Buying Hikvision off of Amazon?

loglobal · Nov 2, 2016

To slowly work my way into building a Blue Iris system that will ultimately have more than a dozen cameras, I would like to get started by purchasing a small number of cams. Is there anything wrong with purchasing Hikvision off of Amazon? The following camera, DS-2CD2042WD-I, appeals to me, both in specs and in price:

https://www.amazon.com/Hikvision-DS-2CD2042WD-I-Network-English-Security/dp/B01DIKF4XG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1478094402&sr=8-2&keywords=hikvision+ip

Q™ · Nov 2, 2016

Any Hikvision camera purchased on eBay would be a Chinese market camera. Not necessarily a bad thing, unless you decide to upgrade the firmware in which case you will most likely brick it rendering it useless. So if you buy a camera on Amazon, do not upgrade the firmware.

loglobal · Nov 2, 2016

Q2U said:
Any Hikvision camera purchased on eBay would be a Chinese market camera. Not necessarily a bad thing, unless you decide to upgrade the firmware in which case you will most likely brick it rendering it useless. So if you buy a camera on Amazon, do not upgrade the firmware.

Ah, okay! So it's not that there's a problem as-is, but rather that the firmware cannot be updated? Here's a seller on eBay that is offering 3MP units for only $75:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Shipping-Hikvision-DS-2CD2035-I-3MP-HD-POE-IR-Bullet-Network-IP-Mini-Camera-/131925332694?hash=item1eb75cd2d6:g:OswAAOSwi0RXxV0u

Thoughts? To be honest, at this point I am just looking to get something up and running.

Alternatively, NetView on Amazon sells the cameras mentioned in my first post for roughly the same price, but they note the following:

Original US English Red-White Color Retail Package - Not Converted from Chinese Version. Unlimited Firmware Upgrade with full English Menu. 2 Year Warranty

Does this pose any advantage over buying the one on eBay I noted above?

Q™ · Nov 2, 2016

Get prices from @milkisbad a member here who, through LTS, sells rebranded legit Hikvision Western Region cameras which can be firmware flashed if needed. As I understand it...his prices are competitive.

loglobal · Nov 3, 2016

Q2U said:
Get prices from @milkisbad a member here who, through LTS, sells rebranded legit Hikvision Western Region cameras which can be firmware flashed if needed. As I understand it...his prices are competitive.

Oh wow, thank you so much! The only problem now is that I am faced with even more choices, as there are literally dozens of cameras to choose from. Are you familiar with them, and if so, could you help recommend one? I am not even sure which models match up to the Hikvision cameras. I am tempted to get the budget cameras, though. Really, I do not need anything specialized. Obviously, cameras to be placed outdoors will require that they can be placed outdoors, and the only other thing I can think of is that I must be able to reduce the frame rate and resolution if need be.

kozmo2k · Nov 3, 2016

loglobal said:
Alternatively, NetView on Amazon sells the cameras mentioned in my first post for roughly the same price, but they note the following:

Original US English Red-White Color Retail Package - Not Converted from Chinese Version. Unlimited Firmware Upgrade with full English Menu. 2 Year Warranty

Does this pose any advantage over buying the one on eBay I noted above?

I have bought 4 cameras from that seller, NetView, on Amazon. They are all "WR" region, in full colored boxed, and fully upgradeable.
Just to make sure, ask the seller to verify the serial number region code, and about the box...
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Amazon, nor that seller.

Sent from space

loglobal · Nov 3, 2016

kozmo2k said:
I have bought 4 cameras from that seller, NetView, on Amazon. They are all "WR" region, in full colored boxed, and fully upgradeable.
Just to make sure, ask the seller to verify the serial number region code, and about the box...
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Amazon, nor that seller.

Sent from space

Excellent! Do they typically have problems with things remaining in stock? The only camera I'm looking at...there is only one available in stock...and that's after days of noting "item will be in stock on x date."

kozmo2k · Nov 3, 2016

loglobal said:
Excellent! Do they typically have problems with things remaining in stock? The only camera I'm looking at...there is only one available in stock...and that's after days of noting "item will be in stock on x date."

It has been a while, but I did not have any problems getting the merchandise, as it was "Fullfilled by Amazon". You should contact the seller directly with any questions.
A quick search on Amazon, there seems to be more sellers nowadays, with the WR (World Region, upgradeable) cameras. Just saw "SecuPlus" and "Am Cam Store" sellers, with the same cameras.
So the options are there, you just should do your research to each seller before buying.
Good luck

Omaha · Nov 3, 2016

I purchased several 2CD 2432WD-I cameras from NetView a couple of weeks ago. They arrived within a few days in original packaging. Very pleased. I've purchased on Aliexpress as well, but I had more confidence when purchasing from Amazon. I had to return a camera purchased from Aliexpress and it took several back and forth emails in broken English over a period of 2 weeks before the replacement was granted. That seller is no longer in business. YMMV.

logbuilder · Nov 3, 2016

I've bought 9 cams from Amazon. All were fulfilled by Amazon which means you return it to them with no hassle. 3 were refurbed Foscams. 2 didn't work and were easily returned. One I kept. One was a new Foscam and 5 were Hikvision with english firmware. Again, all fulfilled by Amazon so easy returns. I would not buy refurbed cams again nor would I buy a Foscam again. I like the Hikvisions just fine.

loglobal · Nov 4, 2016

Thanks so much for the input, everyone! I just purchased four Hikvision cams from NetView via Amazon: two similar turret models with different lenses (2.8mm and 4mm), and two identical bullet cams. This will give me a starting point, at least, to find out what works, what doesn't, and what I would like moving forward, as I will be buying at least a dozen more cams.

Now for the last piece of the puzzle...the switch...

cam235 · Nov 4, 2016

Good luck on your camera project. If you're talking about the Ethernet PoE switch, others can recommend. Since I already had a (non-PoE) switch in the right place, so I found it easier to add a "passive POE injector" + 48V supply, such as https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015S6ZWXK

My experience is the wide-angle cameras can tell you "what happened" but usually not "who dunnit" unless they're right up close. For best chance of an ID in most situations, you want a longer lens.

You can buy 8, 12, 16 and 25mm replacement lenses in the M12 size that you can install yourself, although these physically longer items often won't fit inside the existing enclosure. The professional way is a box camera with interchangeable CS-mount lens of whatever focal length works best. I guess Hikvision also has 2.8-12mm varifocal lenses on some of their bullet cams.

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Buying Hikvision off of Amazon?

loglobal

Young grasshopper

Q™

loglobal

Young grasshopper

Q™

loglobal

Young grasshopper

kozmo2k

Pulling my weight

loglobal

Young grasshopper

kozmo2k

Pulling my weight

Omaha

n3wb

logbuilder

Getting the hang of it

loglobal

Young grasshopper

cam235

Pulling my weight