Watch BEFORE you buy Reolink security cameras.
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- čas přidán 22. 08. 2024
- Reolink cameras are not the BEST cameras you can buy, but in certain situations they are by far the best performance you can get for your money. This video is sponsored by HolidayCoro (www.holidaycoro...) check out their huge supply of holiday light show products using my link to help support The Hook Up.
Raw Footage Here: • Raw Footage From Reoli...
Reolink Blue Iris issues are fixed! • Reolink and Blue Iris ...
Cameras in this video:
Reolink RLC510A (Good daytime performance, on device person and vehicle detection for standalone mode or Reolink NVR)
AmazonUS: amzn.to/3AuEJ7I
AmazonEU: amzn.to/2XLbD5U
AliExpress: s.click.aliexp...
Reolink Direct: reolink.com/pr...
Reolink RLC810A (Great daytime performance, on device person and vehicle detection for standalone mode or Reolink NVR)
AmazonUS: amzn.to/3nVC8jI
AmazonEU: amzn.to/3AtIMRv
AliExpress: s.click.aliexp...
Reolink Direct: reolink.com/pr...
(Reolink RLC810 NVR Packages)
4 Camera: amzn.to/3EAZnp7
8 Camera: amzn.to/3kuNzfW
Reolink RLC811A (Best daytime performance, on device person and vehicle detection for standalone mode or Reolink NVR, Zoom, 2 Way Talk)
AmazonUS: amzn.to/2ZiOYyh
AmazonEU: amzn.to/39rvPMu
AliExpress: s.click.aliexp...
Reolink Direct: reolink.com/pr...
Dahua T5442TM (Best night performance, Blue iris compatible, on device person and vehicle detection)
AmazonUS: amzn.to/3hPxos0
UniFi G4 Pro (Good overall performance, for use with UniFi Protect Hardware)
AmazonUS: amzn.to/3ksQWEr
Annke B1200 (Good overall performance, Blue Iris compatible, on device person detection)
Annke Direct: www.annke.com/...
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I have been using reolink cameras close to 2 years base on your recommendation and I have 0 issues with them. Thank you
Suprising, I have issues from the beggining.
@@janlochman1985can you please write in details what kind of problems exactly you’re having? I’m looking for a camera system for my house and just wanna make sure I get the right quality stuff
I don't think I have ever seen an analysis so comprehensive on CZcams. Simply incredible. You should have 3 million subs. Most of the public just stops their security at Ring. Sheesh!
LifeHackster does a great job as well, with a standard set of visual audio and detection tests he uses for all his cameras.
Just wanted to let you know; I've always thought you came across as perfectly transparent about review units & affiliate links. It never consciously occurred to me that your videos are comparisons but it's a great way to manage the potential for people in your profession to have an unconcious bias towards recommending a product. Great work as always, and you have my permission to tell anyone who calls you a shill to fuck right off (not that you need it).
Wow. This is the most comprehensive, fair, and well-informed security camera review that I have long awaited. I am a huge fan of Reolink and I have had great experiences with their customer support. I’ve learned a lot from just this video and look forward to digesting the rest. Thank you!
Never questioned your integrity Rob. You've proven yourself consistently. You have a tough crowd to please. I really hope this doesn't deter you from issuing this time intensive quality content.
Excellent thorough review as always. From the Internet with love (hehe), Thank you!
I'm not going to lie, I've ALWAYS respected Rob's approach to reviews. A certian other large home automation youtuber constantly does "sponsored reviews" and doesn't even refer to them as showcases, but presents them as an honest review. It's kept me from watching his content reliably, and is yet another reason Rob has my sub.
That would be a really odd thing to lie about.
@@robovac3557 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 Funny bro
@@ImTotallyTechy Did you sit on your phone?
@@robovac3557 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 Bro is a comedian ❗❗❗fuckin hilarious 💯 💯 💯
@@ImTotallyTechy Alright, calm down. Hardly Grade A material fella.
FINALLY, a security guy that doesn't blab on and on and just gets to the facts. Nice work my guy.
Dude blabbed for 2 minutes before talking about the cameras
Are you kidding, we had to go past 4 minutes before he actually got started! Then it was some stupid chart & extensive discussion about price being relative to what we are getting...as if we were 5 yrs olds who needed general knowledge info!
I found your channel because I'm doing my homework on installing my first NVR system (or any CCTV system for that matter) and I want to get it right the first time based on what I need and my budget. I love home DIY projects and this is right up my alley. I've already watched a few of your videos and I've learned quite a bit from them, so thanks for that. The internet in general needs more balanced content like you seem to provide, so keep up the good work!
I don't think I've ever commented on CZcams videos but all your videos are so well done, informative and clear. And to me at least feel very trustworthy. Appreciate all the great content.
Thanks!
Great video but I’m surprised you had enough negative feedback to feel the need to do it. I’ve been very happy with my Reolink products.
Ditto, I have three of them, one little indoor ptz and a couple outdoors and they’re great for the price.
Same here. I have 8 RLC-520 and I paid them 42eur each. Never had any issue with them (using Frigate) after more than a year and it is clearly impossible to get significantly more benefits (and I am talking about benefits, not features or specs) from a camera that would be 3 to 5 times more expensive.
