Which brand for cctv... Hikvision / Dahua / Lilin?

[Arjay12345]

Hi all

I need to settle on a brand for cctv for the home. My installer suggested Lilin as they have integrated that before.

Looking online, the cameras look almost identical for Lilin, and Hikvision and Dahua,  but prices vary greatly. Are there real differences between the three brands, or are they in reality churned out from the same factory?

Example camera I am considering is the Dahua N44CG53. (Dome 4mp, night ir, PoE, approx £60)

Thanks for opinions...

[eggzlot]

I use Dahua and think the price/quality ratio is spot on.  I used to have Lilin and because its sold by a dealer there is a mark up.  Its not inferior quality but you just pay more for the same feature set.  Your dealer likely sells them because they can be sold directly to C4 dealers via their ordering portal.  Its easy.

That said, if your dealer has experience installing them and configuring them vs other brands then there is something to be said about saving some time/headaches.  If they charge per hour you can save a buck by buying Dahua directly from BH Photo or Ali Express but then you likely pay your dealer more hourly charges as he needs to learn their software/firmware, the c4 drivers, etc.

for me, I use Dahua with Blue Iris as my NVR.  I only need my dealer to add another BI Driver instance each time I add a camera but I can do all the config on my end.  So that set up works for me.  My electrician ran my wires, I physically hooked up each camera and did the set up on each camera too.

[Arjay12345]

Sounds great... that's the conclusion I was coming to. I already have cat 5's (I think) running to points, and I'm well trained enough to mount and wire them (though I may still dig out a video on YouTube that may help orientated before I get up the ladder!) I can terminate the other ends to the switch too, so just need the installer to add them to the programmer.

Two questions then...

Which cameras did you go for in terms of mp? The 4mp seems well priced so opting for that. And PoE means you only need the cat and no other wires, correct?

And any reason you went for the Blue Iris as opposed to Duhua NVR? Is there much difference between NVR besides disk size?

Thanks

[LollerAgent]

1 hour ago, eggzlot said:

That said, if your dealer has experience installing them and configuring them vs other brands then there is something to be said about saving some time/headaches.  If they charge per hour you can save a buck by buying Dahua directly from BH Photo or Ali Express but then you likely pay your dealer more hourly charges as he needs to learn their software/firmware, the c4 drivers, etc.

Andy (from ipcamtalk) also sales directly on Amazon Prime now.

[LollerAgent]

42 minutes ago, Arjay12345 said:

Sounds great... that's the conclusion I was coming to. I already have cat 5's (I think) running to points, and I'm well trained enough to mount and wire them (though I may still dig out a video on YouTube that may help orientated before I get up the ladder!) I can terminate the other ends to the switch too, so just need the installer to add them to the programmer.

Two questions then...

Which cameras did you go for in terms of mp? The 4mp seems well priced so opting for that. And PoE means you only need the cat and no other wires, correct?

And any reason you went for the Blue Iris as opposed to Duhua NVR? Is there much difference between NVR besides disk size?

Thanks

Really depends on the usage, but most people over on ipcamtalk.com will recommend the Dahua Starlight 2MP/4MP models due to their excellent night-time performance.  Yes, you only need a single CAT cable to go to the camera for both power+data.  I would recommend checking out this wiki page [1] for lots of information on configuration, setup, model selection, etc.

I said I wasn't going to do it.. but I ended up building a Blue Iris NVR as well.  The main reason is that it's compatible with a wide variety of camera brands - not just Dahua.  I have a few other brands sprinkled in my project for various reasons.  I haven't really messed with it too much yet, but it seems to be working fine.  I don't actually use the BI driver for C4 right now - I just integrate each camera individually.  I guess I may change that in the future though. 

[1] https://ipcamtalk.com/wiki/ip-cam-talk-cliff-notes/

[RobbieF]

Dahua - And the C4 Driver is awesome

[dw886]

I'd make sure that you upgrade to the StarLight version (Starvis sensor).  They're far better than the regular Dahuas in low light (at night).  I have both regular and starlight Dahuas, and there's no comparison between the two at night.  The Starlight in my driveway is full color in the middle of the night with just a street light that's about 100' away and some landscape lights.  I have another in the back, and that's full color with just landscaping lights...

[Arjay12345]

Good advice... do you have any model numbers? Or link to a page showing details?

[LollerAgent]

1 minute ago, Arjay12345 said:

Good advice... do you have any model numbers? Or link to a page showing details?

I already gave you a link.

https://ipcamtalk.com/wiki/ip-cam-talk-cliff-notes/

[eggzlot]

re: Blue Iris - as some people said getting an agnostic NVR is better.  It can easily without fuss support 1,000's of cameras.  In my house I have Dahua, Vivotek, KT&C and Foscam.  Each camera manufacture/model had something different required.  Vivotek has these super small recessed interior cameras that I wanted in 1-2 locations but I did not want a "big" indoor camera because I do not want my house looking like a jail.  In 7 months not one person has even seen these cameras in my house, they are amazingly small!  outdoors I wanted the Starvis so I went Dahua.  My doorstation from Holovision uses KT&C cameras and I have a cheap Foscam to monitor a back room because I just had to stick something on a table, that's it, nothing fancy.

