their forum and share a problem with a camera and they address it. I do not work for them by the way. I have never owned any of their cameras and came here to get opinion's as well. Be nice to hear from an expert that has actually used one of the G3's. Maybe some expert from here can contact them and get a demo for review?

Maybe the camera's are too new to judge how good or bad they are? Never the less, it is good to see people comparing specs.

 

[nayr]

last time I looked into Unifi cameras, they only worked with UniFi NVR's and other cameras did not work with there NVR.. basically vendor lock in to a very limited choice of devices, mostly designed for indoor and office use..

since they ignore all industry standards and went there own way, I cant really see any point in using UniFi cameras unless you've already invested very heavily in the entire UniFi product line (Software Defined Networking, Wifi, VoIP, IPCameras) and just want to keep everything on the same system.

The'd give me units for free to test out if I simply asked em, they have before.. but about 10mins of research into UniFi cameras was more than enough to make me walk away and never look back.

 

[Redemption]

last time I looked into Unifi cameras, they only worked with UniFi NVR's and other cameras did not work with there NVR.. basically vendor lock in to a very limited choice of devices, mostly designed for indoor and office use..

since they ignore all industry standards and went there own way, I cant really see any point in using UniFi cameras unless you've already invested very heavily in the entire UniFi product line (Software Defined Networking, Wifi, VoIP, IPCameras) and just want to keep everything on the same system.

The'd give me units for free to test out if I simply asked em, they have before.. but about 10mins of research into UniFi cameras was more than enough to make me walk away and never look back.

I just looked into their forum and saw that someone recently put in a request to have [FONT=Open Sans, sans-serif]ONVIF implemented. So they must still not have it. I was under the impression that the cameras where RTSP compliant but they may not be either. Now that I have been learning about IP cameras, I must admit that for that reason alone I could not purchase the Unifi cameras. I do own their switch and their router, but neither is the Unifi version. The only thing Unifi in my case is the access points. But that is not enough to compel me to purchase the cameras, if I am going to be locked to their NVR or strictly their proprietary software.I hate proprietary stuff, that is why do not own any apple products [/FONT]

 

[Redemption]

Editing my post, RTSP seems to be available from the cameras.

NAYR,


Thank you for helping me make up my mind. Unifi cameras are not for me. Now back to the drawing board, searching for a perfect ip camera lol

 

[alastairstevenson]

They do seem to deviate from what we get used to as de-facto standards.
https://forum.qnap.com/viewtopic.php?f=187&t=124697

 

[Owen]

(Bringing up 6mo old stuff) RTSP is available (G3-Dome) but has to be turned on in the camera configuration on a per feed basis. i.e. 1080p feed, 720p feed, 360p feed. I'll probably end up adding this one to my Blue Iris since the Ubnt NVR can't add other IP cameras.

 

[nbstl68]

@Owen Did you end up installing a G3-Dome?
If so, let us know your thoughts.

 

[UBNT-TomS]

To clarify, these are 1080p and they will stream RTSP if you want. The 720p cameras were discontinued long ago. Our camera line will continue to grow in the near future.

I was an IPCamTalk visitor long before I joined Ubiquiti. Much of what I've learned on these forums will continue to feed back in to our roadmap and development processes. I still buy all of the flavor-of-the-month cameras that nayr and others review here so I can stay on top of the latest and greatest.

We're positioning our camera product line with an eye toward the future. It's fun to play with the latest cheap camera models found on Aliexpress, but eventually the security vulnerabilities, firmware language quirks, questionable browser plug-ins, and lack of support take a toll on all but the most adventurous camera users. Our goal is to provide a secure, supported, warrantied, plug-and-play solution that meets most users' needs.

I'll check in on this thread from time to time to answer any questions.

 

[mr jones]

I'm looking at the UniFi® Video Camera G3. It's currently just over 135 USD on Amazon. Anyone have any experience with this camera?

 

[Ford]

Run, run away from ubnt's cams and nvr's. I gave the system 18 months to prove itself in the lab, and the constant crashes, missing features that were coming "real soon now" and dubious roadmap made me give up and move on.