The negative feedback came from some areas which have a little influence in the industry unfortunately. This video was very much needed.
I find most of the complaints come from people who expect plug-and-play without tinkering.
They are shocking!
A great review! Thanks! I've been using Reolink cameras for over a year. Four of the RLC 511 poe, One RLC 423 PTZ and my latest is the 4K IP8M-2496EW POE. All have been doing a great job so far. I'll suggest for those wanting better night vision (distance and clarity), install IR flood lights. They are inexpensive and the Extra light makes a big difference!
Just don't mount them underneath your camera's with IR or they won't turn on, I found that out the hard way :).
Lars Van Eynde where would you suggest to mount them ?
Thanks for the heads up on the IR floodlights. I was unsure if that would make a difference, but now I know the lights will work! Thanks!
Building a new house. Watching videos to determine what to use for security cameras. I’ve watched at least 20 so far. Your video is more informative than all the rest combined. Thank your! Also, I put up a Reolink Duo 2 cellular version for security during construction about a year ago. After 8 months it stopped working. Although the solar panel was still functioning, the camera battery was no longer charging. Although the warranty process was rather cumbersome and time consuming, the service I received was professional and resulted in delivery of a new camera within about 12 business days. The camera is doing an excellent job.
I've used reolink for 7 years. They are great. In harsh Canadian climate all 16 still work great.
I have Reolink and I like them. The only complaints I have is the condensation at night only and the app I have issues with. Other than that mine work fine for me.
@@HSoapes They replaced two of mine that did that via support. You could also open it up and place a desiccant packet inside.
Being a ReoLink user ( former arlo user ) I was very pleased with the findings and of course, superbly presented!
Another very useful video👌
Ive just migrated from arlo 3 pro 2k system.
Reolink has big shoes to fill hoping the will do the job better SAME FUNSTIONS NO SUBSCRIPTIONS AND 4K FTW
@@markdennis5836are they the dome cameras? i hate how arlo has a dang subscription fee
@Ct Car Vlogs mine are the 811a cameras but they do have domes.... this kit is fantastic. No regrets. Excellent quality .no proprietary crap its 100% customisational. No fees or subscriptions. Thank me later .I recommend the wired ones with nvr
@@markdennis5836 Thank you, sir
I've installed plenty of Reolink systems....the customers love them, and I have never had any issues with them. They are easy to install, and the price is way cheaper than most companies.
Your reviews are the best. Everytime I see your videos I want to setup a home security system.
As The Hook Up also mentioned on other videos: BlueIris compatibility has increased immensely in the new December 2021/January 2022 firmware updates from Reolink. So the big caveaet mentioned about that should no longer apply, making Reolink even more bang for your buck. That firmware update was a real upgrade to the reliability of person- and vehicle detection as well.
This comment should be pinned
Bought a reolink system last year because of this channel and never looked back.
The cameras and their quality, the app and its gui is phantastic and even 'wife approved'.
This was an excellent video. Straight to the point without any stupid storytelling or filler. Very well done. I wish CZcams was more like this
I've been using these cameras, based on your recommendation, for the last 4 to 5 years and have had zero issues.
Same
For the record I have had a 14 month old RLC-810A fail due to water ingress. However, it was after 6 weeks of continuous hot weather with no rainfall, followed by a torrential downpour overnight. I suspect that a seal may have shrunk from all the heat. Regardless, two support messages to Reolink and a photo of the condensation inside the lens, and a replacement camera was shipped to me within 4 days. I have no hesitation in recommending them just based on that level of service alone.
The reason you don't get images clear enough for identification purposes is because you still don't talk about (or perhaps even understand) the concept of DORI (the distances at which a camera will provide footage with enough detail to Detect, Observe, Recognize, or Identify a person). These distances are a direct result of two things, focal length and resolution. Obviously a higher resolution camera will provide more detail than a lower resolution camera and should therefore provide footage with enough detail to "Identify" a person at a longer distance away from the camera. You do hit on this concept in the video (but not in the context of DORI specs - just the idea that higher resolution provides more detail). However the second way to increase DORI distances is to increase the focal length (zoom) of a camera and you never talk about this concept in your videos. (EDIT - even worse, in some previous videos you compare cameras with very different focal lengths without discussing this concept and then go on to praise the fact that the longer focal length camera provides more detail as if it is a reflection of the camera's ability instead of a reflection of the longer focal length).
If you want a camera that can identify someone at the end of your driveway at night, one of the better nighttime performing cameras can do it, just not with the focal length you used. You need a version with a longer focal length. Now I realize you are trying to keep things as equal as possible when comparing cameras these shootout formats, but you don't even mention these concepts. You consistently make it sound like there simply aren't cameras that can get sharp nighttime images at longer distances without spending a lot of money (you even say this in this video). The fact is that you are not matching your camera to your goal. You CAN get excellent nighttime performance at longer distances by simply choosing one of the cameras that performed well in your test, but a model with a longer focal length. For example, you tested the Dahua 5442 and rightly say that it has very good nighttime performance. What you fail to mention is that while you tested the 3.6mm cameras (which has DORI numbers of detect=236', observe=95', recognize=46', identify=23'), they make a lot other 5442 variants with longer (or shorter) focal lengths - all the way out to a 8-32mm vari-focal lens that gives DORI numbers of 1312', 525', 262', 131' at the max zoom. That means you could identify a person as far as 131' away from the camera with that particular model while the 3.6mm version only has an identify distance of 23' (which your 25' test distance is obviously beyond). You negatively talk about the fact that the 5442 model you tested only provides enough detail to "recognize" a person at 25', yet fail to mention that this is exactly the performance you should expect from that particular camera with that particular focal length and you also fail to mention that there are other focal lengths available (shorter and longer) that would allow for a different result.
