Greetings

[Smersch]

Greetings and Salutations. A couple days ago I stumbled across this forum while looking for information on Lorex and Amcrest POE cameras (non-bias info). Some posts stated Lorex cameras were just Dahua cameras. So, that made me look further and I stumbled across Backstreet U70VD-4K. Seems there's not a lot of info on Backstreet that isn't put out by them, so I think I'll pass. Thus, I thought I would just introduce myself with a couple thoughts and ask if someone has a reliable POE camera that won't break my bank and I would be able to use Blue Iris with (although I have not purchased or run that either)? I'll peruse the forum when I get some more time.

Anyway, hope to get many ideas for years to come using this forum.

 

[TonyR]

Welcome to IPCT !

FWIW, Amcrest cams are also re-branded Dahua. The Dahua cams sold by @EMPIRETECANDY are highly rated and recommended and are available with features not available to Lorex or Amcrest or others that they re-brand.

You need to establish the camera's location (mounting) and use to make some determinations first, though. Unless you get a vari-focal lens, the len's focal length will need to be determined.

Generally, turret style are the best form factor (domes can have glare and dust issues, bullets will likely have issues with spider webs).

Don't get too worked up over megapixels...a Dahua Starlight 2MP or Hikvision Darkfighter 2MP will have better low light performance than most...so much so that they can be in color mode in lower light levels than many, if not most, higher MP cams.

Read the Cliff Notes in the Wiki up at the top...then read it again....on a PC or good tablet, not a phone.

 

[Smersch]

Thank you. And thank you for the Wiki information. I've just started looking and can see that it will be helpful.

 

[SouthernYankee]

---------------------------------
Read Study Plan before spending money.
Clearly define the purpose of the camera system.
Use the forum, the amount of information and expertise is simple amazing
---------------------------------
My standard welcome to the forum message.

Please read the cliff notes and other items in the wiki. The wiki is in the blue bar at the top of the page.

Read How to Secure Your Network (Don't Get Hacked!) | IP Cam Talk in the wiki also.

Quick start
1) Use Dahua starlight cameras or Hikvision darkfighter cameras or ICPT Night eye cameras (https://store.ipcamtalk.com/) if you need good low light cameras.
2) use a VPN to access home network (openVPN)
3) Do not use wifi cameras.
4) Do not use cloud storage
5) Do Not use uPNP, P2P, QR, do not open ports,
6) More megapixel is not necessarily better.
7) Avoid chinese hacked cameras (most ebay, amazon, aliexpress cameras(not all, but most))
8) Do not use reolink, ring, nest cameras (they are junk)
9) If possible use a turret camera , bullet collect spiders, dome collect dirt and reflect light (IR)
10) Use only solid copper, AWG 23 or 24 ethernet wire. , no CCA (Copper Clad Aluminum)
11) use a test mount to verify the camera mount location. My test rig: rev.2
12) (Looney2ns)If you want to be able to ID faces, don't mount cams higher than 8ft. You want to know who did it, not just what happened.
13) Use a router that has openVPN built in (Most ASUS, Some NetGear....)

Cameras to look at
IPC-HDW2231R-ZS Review-Dahua IPC-HDW2231RP-ZS Starlight Camera-Varifocal
IPC-HDW5231-ZE Review-Dahua Starlight IPC-HDW5231R-ZE 800 meter capable ePOE
IPC-HFW4239T-ASE IPC-HFW4239T-ASE
IPC-T5442TM-AS Review IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED (Full Color, Starlight+)
IPCT-HDW5431RE-I Review - IP Cam Talk 4 MP IR Fixed Turret Network Camera
DS-2CD2325FWD-I

My preferred indoor cameras
DS-2CD2442FWD-IW
IPC-K35A Review-Dahua IPC-K35A 3mp Cube Camera

Read,study,plan before spending money ..... plan plan plan
Test do not guess

 

[Smersch]

---------------------------------
Read Study Plan before spending money.
Clearly define the purpose of the camera system.
Use the forum, the amount of information and expertise is simple amazing

...

Read,study,plan before spending money ..... plan plan plan
Test do not guess

Thank you SouthernYankee. Your first bullets are spot on and thanks for listing some cameras to look at.