REOLINK 12MP PoE IP Camera Outdoor, 97° Wide Angle Dome Security Camera for Home Surveillance, Human/Vehicle/Pet Detection, 700lm Color Night Vision, 2 Way Talk, Up to 512GB microSD Card, RLC-1224A

Purchase this with an 8 camera set to install at my church.Installed recently and seems to work great. Very satisfied with it.I did a lot of research and I feel that Reolink is the best fit for my needs. the app is decent and seems to work. the Camera systems are DIY friendly and not over costly. frequent sales make them even more affordable. they also seem to have nice features. While I have not fully enabled all the features to test them out, I do like the system. Mostly the set-up was a lot of work. Running cables in hot attics and making the connectors. The cameras themselves are plug and play, POE, and good quality.I would recommend this brand and this camera.

I have 2 of these now and am about to round out my needs with 2 more. A few comments.I've watched s few reviews of prior releases/firmware perhaps of the 1212A from 2022 (nearly a year before I write this on 03-JUL-23 and can say the reviews were thorough BUT the camera has apparently evolved since the 2022 timeframe. Those items that held it back int he reviews are mostly gone and very much improved.First let me state that your milage will vary based on your surroundings... my notes below are from a heavily treed neighborhood where people tend to keep lights off at night unless a motion detector triggers one... there is a single soft yellowish tree light on the stretch -- so not a brightly lit environment at night.Comparing side by side with my RLC-811A I can say the picture is sharper but I wouldn't say the differences is a "WOW" factor... UNTIL NIGHT ROLLS AROUND! The 1224A is able to run in color mode with ambient light with a usable image (motion does blur in the lowest of light) whereas the 811A just inches away from the 1224A is too dark to be useful like this even for still views.Going to black & white mode (still ambient -- without allowing IR spotlights) the 1224A pulls farther ahead with a sharp image that extends well beyond the range of the 811A which performs better here than it did in color mode. The 1224A has an extra 60-80+ feet of usable range in this scenario.Lastly turning on the infrared spotlight the 1224A leaps ahead and has a sharp image and surpasses the range of the 811A by 100+ feet.One last thing. A reviewer previously stated that the mounting is not flexible and I was almost put off by this post (but PRIME returns gave me the confidence to try the camera). I can state with certainty that this camera is every bit as flexible as every other turret cam out there. While the other reviewer's notes of the 3 positions for locking to the mount are correct there is a 360 degree rotation at a seam about 1/8 inch from the mount. It is stiff (as it should be to ensure it doesn't move under any circumstances but the turret DOES rotate completely on the mount. The camera ball within the turret moves up/dow 90 degrees and twists fully so that it can be positioned to any angle. It fits securely against 'fingers' which provide tension to hold it steady after adjustment.The camera has a good mounting system (no restrictions as another comment noted) good picture and at the price currently only a little more than the 4K cameras it is a great value.

I purchased the REOLINK 12MP PoE IP Camera for its high-resolution promise and smart home compatibility, and it truly delivers. The image quality is sharp, capturing fine details even in wide 97° views, making it perfect for monitoring larger outdoor spaces. Installation was effortless, and pairing it with my network was smooth, thanks to its strong RTSP support. What really stood out was how well it works with Home Assistant, allowing for seamless smart home automation. However, the exposed lens can be a hassle to clean if it collects dust or water spots, and the user interface feels a bit clunky, which might slow down first-time users. Despite these quirks, the camera offers excellent value for anyone serious about home security.Pros:- Razor-sharp image quality that captures every detail- Plug-and-play setup that makes installation a breeze- Seamless pairing with networks and smart home systems- Strong RTSP support for flexible streaming options- Hassle-free integration with Home Assistant for smart automationCons:- Lens cleaning is a challenge if dust or debris settles- Clunky GUI that could frustrate less tech-savvy users

This is an updated review after using the RLC-1224A for about 2 weeks now.For the record, I have purchased many Reolink cameras, mostly POE's in the past with very nice results and never hesitate to purchase their newer models. Being involved a lot nature protection, I do use some of the Reolink cameras purchased for monitoring wildlife.I purchased this specific high resolution model (RLC-1224A) so that I can get good quality close-up videos of some birds frequenting a wildlife watering hole and also record closeup views of some recently hatched burrowing owl nestlings.I ended up installing this camera closely to the to record some burrowing owl nestlings and have really been impressed.The quality of this camera has been outstanding. Colors rendered by the RLC-1224A are incredible.Attached a clip of an unretouched picture from the RLC-1224a. While my main "subjects" are these cute little owlets, being curious creatures, once in a while they do wander up very close to the camera. This is the only moment I loose some of the 12MP high quality resolution I was looking for. But besides that small issue, I would not hesitate to again buy this particular model camera.My next camera from Reolink (already ordered) will be a RLC-811A, which has an auto-focus feature.SoSo if you need close up pictures/videos, try another model!!!