Am I in the right place

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This seemed like the best forum to start, if it is not i apologise.

I need a single outdoor camera recommendation with great (best) night time capabilities. I don't necessarily need to have the ability to identify a person by facial recognition i simply need the ability to monitor whether a body is moving around in the parking lot. In this respect I think IR would be just fine, its very dark at night without a street light. Based on lack of light I may need an IR illuminator although I can't find much info on that just yet. Until the city fixes the light poles in the area it is pretty dark here, can barely see anything in a specific area of the lot, only 1 or 2 vehicle bumpers, barely.

A second outdoor camera will probably be installed, but does not need extreme low light or IR capabilities. If it has that option, great. Each camera will be mounted just outside a second floor window (brick), one in the living room facing the lot, the other in the bedroom facing the only entrance to the lot/complex.

More important than having continuous recording is the ability to watch live footage on my television (or monitor) but obviously I would like the ability to record the footage. I have no preference on wired vs wireless, but leaning toward wired system. I don't need wifi. or PTZ.

I also don't have a way to record the footage, a recommendation would be great.

I know what I want to achieve, but don't know what product would be right for me. I am leaning toward Hikvision as it appears I can get it quicker where I am located.

I've never installed video equipment and don't know where to begin in products that may work for what my needs are.
 
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tangent

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Make sure to report the street light outage assuming it's actually maintained by the city or your electric utility.

More often than not, this lighting at an apartment or townhome complex is maintained by the hoa.
Do you have the ability to install cameras outside?
 
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@looney2ns: I don't need audio but its nice to have. No preference. I don't plan on using the IR through glass.

@tangent: I plan on installing the camera right outside my window.
 
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@looney2ns those videos are great.
on the Dahua HDW2231RP "no light" video, do you happen to have a photo or video of the actual ambient light using a non IR camera? I'm trying to gauge how dark the ambient lighting is and how it would appear to the naked eye, vs the lighting captured on the video.

But im leaning toward that camera, i previously watched those videos prior to joining the forum, those videos help a lot
 
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