I gave up on them long before they boughed to the pressure to add RTSP to their cams but I doubt things have substantially changed.

I still feel guilty when I think about how I sold the lab system on eBay, I should have just thrown the gear away instead of paying my misery forward...

Blue Iris makes it look easy. ubnt makes it look impossible.

 

[UBNT-TomS]

I'm all for honest feedback, but that's a bit hyperbolic given the multiple positive reviews above. We did indeed have some growing pains early on, but the changes you mentioned happening after you gave up on the system were made long before I joined Ubiquiti.

I'm happy to help anyone who might have issues, and I value the feedback too.

 

[boma23]

I have a high end home owner I was just recommending UNiFi to as a wireless "mesh" solution (I understand it's technically not a true mesh), and was suggesting the cams as well, subject to some research. This and other threads of proprietoriness have put me off, or at least left me needing some questions answered:

This customer has an existing Blue Iris & Foscam installation, but several cams have died. He has just purchased a Synology NAS (decent spec 2 bay model) for all purpose use including CCTV, and we were looking to move to a Ubiquiti UNiFi solution for the WiFi and their cameras also, by moving the either Blue Iris solution onto the NAS, or using the Synology NVR solution, which I like. UNiFi isn't an issue, as can be managed by the cloud, but the cams are, so may stop us buying Ubiquiti cams and switches. In turn this means there's not point in using Ubuiquit UNiFi and just using Ruckus Unleashed instead as otherwise we have to invest in an entirely new

1. Can the Ubiquiti Cams be controlled by the Synology NAS NVR? (which I had already recommend based on it being ONVIF compliant for every other decent current cam out there). This post suggests not:
Unifi UVC-G3 and synology surveillance Station - Ubiquiti Networks Community
Why no "ONVIF" .org ? - Ubiquiti Networks Community
I'm not clear if the above threads mean i am tied to only using Ubuity's NVR software on the Synology NAS, or that there isnt any NVR solution that will work with them? Unless the Ubiquiti NVR solution supports his existing Foscam Cameras (or Axis, or any other), then the non compatibility menas we either have to junk his remaining working Foscams, and buy all new Ubiquit cams, also forsaking the ability to buy any other brand of ONVIF cam in the future? Insane!

2. Can the Ubiquit cams be controlled by his existing Blue Iris NVR software. Then we can at least try a couple and see how we go? Cams he was considering are these UVC G3:
Amazon.com : Ubiquiti UVC-G3 UniFi Video Camera : Camera & Photo

Thanks for any help/clarification - UBNT-TomS your opinion in particualr would be good to hear.

Dom

 

[UBNT-TomS]

The Ubiquiti cameras don't support ONVIF, but we do have RTSP streaming. Many of our users use RTSP streaming from G3 cameras with 3rd-party software, including Blue Iris. The key is to switch the camera to "Standalone" mode instead of "UniFi Video" mode.

The Synology station also supports RTSP cameras. In fact, our last-generation cameras are in their supported list already and the current cameras should be no different. I sent Synology a message to see if we can get the new cameras on their supported list as well.

 

[boma23]

Thank you Tom, that is really useful info. So assuming we don't need any PTZ or Zoom controls, I can assume adding last generation Ubiquit cams will be no hassle to add streams from. I'm thinking we only need provide IP and viewing credentials for the cams to be entered into the NVR and away we go. (Am i missing any nasty suprise e.g. the Ubuiti cams cannot be setup manually in standalone mode?) .

I'm assuming that motion detection, dead areas or anything like that will also have to be done by the NVR itself, or directly on cam (no control of the cam from the NVR).

So the simplest setup for compatability would be to leave all Ubiquiti cams recording and streaming permanently, and set event monitoring and alarms from the NVR. Which sounds like the bulk of most small CCTV system setup TBH...

It also would be great to hear from anyone directly that has actually setup a recent ubiquit cam on a Synology backend, using either Blue Iris or Synology Surveillance Station 8.