Amcrest 5MP POE Camera, Outdoor Vandal Dome Security POE IP Camera, 5-Megapixel, 98ft NightVision, 2.8mm Lens, IP67, IK10 Resistance, MicroSD 256GB (Sold Separately), Cloud, NVR (IP5M-D1188EW-AI-V3)

I upgraded my video security system and chose the Amcrest 5MP POE Camera (MODEL: IP5M-D1188EWAI) after a extensive research. The combination of high-resolution video and POE (Power Over Ethernet) capability caught my attention, and it has proven to be very good. A good friend suggested them years a go. But now they are getting better and more affordable. I also have a older DVR using the old style cable and power. They work up to 8 MP, so do this NVR with the IP cameras. These are easier to install. Set up plug and play.The setup was a little tricky. But a call to tech support TONY helped me out I found the POE feature made it effortless to run a single cable for both power and data. Just a heads-up: a separate POE injector or switch is necessary, but that’s a minor investment for the benefits you gain. The camera’s intuitive design and pretty good instructions made mounting it easy, But if you have never done this before I would look at many videos first. and check out a friend or store cams, See how they are placed make out a map and see where to place them for the best view that will give you ideal recordings. So if you need to go back you have the targets caught on film. Also make sure your view is over lapping. that way you can follow and always have the target in sight.Using the camera is a seamless experience. The Amcrest Surveillance Pro software is user-friendly, and it connected to my PC in no time. It's also compatible with Blue Iris Professional, which I plan to explore. I opted for local storage on a MicroSD card (not included), but let’s not forget the available cloud storage and NAS options.The video quality is exceptional. The 5-megapixel resolution delivers sharp images during the day, and the night vision, with a range of 98 feet, performs reliably. The 103° viewing angle effectively covers a large area of my backyard, leaving no blind spots. The 8MP 4K are better but for the price these are very good.Durability is another standout feature; its IP67 weatherproof rating has held strong through several rainy days. Plus, the IK10 vandal resistance ensures it can withstand rough treatment. They are built very well and made of good material. Not cheap like others out there.The Amcrest 5MP POE Camera (IP5M-D1188EW AI) is an excellent addition to any home security system. I also bought some Amcrest bullet 5MP Cams and a Amcrest NVR, using the same vendor is better as they install almost like Plug & Play. to make it easy and made the install go well. Some times not all mixed match items may not be compatible.

I was looking for a camera to go alongside our Nest video doorbell 1st gen and was looking for a high quality camera with ONVIF support and a wide viewing angle, and since it would be low to the ground in an urban environment a tamper proof dome camera was generally the only option. This came up and I saw others’ photos and got two, both 20% off with a coupon (for a total of just under $100). If you get more than one, check around because I saw a “2-pack” for about $110 (at the time the coupon and buying two individual ones would be cheaper). After getting it installed I noticed just how awesome the camera really was. I did wish it was higher than 20 fps but it’s not gonna capture many action shots. I wound up using the other camera to mount it to a junction box with conduit on my roof 3 stories high, to replace a 2MP 1080p bullet camera and once again HUGE improvement and excellent quality. My only gripe, is the seemingly weird IR blowout. I’m not sure if it’s because of the way I angled the cameras within the dome, but the IR in both seems to reflect off the dome or something and back into the lens causing a slow fogging effect until the image is completely washed out and unusable. However the camera’s low light/ambient light performance is phenomenal and with some adjustments to its exposure and gamma you can change in the camera’s settings, it looks amazing still. It also has a substream at D1 resolution which I use for a live feed in our living room. The pricing doesn’t scream “I got some cheap cameras”, there is true value in these. Overall, I’d buy again if we are looking to upgrade some of our other cameras.

I have always been pleased with Amcrest cameras. Picture quality is very good. Setup is easy using Amcrest apps or by connecting directly to the camera’s built in web interface, These cameras have proven to be very reliable. In 12 years of using them I have only experienced one camera failure.