Buying 6 identical cameras to shove around the house is a poor design method.  You should find the best camera for the location/task and having an open NVR aids in that process.  And speaking of design process, remember different locations will require different FOVs

[tdougray]

Anyone have any thoughts on " reolink" cameras ?

[Cyknight]

15 hours ago, Arjay12345 said:

re there real differences between the three brands, or are they in reality churned out from the same factory?

Heh, actually, I believe you've just hit the three true separate producers of cameras.

Surprised he didn't suggest Pakedge, which is Lilin but with custom firmware made for C4.

If you're concerned with such things as China potentially looking into your cameras and believe in the idea that chinese manufacturers are in on a full on conspiracy - Lilin or Pakedge are your likely choices.

But honestly all three are fine cameras.

True with Lilin/Pakedge you pay a bit more, but you pay for the added support available.

Blue Iris is a great idea, but keep in mind that not all dealers are willing to work with a non-standard setup like it. I'm not saying they shouldn't, but there's plenty out there that only want to deal with more 'cookie cutter' setups, and there's something to be said for such an approach (if it works and works well, every time....)

 

No clue on REOlink itself but there's a driver available.

[Arjay12345]

Folks... all of this has been amazing help. Thanks very much. 

Think I'll stick with Dahua. Now it's just which camera to buy. @LollerAgent, thanks for the link to the wiki... certainly is the most comprehensive I've ever seen! One key advice is to buy a Starlight model, but naming conventions seem to vary at retailers.

Do any on the digits on the model code signal that one is a Starlight version? I've seen the IPC-HDW4631C-A for £63 but the description doesn't mention Starlight. Wondering if you can decipher from the product coding?

Note, I'm in the UK so need a UK retailer/model.

Thanks vm..

[LollerAgent]

6 hours ago, Arjay12345 said:

Folks... all of this has been amazing help. Thanks very much. 

Think I'll stick with Dahua. Now it's just which camera to buy. @LollerAgent, thanks for the link to the wiki... certainly is the most comprehensive I've ever seen! One key advice is to buy a Starlight model, but naming conventions seem to vary at retailers.

Do any on the digits on the model code signal that one is a Starlight version? I've seen the IPC-HDW4631C-A for £63 but the description doesn't mention Starlight. Wondering if you can decipher from the product coding?

Note, I'm in the UK so need a UK retailer/model.

Thanks vm..

Stick with buying them from EmpireTech-Andy on Amazon (or directly from him on the ipcamtalk forums).  He is a known retailer, super helpful and you're guaranteed to get legitimate cameras.   Here is one model to look at:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B7K1P28/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Send him a message on ipcamtalk.com and he'll help you pick a model.

 

[BraydonH]

Ive been using Interlogix for years, but now with them shutting down I am going to need to find a new line of Cameras.

I think we will likely move to LUMA Cameras. They are pricey but they do work very well in and out of the C4 ecosystem.

Anyone know if LUMA cameras are rebadged from another brand? As far as I can tell they seem to be unique, but I could be wrong.

[LollerAgent]

29 minutes ago, BraydonH said:

Ive been using Interlogix for years, but now with them shutting down I am going to need to find a new line of Cameras.

I think we will likely move to LUMA Cameras. They are pricey but they do work very well in and out of the C4 ecosystem.

Anyone know if LUMA cameras are rebadged from another brand? As far as I can tell they seem to be unique, but I could be wrong.

They are re-branded Hikvision (with modded firmeware).

[BraydonH]

Interesting, I did not know that luma was rebranded hikvision.

Any chance you could point me to the Hik equivilent of a LUMA-510 analog?

https://www.snapav.com/shop/en/snapav/analog-cameras/luma-surveillance-trade%3B-510-series-dome-analog-camera-black-lum-510-dom-a-bl 

 

 

[LollerAgent]

3 minutes ago, BraydonH said:

Interesting, I did not know that luma was rebranded hikvision.

Any chance you could point me to the Hik equivilent of a LUMA-510 analog?

https://www.snapav.com/shop/en/snapav/analog-cameras/luma-surveillance-trade%3B-510-series-dome-analog-camera-black-lum-510-dom-a-bl 

 

 

Sorry - I do not know the exact models.

[dw886]

10 hours ago, Arjay12345 said:

Folks... all of this has been amazing help. Thanks very much. 

Think I'll stick with Dahua. Now it's just which camera to buy. @LollerAgent, thanks for the link to the wiki... certainly is the most comprehensive I've ever seen! One key advice is to buy a Starlight model, but naming conventions seem to vary at retailers.

Do any on the digits on the model code signal that one is a Starlight version? I've seen the IPC-HDW4631C-A for £63 but the description doesn't mention Starlight. Wondering if you can decipher from the product coding?

Note, I'm in the UK so need a UK retailer/model.

Thanks vm..

Look at the sensor in the specs of the model you're looking at - most descriptions tell you the make / model of the sensor on the camera.  If it says Starvis, then it's a StarLight.  If it's Sony or something else, then it's not StarLight.  That being said, I've found lots of typos in the specs and descriptions in the past.  EmpireTech-Andy will know for sure.  There's many people at ipcamtalk that use him when buying Dahua.