Sure, But to use that much zoom I’d need 8+ cameras to cover my front yard.
@@TheHookUp The next step then is camera placement. Another topic I never see people discuss in detail. You have to place cameras such that the recognize/identify zone is most likely to be used on a camera. Observing an entire area is rarely the same as optimal placement for identifying faces for example.
@@TheHookUp I see your point, but it does also matter what the goals are. You touched on it but I think that should be the first question before anyone begins looking at cameras. It’s often unrealistic (and likely unnecessary) to require identification of every person who pass by the property. As a very general example, does someone need to be able to identify people who are walking on the road or just people who approach their home?
@@TheHookUp You need to be able to identify the individual, not see every square inch of your property.
You can have an overview camera to see the action and a camera at eye level at points of entry at your home to identify the person. This is the most critical.
Imagine watching a football game with one camera that was an overview of the field.
@@TheHookUp Yeah. The idea of "four wide angle cameras on the corners of my house will give me complete coverage" is a falsehood that many people believe and you seem to want to perpetuate. Those four cameras would allow you to "Observe" your entire yard, but they won't provide clear enough footage to actually identify a stranger that doesn't happen to come really close to the camera. I see posts on social media all the time where a person had nothing but wide angle cameras covering their yard and then they have someone break into their car or steal their catalytic converter, etc. They end up with footage that doesn't have enough detail to even make out even the most basic information about the subject (gender, age, race, etc). Even then, they never seem to understand that they could have gotten extremely detailed footage that could be used by police to identify the subject had they just designed their system properly and used appropriate cameras instead of the 4-8 camera setup they bought at Costco for $499 which provided nothing but wide angle cameras.
Everything is a compromise and you have to decide where "observe" level detail is OK and where "Identify" level detail is needed. A properly designed CCTV camera system is going to be multi-layered and there will probably be some wide angle cameras and some cameras with more zoom. For example, my driveway is about 65' to the street. I have several 2.8mm Dahua 5442 cameras to give me a broad overview of my yard, but I can't use them to "Identify" a subject unless they are within about 20' of the house. I can "Observe" or even "Recognize" subjects at farther distances with those cameras, but I shouldn't expect enough clarity in the footage to be able to "Identify" a stranger past about 20'. I supplement these wider angle cameras with several longer focal length cameras that have enough zoom that I CAN identify subject at the farther ends of my driveway and the street (which don't have street lights) - even during the darkest nights. If in the middle of the night, someone breaks into my car sitting in the driveway 55' away from the camera, I will have clear enough footage to identify the subject. A couple of wide angle cameras would never be able to provide adequate coverage of my front yard and driveway regardless of the manufacturer or resolution.
Plus, a properly designed camera system is going to provide "Identify" level coverage just where you really need it. It might take 8 cameras to get 100% complete "Identify" level coverage of your front yard, but the reality is that you don't really need 100% coverage. This is where the wide angle cameras do work well. They give a good overview of the yard and can identify subjects that get really close to the house. You can then supplement this with longer focal length cameras to cover the driveway, mailbox, etc or any other areas that is important to have high enough resolution to identify subjects with. You don't need to have longer focal length cameras covering the entire perimeter of your yard - just the areas were a subject might do vandalism, etc to something important (like a car, mailbox, etc). I suspect you could get all the front yard coverage you needed (near and far) with 3-4 cameras - two wide angle and one or two with an appropriate amount of zoom for your situation.
i replaced some old analog cameras about 8 years ago and have the Reolink NVR 8 Channel, and a mix of 410 and 510A cameras. From brutal heat in the summer to near 0*F weather in the winter, I've not had a single issue. Occasionaly 1 of the cameras will drop off (which always occur on Sunday - but that is when the DVR is set to it's weekly clean of up things), but a simple re-boot of the NVR and back the way it was. No fees or cloud storage - none of that for me. It's all contained on the DVR accessible anywhere I can get either cell signal or Wi-Fi. I get a solid 10 days worth of recordings on it.
One of my alley (rear entry driveway) cameras caught a person going way to fast down the alley, and sure enough an 8 yr old was chasing after a basketball, and _BLAMO_ got hit by a car. I recorded it to USB stick and gave it to both the mom and dad and to the local PD. He eventually recovered fully from the accident.
Based on your reviews, I bought 8 Reolink cameras to be used on 2 properties. As of today, 3 have died after a few months. Reolink replaced one, the other two I just wrote off. I am satisfied with the performance and image quality, but their reliability is poor.
I've got like 12+ of their cameras still working great after a year+. Very weird.
I have 24 over 3 properties rlc410 and 510 over the past 2-3 years none have died way more reliable than the previous coaxial Samsung cctv cameras.
Which model did you have and if outside what climate are you in?
What model?
