PoE systems
Is 4K worth the storage it consumes?
Two kits from the same maker, the same recorder, the same 2 TB drive, and a genuine trade in the middle: 4K sees more and keeps less. On a house that records continuously, that is the whole decision.
The count and the ratings point different ways here. Reolink RLK8-520D4 (5 MP dome set) wins more rows below, and Reolink RLK8-800B4 carries the higher rating. The count weighs every row equally; the rating comes from each product's own page and weighs what the product is for rather than how many claims it wins. Read the rows, not the totals.
| Compared on | RLK8-520D4 (5 MP dome set) | RLK8-800B4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cameras | 4 × 5 MP domes | 4 × 4K bullets |
| Resolution | 5 MP (2560 × 1920) | 4K 8 MP |
| Frame rate | Not stated | 20 fps |
| Recorder | 8 channels, 2 TB, up to 16 TB stated | 8 channels, 2 TB |
| Retention on the same drive | Longer: fewer pixels per frame | Shorter: 8 MP per frame |
| Night vision | Infrared up to 30 m (98 ft) | Not stated |
| Cables supplied | 18 m (59 ft) cables | Not stated |
| Detection | Person and vehicle | Person and vehicle |
| Camera form | Dome, discreet | Bullet, visible |
| Listed on amazon.com | Yes | No |
A tick marks the better answer on that line only. Counting ticks does not decide the page — the two verdicts below do, because these products answer different questions.
Prefer the 5 MP kit for most houses. It shows you everything you need, keeps noticeably more history on the same drive, and the domes are harder to reposition from a ladder by somebody else.
No amazon.com listing was found for this one. We hold references for other markets but none for the United States, so it may not be buyable here — which is the first thing to weigh against anything below.
Buy the 4K kit when footage might have to be handed to somebody who was not there, and add a larger drive at the same time rather than later.
It depends on the number of cameras, frame rate, compression and how much motion they see — and your recorder will estimate it better than any rule of thumb. The order of magnitude: four 4K cameras recording continuously count retention in days; the same cameras recording on events count it in weeks.
Domes are lower profile, harder to knock out of alignment, and their housing keeps rain off the lens. Bullets are more visible, which is a deterrent, and easier to aim precisely at a gate. Neither is more secure.
4× 5MP domes · 8CH NVR with 2 TB · 18 m (59 ft) cables supplied · 24/7 recording
Four 5 MP dome cameras, an eight-channel recorder with a 2 TB drive, and 18-meter network cables in the box. Reolink states person and vehicle detection, continuous recording and compatibility with its 4, 5 and 8 MP cameras.
Best for: A house wanting a system that will still be supported and expandable in five years.
4× 4K bullets · 8CH NVR with 2 TB · person and vehicle detection · 24/7
The 4K version of Reolink's wired kit: four 8 MP bullet cameras at 20 fps, an eight-channel recorder with a 2 TB drive pre-installed, and detection that filters branches and insects out of the alerts.
Best for: A property where footage may have to be handed to somebody else, and detail decides whether it is any use.
