Newbie here, coming from dreaded Reolink. Educate me

Sep 30, 2025
14
7
Florida
I have read through the various stickies, cliff notes etc. Basically I have a Reolink system with 6 PoE cameras at my house and I'm looking for someone to help me pick out something that suits me well. Attached is a rough layout of my current system with some measurements.Camera Diagram.png
 
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Oh another after being burned by Reolink!

Welcome!

Without knowing what your goals of the camera is (just monitor or do you want identify?), this thread is used as the go to for the new person here outlining the commonly recommended cameras (along with Amazon links) based on distance to IDENTIFY that represent the overall best value/best bang for the buck in terms of price and performance day and night. It might be a 2MP camera in some instances. Many here feel 4MP is the current sweet spot for these cameras.

The Importance of Focal Length over MP in camera selection

And coupled with that thread is this great thread which will show why all of the same 2.8 or 3.6mm cameras is the wrong choice (these are the common focal lengths consumer brands sell):

i-want-2-8mm-cameras-everywhere-to-see-everything-this-is-why-you-need-specific-fovs-with-purposeful-focal-lengths.70053/

We would encourage you to look at those threads in detail.

It will probably raise more questions than answers LOL.
 
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Oh another after being burned by Reolink!

Welcome!

Without knowing what your goals of the camera is (just monitor or do you want identify?), this thread is used as the go to for the new person here outlining the commonly recommended cameras (along with Amazon links) based on distance to IDENTIFY that represent the overall best value/best bang for the buck in terms of price and performance day and night. It might be a 2MP camera in some instances. Many here feel 4MP is the current sweet spot for these cameras.

The Importance of Focal Length over MP in camera selection

And coupled with that thread is this great thread which will show why all of the same 2.8 or 3.6mm cameras is the wrong choice (these are the common focal lengths consumer brands sell):

i-want-2-8mm-cameras-everywhere-to-see-everything-this-is-why-you-need-specific-fovs-with-purposeful-focal-lengths.70053/

We would encourage you to look at those threads in detail.

It will probably raise more questions than answers LOL.
Thanks for the quick reply. I have read through both of those pretty extensively. And as you say, I only have more questions. I would say for the front cameras on the house I would like to be able to identify at the street distance with at least 1 camera and then the others on the front to monitor. The back/side cameras would be fine to monitor.
 
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Oh another after being burned by Reolink!

Welcome!

Without knowing what your goals of the camera is (just monitor or do you want identify?), this thread is used as the go to for the new person here outlining the commonly recommended cameras (along with Amazon links) based on distance to IDENTIFY that represent the overall best value/best bang for the buck in terms of price and performance day and night. It might be a 2MP camera in some instances. Many here feel 4MP is the current sweet spot for these cameras.

The Importance of Focal Length over MP in camera selection

And coupled with that thread is this great thread which will show why all of the same 2.8 or 3.6mm cameras is the wrong choice (these are the common focal lengths consumer brands sell):

i-want-2-8mm-cameras-everywhere-to-see-everything-this-is-why-you-need-specific-fovs-with-purposeful-focal-lengths.70053/

We would encourage you to look at those threads in detail.

It will probably raise more questions than answers LOL.
My thoughts,

Take a kit like this, with 6 cameras or 4 and place these in the locations I have now, since these are varifocal 2.7mm-12mm they can be adjusted to fit different needs as far as DORI goes. Then if I need something more specific (LPR, closer ID, farther ID, etc) add those specific cameras later. Is this a bad idea as kits are too broad and I know with these type of setups there isn't a one size fits all?Screenshot 2025-09-30 121312.png
 
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Not a bad kit as they’re all 5442s with the right sensor. I’d do 4 and focus on doorways and immediate entry points and get a feel for what they can do. Then invest in your specialty cameras.

Also brand new models just now coming out that show promise so it may pay to buy a little time
 
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Yeah can't go wrong with the 5442 (54IR) ZE varifocals, but for ID past 30ish feet you will want one of the higher varifocals.

That computer would be more than adequate for BI and the number of cameras you plan to run. But look around can probably find one cheaper.
 
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Yeah can't go wrong with the 5442 (54IR) ZE varifocals, but for ID past 30ish feet you will want one of the higher varifocals.

That computer would be more than adequate for BI and the number of cameras you plan to run. But look around can probably find one cheaper.
So you think that kit will be a sufficient starter kit to get going with NVR and 4 cameras and then I can add 2-4 more with a longer focal range for the front ID camera(s)?

Maybe this PC is a better option, cost wise


Screenshot 2025-09-30 123841.png.
 
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Start with those 4, varifocal and NVR and then probably add 2 of the below for the longer ID cameras?

EmpireTech IPC-B54IR-Z4E-S3 1/1.8" CMOS 4MP 8mm–32mm vari-focal WDR IR AI Network Bullet Camera​

 
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Another question, are the recordings stored within the BI PC or within the NVR? It seems in the "choosing hardware" section of the BI thread, that the recordings are stored within the BI PC..
 
I have read through the various stickies, cliff notes etc. Basically I have a Reolink system with 6 PoE cameras at my house and I'm looking for someone to help me pick out something that suits me well. Attached is a rough layout of my current system with some measurements.View attachment 229009

Welcome @CCTVnewbie810

I would recommend just picking up 1 good 4MP varifocal 1/1.8" sensor camera ( such as those mentioned in the thread ) and start playing with it.
( once you've learned more, I would then pick up more better cameras .. )

Setup a test rig and see how you can get a better image in low light and find ways to setup zones where you can get 100 effective pixels per foot ( ppt ) to potentially get good ID quality image captures of suspects.