I had several where the lenses cracked and shattered. You can’t really tell unless sun is on lens.
I've had my 12 or so reolink camera setup for about a year now and they have been great. All still work just like new. I'm actually about to buy 3 more to put in a few other places. I always use the 4k h265 cameras with person/vehicle detection.
I have installed Reolink systems in two family homes (parents and relatives) and I had zero issues so far. I have been using them for about 6 months now.
I bought RLC-810A x 2 for $140 from Amazon last month. I saw your video and I am happy now with my lucky decision.
Have been very happy with BI + 510A. Added an 810A and went through the pain until the i-frame firmware update. In my setup - that's been working well. Fantastic clear explanation of the cameras and their merits. Thank you.
I had one Reolink camera fail, but the Reolink warranty experience was so good it won't deter me from buying from them again. I believe the failure was due to moisture getting in the power switch, so I now make sure to keep the switch and power dongle completely dry and haven't had an issue since.
**Sees this video pop up just after purchasing cameras based on your recommendation.**
Oh dear.
**Starts watching...**
Oh thank goodness, whew.
This was me, exactly! I spent last Saturday crawling around my hot Houston attic, (just before the weather broke, yay Fall!) installing 3 Reolinks that I finally pulled the trigger on, based on reviews here. I went with the [85]20A models, to get on-camera device detection. Had what looked like codec problems playing streams in VLC at first, but that seems to have gone away? Solid now. Still working out the best way to get the event-triggers into my HA setup. I'm also impressed with the presence of what appear to be actual Reolink engineers in the Reolink subreddit, answering questions, and providing early access to beta firmware (testing some now)
Excellent review as always. I got tired of "big brand" video doorbell, ordered a Reolink, serves my need, automation takes care of lighting as I program it to with Home Assistant, Reolink works with Home Assistant, no need for cloud services.
I was honestly surprised how much the reolink cameras I have were made of metal. They were small but didn't seem weighed down just for the purpose of weight. The base along being all metal made me feel even more confident in the construction. The firmware updates for the nvr definitely raised my confidence in the system though tip for anyone, don't jump straight to the newest firmware, update to an intermediate before switching versions, and updating camera firmware is a nightmare if hooked into a nvr
Is this still the case?
@@TheKwattK what part exactly?
@@Bremend Not sure what's being asked by K Watt, but I've upgraded firmware on both RLC-810A camera and RLN8-410 NVR without a big issue and installed a new 4K 180° Duo 2 POE, which is great for one of my areas. So far, I haven't had issues and asking Reolink has been very responsive. I do like the metal casings and the size is just right. I don't use Blue Iris.
I own Reolink camera's before they were popular. Price/Quality wise I think Reolink beats all other brands. Hopefully Reolink will enter the video doorbell market in the future. I would definately consider replacing my Nest Hello then...
Yes I'm hoping they release a doorbell cam
Reolink is not reliable at all, its not stable. For sure the quality can't compare to geovision or even illustra.
Geovision is OEMed by uniview on their high end stuff, which is high quality but overpriced. Their affordable stuff is Raysharp OEM, stay away from that.
The real world running tests and text reading was SO helpful!
I purchased Reolink system around end of last year based on Rob’s recommendation and I’m no expert but the system has been nothing but reliable for my home use. I really like it.
3 out of 3 cams stopping recording after 6-8 months. Reolink replaced one due to completely dying. I still have 3 out of 3 cameras that refuse to record as the replacement stopped after 6-8 months.
Thanks for the informative video. I see that most of the reviews focus on the image quality. Which it is important, but I think that even more important are aspects like accuracy of the AI detection, reliability and customer support, app features and power consumption.
I can tell that so far I'm positively surprised on how responsive the support team of Reolink is.
Applications features are also good, specially with the addition of scenes. The only think that lets me down is that then installing the Reolink app in several mobiles it is not possible to activate push notifications in all of them at once, like when the last person leaves the house.
I'd like to get this kind of nuances mentioned in videos like this so that Reolink takes note of them.
I have three outdoor 4G Reolink Go PT cameras. They have been outside now for over a year through all four seasons of weather with zero problems! So impressed I bought their eight camera NVR system for the house.
I installed 8-16 channel reolink NVR and cameras at my shop, At a friend's shop and at my cousin's shop. For the money, I think they are very hard to beat. Have been very happy with them.
I have a several externally placed Reolink cameras. Using a camera at night under infrared light, it’s a given that any brand will perform poorly compared to when used during bright conditions. This is why I have LED outside floodlights on ALL night. The cameras infrared LEDs are turned off and they always record in colour.
I know this is not a solution for everyone, but not only are the flood lights a mild deterrent, but I get great night time footage.
I leverage motion sensors to turn on flood lights as well via HA.
Not sure where you live...but if you live in Suburbia, by any chance...I'm sure your neighbors appreciate you having a blinding flood light on at night, all night....invest in motion sensing at least...sheesh
Thank for a great honest review. Many people will still miss that you said, Reolink is good for XYZ and Not ABC... they just hear Reolink is good... ya at some things.
One issue I have now run into with Reolink, is they will not support older hardware with firmware updates. So although some may have been updated for your example of I-frames, they won't fix the older ones :( I have asked that they then open source the firmware, but I doubt that will happen :)
I'm debating between Reolink and Hikvision cameras. Which do you think is better? I also plan on purchasing a NVR.
