Can I get better for the same price?

[SecurityNub 0]

Hi all, I was on another forum and someone was kind enough to point me to yours.

 

Well I have a budget. I need 1 camera and a dvr the will go for at least 14 days. The camera I found is 1/3" lens Super HAD CCD, from what I understand the CMOS is crap, and 1/4 to 1/3 is bad too, but the one I found is the best I could find with my budget. My budget is 250$. Someone actually recommended this one [edit by mod-store link removed]

 

But I found this one on new egg, and new egg has never ripped me off. I just can't tell which one would do better? or if there is some better one out there for the price

[edit by mod-store link removed]

 

This is the DVR I found. [edit by mod-store link removed]

 

 

My other question is......Are the video recorder compatible with the any of the cameras?, are there situations where two different products just don't match? And how can I tell? I have been doing a little reading on these things and I can't find anything that tells me otherwise.

[rory 0]

That budget is low for both a DVR and camera, at least the camera will be very basic and you will likely want to upgrade it at some point. $250 is the average price of a regular True Day Night IR bullet camera. You could get something like the CNB Monalisa Domes (no Infrared but low light) for much less but with the DVR will still bring you over the budget. I will let others reply about the camera. For now I would spend more on the DVR then just get a budget color IR camera (which those you listed are anyway) then upgrade it or add to the DVR when you can afford it.

 

Either way, dont waste your time with that DVR.

Check out the 4 channel Dahua, full featured.

Can get it in a budget VGA version or the HDMI model.

Both are very inexpensive, should come in near the price of that Q-see but much better.

Its not sold under the name Dahua, but other names like QVis/Adata, Mace, etc.

 

Examples of the CNB TDN Monalisa Dome, and some IR Bullet examples;

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=26832&start=15

[Birdman Adam 0]

Try to get cameras with CCD sensors, as well as with 1/3" sensors. One thing you may not realize with both the cameras you suggested is that they have fixed lenses. This may be OK depending on what you need to monitor with the camera but arifocal lenses are nice because they allow you to zoom in or out to set up the scene the camera sees perfectly.

 

You really are way under for a basic 4-ch DVR, and one camera. It is always better to save, and then buy the better stuff. (I think every DIYer here can agree to that.)

 

If you need something NOW, this is what I'd do. It doesn't fit under $250, but it is a solid setup that you can add on to over time, and not be disappointed with your original purchase:

 

DVR: Samsung SRD-450 w/500GB HDD

 

Camera: CNB VBM-24VF

 

Wiring: cat5 network cable with baluns

 

Power supply: Any old 12VDC more than 300mA wall-wart you have

 

This should come in near $450. The DVR is a solid unit that will do 7.5FPS per channel at D1 resolution. You can save a bit on the camera and get one from Empire (the ebay seller), but make sure you get a varifocal model so you can adjust the viewing scene!

[SecurityNub 0]

Am I wrong in thinking that everyone will always say what you got isn't good enough? I was looking at some alternative DVR's. I'm gonna stick with the camera I picked out and learn the hard way(or maybe it's everything I wanted), but I will look at a better DVR.

 

I was looking at this one...

(I guess I'll remove it for the Mod,lol)

 

Either way, dont waste your time with that DVR.

Check out the 4 channel Dahua, full featured.

Can get it in a budget VGA version or the HDMI model.

Both are very inexpensive, should come in near the price of that Q-see but much better.

Its not sold under the name Dahua, but other names like QVis/Adata, Mace, etc.

 

 

But I don't actually know how to tell if it is full feature. Can you bring up some examples of full feature online? What does Dahua mean?

Edited August 25, 2011 by Guest

[Birdman Adam 0]

The Effio camera will work out great for you - it is right near the same level as CNB's, and typically cheaper. Try to get it with the varifocal lens (I think theirs is like 2.8~12mm) so you can set up the scene perfectly.

 

That DVR should be fine too - it is rather basic (nothing special for sure), but can do 15FPS at D1 on all channels. 500GB is fine for basic systems without super-long recording needs.

 

I think you are good-to-go with that DVR and camera. Final thing is wiring - either go the RG59 coax+18/2 route, or cat5 w/baluns. (I suggest cat5 w/baluns).

 

For power - any basic power supply will do. I'm sure you have an extra 12VDC or 24VAC power supply that can supply at like 200mA (0.2A)?

[shockwave199 0]

Am I wrong in thinking that everyone will always say what you got isn't good enough?

Actually more often than not- you are correct. True when sepaking about most any gear. Especially when you're in the company of people who use mostly high quality gear.

 

I'm gonna stick with the camera I picked out and learn the hard way(or maybe it's everything I wanted)

That's where you're usually wrong. The camera may be just fine, but personally I don't have the money for a 'it's everything I ever wanted camera.' There's ALWAYS a better camera you'll want and it's usually just after you get done hanging the camera you figure will be 'all you ever wanted'. You'll see!

 

Far as dvr's, unless this is a time sensitive MUST do now situation, I'm gonna suggest you wait for a little bit on the whole thing. Hang around and read. Compare products. Save a little money up. NOBODY wants just one camera- nobody. Not even you. You may think that, but it ain't true. Hang that first camera and you'll want three more. Hang them and you'll insist to the missus that you need EIGHT cameras to fully cover the property. And truth is- you really do. I always say in life- do not buy a two bedroom house- terrible investment. And now that I'm into this stuff, I say do not buy anything less than an eight channel dvr. You WILL fill those channels up. It's inevitable.

 

So you ask- what should you look for in a dvr? EIGHT channels, for starters. Don't even whisper four. [i heard that] Then go for as many channels of D1 you can afford. I could afford only two channels of D1 at the time, out of eight. I'm surviving. Get one that'll do D1, HD1 [half D1], and CIF. D1 is wonderful. All three is flexibility. Frames per second- all the way up to 30 should be supported. Low/medium/high bit rates. VGA standard, or HDMI too if you want. Make sure the darn thing actually comes with a hard drive INSTALLED! A cheap price may be because it doesn't include the hard drive. 500gb at minimum. 1 or 2TB much better. All the usuals- recording schedule, motion sensing. You meantion 'go at least 14 days'. I'm guessing that's recording time. Good motion sensing options are a must to help that. Alarm- try and get one that supports triggering a remote alarm. They do support that, but not all of them- especially in the cheap market. Look at the remote client software and make sure you like it for the dvr you're choosing [youtube a good source to investigate]. Oh, you don't need remote capability? Quiet- you will. Look into it. It should do web activex, it's own remote software, and smart phones. Even cheap ones support that. Audio in/out. Confirm the thing is quiet. Mine doesn't make a sound. Some are as loud as a vacuum- I kid you not. USB- it should support at least archiving to it, and firmware updates from it. Mouse. That should do it for now.

 

But hang. Don't jump on stuff just because. Read here, read PDF manuals, shop, listen, buy, be happy. Good luck to you.

 

 

Dan