Security Cameras, License Plates & Glare at Night - What You Can Do

[@eking7690]

I got into your videos while trying to find something that i felt would work around a house i purchased a few years ago. i still need to work on a security system as undecided as i am, but i appreciate the effort you put in as well as your reviews. Keep it up.

[@LifeHackster]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[@Ytleo77]

Hi i need your help.where can i contact you

[@Stealther]

One thing you forgot are headlights and taillights on either side of the plates. They create a photonic barrier making it more difficult for cameras to read plates.

[@LifeHackster]

It depends on the angle. I had my old 4MP Reolink that has optical zoom that had no issues reading plates at night even with headlights ON..I wish the shutter speed can be adjusted on these cameras.. -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGKTYZeulKuJnrc

[@Stealther]

@@LifeHackster Yes, you're right. Angle matters. I was talking about more of a straight on angle, such as a car pulling into a driveway.

[@AlinCosma]

@@LifeHackster I have 2 RLC 811A and at night the camera is blinded by the plate lights or tailgate lights. Right now camera is at the same level with the plates and angle is 45 degrees. What would you recommend? We are also trying with an IR illuminator and have the camera in B&W mode all the time.

[@paulmiyagishima7655]

Greetings from Torrance! Just came back from Vegas to see another awesome video from you. This little tip is huge! It never occurred to me to set up another light source from a different angle whether it be a spotlight or IR light. Twice now neighbors have come over to ask if my cameras have seen anything, but because the footage is at night, I couldn't make out any details. One bad guy, at night, had his car backed straight to my garage camera and all I could see is a reflection. I can't wait to see your recommendations for a LPR or a poor man's LPR. Keep up the great work! This is a huge tip and I plan on watching this a few times to get ideas. Thanks again!

[@LifeHackster]

Thank You and you are welcome.

[@ddash1983]

Found any poor man lpr yet?

[@tubbyttub]

Great video! Really looking forward to the follow-up.

[@PatLyoutubepage]

this is great. your test shows how additional lighting either regular leds or infared can greatly inmprove night time video quality.

[@LifeHackster]

Yes..they do.

[@lobbanreview4u]

This is my 9th Reolink camera. They keep getting better...and this is a significant jump in resolution and quality.... Color night vision requires the light, but its pretty neat. Security cameras have come a long way.

[@MolinaNilson]

Any update on the poor mans LPR video? This is really important for me. We just had a theft in my house and I never want to feel so powerless again. Being able to get a license plate is crucial for me. I don't just want to see the burglars stealing from me, I want to be able to get their plates and have a better chance of getting them arrested!

[@Blue-Hawk-Legend]

Buy a gun and a 2 or 3 hidden cameras inside

[@EMTru-999]

Im hoping to see that one too

[@RightToFreedomGirl]

Been a year - this was useless. We know our cameras dont work on locrnse plates 😂

[@chrislindsay3104]

This was just the review I was looking for. I didn't even know you can buy a LPR camera. thanks

[@LifeHackster]

You are welcome.

[@Rockaland2]

you need to get LPR security camera but these tips are gold..

[@terryglenweaver]

It would seem to me that if the light shining on and around the plate is brighter than the lights on the plate, the plates would show up. UV an IR could assist if bright enough.

[@edwardrogers-wright1604]

Excellent review! What would be the effects if the license was at say, thirty degrees to the axis of the camera?

[@Catman1798]

Not sure about at night but I put security cameras on the trees closest to the front street or sidewalk in front of my house. The cameras I have are revo america but older versions.Stick up cam ring or arlo might work better. I haven’t done it with those since I need a better router to reach signal out there. But overall with this placement At least you get a better view of what the car is etc. and people. maybe get lucky with a license plate number perhaps. I also bought a lens that is fixed zoomed. Not sure what number it’s at but I found it on Amazon and screwed it into my revo camera and it completely zooms the shot very nice. Still can’t make out license plates barely since they are older grainy cams. Not sure if you can replace lenses on the 1080p and up cameras. But that zoom lens I got for $10 was a great buy. I have that one in my back alley. Messes up the night vision but it’s well lit in my alley where it’s pointing. If you put cameras up in the trees in front of your house do it at night so no one will see what you are doing lol.