Thank you Sir, once again! About the night recording, I have decided to buy external IR Illuminators to get rid of spider nets and those flying insects. Maybe you can review IR Illuminators at some point?
Didn’t know people hated reolink cameras. I have a multi cam NVR setup and am quite happy with it. I had one camera fail due to water getting inside the camera and they quickly sent me out a replacement for free. Only thing I can complain about is I can’t use notifications because no matter how I adjust the setting it pings me every time the wind blows and anything on screen moves slightly.
Early days of Reolink, years back, I think they did flood forums promoting and one particular forum owner I've seen wanted nothing to do with them period. Even when people came on asking for information, he just got irate and said their discussion was banned. Which is rather ridiculous as a CCTV forum when they are in the marketplace.
The other reason they get a lot of hate is the Pro Vs Amateur debate. Just like you get in power tools.
I've got a Reolink system too and so far happy with it. One camera gets a lot of sun and 5 years on is still working away along with the NVR.
Watch the accounts ending with four numbers that have no followers and leave extremely positive comments. They’re fake/bot accounts.
bought a reolink camera for a construction site. Very pleased! Good value. Easy setup. It sometimes takes a couple tries to get the remote stream going, but that's a minor complaint.
Yes. Remote stream and settings fail way too often. Sometimes it is impossible contacting the camera. But you cannot control the camera without the camera is starting the stream first, which well could be the reason for the failing servers.
I agree with jeff, I really don't see why you get negative feedback. I always watch your product reviews and compare your results as part of my research into a product.. then i make up my own mind.. it's not like we are paying you to put a camera system in and then complaining about the results.. Keep up the good work.. (both my parents cameras and mine are working great.)
Your honesty keeps me here. I have been involved in the security business for 15+ years and Reolink has always given me more performance than any other brand. Is it the best, no but it is a mainstay if you know the limitations as explained here.
this comment has tipped me over the edge to get the Reolink. 🙏🏽
I currently have 12 Reolink cameras, 7 pT’s 5 EV’s and they have been great, and some are several years old. I had an issue with some of the PT’s connecting so I contacted Reolink costumer support, they asked for some numbers off of the cameras and made some adjustment through the internet somehow and they started connecting within minutes of the call. I was amazed, that this was even possible. I feel for the price your getting decent quality.
I have found that a couple IR lights at different angles can dramatically improve the night quality of many cameras (even when dealing w/ movement)
It's the cheapest solution to improve night quality on my cams, and yes I do have 1 or 2 Reolink bullet cams in less important spots
I recommend Reolink, it allow you to view multiple cameras at the same time. It does not track you like the other security camera companies. I have 4 & plan to get more. It is quite sensitive to pick up motion, it is excellent.
Hello Peter I am thinking about getting some security cameras and looking to go with Reolink, are there any monthly fees for motion detection and the ability to view on my phone when I'm not home?
REOLINK I found that lowering the sharpness can improve the night video, but the video will be blurred during the day. I can suggest that the original manufacturer can change the sharpness to independent adjustment when the infrared is turned on, and the day and night sharpness can be separated.
I have used multiple reolink and amcrest cameras in my house. I am very satisfied with my reolink cameras. They are decently priced as well
Had a Reolink Argo 3 outside and it stopped working. Support just sent me out another one no questions asked so I was impressed with that.
I have two reolink cameras. One failed and leaked. Replaced straight away and they have great customer service for me with an app issue. I'm happy. FTP storage option is great.
Yeah okay. I'm subscribing. This guy seems legit
Need cellular camera for home security.I have power but Wi-Fi.would like spot light also. What 3choices you can recommend
Wow Rob, you continue to amaze!
Looking back I find it funny that I didn’t realize that the reason I Love your channel is precisely because of the way you do the competitions and comparisons between the products! And how anyone can question your authenticity or honesty is amazing!?! You have always been transparent about what you buy and what is given to you for review but it’s you that gets to choose what’s released, not the company.
The fact that you even took the time to put this whole video together, and directly answer their bad faith criticism just shows what a great guy you are!
You are such a throwback 😅 to what tech journalism used to be, and inspiration for what more should be striving for!
(Sorry if this is a little over the top, I’m not usually a fanboy, but Rob has done such an amazing job and has made my life so much easier when dealing with installs as he has done most of my research for me).
I’ve had older Reolink and nvr for two years now. I think I have the 410 cameras.
They seem to be reliable. I’m considering changing to a higher quality for two locations, the drive and front door. This review and detains helped there.
I’d prefer an open source NVR solution. I’ll have to research that.
I got 4 reolink cameras because of you and they work great with my blueiris setup can't complain
Have the same 10 rlc520 with BI. They just have to fixe the key frame setting and this will be perfect. (hope you ask them to do so 😁) cheer from France
just purchased reolink NVR with 811A cameras for a cabin location, thanks for reviewing product
Also known as: how to kill a review video. What a pro this guy is. Awsome, can't wait to see more of the channel.
The take away for me on the front of the house shots at night is to get a bright LED light to illuminate the area. It'd be interesting to see how the camera reacts when a motion sensing flood light turns on in the dark. Does it need time to react to the new lighting conditions? How much time?
