N00b, trying to understand the overwhelming product choices

[rpo83]

Hi All,

From the little bit of reading i have done, i think i'm going to settle on a Dahua IP camera. I have read some reviews in this forum, but when visiting Andy's shop, the choices and model numbers are overwhelming!

I hope some of you guys can help... Here is my situation and what i'd like to achieve..

I'm based in Melbourne Australia, i'm looking for a camera to cover the entrance to our home on the odd occasion we are away, it is a very low crime area, semi rural not much passing traffic. We have some nocturnal wildlife which would be interesting to see.

I have a Synology NAS and would like to use it with Surveillance Station for recording, we are mainly a MAC household, but i have an old WIN8 machine i can bring out of retirement if i need to.

I think i have settled on 3 options, (i think) feel free to recommend others.....

1 IPC-HDW4431EM-ASE
2 IPC-HDW4831EM-ASE
3 IPC-HDW5231R-ZE

The Zoom is not really a major factor for me, image quality and nightvision are really what i'm looking for.

I did see Dahua have a DVR, so if the synology is too flakey, then other options could be on the table, i have a ton of old HDD's laying around, and i do like the idea of a separate system for security, this would also probably make system expansion easier if i want to add more cameras in the future.

Thanks for any light you can shed on the various options.

Cheers

Steve

 

[mat200]

Hi All,

From the little bit of reading i have done, i think i'm going to settle on a Dahua IP camera. I have read some reviews in this forum, but when visiting Andy's shop, the choices and model numbers are overwhelming!

I hope some of you guys can help... Here is my situation and what i'd like to achieve..

I'm based in Melbourne Australia, i'm looking for a camera to cover the entrance to our home on the odd occasion we are away, it is a very low crime area, semi rural not much passing traffic. We have some nocturnal wildlife which would be interesting to see.

I have a Synology NAS and would like to use it with Surveillance Station for recording, we are mainly a MAC household, but i have an old WIN8 machine i can bring out of retirement if i need to.

I think i have settled on 3 options, (i think) feel free to recommend others.....

1 IPC-HDW4431EM-ASE
2 IPC-HDW4831EM-ASE
3 IPC-HDW5231R-ZE

The Zoom is not really a major factor for me, image quality and nightvision are really what i'm looking for.

I did see Dahua have a DVR, so if the synology is too flakey, then other options could be on the table, i have a ton of old HDD's laying around, and i do like the idea of a separate system for security, this would also probably make system expansion easier if i want to add more cameras in the future.

Thanks for any light you can shed on the various options.

Cheers

Steve

Welcome Steve

Remember the cliff notes as well as the reviews here by members are intended to help out.
IPCamTalk WiKi | IP Cam Talk

If low light is the most critical you will want cameras from the 2MP Dahua OEM starlight series.

I will list turret style models only here:

IPC-HDW5231R-ZE - varifocal, allows you to customize the FOV and set the "zoom"
IPC-HDW42xx - fixed lens
IPC-HDBW42xx - mini-dome wedge - great for by the door

There is also a new
IPC-HDW22xx model - see looney2ns'es review on it.

Skip the 4MP camera, and while I like the 8MP the 2MP starlight is better for low light.