Re: Smokin Deal on Hikvision DS-2cd2335-i 3MP - Mar 29th for $69.97 from a trusted ve
So is everyone buying the DS-2cd2335-i 3MP or is something like this better DS-2CD3345-I for 70.63? I am curious as this would be my first camera purchase. We are looking for 4 cameras on the corners of our house. Just never really shopped for these before and trying to figure out what is best. Our house is rather small and so is our yard. Any thoughts and help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Yeah, I prefer the 2335 over the 3345 due to its better build quality (less plastic).
For low light sensitivity, you have sensor size, sensor tech, and photosite/pixel size. Sensor size makes the biggest different - it makes the pixels/photosites larger if you keep the same number. Higher resolution (4MP vs 3MP) in the same sensor has smaller photosites so it won't perform as well in low light, but has increased detail (if the lens is sufficiently improved to resolve 30% more detail).
I currently have two Dahua 720P 1/3" 3.6mm cameras, six Hik 2032 1/3" 4mm, and one Hik 2335 1/3" 2.8mm. Purchased additionally this week two Huisun PTZ 1/2.8" 5.1-51mm cameras and four Hik 2335 1/3" 2.8mm cameras to add into the mix. They're all good values, and I have no complaints about my existing 2335. I wanted some more 1/3"/2.8mm combos for better area-coverage. Of course a wide angle lens won't get you as much detail since it is stuffing more into the screen, so 4mm through 12mm may be better for some placements.
I don't think you can go wrong with these, or the 2032 cameras. More than anything, plan on what you want to see. If you're covering a wide area or a subject is far away, you won't get much detail. Entry/exit points work with higher focal length lenses to catch details, then the wide ones let you see what the subject is doing on the premises. When I used to install analog systems over 10 years ago, we would capture entrance doors/roads/sidewalks to get the detail, then we'd use wide angles to catch the premises action. Even with megapixel cameras, this is still needed - just to a lesser extent.