Watch BEFORE you buy Reolink security cameras.

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/...
*As an Amazon Affiliate I earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you*
Visit my website: www.TheSmartHom...
Follow me on Twitter: @TheHookUp1
Join me on Facebook: www.facebook.c...
Support my channel:
Patreon: / thehookup
Music by www.BenSound.com

[@boojackson7133]

I have been using reolink cameras close to 2 years base on your recommendation and I have 0 issues with them. Thank you

[@janlochman1985]

Suprising, I have issues from the beggining.

[@KalchykDen]

@@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

[@richardandresllocllacarden3693]

same here

[@mikee76427]

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!

[@ImTotallyTechy]

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.

[@robovac3557]

That would be a really odd thing to lie about.

[@ImTotallyTechy]

@@robovac3557 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 Funny bro

[@robovac3557]

@@ImTotallyTechy Did you sit on your phone?

[@ImTotallyTechy]

@@robovac3557 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 Bro is a comedian ❗❗❗fuckin hilarious 💯 💯 💯

[@robovac3557]

@@ImTotallyTechy Alright, calm down. Hardly Grade A material fella.

[@ChrisWillhaus]

This was an excellent video. Straight to the point without any stupid storytelling or filler. Very well done. I wish KZbin was more like this

[@_davidfoster_]

Being a ReoLink user ( former arlo user ) I was very pleased with the findings and of course, superbly presented! Another very useful video👌

[@markdennis5836]

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

[@ctcarvlogs7697]

@@markdennis5836are they the dome cameras? i hate how arlo has a dang subscription fee

[@markdennis5836]

@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

[@ctcarvlogs7697]

@@markdennis5836 Thank you, sir

[@JustinVK]

I've owned mine for 2 years and LOVE THEM! Your review played part in my decision.

[@DanWhite1972]

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.

[@FrustratedBaboon]

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.

[@jeffwelvaert1494]

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.

[@splinters_pinter]

Ditto, I have three of them, one little indoor ptz and a couple outdoors and they’re great for the price.

[@mathieugoy2236]

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.

[@EsotericArctos]

The negative feedback came from some areas which have a little influence in the industry unfortunately. This video was very much needed.

[@jakemccoy]

I find most of the complaints come from people who expect plug-and-play without tinkering.

[@Truevisionsolutions]

They are shocking!

[@brentjorgensen5632]

just purchased reolink NVR with 811A cameras for a cabin location, thanks for reviewing product

[@realmaxpower]

I've used reolink for 7 years. They are great. In harsh Canadian climate all 16 still work great.

[@HSoapes]

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.

[@realmaxpower]

@@HSoapes They replaced two of mine that did that via support. You could also open it up and place a desiccant packet inside.

[@noniespam]

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.

[@_j_j]

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).

[@smgarwood]

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).

[@kyverwatch]

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!

[@Minuteman75]

I have been using Reolink cameras for several years and the only problem I have had was when we changed our security system. I had forgotten my password and had to start over, not the camera’s fault. Once I wiped everything and started over, worked like a champ. I will still recommend Reolink to anyone who asks me what I use.

[@marcusone1]

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 :)

[@AmberGarrett-py6ry]

Outstanding job comparing the cameras in real life. Thank you.

[@chuuter]

I don't think I have ever seen an analysis so comprehensive on KZbin. Simply incredible. You should have 3 million subs. Most of the public just stops their security at Ring. Sheesh!

[@darrennew8211]

LifeHackster does a great job as well, with a standard set of visual audio and detection tests he uses for all his cameras.

[@robsteal3887]

I've been using these cameras, based on your recommendation, for the last 4 to 5 years and have had zero issues.

[@EnriqueMaxx]

Same

[@lutfidwedari]

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.

[@sgreimer]

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.

[@-ColorMehJewish-]

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

[@pawelolender3709]

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.

[@geomatrix5452]

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!

[@larsvaneynde4281]

Just don't mount them underneath your camera's with IR or they won't turn on, I found that out the hard way :).

[@jasminebatista8954]

Lars Van Eynde where would you suggest to mount them ?

[@6345788]

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!

[@LadyRenira]

**Sees this video pop up just after purchasing cameras based on your recommendation.** Oh dear. **Starts watching...** Oh thank goodness, whew.

[@RossReedstrom]

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)

[@SpotOnTechNL]

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.

[@supernova1976]

This comment should be pinned

[@kirkchapman6098]

I am a fan of Reolink, albeit they have their issues on WiFi in the app, but I have sent 2 back in my history with them. One was totally full of water at one point, so obviously a bad unit seal-wise. Thanks for the reviews my friend!

