Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Update 1-20-2011 This camera is still running strong - the only periodic maintenance is cleaning the lens on the front monthly. For the entry level camera it mounted easily and has performed for years with just simple windex used to clean the glass front lens. While the K540 and K550 have better picture quality and better night vision, this works quite well for my 50' front yard. I did finally spray the area around the camera with raid before cleaning the lens and that helped with the spider web issue - all of my IR cameras have a disproportionally large amount of spiders!
Update 12-20-2008: This camera has been running flawlessly except for mother nature. It seems that spiders like the infrared light at night (I'm not an insect person but I know some insects can see IR light). As a result they tend to make webs over the lit area at night. The spider being so close to the camera looks like you are being robbed by king kong to your DVR and thus makes all night tapes of spider web weaving which are fun to watch in 16X speed but the reality is you must clean the lens once a month to maintain good night vision. Daytime it is not a problem.
Update 5-15-2008: This particular camera has been running for about 2 months now and faces the street where we have had a drug problem. Last night it caught the evicted drug dealer breaking into his old house to retreive forgotten property when the police escorted him out the first time. Since our neighborhood watch had been warned that the home should be vacant I noticed the movement across the street, called 911, and 2 minutes later the former problem was cuffed and stuffed into the squadcar for criminal trespass, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, violation of a restraining order, violation of an eviction order, and breaking and entering. We'll see him again in 5-10 years. Does the camera work at 100 feet in pitch black conditions? Yes. But a human pair of eyes was needed to resolve a man at night. The sony can see it w/o the help.
Camera 1 Bad-guys 0
----------------original review below----------------I bought both the bottom of the Q-see day/night camera line (this camera) and their mid-range unit (the 540 line resolution, 65 foot range for the night IR leds model Q-See QSB520SR Weatherproof Color High-Res Day/Night Camera Kit (540TVL) with 65-Feet Night Vision) I have them both hooked to a Q-see DVR recorder and there is a difference when I compare their pictures side by side on my DVR display. I hope these notes help people pick which one is best for their intended use.
This model is selling for $130 while the next step up listed above is $230 right now, however the prices vary almost daily
Pros ($130)
Cheapest day/night camera in q-see product lineup
LEDS provide a wide area of lighting that matches the lens field of view - this is well designed as some cameras I used have a problem witht the LEDS overshooting the field of view of the camera.
Comes with a really long cable (100 feet+) and it runs power plus video together
wide field of view lens covers a broad area without any fisheye distortion. For me this is about a 50' x 50' front yard
(cable is longer on this model than their more expensive model by about an extra 45 feet)
Cons ($130)
Lacks any zoom or focus control for the lens (present on the $230 version and up - the K540 and K550 which are really nice night cams)
not as good of a mounting bracket as the $230 version
washed out picture compared to the Sony image sensor in the $230 camera - it uses the super had sensor designed for security use, this is more of a camcorder 1/3" sensor which is good considering most of these cameras use 1/4" sensors. I think the difference is just that the K540 and 550 cameras have better quality (the super had sony sensors) which makes side by side comparisons evident.
more picture noise at night compared to the Sony image sensor camera.
Less resolution than the $230 camera - picture is not as sharp, but that is not important because the recorder only records at CIF resolution, so you don't get the 540 lines anyways!
Summary -
I'm really nitpicking here - these are all small differences that separate the low end, mid range, and their high end camera (which amazon did not carry when I purchased them - the high end is just the mid range with higher power LEDS and a higher price tag in the $300's). All of them do what they say - they give you a picture day or night. Unlike other day/night cameras these provide color at night if enough light is present or black/white if using the LEDs. I prefer the color from the Sony image sensor, and I like the adjustable lens on the sony based camera. Is it worth another $100? That depends. Both cameras work well and do what they say - it's only when you put their pictures side by side that the quality difference is noticable.
I think both cameras have a use which is why I bought one of each and put them in different locations. If the tradeoff is quality vs. having more views of a building, then the less expensive camera wins because you can cover more doors and gates using them. On the other hand, if you already have Sony cameras in your security system, the extra $100 will make the q-see sony based mid-range model blend into your existing system better. Having a choice and knowing what you get or give up is important which is why we post reviews. I'm happy with both of my cameras in their applications and I won't change them out. If I buy another camera, I would consider it's use to decide which model to buy. The zoom lens on the $230 model q-see camera is nice for a long driveway, but a wide view of a close porch would probably best be served with one of the $130 models. I chose to run the 100 foot cable over the roof of my house and enter through the back to the DVR system. NOTE none of the q-see cams have a microphone, yet their dvrs have an audio in for each video channel - the reason for this is that there are no laws broken recording video, but the minute you add audio you violate wiretapping laws in some states. You can counter this often with a sign conspicuously posted that states this area is under video and audio surveilance - now you are in the clear legally.
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Q-See QSC48030 High Resolution Weatherproof CCD Camera w/80ft of Night Vision (Color)QSC48030 is an Outdoor video Color CCD camera. With CCD technology, it delivers the most sophisticated technology into the most reliable and accurate quality picture in the security industry Its ideal for monitoring or recording. The package includes a 60-ft. cable to allow flexible installation.Connect the camera to any TV/VCR and start viewing or recording immediately.Q-See outdoor cameras are built to withstand all the elements of nature. Rain, snow or hot sun will not deter the camera from sending clear video. The design of the camera incorporates a weatherproof metal casing with an "O" ring seal to keep the high resolution lens and the internal parts safe from nature. With the 36 Infra Red LEDs that light up at night, the camera will give black and white night vision for up to 80 ft. in total darkness.
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