What is Reddit's opinion of Hikvision 4MP DS-2CD2142FWD-I HD WDR IP Network Dome 2.8mm Lens?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Thank you for the input, I appreciate it. I might go with the downgraded options simply because we don't need room for expansion since we're on a small city lot and also because 3 weeks storage would be way more than what we need. I'll definitely check these out, thanks again.

Edit: I found these in Amazon for 81 each so I might grab 5 or 6 of them. I can adjust the angle to get a greater mm resolution , correct?

https://www.amazon.com/Hikvision-DS-2CD2142FWD-I-Network-Dome-2-8mm/dp/B017Y4CD9U

Also, do I need to get the mounts for them (8 each) and can I buy any hdd or does it have to be hikvision?

Get blue iris.

Quickly looking at amazon I’d get these.

Hikvision 4MP DS-2CD2142FWD-I HD WDR IP Network Dome 2.8mm Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Y4CD9U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_YxhNBbYVAGSZJ

Set to full res at 12 FPS or more if your machine can handle it.

I have 3 of these up: Link using the Hikvision 7608 NVR. Great setup and the picture is fantastic.

Thanks I really appreciate your time with the thorough and concise answer.

My friend said I need to get PVC rated cat 5 which is very expensive not the standard utp or the crazy expensive cmx type.

Here is what I wanted to get let me know if you recommend something else.

4 of these : Hikvision DS-2CD2142FWD-I 4MP WDR Fixed HD Network IP Dome Camera US English Version 2.8mm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Y4CD9U/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_0lJ-xb9VJMVVY

2.8mm best for wide angle not 4mm.

NVR: HIKVISION DS-7616NI-E2/8P 16CH POE NVR Network Video Recorder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01COGMPKU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_hnJ-xb24ZK6K4

Hdd: WD Purple 2TB Surveillance Hard Disk Drive - 5400 RPM Class SATA 6 Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5 Inch - WD20PURX https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IMPO5MO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_foJ-xb61XF5TE

Cable: Sewell Direct SW-29899 SolidRun Cat6 Bulk Cable, UTP, CM, 23 AWG, High Copper Content CCA, White PVC Jacket, 1000 ft. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008JGLN80/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_gtJ-xb8Z2PPMJ

Let me know if you recommend anything better. I appreciate your time

I have a couple of Hikvision outdoor IP dome cameras that work well. They are PoE, so power is easy for them, and they are 4mp, so the image is pretty good, though low light sometimes leaves something to be desired (lots of people supplement with night time IR lights in those cases.

I have a Synology NAS too, and while I actually liked their Surveillance Station app, it doesn't work in web browsers anymore (They have been sitting on a broken implementation for 2+ years now here), so I moved away from it.

The Hikvisions have a web server built in a decent enough interface, and I just write the video files out to my NAS drive, where I have a 10 GB partition set aside for it.

They also have passable motion and line-crossing detection, though I think that it could be better.

Nice little cameras for $130 or so: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017Y4CD9U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

One warning if you go this route: Hikvision is kind of a dick about support. They only really "support" their authorized dealers. Further, they have region based distribution, so you can get a Chinese camera if you aren't careful. MAKE SURE YOU BUY FROM A SELLER THAT GUARANTEES YOU GET THE RIGHT REGION. If you don't you may never be able to upgrade your camera's firmware, because there are a lot of knockoff Hikvisions out there coming out of China that are not binary compatible.

On the amazon page I linked, if you click on the "15 new from" link it'll show the actual companies that will fullfill the order behind the scenes. The good ones will have comments telling you the above. Make sure you order from them specifically.

Also, I highly recommend PoE. Cameras chug a lot of data, so isolating them from the rest of your wireless is a good idea, and you don't want to run power to every drop. Buy a PoE injector. Your switch will just plug into this, and then the other side will have PoE on it. I have the following 6 port injector and it works great: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FYEY6SY/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There are other cameras out there, some are better and with less issues around firmware / knockoffs, etc. Very few provide the same quality at the $130 price point. But if you don't want to mess about with that, there's always Axis and a few others that are great, but significantly more expensive.

I never messed with Lorex before, but going off their specs, these cameras have rather poor low light performance (0.38 lux without IR). Don't rely on IR's to give you good video capture and the promotional video on Lorex's even shows the camera with external lighting vs IR lighting for "low light".

For typical sub ~$200 per camera range for residential, check out Hikvision: * DS-2CD2142FWD-IS (~$120 per camera, 0.028 lux without IR, that extra .0 in there makes a big difference).
* 4 channel nvr (4 channel nvr w/poe, ~$180) * 3 TB hard drive (~$160, ) * 4x 60ft ethernet cables (~$9)

This will get you to about $856 with 3TB of storage vs 1TB and better low light performance if you went this route. Just make sure you get "US" versions if you do.