( 16 reviews )
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Posted: Apr 8 2009
I bought this model at my local Home Depot. Overall, I'm very pleased with the performance. The video is very good during the day and the night vision is descent, as well. Compared to some higher priced cameras, the resolution, at 420 lines, isn't quite as good as higher end units, but is much better than the low end cameras that hover around 325 - 250 lines. I use the camera with Q-See's 4 channel DVR card on an older computer that is dedicated just for that task. Properly adjusted through the software, the color and overall image is very good. However, I boosted the brightness a little bit to give me a bit more gain at night. As a result, the compromise is a little more of a washed out picture during the day. With some floodlights on my building providing some light, the night vision actually works very well, allowing a viewable image well beyond the rated distance to the back of the lot where the lights really don't reach well. If the lights are off, though, I get a usable image at maybe half the rated distance. Plan on about 35 feet if you aren't using any exterior lighting. With ambient light from a porch light on a house, street lights or parking lot lights, you can stretch the distance on this unit. However, if image is critical at more than 30 - 40 feet, get something with at least a 100 feet night vision range. Like any night vision camera, getting a plate number will be difficult due to the reflective nature of the plates. The night vision simply washes it out when it's close enough to be readable. People will also be considerably less identifiable at night due to grain. Be sure to pick a recording quality that will minimize loss of detail from compression. With this unit, you two lenses - one wide 6mm and one a bit more telephoto 12mm (a very little bit). If you only need to focus on a small area, the second lens will get you a bit closer. I use the wider lens for maximum area coverage. Mounting the camera was a breeze - once I threw away the bracket and made my own. Seriously, the bracket stinks. It flops about like a fish and never fully tightens. Hence, only 4 stars. To sum up: very good camera for the money, but be prepared to figure out something else for mounting it.
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Posted: Apr 8 2009
I bought this model at my local Home Depot. Overall, I'm very pleased with the performance. The video is very good during the day and the night vision is descent, as well. Compared to some higher priced cameras, the resolution, at 420 lines, isn't quite as good as higher end units, but is much better than the low end cameras that hover around 325 - 250 lines. I use the camera with Q-See's 4 channel DVR card on an older computer that is dedicated just for that task. Properly adjusted through the software, the color and overall image is very good. However, I boosted the brightness a little bit to give me a bit more gain at night. As a result, the compromise is a little more of a washed out picture during the day. With some floodlights on my building providing some light, the night vision actually works very well, allowing a viewable image well beyond the rated distance to the back of the lot where the lights really don't reach well. If the lights are off, though, I get a usable image at maybe half the rated distance. Plan on about 35 feet if you aren't using any exterior lighting. With ambient light from a porch light on a house, street lights or parking lot lights, you can stretch the distance on this unit. However, if image is critical at more than 30 - 40 feet, get something with at least a 100 feet night vision range. Like any night vision camera, getting a plate number will be difficult due to the reflective nature of the plates. The night vision simply washes it out when it's close enough to be readable. People will also be considerably less identifiable at night due to grain. Be sure to pick a recording quality that will minimize loss of detail from compression. With this unit, you get two lenses - one wide 6mm and one a bit more telephoto 12mm (a very little bit). If you only need to focus on a small area, the second lens will get you a bit closer. I use the wider lens for maximum area coverage. Mounting the camera was a breeze - once I threw away the bracket and made my own. Seriously, the bracket stinks. It flops about like a fish and never fully tightens. Hence, only 4 stars. To sum up: very good camera for the money, but be prepared to figure out something else for mounting it.
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Posted: Apr 7 2009
Now I know how an owl sees in the dark! :) This camera has excellent night vision, but it has to be placed outdoors at night because window glass will reflect the light back to the camera and obscures its view. That is about the only bad thing about LED cameras. Exposure accuracy and day vision are also good, as is resolution. Other reviewers have complaints about the mounting bracket. I have the same experience. The main problem is that the 2 screws that attach the camera and the base of the bracket to the arms of the bracket. They tend to come loose. After I tightened these two screws and then secure them with silicone rubber, the camera is actually usable again. Before I did that, the camera will simply flop about, unable to stay in one position, partly because the camera is too heavy for the bracket and partly because of the loose screws problem I mentioned. A sturdier, better bracket is needed. The camera also does not fit the illustration in the manual, so I have not figured out how to change the lens with the wide angle one supplied with the camera yet. I did not want to experiment for fear of breaking something. Other than these 2 problems, this is a very good, high resolution camera that can see farther than 60 ft at night. It is rare that a manufacturer underrates the capabilities of its product, but this one can definitely see farther than is advertised.