[@LifeHackster]

Thanks for sharing your setup. For license plate recognition, the narrower the FOV the better..and an optical zoom camera even in 1080p is better than a fixed wide FOV 4k one. I’ll make another video focusing on this topic soon.

[@Catman1798]

@@LifeHackster I don’t think you reviewed the sunba PTZ POE camera? The one with 20 or 25X zoom. It’s on amazon for like $329-$429. I have had my eye on that one for years. They have a new one for the $429. I can’t find many reviews for it on here.

[@widester1000]

Great info again thanks. With the Reolink ptz - can the camera track movement outside your property without the spot light coming on, but turn on once in side the property. Like different zones.

[@LifeHackster]

Not at this time on what you are describing.

[@GiorgioSegatori]

I have a reolink 823a 16x and I can read perfectly the plates during the day. On the night even if I have the street very illuminated, but since the cars have their headlights on at night the license plate cannot be read, how can this be resolved?

[@ddash1983]

Any high resolution poe cameras with optical zoom features would work at night? Lpr cameras are super expensive and im looking for an alternative

[@modernwize]

can you do an update video?

[@topandrun126]

I had a hit and run today. The video is very clear unfortunately I cannot view the license plate even when I zoom up close. Is there any software that can zoom in to view the license plate? Thanks

[@MrPir84free]

To me, it seems like a pole mounted light that illuminates that back yard ( or two or three ) would be the best choice. Although, it's been my experience that many that wander into the back yards aren't really carrying license plates or mug shot placards. One wants to be able to clearly view the person's face, and other features like what is being carried, etc than reading a license plate.

[@LifeHackster]

As I said in the video, this is for viewers that have been asking me why I don’t do the license plate test during night time. Also, my backyard is just my setup to test cameras..but viewers can easily apply this to their front yard, front driveway, etc… where people can drive up with their cars and license plate is way more faster for police to track a person than by their faces.

[@G.Harley.Davidson]

What about the tag light on the car? Will that not wash out the plate?

[@frankbleicher6943]

If my timer is on and it has a solid blue light does that mean that it is recording still or do I have to have a red light for it to be recording at night

[@chowderhead1337]

Looking forward to the poor man's LPR video.

[@SF-fm7ov]

I have the RLC 811A covering the same area as a CX410. I have the 811 zoomed for license plates but it is still marginal. Is there a better Reolink camera for detail?

[@sentar6969]

I love your video I was wondering have you thought about dash cams capturing stuff like this for hit and run cases on cars

[@andrewredding3132]

Would love to see the poor mans lpr video. I have a rlc824a on my alley and plenty of other flood lights, but still cant get plates at night. Im considering using the rlc811 with its varifocal lens zoomed in dedicated just for capturing plates.

[@lf8498]

Great informative video! 👍

[@owadasaoluwafemi8819]

How can you help me out with my reolink Nvr connecting to 3 different Tvs and one to my desktop computer without any problems with the signal and images

[@LifeHackster]

HDMI splitter for the TVs and you can use the Reolink app for windows for your computer.

[@xander-mk4ck]

hey LF, what are your thoughts on the wyze cam floodlight ? honestly it’s the cheapest floodlight cam on the market , 24/7 recording with sd card , local storage , loud speaker , and a usb port to power another v3 but i experience nothing but issues . constant false light motion light activations , floodlights turn on when you view the live stream , late to turn on floodlights , floodlights won’t record events or won’t detect … this thing has more bugs than ant hill

[@LifeHackster]

The setup that I did for this video, the wyze floodlight actually performed good…I just used the PIR for light activations and I didn’t notice it turning On randomly at night as compared to when I initially reviewed it.

[@abowden5079]

Do you have any autofocusing issues with the 823a when optical zooming at night? I dont mind a second or a couple seconds to focus after zooming but ive heard rumours of it taking ages longer to focus after zooming at night. How was your experience?

[@LifeHackster]

Yes, with color night vision and even when the spotlights are On..in black and white night vision, it focuses faster and stays on. I noticed this more when going to my preset positions at night…

[@GiorgioSegatori]

​@@LifeHackstercan you help me to config the 823a 16x in the night? Please

[@xander-mk4ck]

hey LF, can you do a video on the wyze solar panels

[@LifeHackster]

I’m not sure on this one…I really didn’t like their outdoor camera which is the only camera that uses the solar panel.