That sponsor segway was amazing! Thanks for the in depth explanations as always!
I've been using Reolink Cameras for near on 2 years. I made the mistake of buying 4 x B800s with an NVR which use the Baichuan protocol on port 9000 so they don't natively use RTSP. I also have 1 x RLC-810A. Fast forward 2 years and I now want to use the cameras with Frigate and RTSP and only the 810A supports native RTSP @ 4K. I've since found a workaround in a 3rd party software Neolink which acts as 9000 - 554 proxy but a lot of messing around to get it going. I thought your review was very fair. Everything you've described with on the "Price / Performance" continuum for Reolink is certainly my experience. Works well in daylight but you're paying 2x the price of 4 cams and an NVR to get 1 x cam in an alternate brand to get little benefit on moving objects at night. Thanks for your content
I have Reolink GoPT cameras for game trails. They all worked great for about a year - mostly. The first thing to go is either the solar panel or I'm guessing the micro-usb connection that is in no way made for outdoor settings. Sure there's a little rubber boot, but that's a work around. Then after you replace a solar panel or two the next thing that will happen is the camera looses it's ability to find and maintain a signal. Sure you can reset the camera or whatever. I have three out right now. Standing next to them my I-phone (5S by the way) has full bars and total service. The camera will link up and by the next day I'm getting looking at them right now all three less than 50kbps. While that is a connection even on low resolution it's next to impossible to "watch" a video. I've been through a dozen of these Reolink GoPT cameras and have too much money into them to back out so I'll struggle. I've had several replaced under warranty. ReoLink has been excellent to work with but these cameras are NOT RELIABLE LONG TERM IN ANY REMOTE LOCATION.
I bought Reolink when I needed security cameras which, if I'm being honest, is because of this channel.. and I have no complaints. Mostly coz I already know all the pros and cons before diving in thanks to Rob presenting them coherently and transparently in his videos. And that's really everything you could wish for in a review / recommendation channel: get clear, complete, and honest details about different products so you can make your own informed decision. Thanks for the awesome videos, Rob!
I suspect that the silent majority who lurk see you have integrity.
Hey brother I don't agree with everything you say but I absolutely love your channel. You are a treasure and thank you for your time. (You and Paul are my go-to for home automation)
I love my Reolink. I had Arlo Go and cost me so much with using a cellular from Verizon not to mention it failed me since my yard got vandalized 5 times. I made the switch with Reolink no issues now . 2 weeks ago a thief tried to take camera down and when he had cam in hand and seen it moving he took off . With Reolink I can sleep at night now.
I would classify reolink cameras as okayish. Using them in zoneminder and I guess what would be called a dual stream setup the lower resolution stream is extremely poor quality compared to other cameras with the same resolution setup and typically use more hard drive space with the same bandwidth settings. I used the low resolution stream for motion detection and have the high resolution on full-time recording. Occasionally something goes wrong and smearing becomes a huge issue where the entire screen becomes pixelated with multi colors. It doesn't show this when I pull up the cameras in the mobile app but in its own minder it's a problem. A reboot of the cameras seems to fix it and it's not a constant problem but still an annoyance enough that I'm concerned I will miss something. I have several brands and none of the others have this issue. I'm only using the h265 recording because zoneminder
I will say I've been incredibly happy with my $60 Amcrest 5MP cameras ( IP5M-T1179EW) They look identical to certain Dauha models, so I assume they are relabeled. Regardless they have fantastic low light sensitivity and great night vision performance. And they also work perfectly with BlueIris including the main/sub stream switching features.
Yeah, my only complaint are the ASH model numbers are annoying as thy only work with the mobile app and don't have the control like the other models.
I'll have to Tell you this is my first time watching your channel and I learned something! I learned about the s.. someone once quoted if you're done learning you're finished.. I'm not sure if that was Mark Twain or Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Edison but that's one of them thank you
It’s right around here (@7:50), after watching your videos over the past 6 months in deciding how to retire my Arlo cameras that I’ve decided to beg you if not pay you money to please for the name of the Lord sake use an actual retired license plate. They are designed very specifically with contoured dimensional stamped lettering with reflections in their print; to be seen by cameras. Having one would really elevate and add value to the reviews that you are doing versus using that cardboard sign with what ever that lettering is. Love your reviews by the way! I hope I don’t seem like a troll with my strangely worded comment.
Very helpful, especially to those of us who are new to this technology.
Great video thanks youuuuu!!!
Following your recommendation I bought the Reolink 510A NVR and I love it. But it would be awesome if you could make a video on the optimal setting we should use to get the best quality images.
Thanks again 👍
I did have 1 Reolink Argus Eco fail after about 6 months, but was able to get a warranty replacement without much trouble.
Metrics, not assertions.
You sir are a treasure.
Hey man, don’t get caught up in the idiots who just need to find something to complain about. Be if they bought another brand they want to justify their higher price and not have buyers remorse, or snobs who just want to argue and get mad you didn’t recommend the ones they like.
If you can’t sense the honesty in your reviews they don’t deserve your time. You can tell the ones who have no clue or are trying to recommend ones that make them money haha
Hi Rob, thanks for your great work again! I'd be interested in a showdown between cameras that would fall into the upper right area of your graph, meaning: not cheap but kick-ass performance at any day/nighttime.
