I thought there would be a sticky about this or an FAQ, but I didn't spot one.
I'm not impressed by the Hikvision reliability and support, but don't know if it is considered fine/reliable to mix camera brands with a Hikvision NVR?
Hi
@rcheli32
Question: "IP Cameras - is mixing brands OK or to be avoided?"
The answer is nuanced.
For example in the USA one Brand / Company LaView sold cameras from Hikvision ( OEM ) and Dahua ( OEM ) and another OEM under their brand.
Mixing and matching the same brand with the LaView NVR you got could cause compatibility issues as the cameras could be from different OEMs.
Yes, ONVIF in theory is supposed to resolve this.. but in practice it is not fully compatible with the latest technology. Each OEM has their own APIs or licenses an API from another source.
Ideally you want to ID the OEM and match the appropriate features of a particular camera with the appropriate NVR / VMS.
Easiest is naturally to get all from the same vendor as a single purchase with the understanding they need to interoperate.