Camera \ NVR kit recommendation?

[nbstl68]

Hi,
I have a friend who is looking for a decent basic easy to set up, low maintenance set and forget security camera setup. I think 4-8 cameras max for his needs.
I started with a Sam's club Q-see (Dahua?) 8 3MP cam kit 2 yrs ago but it was crap night quality so I took it back and am afraid to recommend this brand now.

I have built out my own PC based NVR, switch cameras etc. but he will not want to deal with any of this so I am looking for any thoughts, suggestions or experiences with something that will have decent reliable day\night quality in a bundled kit and allow for easy remote alerts and viewing access via phone app..
I do not know his budget but I'd venture he would be OK with up to maybe $1,500.

Does anyone have any current recommendations or opinions of the camera \ NVR kits from the likes of Sam's Costco, Nelly's, LTS or elsewhere?

 

[bigredfish]

Any boxed 'kit" will be full of trade-offs. typically all fixed 2.8 lens eyeballs or domes.

For $1500 he can have a top of the line 6-8 camera Dahua HDCVI system with DVR and the same quality video images, 2MP up to 4K, as an IP system, without the IP networking complexity and using a single cable (coax OR Cat5e) to each camera. He can add IP cameras as he sees/feels the need but from a user perspective there is no real difference in picture quality.

See this thread:
HDCVI system

Other CVI posts
Cam catches thieves - makes me wish I bought better camera
It's all about the light

 

[nbstl68]

Thanks
I think the IP setups are pretty straight forward and can be mostly maintenance free, so not sure I'd recommend he start new with HDCVI.
He'd likely need cameras at a little distance from his property, (like the boat dock) that would require power that is not down there, so an IP\CAT6 POEsolution would be optimal.

Very valid point about the kits ...they do appear to be all the same 2.8 cameras and I doubt that would be optimal solution for every location.

Maybe just picking the right Dahua POE NVR and individual cameras and some CAT cable would be just as simple for him with better quality options.

 

[bigredfish]

If he's good with IP then cool.

I don't think most folks are aware that CVI now rivals IP in image quality and most other features, and they can be ran video AND power through a single Cat5 cable, same as IP. They are less expensive generally speaking, and are pretty headache free.

The nice thing about the newer Tribrids and XVR's is that you can run pretty much any kind of camera on them, analog, HDCVI and IP if you have a specific feature or need that only an IP camera provides, but those are few and far between with the newer CVI technology.