I was one of the people who responded negatively to the first Reolink video. First let me say I love what you do and don't doubt your integrity. I have two Reolink 820a cameras that like your video here says, have some really great points and bad ones too. I've still yet to make them work well with Blue Iris and these are the only camera out of 5 brands (Panasonic, Amcrest, LaView, Hikvision, Reolink) that I cannot get to record on my LaView NVR. It's not a knock on your integrity or even your review of the camera necessarily but tech is tough to review. Every person has different requirements and compatibility issues that you couldn't possibly test. I'm hoping Reolink eventually fixes their issues because I do like the (daytime) image quality and they seem pretty stable overall. Thank you for these great videos.
Something to consider when talking about NVR compatibility is OEM. Of those cameras that you listed Panasonic, LaView, and Hikvision are all made in the exact same factory (Panasonic and LaView are both use Hikvision as their OEM). Dahua makes Amcrest as well as Lorex. Reolink is their own OEM, and they don't make cameras for other companies, which is one of the reasons why they appear to be "less compatible" than other brands. That said, I'm guessing the incompability of the 820a is due to the H265 encoding, and I'd venture to guess than a 5mp Reolink would work since they use H264 encoding.
@@TheHookUp I get the OEM issue and you're probably right about the 5mp working but makes it hard to want to buy it when I know the others are 'more compatible' even between those two major OEMs. It would be great if they all just used the standards correctly. RTSP seems to work well when implemented correctly.
I'm really happy with my 8 5Mpx Reolink cameras since 2 years. No problem what so ever and they all record SD card and a ftp server with 5TB USB drive attached directly on my Asus router, no need for NVR. Also, good night time imaging is dependent on only one thing irrelevant of camera brand, good external flood lightning.
My biggest concern is that I only have older models without human/vehicle detection so the cameras triggers constantly during rain/snow when the internal IR-light sources are turned on at night. Again, an external flood light is a must for night vision. It is simply to much to expect that you can get good footage when you cant even see anything yourself with your own eyes.
As for software, I just use the Reolink software on the phone and on PC. It works great if I want to review something. Otherwise, I just pull up the images from the ftp server directly.
I love your videos. POSSIBLE FUTURE VIDEO IDEA: One video I'd really like to see is how family/wife friendly all your Hooked Up stuff is from their perspective. I've got several "smart" things in my home and overall my wife likes the convenience when it's all working as expected. However, when things don't work for whatever reason I almost always have to step in to correct whatever the issue is. Now, this could be down to my specific wife (I haven't tried other models in my home nor have I tried a complete wife shut down and reboot) or the "smart" things I've chosen thus far, but it'd be good to hear their perspective on how user-friendly everything you have setup is and how they are or are not able to work around or fix an issue on their own. Just from watching your videos I know you've got A LOT more setup than I will probably ever have, and the user friendliness of everything as well as the ability to get stuff going if it doesn't just work has kept me from doing more.
I've watched several of your videos in my journey to build a home surveillance system. Landed on a quartet of 811A's and I've been pretty happy with them, especially for the reasonable cost.
Josh - I am looking at the 811A's or the Lorex equivalent (N4K2SD-84WB) what made you decide to get the ReoLink?
@@RickyHole9191 features. I like that this model has spotlights and audio. Having a deterrent is better than just recording stuff IMO. As for the brand, it just seemed reputable and not crazy expensive. I have a buddy that has cameras that cost 4 times as much, but have less features. Has better camera, but lacks In usefulness fir the money. Boils down to value as this video highlights.
Just wish some of the manufacturers and reviews were as truthful as yours. PLEASE keep up the good work.
i bought reolink 4k nvr system with 8 cameras for a pub. they have been incredible. i can zoom in on a stone on the floor across the street probably about 50m.
the cons i have found is sometimes when i am trying to find footage , sometimes it skips as though its not there.(could just be time for a new hdd)
it will restart it self during the night, could just be a setting.
even though it is on auto, it will switch to black and white, even though theres still enough light, so i have to do it manually.
(as such my indoor ones, when we switch from the main lights to the led string lights disco lights etc)
Again love the system way better than the old bnc hikvision we still have on.
the quality and zoom has helped us so much.
