I’ve been using four Reolink RLC-510A cameras on the outside of my property for the past 18 months, and overall, I’m very satisfied with their performance. These cameras have been an excellent addition to my home security setup, offering a combination of reliability, build quality, and smart features at an affordable price point.
Installation and Setup
The setup process was easy, thanks to the clear instructions. These cameras offer PoE (Power over Ethernet), so I’ve connected them through a 5-port TP-Link PoE switch (67W), which powers all four cameras without any issues. Each camera has a 128GB SanDisk microSD card (with support for up to 256GB) for local motion storage. Additionally, I use the Reolink client on a Windows server to record footage 24/7, with the recordings stored on the server itself.
Build Quality
The Reolink RLC-510A has an impressive physical build quality. The cameras are well built, and after 18 months exposed to the elements, they still look and function like new. They’ve withstood a range of weather conditions without any signs of wear or malfunction.
Motion Detection & Customization
The motion detection on these cameras is highly configurable, which is essential for tuning motion alerts. You can adjust the motion sensitivity for different types of motion, including general motion, people, vehicles, and even animals.
You can also set different sensitivity levels based on the time of day, adding another layer of personalization to the system. I’ve particularly appreciated the ability to lower the sensitivity at night to avoid constant notifications from bugs and spider webs illuminated by the infrared lights. This level of customisation allows me to receive relevant alerts while filtering out unnecessary ones, making the system much more effective.
Video & Audio Quality
For their price, the Reolink RLC-510A cameras offer great bang for your buck. The video quality is clear and detailed, providing a strong sense of security. Although the cameras use a 4:3 aspect ratio (more on that below), the overall clarity is excellent, even at night.
The built-in microphone is another surprising feature. It’s incredibly sensitive, picking up sounds from far away that I often can’t hear myself in person. This has added a useful extra layer to the security system, capturing important audio that could otherwise be missed.
The Apps: Mobile & Desktop
The Reolink mobile app is great. It’s intuitive, responsive, and well designed. It offers a smooth experience, whether checking live footage or reviewing motion alerts. However, my experience with the desktop app has been slightly more mixed. While it works well in most cases, especially for reviewing footage and configuring settings, the Windows client can be buggy if you plan to use it to record footage to disk (instead of using an NVR). Occasionally, it stops recording, and I’ve had to manually restart the client to resolve the issue. To work around this, I set up a PowerShell script that checks if the cameras are recording every hour and sends me an email if the recording stops. Thankfully, this issue only occurs once or twice a month, but it’s something to be aware of if you plan on using a server for recording instead of a dedicated NVR.
Areas for Improvement
While the Reolink RLC-510A excels in many areas, it does have its drawbacks:
- 4:3 Aspect Ratio: The RLC-510A records in 4:3 aspect ratio, which is a little square and outdated, especially when displayed on widescreen monitors. I would have preferred a 16:9 option for a more natural and modern field of view. The existing field of view is very acceptable but the option for 16:9 would have been nice.
- Fiddly Mounting Arm: There’s a metal part inside the arm that connects the camera to the base, which were a bit of a nightmare to deal with when you’re remounting the camera after securing the base to the wall. It’s not the end of the world, but it was a bit of a pain to deal with when installing the cameras.
Overall Thoughts
Despite a few minor inconveniences, the Reolink RLC-510A offers excellent value for the money. The solid build quality, high configurability, and reliability make them a great choice in the budget PoE camera market. At this price point, the video and audio quality are impressive, and the app works well enough to meet most users’ needs. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a solid security system without breaking the bank.
