Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This system is very good for its price category. These new "B800" true 4K UHD cameras are the real deal. As many previous comments and reviews note, these newest true-4K cameras are running behind on ReoLink's "software" support of their tremendously capable hardware. These cameras were "originally" intended to support the newer, and much more efficient, "H.265" video compression protocol. This would have offered almost 50% better compression-factor (read half-the-file-sizes) for the same video content/quality. For whatever "licensing" or "technical reason, ReoLink had to drop the ball on H.265 compression support. Very bad move on their part in my opinion. In addition, these cameras MUST be used only with the "8" channel version of ReoLink's NVR RLN8-410. The 16 channel ReoLink NVR is not capable of supporting 16 4K cameras (no doubt because of both 100 Mbps Ethernet bandwidth at full 4K frame rates and video bit-rates). Also as mentioned there is no ONVIF support for these "B800" model 4K cameras. Now the shortcomings of ReoLink's support of this great video hardware: 1) No H.265 compression algorithms available (meaning HUGE H.264 file sizes). Even at a reduction to 12 fps and setting the maximum bit-rate to 1024 bps, one is looking at about 900 MB-per-30 minutes-per-4K-camera. 2) The following features are NO LONGER AVAILABLE within the Windows (v.7.2.33) or Mac client version of the ReoLink software for this NVR/Camera combination: a) No longer any "Fast-Forward" capability when the "target" is the NVR (as opposed to any of their other individual cameras). b) No longer any "Fluent"(highly compressed, low-frame-rate, and small image pixel count) stream available for download. This is a HUGE problem/oversight at these large 4K H.264 file sizes when reviewing stored video content from remote sites having limited UPSTREAM bandwidth; which is a very common requirement. c) The Windows client (v.7.2.33) easily "locks up" and must be restarted. This happens when one clicks quickly among the available software features (i.e. skipping to new timeline points, switching displayed cameras, having 'too many cameras' visible on the screen at once etc.,) Quitting and restarting the Windows "Client" software always "fixes" the issue, so I'm not sure that this is caused by the software/hardware of the NVR, or the Windows "ReoLink client" software. ...The same lockup issue occurs for both the 32-bit and 64-bit version of the ReoLink Windows client. d) Most often one, or more, cameras do not immediately display their "live" video content. Sometimes a particular camera NEVER displays in the "client" software until the client is again RESTARTED. 3) There is no apparent way to "upgrade" the firmware of these new "B800" true 4K UHD cameras like there is for ALL of the other ReoLink camera hardware. 4) There is NO embedded "web-server" software available for these new "B800"cameras. This is most likely related to why they MUST be used with the 8-channel RLN8-410 NVR and cannot be used stand- alone" as the other ReoLink cameras. 5) While the inclusion of a 2 TB hard drive is commendable, even with only four 4K cameras connected to the NVR, and at even very modest bit-rates [1024kbps] and frame-rates [10fps], this would allow for only about 5 calendar days of "24x7" historical video content review. This is again, and in large part, due to the missing support for the H.265 compression algorithm. 6) While not the fault of ReoLink, even true 4K cameras have a hard time reading (at least foreign) license plates at any "normal" distances. The genuine "4K" picture truly is impressive in all other regards. Even the "5MP, 4X optically- zoomable", ReoLink cameras (or any other brand) struggles with this particular task. 7) The boys at the ReoLink software labs need to get much further, and much more frequently, "with the features programming" for the Windows/Mac client. I can achieve a better "remote viewing experience" (for both LIVE and PLAYBACK) simply using the ReoLink client software running "remotely" and then connecting to a local Windows PC using Microsoft Windows 10 "Remote Desktop Client". As a software/electrical engineer myself, and given the fact that the ReoLink engineers own their entire video camera's tech-stack, as well as the NVR and camera's "firmware", this is not impressive. Even with all of the "bugs" above having been formally reported to, and then 'acknowledged' by ReoLink tech support, using the proper "customer support methods", the current v.7.2.2.33 software has not been "updated" in well over 3-months now. 8) There is no way to control the nighttime IR illumination of these B800 cameras (the option is available "nowhere", as it "is" for all of the other ReoLink cameras) Niceties: 1) NVR storage is very easily expandable using both any standard SATA drive [internal], or eSATA (using externally supplied 12VDC power) and an eSATA data cable. 2) Unit is "tiny" (stores easily almost anywhere). 3) Camera PoE is available at all 8 Ethernet ports. 4) Video "clip" download feature works very nicely (but again, no longer supports downloading the much more compact "Fluent" stream, as do all of the other ReoLink cameras.) 5) Cameras are extremely well built for this price point. 6) The Android and iOS versions of the ReoLink client are extremely usable and very functional, given enough internet bandwidth being available. 7) Very impressive $price$/quality ratio. 8) The nighttime "infrared LEDs" are actually quite usable for scene illumination when not enough natural light is present. This truly is a great system! It could, however, be even better if they work out some of the "kinks".