[@kjcornwell]

FINALLY, a security guy that doesn't blab on and on and just gets to the facts. Nice work my guy.

[@AutumnsFlameInMyEye]

Dude blabbed for 2 minutes before talking about the cameras

[@TexasLocalProduce]

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!

[@CptPeteExplorer]

Just to say great comparison video. I have 6 RCL510WA and an Outdoor E1

[@epicwin3798]

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

[@jhamaker]

I did have 1 Reolink Argus Eco fail after about 6 months, but was able to get a warranty replacement without much trouble.

[@robs3752]

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.

[@JoshLineberry]

I've got like 12+ of their cameras still working great after a year+. Very weird.

[@aarshpatel2000]

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?

[@oldaccount7463]

What model?

[@DoctorPrepperMD]

I had several where the lenses cracked and shattered. You can’t really tell unless sun is on lens.

[@timmbos]

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.

[@BrianSimmons]

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.

[@TheHookUp]

Sure, But to use that much zoom I’d need 8+ cameras to cover my front yard.

[@IowaLR4]

@@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.

[@stevenjev]

@@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?

[@mattmcpherson353]

@@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.

[@BrianSimmons]

@@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.

[@RJDean-td9kz]

This video was a great help to give me the info that I needed to make a choice on Reolink, thank you

[@streetwiztech5505]

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.)

[@Elkmonger]

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.

[@officialjoeynguyen]

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...

[@saabuldin]

Yes I'm hoping they release a doorbell cam

[@rcflyer2008]

Reolink is not reliable at all, its not stable. For sure the quality can't compare to geovision or even illustra.

[@TheHookUp]

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.

[@weltbestevideos]

Hands down the best cam review I have came across!

[@nodonk]

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!

[@stal13i]

THE CLEAN CUT ON CAMERA 3 AND 4 IS SO CLEAR 12:32

[@karikells]

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. 🙂

[@downtodo]

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.

[@steamhammer2k]

UK: I have had 5 Reolink Camera`s for 2 years plus, never had a problem even the support was good as well when i was setting up.

[@avflyguy]

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.

[@patnutoris4054]

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.

[@ryanbuntrock6915]

Your reviews are the best. Everytime I see your videos I want to setup a home security system.

[@rob280]

Well done, good information, clearly explained. I like the way you do your reviews.

[@sniperoth]

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!

[@kennethtoddruiz]

I suspect that the silent majority who lurk see you have integrity.

[@Moonchilling]

I’ve had reolink cameras and a NVR since 2021. No issues

[@pitsnipe5559]

Very helpful, especially to those of us who are new to this technology.

[@johnnybautista9537]

Very informative, I'm about to upgrade from a vintage Lorex (BNC/dvr) to the 811As, I also have 2 wifi reolinks and I was blown away by their high quality, however, their performance have degraded in the last couple of weeks, partly due to my wifi not being strong enough, and more importantly, interference from the transformer on the light pole outside. I have purchased a mesh router, which, in conjunction with the POE/nvr 811As, should resolve my issues. Thank you for all the useful info you packed in this here video. Subscribed! 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@okitsfine8015]

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.

[@MikeJones-sx5mo]

Reolink is junk. Do an honest review on the warranty return process. Really dive into the circular vortex of customer service emails that go one for weeks with someone named YOGURT. Or review paying $20 shipping to and from Reolink every time their cameras break, which is often. "Free replacement or repair" - yea right. 👍

[@zezem]

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.

[@trACEurace]

This is perhaps the best review of anything I’ve ever watched. Well done and thank you for your transparency

[@cyclomiha]

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?

[@ArturDanchev]

You are good. Thanks for the videos. Very pro made !

[@nirl6171]

I don't think I've ever commented on KZbin 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.

[@TheHookUp]

Thanks!

[@tony359]

great rewview, thank you! I am just looking into Reolink now and did not realise they can work standalone. I thought the DVR was necessary.

[@netmikey]

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.

[@jean-marcducommun8185]

An issue I have with Reolink cameras is tied to the fact that an alert by SMS or email of some movement detected doesn't reach me while I'm sleeping. The idea I discussed with Reolink was to send an SMS or email that when it's reaching my mobile phone would launch an alarm as I can't stay up the whole night and stare at my phone to protect my house. My suggestions where not really well received and left me disappointed that an important element of surveillance and protection doesn't get solved.

[@ernestsloan5071]

Yeah okay. I'm subscribing. This guy seems legit

[@FaulderMatthew]

I have always used Reolink. I have never had a problem with them and my footage has everyone that sees it asking what kind of cameras I have.

