Stepping from analog into IP cam world

Janastas

Janastas

n3wb
Jan 4, 2018
28
9
Hi,

I'm looking at moving from some old analog camera's and a dvr to an nvr and IP camera's and hearing great things about Hikvision.

To start off with I was looking at upgrading and re-cabling four of my seven camera's to IP

So in saying this I need the following to get started on my home came security upgrade:

  • 8ch NVR that has capacity for two hard drives (I'm thinking Hikvision as they have good reviews but not sure which model) but also can record at high resolution, I'm thinking minimum of 5MP per channel
  • 3x IP camera's that need to be mounted under the eaves at the back of the house, all three need to have adequate resolution and IR for night vision (Height of around 5m from ground level)
    • One camera will be pointed down the right hand side of the house facing the back door of the garage (Don't need a wide field of view as the width of the path between the wall of and the fence is around 2.5 -3 meters and also don't want to intrude into the neighbors back yard
    • Another camera will be mounted next to this one but pointing into the back yard, the backyard is around 16m x 5m, need a while field of view
    • I'll have another camera on the opposite side of the backyard pointing down the other side of the house, I have a corner block so this will need to have a view of the side of the house along with a view of the road
  • 1x IP camera for the front door camera, mounted just above the front door facing the front yard and with a view of the front driveway, will need good IR for night time but field of view won't need to be wide
So....

Hoping I can get some feedback on camera's I'll need to get started.

Cheers!
 
@Janastas Welcome! There is alot here to wade thru.

I started out with some 4MP Hikvision turrets myself 1.5 yrs ago. The day-time footage was good, night-time was not so good.

I have now switched over to Dahua starlights.

If you aren't tied to Hikvision, you should strongly consider Dahua starlights for best night-time footage like Dahua Starlight Varifocal Turret (IPC-HDW5231R-Z)

Buy 1 just to try out for yourself and you'll know.

There are other Dahua starlights as well: Dahua 2MP Starlight Lineup

Here is a recent success story: Dahua I’m impressed
 
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actran said:
@Janastas Welcome! There is alot here to wade thru.

I started out with some 4MP Hikvision turrets myself 1.5 yrs ago. The day-time footage was good, night-time was not so good.

I have now switched over to Dahua starlights.

If you aren't tied to Hikvision, you should strongly consider Dahua starlights for best night-time footage like Dahua Starlight Varifocal Turret (IPC-HDW5231R-Z)

Buy 1 just to try out for yourself and you'll know.

There are other Dahua starlights as well: Dahua 2MP Starlight Lineup

Here is a recent success story: Dahua I’m impressed
Click to expand...

Cheers! will this work with a Hikvision DVR or do I need to purchase a Dahua DVR?
 
Janastas said:
Cheers! will this work with a Hikvision DVR or do I need to purchase a Dahua DVR?
Click to expand...

If you buy Dahua cameras, it's best to buy a Dahua NVR to maximize compatibility and support for vendor specific features. (I have never used Hik NVR with Dahua cameras.)

Personally, I started with Hikvision NVR with my Hikvision turrets. I returned the NVR and switched to BlueIris. BlueIris mobile app was much better than my experience with Hikvision, plus with BI, I'm not tied to any camera vendor: Technology & Tested Cameras - Blue Iris

Dahua starlights is the best at this time for night-time footage at given price points but that may change in the future. With BI, I'm not vendor locked in.
 
actran said:
If you buy Dahua cameras, it's best to buy a Dahua NVR to maximize compatibility and support for vendor specific features. (I have never used Hik NVR with Dahua cameras.)

Personally, I started with Hikvision NVR with my Hikvision turrets. I returned the NVR and switched to BlueIris. BlueIris mobile app was much better than my experience with Hikvision, plus with BI, I'm not tied to any camera vendor: Technology & Tested Cameras - Blue Iris

Dahua starlights is the best at this time for night-time footage at given price points but that may change in the future. With BI, I'm not vendor locked in.
Click to expand...

OK thanks. I don't want to invest in running a PC within the ceiling cavity so an NVR will have to do, so might stick to one brand
 
Janastas said:
OK thanks. I don't want to invest in running a PC within the ceiling cavity so an NVR will have to do, so might stick to one brand
Click to expand...
what is the difference between "investing" in a pc or an NVR? you dont have to put either in the ceiling...
 
fenderman said:
what is the difference between "investing" in a pc or an NVR? you dont have to put either in the ceiling...
Click to expand...

All the existing gear is currently in the roof and it's out of the way there.
If I bought a pc I'd also need a network switch in the roof for all the cameras.
I'd prefer the NVR option to be honest
 
Janastas said:
All the existing gear is currently in the roof and it's out of the way there.
If I bought a pc I'd also need a network switch in the roof for all the cameras.
I'd prefer the NVR option to be honest
Click to expand...
its ok if you prefer NVR, but all you are doing with an NVR is using the built in POE switch...same as a pc with an addition switch...regardless hopefully its not hot there.
you should look at the differences between NVR's and pc based vms which have many more features.
 
