Review on 📷 REOLINK RLC-511 PoE Camera: 4X Optical Zoom, Auto-Focus, 5MP Super HD, Smart Home Compatible, IP Security, IR Night Vision, Remote Access via Phone App by Kenny Sanchez

I installed this camera as an additional camera on my ReoLink NVR system. The quality of the camera seems to be very good. It's very well done. Like most ReoLink instructions I've seen, the instructions that came with it could have been a bit more detailed, but I had no trouble plugging it in and getting it working. I was hoping this camera would have enough zoom so I could read the license plates of cars driving down my street. Resolution and zoom are good enough for that. It is often difficult or impossible to read number plates, but in good light the numbers are legible. I had no luck reading license plates at night with this camera. Of course, if the camera were closer to the observed area, this probably wouldn't be a problem, but I'm trying to see plates that are about 60-80 feet from the camera. To be fair, I don't think ReoLink is claiming this camera will do it at that distance. The two attached photos show the view of the camera at maximum and minimum magnification. Otherwise I am very satisfied with the performance of this camera. The image is bright and clear during the day and at night the camera can see a person walking down my street over 100 feet away on a dark night. Another comment that is not a negative comment on ReoLink or this camera. - but I found this technology almost useless for creating motion alerts and notifying you that something is moving outside. It works fairly well indoors, but it's practically useless outdoors. The camera lets you set detection areas and adjust motion detection sensitivity, but these features really aren't enough to make this feature suitable for use with outdoor cameras. The problem is that on a typical day, even with a limited motion detection range and reduced sensitivity, the camera will sound an alarm every time a moth, bug, wasp or bird flies in front of the camera, every time there is a web in front of it the camera, every time the clouds pass overhead, every time the wind shakes the branches and leaves of the trees, every time the camera switches from day mode to night mode, and even when the sun rises and sets , the lighting changes to the ground. Sometimes these conditions combine to generate an alarm every minute or two for 2 or 3 consecutive hours. I have 10 outdoor cameras connected to a ReoLink NVR and the only one I have configured to send emails and push notifications is the one installed on the hallway screen and even it generates a motion alert of about 3 or 4 times. per day by an insect flying in front of the camera. I have other settings to record motion events but they are only checked on the NVR. If I go back and look at them, 95% of them are the "natural" events mentioned above. All that said, if your main purpose in purchasing this camera is to use this camera (or any other camera with similar technologies) to send push notifications to your phone or email you when motion is detected you will probably be disappointed and then disappointed IF you plan to install this camera outdoors. Another tip is that this camera has an auto focus that works well. It also has a feature that allows you to manually focus the camera using the NVR mouse. After playing around with manual mouse focus for longer than I care to admit, I finally discovered that single mouse clicks can (should) be used to focus the camera. I tried holding the mouse button down until the image was sharp and then releasing the mouse button. This leads to the best focus point being constantly over- or underestimated. Single mouse clicks work much better. OK - one more comment - I've seen some negative feedback on ReoLink support. While it's true that they offer email support, I contacted them with a few questions about how various aspects of their cameras and NVR worked and I found them quite responsive and helpful. I usually get an answer within 24 hours, even on weekends. I definitely get the impression that they put a lot of emphasis on customer service and technical support.