[@Lyle_918]

Have the Reolink E1 outdoor, is it possible to set up more than one smart phone to monitor?

[@LifeHackster]

Yes, you can. Just use the share option in the app.

[@DonJohn240]

I want to setup Dusk to Dawn lighting in my backyard but don't want to blind my neighbors. (I have no fencing around my property) Any ideas?

[@stevev1008]

Buy window film/tint, super easy to instill on glass.

[@LifeHackster]

Either point down the lights or have something like a shroud to help just focus the light in your property.

[@CarlosFlores-br2zr]

What kind of camera is that?

[@nyacoustics8373]

problem is no one in the real world has car traveling cars through their back yard lol. these conditions would be super difficult to replicate in the street as there are not many things to mount these camera or lights to near the sidewalk and street curb

[@gergemall]

Thank you

[@chicano323]

What's the best security camera you've tested so far if you had to use one yourself personally for your own home?

[@LifeHackster]

I have Ring and Eufy for WiFi based cameras and Reolink 4k for wired NVR PoE for backup.

[@bh6017]

Why not just the reolink? Aren’t those better than the ring? Or is the app and notification better on the WiFi cameras?

[@paxmega9506]

how about that ip or nvm vameras using optical zoom to make the poor mans license plate camera?

[@HeSavesMankind]

Take pictures of license plates with no flash/very little light in black and white mode 60fps or better, then turn up contrast with a PC.

[@ronm6585]

Thanks.

[@LifeHackster]

You are welcome.

[@GuevaraValentijn]

Thank you,

[@hydroaegis6658]

Basically if there is enough indirect lighting it's possible to read it.

[@roba168]

When are you going to give us a smart home tour?” If so what platform are you using apple HomeKit, google Alexa et .

[@anant0089]

Dude do more cctv cam review with wifi

[@ProudArabz]

Then how does the city get my license plate when sending me a ticket

[@LifeHackster]

LPR cams

[@matthewhartley8756]

You know what sucks the most when you've got neighbors who think the cameras point night their backyard but it's really important out my backyard when they shoot the camera that's the pain you're gonna get the purchase another $500 camera

[@crazydude8180]

do a vid with out any lights with different cameras.

[@tjac4801]

Have you saw the video with guy installed a license plate camera at his house, if not check it out

[@alexchliwnyj5941]

Glare is not the entire problem and this is not a valid test at all because vehicles have lights that you didn't account for. I am trying to set up a camera for vehicles that come on my property. The camera has to be about 70 feet away so I got a camera with a 6 to 60mm zoom lens. My problem is the license plate lights and the tail lights wash out the license plate because the rest of the frame is too dark and the camera sets the exposure for the average. I am searching for an ir illuminator to light up the whole frame but the reviews on Amazon are not great as most products don't perform as advertised.. Your walking around in the back yard was totally unrealistic.

[@LifeHackster]

Good for you!

[@AmariBowsershorts]

Hi

[@Sparky-joystick.1308]

Cctv 1080p HDD

[@zuhairhlayel]

💐🌷👍🌹💐

[@cloutgangster]

Reolink cameras suck at night! Hikvision is 10x better!

[@EarsBeEazy]

this really has no practical use. If a stranger is driving in your backyard, you have much bigger problems than your camera, not being able to detect the cars license plate or if there's some deranged mad man holding a sign on your private property not being able to read it doesn't matter, doesn't really serve a purpose. good technical info tho

[@LifeHackster]

Sometimes people take videos they see literally… you know what…just imagine I am in the front yard and I am a car.. 🤦

[@johncalhoob1582]

Useless demonstration. Car’s license plates will never be facing your camera, always at a side angle. Your demonstration is useless for this purpose

[@LifeHackster]

Useless comment…never facing your camera, really? What about cars driving up your driveway? Also, I demoed that even if it is in a side angle, you will still get glare if you use your cameras lights or IR..test it before saying anything.

[@edwardrogers-wright1604]

​@@LifeHackster, I made my comment a few seconds before reading this reply. Thanks for your reviews ...

[@javierfree17]

How can you do that with an ezviz camera c3w 1080p?

[@LifeHackster]

I haven’t tested the C3W but if you can turn off the lights and infrared LEDs independently from color and black and white night vision, then you will be able to do it.