Hello all. Glad to have found this site. I'm a complete novice when it comes to security cameras. So I'm just looking forward to learning from you all. Hope everyone is staying healthy and happy!
Looking forward to learn from the experts
- Thread starter teaser7
- Start date
I have found lots of helpful people on this site willing to share their expertise.
Start here:
IP Cam Talk Cliff Notes
Information in this section was contributed by [URL='https://ipcamtalk.com/members/mat200.29441/'][COLOR=#0000b3]@matt200[/COLOR][/URL] and [URL='https://ipcamtalk.com/members/giomania.36271/'][COLOR=#0000b3]@giomania [/COLOR][/URL] [/LIST] Any dedicated manufacturer NVR should match...
SouthernYankee
IPCT Contributor
================================
My standard welcome to the forum message.
Read Study Plan before spending money
Cameras are for surveillance to get information for after the fact.
Please read the IP Cam Talk Cliff Notes and other items in the IP Cam Talk Wiki. (read on a real computer, not a phone). The wiki is in the blue bar at the top of the page.
Read How to Secure Your Network (Don't Get Hacked!) in the wiki also.
Quick start
1) If you do not have a wired monitored alarm system, get that first
2) Use Dahua starlight cameras or Hikvision darkfighter cameras if you need good low light cameras.
3) Start with a good variable focus camera, so you test for the correct lens,lighting, camera placement.
4) use a VPN to access home network (openVPN)
5) Do not use WIFI cameras.
6) Do not use cloud storage
7) Do Not use uPNP, P2P, QR, do not open ports,
8) More megapixel is not necessarily better.
9) Avoid chinese hacked cameras (most ebay, amazon, aliexpress cameras(not all, but most))
10) Do not use reolink, ring, nest, Arlo, Vivint cameras (they are junk), no cloud cameras
11) If possible use a turret camera , bullet collect spiders, dome collect dirt and reflect light (IR)
12) Use only solid copper, AWG 23 or 24 ethernet wire. , no CCA (Copper Clad Aluminum)
13) use a test mount to verify the camera mount location. My test rig: rev.2
14) (Looney2ns)If you want to be able to ID faces, don't mount cams higher than 7ft. You want to know who did it, not just what happened.
15) Use a router that has openVPN built in (Most ASUS, Some NetGear....)
16) camera placement use the calculator... IPVM Camera Calculator
17) POE list PoE Switch Suggestion List
18) Camera Sensor size, bigger is general better Sensor Size Chart
19) Camera lens size the bigger number the more range the less FOV. . Which Security Camera Lens Size Should I Buy?
20) verify your camera placement, have a friend wearing a hoodie, ball cap and sunglasses looking down approach the house, can you identify them at night ?
21) DO NOT UPGRADE your NVR or camera unless you absolutely have a problem that needs to be fixed and known what you are doing, if you do you will turn it into a brick !!
Cameras to look at
IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED . Review IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED (Full Color, Starlight+) - 4MP starlight
.................... Dahua IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED review
IPC-T5442TM-AS ..... Review-OEM 4mp AI Cam IPC-T5442TM-AS Starlight+ - 4MP starlight+
IPC-HDW5442t-ZE .... Dahua IPC-HDW5442T-ZE 4MP Varifocal Turret - Night Perfomance testing -- variable focus 2.7 mm-12mm 4 MP Starlight
IPC-B5442E-ZE ...... Review - OEM IPC-B5442E-ZE 4MP AI Varifocal Bullet Camera With Starlight+ -- variable 2.7mm-12mm bullet
IPC-B5442E-Z4E .... bullet 8mm-32mm variable focus zoom 4MP
IPC-HFW7442H-Z ..... Review - Dahua IPC-HFW7442H-Z 4MP Ultra AI Varifocal Bullet Camera -- 4 MP variable focus AI
Read,study,plan before spending money ..... plan plan plan
To save money do it right the first time.
Test do not guess
sebastiantombs
Known around here
Three rules
Rule #1 - Cameras multiply like rabbits.
Rule #2 - Cameras are more addictive than drugs.
Rule #3 - You never have enough cameras.
