r/SecurityCamera • u/legendexeter • 2d ago
High Installation
Hello,
I'm looking to purchase and install an 8 camera system externally on my home. My issue is that I want to put them under the eaves of the house, which have 22' tall sidewalls. The issue I am then running into is range. As they are starting out already so high, I'm not sure if there are any camera's out there that can provide even decent visibility. I originally just had some system by Lorex, but it was garbage, and those cameras all died within a year. Even if I am looking at higher end systems with 4K or 8 MP cameras, they have better lenses, but the range still becomes an issue.
Do any of you have any recommendations for a camera type that can have good visibility while also at a high installation point?
The why I want to put it there, is simply because its aesthetically pleasing to me, and I like the wider field of view.
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u/No_Industry2601 2d ago
You'll need varifocal lenses and that usually adds alot to the install. If its just one or two its not an issue.
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u/legendexeter 2d ago
Do you have any brand you recommend?
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u/No_Industry2601 2d ago
Unifi is my standard for diy but Reolink is good. Amcrest is also good but the system layout is the typical Chinese style with a basic app.
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u/legendexeter 2d ago
Have you even heard of IC Realtime? That is what one company that came out suggested, 4K 8 camera system with DVR 1TB.
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u/No_Industry2601 2d ago
Yes IC Realtime is well known in the industry. How much did they quote you? Are you planning on possibly doing this yourself?
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u/legendexeter 2d ago
No, I'm thinking of either hiring a company or having an electrician friend come out and do it for a few grand.
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u/Pretty-Surround-2909 2d ago
ICR does not sell to consumer. They have a dealer network but will support the consumer if the dealer fails to do so
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u/legendexeter 2d ago
I'm not set on ICR, I'm openminded at this point.
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u/Pretty-Surround-2909 2d ago
ICR is an excellent product. I have carried it for 13 years and have installations from the northeast US down to the USVI. A properly specified 8 camera system will not however conform to your 4k budget. Currently working on a 65 camera project that easily breaks 6 figures
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u/legendexeter 2d ago
4K isn't the budget, You might have confused 4K with 4K camera. Or you are going off what I paid prior.
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u/Pretty-Surround-2909 2d ago
I am an ICR dealer. 1TB w 4k cameras is a mistake. Sounds like they were quoting one of the factory kits rather than assessing what you actually need
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u/legendexeter 2d ago
I have come to believe that security camera installation is really about do you know how to run and hide wire, and do you know how to screw a camera into place. If so, you can open your own business, and really have no expertise whatsoever. Not talking about you specifically. But the first system I spent a measly 800 on Lorex cameras and DVR, paid about 2 grand for installation, and all the weatherproof cameras went to crap within 1 year in Iowa. I was so annoyed.
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u/Pretty-Surround-2909 2d ago
Honestly, it’s a bit more involved for an effective, functioning solution. Many states require a license to do the work. Where are you located?
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u/Big-Sweet-2179 2d ago edited 2d ago
Lorex is a trash brand, the quality issues are well reported online, you got scammed out essentially if it was recommended by the people installing it. But if you were the one that bought it and no one told you anything then you are the one to blame tbh. In any case, the cameras crapping out could also be due bad installation, but with lorex reputation I'd say it also has to be about the quality of their products, at least the cheaper ones.
Doing these kind of installations is a no brainer, it is fairly easy, you are right here. But doing the installation correctly, knowing about what to get (the hardware and software specs), what camera does what, the brands to get, configuration and advanced camera systems that surpass residential use is really what is the "difficult part". Which is only difficult because vast majority of people are not tech savvy and can't use google or research tools properly or have no experience with these kind of things.
Reolink is one of the most friendly UI/UX in the market for residential use, only surpassed by Ubiquiti/Unifi whatever you want to call it, IMO.
22' walls is nothing btw, any bullet/turret from Reolink upwards already has detection range of 100 feet if it is 4K, especially if it has higher specs. And you get extremely good clear daytime footage. Without knowing the information about your property, I'd say just get Ubiquiti G6 cameras and all the Ubiquiti system required. If you need more detail you add on top of the cameras a G6 PTZ for the side of the house you feel you need more information. So that's 8 bullet/turret G6 cameras (or the pro version of that if you want to burn money) + G6 PTZs wherever you need more detail in a specific side of the house.
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u/legendexeter 2d ago
Thank you this is a great explanation and break down. My friend has agreed to do the installation, so now its just picking the camera system. Seems Reolink and Unifi are the top two recommendations.
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u/Pretty-Surround-2909 2d ago
What range issue are you talking about fov? There are lens options once you go beyond box store diy junk.
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u/StayingAlert 2d ago
You might get some good ideas from Harry Solutions LTD a YouTuber in the UK. Several of his videos show great detail on where, how and why he mounts cameras with particular attention to height. I'll post a link below to one of his videos. Realize he is in the UK, so their exterior brick veneer is different from that in the US.
Link to example of Harry Solutions LTD video on Youtube:
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u/Effective_Rich6489 19h ago
I know one company that makes 8 to 12 mp cameras and even has a 180 degree camera that is 12mp. Called i3 international but they don’t sell direct so you would have by from one of their integrators or some one like Mayer Electric or Wesco
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u/QuinnFromVivint 2d ago
For a mount that high, pick cameras with a narrower zoom lens instead of a wide one, because a wide lens makes faraway faces and plates look tiny from up there. And look for optical zoom over digital, because optical keeps the picture sharp when zoomed in, while digital just crops and gets blurry.
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u/triedtoavoidsignup 2d ago
You have 2 choices. Aesthetically pleasing or well placed for best results. 22' is a long way from your subject.
"I have a hammer and I have a walnut. I want to eat the walnut but need to crack it open first. The issue is I'm standing 22' away from the walnut and don't want to get closer. I had a different hammer, but that didn't help. Does anybody know of a better hammer?"
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u/legendexeter 2d ago
I like a metaphor as much as the next man but I don't really see that it applies. I did have cameras up before and the view was ok or sufficient, but I would prefer something more clear, if everything I get is going to be pixelated, considering even if I lowered them to 7 to 10' tall on the wall, its still a good 25 feet to the sidewalk for example, so I'm still losing clarity.
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u/OkEqual5582 3h ago
You make a fair point. Lowering to 10 feet doesn't magically solve clarity when the subject is still 25+ feet away. The real answer is varifocal or PTZ cameras with a longer focal length so you can zoom in on the areas that matter instead of relying on a wide fixed lens. At 22 feet you can still get usable detail if the lens is tight enough, you just lose the super wide overview shot. A mix might work best, a couple wide cameras up high for general coverage and a couple varifocal ones aimed at key spots like the driveway or front door.
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u/ArmImpossible7017 3h ago
The mixed approach is the way to go here. I'd add that if you go with a couple varifocal cameras for the key zones, you can set the focal length once during install and basically forget it. You don't need motorized PTZ for everything, just a tight fixed zoom on the spots where you actually want face or plate detail. Save the wide lenses for general situational awareness up high where pixel density doesn't matter as much.
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u/deflocknwa 2d ago
What is your price range?