Camera Recommendations

I've been reading this forum for days trying to find the right cameras. I will be using Blueiris and POE. All cameras should be able to identify the people inside the area colored in the pictures below, even at night. The cameras below are what I think would work but I am open to suggestions for anything better, even if its a different brand. Budget is 150-300 per camera.

X1: Will be facing a driveway that is 70FT long and 8FT wide.
Camera: HFW5241E-Z12E or B5442E-Z4E
Comments: There are no lights in the driveway area.

X2: Will be facing a yard that is 48FT by 15FT
Camera: B5442E-ZE or T5442T-ZE Vari-focal.
Comments: I will probably install lights in the yard but not sure if it will be motion activated or always on.

X3 + X4 will be pointing to each other.
Camera: T5442TM-AS
Comments: I'm unsure about the sensor size but I was thinking of using T5442T-ZE Vari-focal to find the right size. This is to capture foot traffic in front of the house.

X5: Will be mounted above the front door to see who is ringing the bell or dropping off packages.
Camera: Unsure
Comments: The camera will be under the balcony so it will be covered from rain but still needs to be weatherproof. There is a street light was installed in front of X5 (not in the picture) so that will help with lighting at night.

Optional Mounts: Do I need them? I was thinking of running the CAT6 under the siding of the house so they cant be clipped and it will look a lot nicer than putting metal conduit. I read that 7-8FT is the ideal height for the cameras but wont this make them easy to steal or spray paint?

Where to buy: If you make any camera suggestions, please include the best place to purchase them and will ship to the US.

Front:


Back:

Sounds like you have given this some thought and not trying to get by with the 2.8mm see the whole neighborhood, yet not be able to Identify.

Start with one varifocal and move it around to the different spots to ensure it will cover the areas you want to protect.

Many here do not use mounts. If you can tuck it in the wall, behind siding, in a soffit, that is fine, just make sure the connection is waterproofed. Even if it doesn't get direct water, it will experience condensation and vapor from temperature changes. Use dielectric grease to help keep that from happening.

Most people are oblivious to the cameras. Except for really bad areas, and that one member installing in a shady part of town inside apartments that were destroyed in hours (that they knew would happen anyway), most people do not see these and are oblivious to them.

My neighbor is a corner lot so his side fence is literally within 3 feet of the public sidewalk. He has cameras up and down the post at 2 to 4 feet in height and they have never been touched.

And if they are touched at that height, you probably are getting a good ID pic of the person.

As far as where to purchase, many of us purchase from Andy on this forum @EMPIRETECANDY. You can purchase direct from him or his Amazon store:

Amazon.com

Another vote for Andy at Empire Tech, he is well known and respected on the board and you can save a few bucks too.

Personally, I would mount a little higher than the 7 - 8 foot mentioned. As an alternative mount one or two lower for face work and the others higher for overview. Keep in mind every camera does not have to solve every issue (like face I.D.).

It looks like you are off to a good start with your plan.

Any recommendations for location X5? Probably a T5442TM-AS but maybe there is something better for this location.

Many of us use the dual lens camera (AKA booby cam LOL) as you can point one at the entry way and another down to see packages.



Another popular choice is the min-wedge:

You said that there's a street light in front of that entry way. Keep in mind that at night if the camera is looking out toward the street it will be looking into the light so anyone approaching will be heavily shadowed by that. You can mitigate that by tilting the camera down so it doesn't "see" the light or get as much light, but it still may effect how well identification can be made.

X5 use the mini wedge is good IPC-E3541F-AS-M

I was about to order the B5442E-Z4E but I saw this review on Amazon. Is this true @EMPIRETECANDY ?

The solution is quite simple and shows the ignorance of that reviewer. Simply deny any and all access to the internet by all security cameras, no matter who the manufacturer is. That is basic Security 101. It can be done at the router by IP and/or MAC address, or better still by segregating the cameras on a VLAN or using a second NIC card in the Blue Iris machine with a totally different network scheme and no defaults for DNS or gateway. Again, basic Security 101.

All my cameras are on a separate isolated network that does not have access to the internet. Simple camera security. Assume all cameras and IOT devices can be hacked.

The simplest way to do this is to have Two NIC interfaces in the BI computer. One to the router and internet, the other to a POE switch and the cameras.

Drblink said:

I was about to order the B5442E-Z4E but I saw this review on Amazon. Is this true @EMPIRETECANDY ?

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how can a stupid person like this be a "top contributor" ... maybe related to biden or biden himself ?!

