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Overall, I'm very pleased with the performance. However, if image is critical at more than 30 - 40 feet, get something with at least a 100 feet night vision range.Like any night vision camera, getting a plate number will be difficult due to the reflective nature of the plates. As a result, the compromise is a little more of a washed out picture during the day.With some floodlights on my building providing some light, the night vision actually works very well, allowing a viewable image well beyond the rated distance to the back of the lot where the lights really don't reach well. Be sure to pick a recording quality that will minimize loss of detail from compression.With this unit, you get two lenses - one wide 6mm and one a bit more telephoto 12mm (a very little bit). Properly adjusted through the software, the color and overall image is very good. However, I boosted the brightness a little bit to give me a bit more gain at night. I bought this model at my local Home Depot. People will also be considerably less identifiable at night due to grain.
Seriously, the bracket stinks. The night vision simply washes it out when it's close enough to be readable. It flops about like a fish and never fully tightens. Plan on about 35 feet if you aren't using any exterior lighting. The video is very good during the day and the night vision is descent, as well.Compared to some higher priced cameras, the resolution, at 420 lines, isn't quite as good as higher end units, but is much better than the low end cameras that hover around 325 - 250 lines.I use the camera with Q-See's 4 channel DVR card on an older computer that is dedicated just for that task. If you only need to focus on a small area, the second lens will get you a bit closer.
If the lights are off, though, I get a usable image at maybe half the rated distance. With ambient light from a porch light on a house, street lights or parking lot lights, you can stretch the distance on this unit. I use the wider lens for maximum area coverage.Mounting the camera was a breeze - once I threw away the bracket and made my own. Hence, only 4 stars.To sum up: very good camera for the money, but be prepared to figure out something else for mounting it.
Exposure accuracy and day vision are also good, as is resolution. Before I did that, the camera will simply flop about, unable to stay in one position, partly because the camera is too heavy for the bracket and partly because of the loose screws problem I mentioned. That is about the only bad thing about LED cameras. Now I know how an owl sees in the dark. Other than these 2 problems, this is a very good, high resolution camera that can see farther than 60 ft at night. After I tightened these two screws and then secure them with silicone rubber, the camera is actually usable again.
They tend to come loose.
Other reviewers have complaints about the mounting bracket.
The camera also does not fit the illustration in the manual, so I have not figured out how to change the lens with the wide angle one supplied with the camera yet.
:) This camera has excellent night vision, but it has to be placed outdoors at night because window glass will reflect the light back to the camera and obscures its view.
A sturdier, better bracket is needed.
I have the same experience.
The main problem is that the 2 screws that attach the camera and the base of the bracket to the arms of the bracket.
I did not want to experiment for fear of breaking something.
It is rare that a manufacturer underrates the capabilities of its product, but this one can definitely see farther than is advertised.
I purchased from a Home Security store($169.00 each). Customer service at Swann has been less than acceptable. These are worthless at night. One is too dark and the other is too light, like looking into a dense fog bank during the day. Long hold times by phone and the website response slow and no help. I am going to junk these and try another brand.
Camera worked great color during the day but it is suppose to be beter than the swann buldog according to price and specs for night. It does not preform well at night seems to be to sensitive to any type of background light. The bracket system that came with my camera is not the one in the picture which seems to be a new one from swann, the mounting system I recieved is the old one which needed constant adjustment. I returned the camera
I need to identify the kids that egged my house on Halloween and after. Day time video is fair, night vision is only better than non-night cameras I'd say, because you can not really see people's face, you can only tell if the person is slim or fat, short or tall, that's all. Just received this camera yester day and hooked up right away with PC card. My target distance is about 30 feet away. (I think as a surveillance camera you should be able to present the video in court to identify the person right).I just ordered a Q-see 48030 today since it's got a 1/3" CCD and 480 TV line. I will let everyone know how that goes.
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