Quick tips -
The smaller the lux number the better the low light performance. 0.002 is better than 0.02
The smaller the "F" of the lens the better the low light performance. F1.4 is better than F1.8
The larger the sensor the better the low light performance. 1/1.8" is better (bigger) than 1/2.7"
The higher the megapixels for the same size sensor the worse the low light performance. A 4MP camera with a 1/1.8" sensor will perform better than a 8MP camera with that same 1/1.8" sensor.
Remember these sizes are fractions. Do the math!
@ SouthernYankee - Very true regarding your comments about plan before spending money. I didn't realize that before buying a system that didn't fit my needs. So I had to return it.
@ sebastiantombs - haha...very true rules! I'm starting to see that now. Before joining this forum, I thought spending more than $300 on 1 camera is outrageous. After reading through some of the threads, $300 per camera doesn't sound bad as long as it fits your needs (being able to ID people/plates, etc.). I'm still a bit fuzzy on sensor size...so...will be reading up on that.
Thanks all!
@ sebastiantombs - haha...very true rules! I'm starting to see that now. Before joining this forum, I thought spending more than $300 on 1 camera is outrageous. After reading through some of the threads, $300 per camera doesn't sound bad as long as it fits your needs (being able to ID people/plates, etc.). I'm still a bit fuzzy on sensor size...so...will be reading up on that.
Thanks all!
sebastiantombs
Known around here
The short guide to sensor sizes.
2MP needs a 1/2.8" sensor for good low light performance.
4MP needs a 1/1.8" sensor for good low light performance.
8MP needs a 1/1.2" sensor for good low light performance.
An 4MP camera on a 1/2.8" sensor will need twice as much light as a 2MP with that same sensor.
An 8MP camera on a 1/2.8" sensor will need four times as much light as a 2MP with that same sensor.
An 8MP camera on a 1/1.8" sensor will need twice as much light as a 4MP on that same sensor.
Every camera, other than a true infrared camera needs light to see in "the dark". Starlight, Starlight+, ColorVue, FullColor and such are nothing more than marketing terms.
2MP needs a 1/2.8" sensor for good low light performance.
4MP needs a 1/1.8" sensor for good low light performance.
8MP needs a 1/1.2" sensor for good low light performance.
An 4MP camera on a 1/2.8" sensor will need twice as much light as a 2MP with that same sensor.
An 8MP camera on a 1/2.8" sensor will need four times as much light as a 2MP with that same sensor.
An 8MP camera on a 1/1.8" sensor will need twice as much light as a 4MP on that same sensor.
Every camera, other than a true infrared camera needs light to see in "the dark". Starlight, Starlight+, ColorVue, FullColor and such are nothing more than marketing terms.
Welcome, but be aware, this site is contagious. I look more into the post, every morning (actually every-time), more than the digital news. I learn a lot from the pro’s. Enjoy
Flintstone61
Known around here
Now that I’ve been here a year. I think I know stuff. But I still have a lot to learn.
They keep telling me to read stuff. I just click on settings and see what happens. Then I read how I was supposed to do it.
They keep telling me to read stuff. I just click on settings and see what happens. Then I read how I was supposed to do it.
Oh man. You don't know how helpful this is for me (and I'm sure for many). Thank you for putting it in simple and to-the-point terms. Stuff I've read online isn't as helpful as this.
bigredfish
Known around here
Welcome.
I learn something from the experts here practically every time I visit. It’s a good bunch
I learn something from the experts here practically every time I visit. It’s a good bunch
Plus sensor sizing can confuse a lot of people LOL.
Is a 1/2.8" sensor bigger than a 1/1.8" sensor? Most people say yes LOL. But it is a fraction, so the 1/1.8" sensor is the bigger of the two.
This applies to camera sensors too LOL:
Is a 1/2.8" sensor bigger than a 1/1.8" sensor? Most people say yes LOL. But it is a fraction, so the 1/1.8" sensor is the bigger of the two.
This applies to camera sensors too LOL:
sebastiantombs
Known around here
1/3" = .333"
1/2.8" = .357" (think a .38 caliber bullet)
1/1.8" = .555" (bigger than a .50 caliber bullet or ball)
1/1.2" = .833" (bigger than a 20mm chain gun round)
1/2.8" = .357" (think a .38 caliber bullet)
1/1.8" = .555" (bigger than a .50 caliber bullet or ball)
1/1.2" = .833" (bigger than a 20mm chain gun round)