1. he is too stupid to set it up, so how did he setup "500" (reolink, foscam,arlo) cameras ? right.... they are made for the stupid. DHCP by default, just plug it into your router
how should one camera talk to "offshore" interwebz without DHCP from router ? i dont know !!
2. app ?? which app can activate/config real dahua cameras?
3. if you dont want to use config tool, you can just plug it into your computer lan interface, power it by 12v, go to same network range with your computer (dahua standard) and go to webinterface with internet explorer. it will ask you what password, if you want cloud, if you want reset password via email .. etc... no internet needed...


this guy must show me one camera which does not speak to the manager .. i mean china !
only cameras out there which are "known" good for only talk to NSA / 5 eyes are axis cameras. they already have it in their name "axis" (powers) .. but they are spicy.. i mean pricy !

so if you want to share your daughter with cuomo, go axis !

btw.. who owns 200 cameras ??? cuomo himself maybe ??

and i know who the guys are who clicked helpful ! HOOK UP and REOLINK !



so guys... go to Amazon.com : Loryta Ultra Smart 4MP Starlight+ Low Light Bullet IP Camera WDR IR 8mm–32mm Motorized Lens, Smart H.265+/ Smart H.264+,POE and ePOE Support, IP67,IK10 Protection IPC-B5442E-Z4E : Electronics

click "report abuse"

Drblink said:

I was about to order the B5442E-Z4E but I saw this review on Amazon. Is this true @EMPIRETECANDY ?

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Hi @Drblink

Check if we have a review on that particular model here. The original reviewer may have more info ..

1) Lots of IoT / internet products send info to China .. many are very popular ( Zoom, TikTok, .. , as well as cameras )
2) You can disable the internet connectivity and get typically get this camera up. That is what I do. None of my IP PoE cameras are connected to the internet. Makes my life easier. I add a couple of Wyze cameras to the front door area for remote / cloud access. ( works for my life style right now - may not work for all .. )
3) We should be able to figure out how to get that particular camera to work .. can't say 100% what the reviewer is stating is true - so we do want to confirm and check it. ( hopefully @EMPIRETECANDY does a "how to" reply on Amazon .. )

update: see reply by @user8963 below, thanks user8963 ... amazon disabled all these functions.. they were sick that real customers reply to all fake reviews with true information.. they lose money ... so they decided to disable it and let all fake/stupid comments go yolo

FYI - some related threads..

mat200 said:

"how to" reply on Amazon .. )

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amazon disabled all these functions.. they were sick that real customers reply to all fake reviews with true information.. they lose money ... so they decided to disable it and let all fake/stupid comments go yolo

+++++1 on all of the above.

I have this particular camera and is has never had access to the internet and works just fine.

In fact, every camera I have now (after learning and advancing up from store bought kits LOL), I set it up completely on an old laptop that is not even connected to the internet, so there was no possible way the camera was phoning home and they set up just fine. And I didn't need an app to do so either.

Since this computer is too old for anything, still runs Win7, and has explorer on it, I simply made the NIC the address of 192.168.1.100 and then every Dahua OEM camera I get I just plug it in and type in 192.168.1.108 in Explorer and set up the camera, change it to the IP address I want it to be out. Unplug camera and hook it into my system and done.

Another reviewer "expert" that has no idea what they are talking about.

As others have said, if you plug a camera, regardless of who makes it, into a device that allows the camera to touch the internet, then it will phone home unless you take other measures to ensure it doesn't.

Drblink said:

I was about to order the B5442E-Z4E but I saw this review on Amazon. Is this true @EMPIRETECANDY ?

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Today i watch the review for the IPC-B5442E-Z4E, this professional guy's 1 star review make me a little shocked. Normally i will not watch too much on the reviews. But will watch the 1 star review sometimes. Let me analysis it.

1. The first issue he asked about sending data to an unknow website, he even haven't activate his camera how can know send the camera's ID and PW to a overseas website? The cameras has a AutoCheck for the firmware update, it will visits the dahua server, normally just not select Firmware Autochecking can stop the visit.

2. As a man who has 500cams even can't make activate the camera and change the IP, the 500cams he used is Photography cam?
He said the password have to share his email address then can get one, this is really crazy.

This kind of professional guy has a lot on the youtube or amazon. I think most newbie here can do activate the camera without any problem.
We will not change any amazon's review, people will have their own judgement.

After researching on here for sometime i took the plunge and ordered a starter system from Andy consisting of a dahua 5216 nvr and 4 cams (5442ze). During his recent promotional offer i ordered another 4 cameras (that I've yet to install).

The system was divided up into a number of parcels and all arrived within a week. They were all well packaged and delivered by Fedex. Andy kept me updated with tracking numbers and i could see where they were at all stages.

Andy provides a quality service and i have no hesitation in recommending him to those considering taking the plunge or updating.

I know where I'll be spending my hard earned in future.

Griswald

I add some guide on the amazon link for download for configtool guide.