i would love to get all ubiquiti eventually to go with my wireless network setup, though ubiquiti cost 4-5 times the price of reolink
id need about 20
I'm SO GLAD I found this video. I'm poised to transition to a new camera company & this video is EXACTLY what I'm looking for! The comments below are also invaluable to me. This video has helped more than the articles I've spent hours reading. (Like others, I think it's silly that you've gotten grief about your recommendations. You seem pretty clear about your position, relationship, & opinions. Other content creators' motives seem a bit more murky.) FWIW, I plan to toss Wyze in the garbage & get cameras that have been beta-tested PRIOR to release (Wyze doesn't do this - customer complaints are the Wyze version of beta-testing) from a company that provides *actual* customer support (Wyze only has support for setup - customer forums are the only way to get "support"). The cameras are ok when/if they work. But they're SO buggy! One of mine is just 2 yrs old & it has to be restarted AND reset several times every freakin day. The company is *not* ok. I'm *SO* over their complete lack of beta testing & customer support staff. I have to really watch my language when describing how AWFUL my Wyze experience has been. I don't mind having cameras that are not the highest quality. I just want cameras that are decent quality, have features I need, & don't require monthly subscriptions... Blah blah blah. THANK YOU! I'm about to go binge on your videos now. 🙂
do you use default settings or you customize it? if you use default settings, can you do a video with "best" settings for each camera? ex; exposure time matter a lot
Love your videos, especially the automation stuff. Your IP camera reviews are informative, but I always wonder why some of the very best cameras, but still under $300 (Mainly Hikvision and Dahua, particularly the Dahua Starlight line) seem to be omitted. I think I know where some of the criticism you mentioned comes from, I hang out on that site as well. They really DO know their IP cams, but the accusations of any monetary motivation were way out of line. I have a Blue Iris system, with cameras ranging from great (Dahua Starlight Turrets) to pretty good (Quite old Hikvision 2cd2032 bullets) pretty bad (Wyze, Tapo) and pure crap, but only $15.00 (Top201, ) but they all serve their particular purpose. Again, love your videos, keep up the great work!
To my knowledge the Dahua 5442 is basically the "go to" recommendation for them, but I'm sure they'll find something to complain about, they always do.
@@TheHookUp I knew the second you mentioned being a villain on the net, who those people were. That forum is a cesspool.
Your video represents a lot of work, very thorough. Appreciate to the fact that it is unsponsored.
i have a 16 channel NVR. And 8 POE cameras, wireless doorbell soon and a couple wireless ones in the house. I love them so far. The set up was so easy, literally plugged in the NVR to my router and it automatically synced. Pulled up the app on the same wifi network and again automatically synced just needed to put the PW in
Yes. I bought these shit cameras thanks to you. Thank god for Amazon return policies.
Sorry they didn't work out for you, Amazon's return policy is great. Can I ask what specifically you were expecting that your Reolink cameras didn't deliver on? Also, what did you end up replacing them with?
When people get frustrated disgusted with cams it's sometimes because their expectations were higher than what cams can deliver. It's wise to check out numerous pro/con reviews before buying. There are negative comments for ALL brands on CZcams and Google Play Store. Many people like Reolink for their cost/preformance. I do.
@@markd.songsandstuff7728 it’s clear these cameras were misrepresented based on all the back lash and discussions on other forums. The fact that he had to make this video also reinforces that.
@@TheHookUp I seem to recall the combination of clarity at night and BI problems. Also I went to the other forums and it seemed to make it more obvious Reolinks are bad cameras. I think they ended up being Dahua T5542
@@bbrendon You keep saying "other forums" plural. Ipcamtalk is the only place they talk crap about me, and if you look around that place is about the most brainwashed hivemind you can find online. They literally ban anyone who has a different opinion than them and their main admin has made personal threats to countless people: www.reddit.com/r/BlueIris/comments/iawlag/fenderman_ipcamtalk_issues/
Basically, you are saying that some forum convinced you that your cameras were bad, so you spent twice as much money and got better cameras.
Well I’m slow. What do I buy!? I’m starting my home build in two days and am looking for a system
I was surprised by the quality of your camera analysis. I am from Spain, here in Europe we do not find comparisons with this impartiality. Almost everyone has their hands stained by whoever pays them.
Gotta admit that I had a difficult time getting my ReoLink camera going on a raspberry pi. But after I got it going it is a champ.
THE CLEAN CUT ON CAMERA 3 AND 4 IS SO CLEAR 12:32
I just got me the Reolink Trackmaster POE. Everything is great!! Install was just a few minutes.
Try the Reolink CX410.
If you have street lighting, excellent night vision.
The thing I dislike is the one screw adjustment neck, you can get it adjusted but it's a pain to point exactly where you want.
I prefer the Hikvision 2 screw/bolt adjustment.
We use Blue Iris with the CX410, no problems, just set the I-frame rate to 1, on both channels, the frames per seconds rate the same on Main, and the Sub channels.
My first Reolink camera, the RLC410, that I bought in May 2017 failed two weeks ago. It just suddenly stopped working, I watched the video for the minutes prior to when it stopped and no indication it was going to fail. 5 years is a pretty good run. The previous no-name eBay purchased security camera I had, that I bought in 2014 lasted till 2017 (the video circuit stopped working, but still picked up audio).
I bought a second RLC-410 camera and a 8 channel Reolink NVR in April 2019, and a third camera last year in August. I hadn't put that new camera up yet, so the new camera will replace the dead camera. Seems from now on, I need to buy the RLC-510 cameras, since the RLC-410 were discontinued.
Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with the system (though I did have to replace the NVR in Oct 2020, when it was one of the devices that got zapped when lightning hit near my house).
Q: Nest vs Reolink? I have nest cameras for 3 years and they have been terrible. Constantly going offline. especially when I am out of town. i am the only one have the password.
Just saw this video and I have had 2 cameras fail from Reolink. I will say Reolink's support was fantastic and shipped out replacements within a day or two. One of the cameras lenses became blurry and be that a firmware upgrade and a reset to factory did not resolve the issue. Not sure if moisture found a way in or not? The other camera got stuck into a boot loop and never recovered. Not clear on what the issue was there. But again the support was fantastic, and still highly recommend them for that and the great price point.