What to do, change camera or install a new one.

I have two cameras that I purchased a while ago a Hikvision DS-2CD2142FWD-I with a 4mm lens and one with a 2.8mm lens. At the side of the house, being the end of a terrace I installed one of the cameras in an alley that covers the length of the house. The house is very long and the alley is very thin, houses back it from the other side.

The camera was installed at the end of the house to cover the alley, it works find in the day time but doesn't reach the end as well as I thought it would. The second issue I have encountered is that the dome camera when rain drops over the cover blurs the vision. The day view of the camera is fine and has a good view but the night view is not very good.

What is the best way to improve it? Keep the camera and install the other one towards the end of the alley to cover the entrance? Place a rain cover over the camera to stop the rain drops hitting it?

My second issue is that I need to reach the entrance of the alley as some issues have occurred recently and need a clearer image of the entrance area as well as further down. So I could install the other camera towards the end somewhere.

I attached some images from the camera that is currently installed to give perspective and also show what happens to it when it rains.

Try rotating the camera into portrait view, might help slightly but you really do need a cam towards the other end as with the current you won’t be able to make anything even in daylight.

spacey3 said:

I have two cameras that I purchased a while ago ..My second issue is that I need to reach the entrance of the alley as some issues have occurred recently and need a clearer image of the entrance area as well as further down. So I could install the other camera towards the end somewhere.
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Welcome @spacey3

Remember to check out the cliff notes and the reviews of various cameras that others have been posting.

I would consider adding cameras to your setup instead of just replacing with better cameras.

Thanks for the replies, I will try and rotate it, probably get the rain cover for it also as they are relatively inexpensive.

With regards to adding a second camera further down the alley, I have no issue with this, but I have read in numerous places that a bullet camera is far better at coping with the rain and for use at night than the dome.

I should have added that I am using a Synology station with the inbuilt Surveillance Station software to record.

What camera would be best suited? I have looked and there are so many out there, the compatibility list on Synology's site is endless and as your link states most of them are either very expensive or difficult to differentiate as to which does anything better than another.

spacey3 said:

Thanks for the replies, I will try and rotate it, probably get the rain cover for it also as they are relatively inexpensive.

With regards to adding a second camera further down the alley, I have no issue with this, but I have read in numerous places that a bullet camera is far better at coping with the rain and for use at night than the dome.

I should have added that I am using a Synology station with the inbuilt Surveillance Station software to record.

What camera would be best suited? I have looked and there are so many out there, the compatibility list on Synology's site is endless and as your link states most of them are either very expensive or difficult to differentiate as to which does anything better than another.

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Hi @spacey3

I would consider a turret form / style. Also I know the Dahua line up better - if you're interested in that OEM look at the various starlight models. ( 2MP turret )

Does it work with Synology?

Surveillance Station IP Camera Support List | Synology Inc.

Considering the total number of cameras that came back, I would assume so.

could put a metal shade over it to stop rain from covering the dome, as for the poor nightvision (i presume you mean the ally being dark) you could install a second IR illumination

Buy new cameras and ship your old ones to alastairstevenson . Problem solved

IAmATeaf said:

Try rotating the camera into portrait view, might help slightly but you really do need a cam towards the other end as with the current you won’t be able to make anything even in daylight.

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I finally got round to it and managed to rotate it - also stuck a shade over it.

It has resolved the rain issue - however I have another issue with it now that the night vision seems to reflect. There was no guidance on installing the shade and how low or high it should be. Can anyone advise what height above the camera they should be?

Is this night situation caused by reflections of the IR lamps from the shade?

spacey3 said:

I finally got round to it and managed to rotate it - also stuck a shade over it.

It has resolved the rain issue - however I have another issue with it now that the night vision seems to reflect. There was no guidance on installing the shade and how low or high it should be. Can anyone advise what height above the camera they should be?

Is this night situation caused by reflections of the IR lamps from the shade?

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It almost looks like deposits on the dome? Have you checked the dome to make sure it is clean of mineral and dirt on it?
Is the plastic crazed or cracked? Maybe some scratches or yellowing?
I don't like using domes outside because of problems with IR and UV degrading the dome.
You can turn off the IR and use a separate IR to light up the area, to see if that is it.
If you have the funds, I would put in 2 turret cameras, one at each end. With them pointed down, you can keep the cameras
from looking directly into each other.

The plastic on the camera housing? Or the cover? There is no sign of yellowing I can see on either, I will take an image of the setup just incase it is wrong. I have turned off the IR lights to test as you mentioned and see that no reflection occurs.

The alley isn't a through way, it only allows access so I thought only to place a camera at the end of our house (end of terrace) and then one at the other end pointing more towards the road entrance of the alley rather than backwards as were the current camera is there is only another 2 meters of path.

I will take the camera apart and make sure I clean it, I also have another dome one that I have never used, I could take the cover of that one and swap them to see if it is what you suggest.

Other than your final suggestion of a bullet style - I have been looking and thought this one was of interest. Not sure if it works with Synology as I haven't looked yet.

Hikvision DS-2CD2655FWD-IZS

I would swap the clear cover, and see if you can turn your IR back on.
If it still has problems, look the foam around the lens and make sure it
makes contact all the way around the lens, to keep the Ir from getting into
the lens that way also.
I am not familiar with that camera, so can't help there.
I can vouch for this Amcrest camera

And the Dahua IPC-HDW5442TM-AS 4Mp starlight is the best night time camera I have found.
I have a 10 watt led fixture to light up my door, and it is plenty of light to run full color all night.
On the shop the IR lights up the whole area enough I can watch the cats roam at night.
You can order from @EmpireTech Andy

Absolutely nothing wrong with bullet cameras nowadays. Some complain because they used to be built with a ring of LED's that would attract spider webs, Now they are no different than turrets. Frankly in that spot i would recommend a bullet form factor