We’re about to review the Reolink RLC-823A Smart 8MP PTZ PoE Camera. This camera records in the equivalent of 4K ultra HD, with a 5x optical zoom for catching the finest details. It has two-way audio communication, a built-in spotlight, and support for up to 256GB of storage. These features alone made us eager to take a look. But to find out how well this camera performs, we needed to dig a little bit deeper. We’ll talk about how it’s built and installed, as well as the quality of the video. We’ll also discuss the app functions and features, and how the camera is used. Once we’ve considered all of those factors, we’ll deliver our final verdict. Pricy. For something that may have a bigger zoom, you are giving up several key features the original had: FOV of 96 degrees and spotlights. This may not be the camera for you if you want patrolling. Suitable for harsh weather conditions: The Reolink 823A is certified waterproof and weatherproof, making it suitable for those living in old or rainy climates.

The optical zoom capability is the main difference between the RLC-823A 16X and the standard RLC-823A. The RLC-823A 16X has a 16X optical zoom, while the RLC-823A has a 5X optical zoom. In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve. If I rotate the camera to focus down my garden path, it is perhaps a bit too dark to have the IR off. But again, with it on, there is some reflection. IR On IR Off

You’ll also get a waterproof lid that protects the cable from rain and snow. How does the RLC-823A work?

To make the camera work, you need to use the PoE Switch (IEEE 802.3at, 48V Active) or DC Power (DC 12.0V⎓2A, <24W) to power on the camera. Patrol is spotty occasionally. If you plan to watch this away from home on a tablet or your phone, be prepared to see freezing frames and lag occasionally. Movement takes a lot bandwidth when not connected to the same internet.The 823A is IP66 certified weatherproof and can operate in any location with a temperature between 14° and 131° Fahrenheit and 20% to 80% humidity. Features Additionally, the Reolink RLC-823A supports mobile operating systems such as Android and iOS, enabling users to conveniently access the camera's live feed and recordings using their smartphones or tablets. With a pan speed of 150° per second, this camera allows for swift and efficient monitoring across a wide range of angles.

Better for taking zoomed in photos or if you will be in a place where you may need to watch somewhere farther away (farms, acres of land, some industrial areas) I will have to take some license plate pictures night vs day, but just the bit of testing done the night time quality “should” catch a license plate relatively well because of its reflective values. You can somewhat read the mailbox in both the clipped image and clear image zooming in. If you are using a drill, I would still recommend a right angle attachment to make it easier to screw things in. They definitely made it a whole lot easier, but without that I probably would have struggled for another 5 minutes or stripped the screws. With the ability to support up to 20 users, the Reolink RLC-823A offers ample accessibility for multiple individuals to view the camera’s feed simultaneously. It supports a wide range of network protocols, including HTTPS, SSL, TCP/IP, UDP, HTTP, IPv4, UPnP, RTSP, RTMP, SMTP, NTP, DHCP, DNS, DDNS, FTP, and P2P, ensuring seamless integration with various network systems. I am an Android guy so I only have experience with the Android version of its mobile app. I found the app to be easy to use and can’t recall any notable issues in the couple of years I have been using it. All settings are done through the app and easy to figure out. Remote access just works. I didn’t have to do anything special like open ports to make it work.Additionally, I capped the live feed and recording to 10 fps. This was able to reduce my CPU usage to about half of what it was compared to using the main stream for everything. The substream is a fraction of the main stream’s bandwidth. Person and vehicle detection: This indoor/outdoor camera can distinguish people and cars from other objects. Setting up the RLC-823A 16X is straightforward; you can use the Reolink app, but with this sample, I used the Reolink Windows application. The app automatically recognised the camera on my network, and I just had to initialise it.