Hik vs Dahua vs Reolink... which is better for my setup?

Hey folks, I’m looking to replace an old Swann system and add more cameras. I don’t want to spend a ton of money but I also don’t want to cheap out. I’ve been looking into Hikvision, Dahua, and Reolink. I’ve heard Reolink is terrible at night, but it’s the easiest to buy. What do you all recommend? And if Hik or Dahua is the way to go, where’s the best place to buy them? Appreciate any advice!

If you care about clear night vision, stay away from Reolink. They’re not great for motion capture at night. I’d recommend buying Dahua or Hikvision from @EMPIRETECANDY—they have a good selection.

Jourdan said:
If you care about clear night vision, stay away from Reolink. They’re not great for motion capture at night. I’d recommend buying Dahua or Hikvision from @EMPIRETECANDY—they have a good selection.

Thanks! I’ve been hearing a lot about Reolink’s night issues. I’ll check out EMPIRETECANDY for Dahua.

I’d avoid Reolink for everything except their new doorbell cam, which is actually pretty decent. For serious surveillance, go for Dahua or Hikvision. Reolink just doesn’t have the quality for low-light or motion capture.

@Gianna
Agreed, I’ve got the Reolink doorbell cam too, and it’s solid. But for security, stick with Dahua or Hik.

I’ve used both Dahua and Hikvision cameras for a few years now, and they’ve been rock solid. Reolink’s night vision is pretty much useless if you’re after decent motion capture. Go for the better brands if you care about nighttime image quality.

@john
Thanks for the input. I think I’m leaning toward Dahua based on what I’m reading here.

You’ll get what you pay for with Reolink—cheap price, cheap performance. It’s fine if you don’t care about night vision or motion detection, but for real security purposes, I’d stick with Hik or Dahua. They’re a bit pricier but worth the investment.