Hiding your recorder regardless of it being a PC or NVR is a good call - I noramally fit them in the loft but there are some under floor boards. Just don't have it on display, if you have a break in its going in the back of their van along with your PC, TV and anything else they take. If you hide your recorder also consider a cheap dummy/decoy unit off fleabay, will save your home getting torn apart if they go looking for it.
 
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Thanks Fenderman,

The DS-2CD2355FWD-I or the DS-2CD2335FWD-I look like really good options.

I've attached the current area coverage for where the four camera's are currently positioned.

I think the above camera's would be good for the frontdoor, backyard and sidegarage camera positions.

FrontDoor.JPG BackYard.JPG SideGarage.JPG

The Cubbyhouse as you can see is next to the road side (I'm on a corner block) and I'd really like to be able to see car number plates clearly from the current position.

CubbyHouse.JPG

Currently I can see the car's parked next to my house but with the current resolution on my analogs (D1!!!) I can't see anything except for a shape and near nothing at night.

Would the suggested IP camera be able to recognize number plates from this height and distance? I think the distance from the camera to the road is close to 15m.
 
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Janastas said:
Thanks Fenderman,

The DS-2CD2355FWD-I or the DS-2CD2335FWD-I look like really good options.

I've attached the current area coverage for where the four camera's are currently positioned. ..
Click to expand...

Welcome Janastas,

Recommend considering placing new cameras lower to get a better chance of an facial ID image.
 
mat200 said:
Welcome Janastas,

Recommend considering placing new cameras lower to get a better chance of an facial ID image.
Click to expand...

OK thanks for the recommendation.

The question is how much lower as the camera's are currently about 5m above ground level (that's the height of the eaves), keep in mind it will be near impossible to run the ethernet down between the walls and pop it out from the brick at a lower level.

Also for the cubby house camera I'd still want a view of the road so that height is ideal for seeing both the cubby houes and side of the road next to my house.
 
Janastas said:
OK thanks for the recommendation.

The question is how much lower as the camera's are currently about 5m above ground level (that's the height of the eaves), keep in mind it will be near impossible to run the ethernet down between the walls and pop it out from the brick at a lower level.

Also for the cubby house camera I'd still want a view of the road so that height is ideal for seeing both the cubby houes and side of the road next to my house.
Click to expand...

HI Janastas,

If you want to have a good chance to ID possible suspects the cameras will need to be 6-8 feet high unless you can get the suspects to consistently look up at the cameras.

Here's a great example of getting lucky and having a suspect look directly at the camera!
Dahua minidome catches guy casing house
 
My recommendation:

Front door - 16x9 aspect (either 2, 4 or 8MP) - 2.8mm lens - some aluminium sticky back foil on the inside of the lantern glass pane nearest the camera to reduce glare. Mini-dome or anti-vandal dome camera.

Back Yard, consider a 4x3 aspect (3 or 5MP) - 4mm lens. Turret camera

Side Garage, as above or consider a 16x9 in corridor mode (IP only).

Cubby House, if you really want to cover part of the car park then an 8mp turret, 4mm lens but you really need two cameras to do a good job of both. The hedge will cause a lot of IR reflection, you'll need to play with WDR on your camera to get it under control. Trim the hedge will help a bit but consider augmenting your camera's with good flood lighting, don't be too dependent on IR as it’s easily muddied - intruders will wear highly reflective jackets to mess with it.
 
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FrankMCN said:
My recommendation:

Front door - 16x9 aspect (either 2, 4 or 8MP) - 2.8mm lens - some aluminium sticky back foil on the inside of the lantern glass pane nearest the camera to reduce glare. Mini-dome or anti-vandal dome camera.

Back Yard, consider a 4x3 aspect (3 or 5MP) - 4mm lens. Turret camera

Side Garage, as above or consider a 16x9 in corridor mode (IP only).

Cubby Hose, if you really want to cover part of the car park then an 8mp turret, 4mm lens but you really need two cameras to do a good job of both. The hedge will cause a lot of IR reflection, you'll need to play with WDR on your camera to get it under control. Trim the hedge will help a bit but consider augmenting your camera's with good flood lighting, don't be too dependent on IR as it’s easily muddied - intruders will wear highly reflective jackets to mess with it.
Click to expand...

Thanks FrankMCN!

Front door sounds good, for low light conditions would you go for the 2,4 or 8 MP? During the day won't be an issue I think, more interested for movement at night.

Backyard, ok would 4mm cover the whole area? Its about 16m in length by about 6m wide.

Side garage doesn't get much movement so hopefully it's a no brainer for the camera there.

The cubby house, yeah If you think two camera's would be better there I should be able to achieve that.
 
As actran says 8MP will be worse then the Easy IP3.0 2&3MP cameras, however I have an new 8MP turret next to an older 2-Line/Easy IP2.0 4MP turret - the 8MP actually performs better at night - less picture noise, cleaner overall and a touch less motion blur.

Overall you really need to consider good lighting to enhance night performance or a different platform like the Dahua starlights as above.
 
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