If you go Blue Iris you should be able to get diverse brands of cameras in your mix.

I would also plan for more cameras to cover the front of your home. Do review the DORI notes in the cliff notes.
 
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Wondering how much of an improvement I will see, learning curve/setup aside, going to these 4 cams compared to Reolink RLC-1224A's. Just trying to get an idea!

During the daytime, not as much for the same field of view. In fact some say Reolink is better in the day than many other brands.

But when is the perp looking around....for most it is low light, middle of the night.

At night time/low light conditions, the difference will be extreme.

Reolinks suffer from firmware designed to provide a bright static image in low light conditions. But that comes at the expense of not getting clear captures at night.

Reolink gets lots of ghosting and blurring, and sometimes the invisible man LOL.


If all you care about is to look around, then probably ok. But if you plan to be able to use them in the event something happens and you need to get the police involved, return them....


What you mean a missing hand isn't normal LOL :lmao: (plus look at the blur on the face and he is barely moving and this should be ideal indoor IR bounce and it struggles):



1708801531582.png



How about missing everything but the head and upper torso :lmao:

The invisible man, where can he be. Thank goodness he is carrying around a reflective plate to see where he is LOL (hint - the person is literally in the middle of the image at the end of the fence holding a rectangular reflective piece of metal)

I've seen better images on an episode of ghost hunters :lmao:


1708801585568.png




And of course, this is an example from Reolink's marketing videos - do you see a person in this picture...yes, there is a person in this picture.... Could this provide anything useful for the police other than the date and time something happened? Would this protect your home? The still picture looks great though except for the person and the blur of the vehicle... Will give you a hint - the person is in between the two visible columns:



1708801599328.png


Bad Boys
Bad Boys
Watcha gonna do
Watcha gonna do
When the camera can't see you


Here is the unofficial Reolink thread.

You can see all the attempts people have provided to demonstrate the quality of Reolink, and they are all a blurry mess at night or missing body parts or other messes.

We have challenged someone to provide a clean capture of someone moving at night with a Reolink and as you can see with 20 pages, nobody has yet to provide a usable image with motion at night.

Reolink's algorithm is designed to produce a nice bright static image at night and that comes at a cost of blur and ghost and missing body parts at night.

Reolink: Deconstruction of a dangerous misleading youtube review "Finding the BEST 4K Security Camera NVR Package (Reolink vs Amcrest vs Swann)"

Most will say these don't cut it. There is also much talk in that thread about the issues of Reolink and BI.
 
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During the daytime, not as much for the same field of view. In fact some say Reolink is better in the day than many other brands.

But when is the perp looking around....for most it is low light, middle of the night.

At night time/low light conditions, the difference will be extreme.

Reolinks suffer from firmware designed to provide a bright static image in low light conditions. But that comes at the expense of not getting clear captures at night.

Reolink gets lots of ghosting and blurring, and sometimes the invisible man LOL.


If all you care about is to look around, then probably ok. But if you plan to be able to use them in the event something happens and you need to get the police involved, return them....


What you mean a missing hand isn't normal LOL :lmao: (plus look at the blur on the face and he is barely moving and this should be ideal indoor IR bounce and it struggles):



1708801531582.png



How about missing everything but the head and upper torso :lmao:

The invisible man, where can he be. Thank goodness he is carrying around a reflective plate to see where he is LOL (hint - the person is literally in the middle of the image at the end of the fence holding a rectangular reflective piece of metal)

I've seen better images on an episode of ghost hunters :lmao:


1708801585568.png




And of course, this is an example from Reolink's marketing videos - do you see a person in this picture...yes, there is a person in this picture.... Could this provide anything useful for the police other than the date and time something happened? Would this protect your home? The still picture looks great though except for the person and the blur of the vehicle... Will give you a hint - the person is in between the two visible columns:



1708801599328.png


Bad Boys
Bad Boys
Watcha gonna do
Watcha gonna do
When the camera can't see you


Here is the unofficial Reolink thread.

You can see all the attempts people have provided to demonstrate the quality of Reolink, and they are all a blurry mess at night or missing body parts or other messes.

We have challenged someone to provide a clean capture of someone moving at night with a Reolink and as you can see with 20 pages, nobody has yet to provide a usable image with motion at night.

Reolink's algorithm is designed to produce a nice bright static image at night and that comes at a cost of blur and ghost and missing body parts at night.

Reolink: Deconstruction of a dangerous misleading youtube review "Finding the BEST 4K Security Camera NVR Package (Reolink vs Amcrest vs Swann)"

Most will say these don't cut it. There is also much talk in that thread about the issues of Reolink and BI.
I have read this post from you across many threads since lurking around here and have myself been a victim of the invisible man syndrome, etc. There will be no returning here as I have had them installed close to 3 years at this point. I have just now started to explore and realize there are much better options out there.
 
I have read this post from you across many threads since lurking around here and have myself been a victim of the invisible man syndrome, etc. There will be no returning here as I have had them installed close to 3 years at this point. I have just now started to explore and realize there are much better options out there.

Most of us have been there! It sucks. I have boxes of discarded cameras. Especially when in many instances you can get better quality for cheaper than the highly marketed consumer brands!
 
Another question, are the recordings stored within the BI PC or within the NVR? It seems in the "choosing hardware" section of the BI thread, that the recordings are stored within the BI PC..

You only need one or the other

Computer/BI

Or

NVR