[@mrmidnight32]

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

[@mikeholman4284]

In my experience, if you stay with Reolink's equipment like their NVR, they're solid. If you want to use these cameras on other NVR's or Blue Iris, you can expect compatibility issues. For my money, I just buy 5MP cams that work everywhere.

[@Lessenjr]

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.

[@RickyHole9191]

Josh - I am looking at the 811A's or the Lorex equivalent (N4K2SD-84WB) what made you decide to get the ReoLink?

[@Lessenjr]

@@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.

[@GiantSlayer-rr1vu]

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.

[@LedFarmers]

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.

[@UltimateTechHub]

I have done many reviews on Reolink cameras and I have many different Reolink cameras around my house. They all work well with no issues. Haters are gonna hate. Good content on your channel.

[@JoshLineberry]

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.

[@NunYa953]

I had Reolink cameras and loved them. They just didn't have some of the capabilities I needed at a certain point and I made the switch.

[@RacelifeCo]

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

[@lizard2425]

Outstanding comparison !

[@Bremend]

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

[@TheKwattK]

Is this still the case?

[@Bremend]

@@TheKwattK what part exactly?

[@glenndiorio8967]

@@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.

[@bunberrier]

Metrics, not assertions. You sir are a treasure.

[@Dean_Smith]

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.

[@rinosvaldi9664]

Very helpful video. Thank you for such a thorough review.

[@JeffScott-1978]

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?

[@Gladers.]

I love reolink, good quality and affordable. Have some around my house and Ive never had problem

[@emailausdrucker]

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'.

[@terrytexas8257]

Their support absolutely blows. Any time you ask a detailed question with them they always respond with "do you mean..." I went round and round with them for 1 month on trying to resolve an issue, and when they couldn't help me, they tried to buy me off by offering a $25 refund...as though that was going to make the problem go away. I like the solar powered Argus PT's because they work even then the power is out, but don't expect any level of technical support from them.

[@mugg1841]

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.

[@vistron888]

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.

[@Pabz2030]

Shutter Speed. They slow it down to improve the image a cheap sensor can give, which causes blur and night performance issues

[@michaelgraff6978]

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.

[@eliasyeje4879]

I enjoy each and everyone of your videos (your channel). I benefit greatly from the information that you provide for us, and since I'm a novice or not very good with technologies, I thank you greatly. Question: What do you do with the old cameras after you have completed your testing, your reviews? Do you donate them to non-profit organizations or do you make them available to your viewers? Thank you

[@StephaneDurand]

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 👍

[@compamousiekc3726]

BEST SECERITY CAMERAS I EVER PURCHASED. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

[@billyjones3850]

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.

[@jdub3009]

I leverage motion sensors to turn on flood lights as well via HA.

[@bmichael103]

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

[@K0gashuk0]

IMO you can not go wrong with any of these 4k cameras if they are reliable. Have you ever looked at video captured at a bank robbery before about 2020? You can not see anything. This is a game changer for home security.

[@MountainJack28]

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)

[@scottmoss6759]

I've used the wireless wifi solar cameras for years, they are fantastic, especially for the money. I've only had one go bad and Reolink replaced it quickly and efficiently.

[@joepeach997]

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.

[@LK-bz9sk]

this comment has tipped me over the edge to get the Reolink. 🙏🏽

[@jasonboel4343]

First video of yours I've seen, and I'm pretty confident after watching it that I won't be arguing with you anytime soon 😅 If this isn't an honest review than a ton of your time has gone to waste (unlikely). Ultimately you're not selling the brand 👍I hope it has the bang for the buck. I have a bunch of Geeni brand wifi cams and I'm happy with the no subscription fee's, the HD res is good enough, the app could be worse I guess, and they are stupid cheap, but I got what I paid for. Issue is even at 99% wifi signal strength the Geeni playback is horrible, refuses to playback 80% of the time even with a 30mbps internet connection. I've had them for over 3 years now and yes have done everything possible to improve their performance including swapping out the micro SD cards wih premium ones and accessing the cams on different platforms with little or no success. I am considering replacing the nearly useless at times Geeni brand. I'm glad you made this video. Thank you.

[@stevenmetcalf4571]

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.

[@D3thM3tal]

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.

[@goksenincakr2466]

Great review and explanations! Thank you so much!

[@Spirch]

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

[@dtownpyro2144]

Great review!!!! Smashed the like button…

[@Jacobhopkins117]

That sponsor segway was amazing! Thanks for the in depth explanations as always!