Night Owl XHD501-44P-B 4 Channel 5MP Extreme HD Video Security DVR & Wired Infrared Cameras with 1 TB HDD, White

I had a first gen Night Owl system that quit working after 5 years so I decided to upgrade to a HD system. I have to say I am impressed with the system in whole. It was easy to set up and the streaming to smartphone worked easily and extremely well once port forwarding was set up. The app is very intuitive allowing for capture of snapshot or video file. The cameras are awesome and correlate movement with IR and display events as a yellow block on a timeline for easy review. the video quality is really sharp and the night vision mode really reaches out so much better than the older 720p cameras I had. The documentation is spotty at best and It took awhile to learn how to search and find events, but once figured it out it's really cool and easy to find things that set the system to record or send an alarm. I am very happy with the system, will see how it holds up.

I had this camera system professional installed, all around, and inside of my home. I use 2 cams indoor, and 6 outdoor. The outdoor cameras are very durable (I live in Michigan where the weather varies from very hot, to extremely cold; plus severe storms are the norm)! I haven't had any trouble seeing what's going on outdoors, or inside, when I'm home watching on the big monitor (not included), or away on my tablet of cellphones (I use both iPhone and Galaxy S android phones). I really don't have any complaints, and have been very happy with the equipment. The management interface is a little dated, but it's just a camera system, so it's very functional and easy to use. The on-device playback system has improved over the past year, with firmware updates, and is straightforward to use! The mobile app playback is still a little clunky, but I'm hopeful it will improve once they update the apps. Anyway, I highly recommend this camera system, and will buy it again, whenever I move!

I've looked though all the cheaper 5mp cameras, they have pros and cons.I'm happy with I got for the price.ProsCamera are higher quality plastic camera, should not break while mounting them, or weather over time.Motion Alert is much better knows when it's a person, and create your capture points.Picture is a true 5mp picture unlike some false advertising camera system who send you non 5mp cameras, but give you a 5mp DVR.Picture does have a nice wide angle view without distort the image.Cons.Camera color white balance, colors show up differently on each camera in the same light settingsNo IR remote with the DVR, only a mouse. I ended up buying a wireless track pad to control it in the living room.Can't schedule when to send out Events Alert Triggers it's always 24/7.Night Owl OS UI still dated compared to other systems but it works, still hard to do playback on the DVR.Night Owl mobile apps HD streaming is only 720, no option to have 5mp playback even when you have the connection speed for it, so zooming in is too pixel, so you have to revert back to the DVR, or PC, but the PC still does not have a true 5MP playback. Only at the DVR.Capturing a License plate really does not work if the car is in motion, not enough frame rate.Suggestions:Give the DVR a fresh UI update and easier to functions.Add a time frame when to send alerts.Update the Mobile apps for levels of video quality up to 5mp.Nice to have the mobile app set option when I'm home or not, or a alarm mode. (to send me alerts when I want them)Night owl Catch up with other DVRs to work with Google or Amazon devices, not a must have but nice to have.

This camera security system is amazing and the video is so clear and the clarity is beyond amazing. The HD quality of the pictures that you get from the cameras are unbelievable you can pick up somebody's license plates and their faces. The lens surface may look small but the amount of space in panoramic view you get is large. To hook it up to your smartphone is super easy. The only problem I have encountered is trying to hook it up to my computer. Night Owl has been great with trying to help me work on this. Other than that this camera system is beyond amazing and the clarity of the pictures and quality of the video you will get is astonishing. The audio is amazing on the two audio cameras that you get with the set you can clearly hear if someone makes a comment or say something. If you're looking to update your security camera system I would definitely recommend you buy this camera security system.

I have installed six of the eight camera's around my home. Very pleased at the ease of set up and the quality of the picture is good day and night. I wish I would plug a keyboard into the the extra USB but was told that was not possible.

I installed this the day after I received it. Other than the crawling through small spaces in my attic, it was easy to install. I have had no problem with the app and the setup of the software was easy. My wife and I can access live and playback easily. I first connected every camera before installing, to be sure everything worked. I recommend that highly. Since everything worked well I ran the wiring and set up the system. Because of the cramped access to my attic it took me about 6 hours to run the wires. However, it was well worth it.

It was sitting in basement for more than 18 months. Didn't get a chance to install it, till the Corona lockdown.My review is based on comparison with another product (ezviz system also bought from Amazon) I have installed at work place.Finally Nightowl is up and running. Daytime Image quality is crisp n clear. Night vision is more towards better not best. App access is nice n smooth no issues yet.Motion detection issues are there. I have setup maximum sensitivity but still it misses big objects as cars. I noticed that its motion sensitivity works only when object is moving across camera (left to right and vice versa). However motion sensor does not work when object is moving towards or away from the camera.