Duo 3 getting returned back to Amazon!

[user_840683896512750_840683896512750]

I didn’t even get the chance to test out the camera because the design is so unbelievably poor!
Where do I even begin?

First, let’s talk about where the wire exits the camera. The mount is designed in such a way that it’s impossible to position the camera to move up and down properly.
And why on earth does the wire have to awkwardly wrap around the mounting arm just to mount the camera on a wall?

Now, let's consider the ceiling mount...




Ceiling mounting presents an even more problematic scenario. The channel of the plastic, when installed, faces directly towards onlookers, resulting in an appearance that is, frankly, quite unsightly. To compound the issue, the wire must awkwardly wrap around the arm to allow the camera to point downward when mounted on the ceiling.

Attempting to flip the bracket to conceal the exposed wire channel only introduces further complications, as it prevents the camera from achieving the desired angle. This is a significant design oversight and a major failure in the product's functionality.


It is perplexing to understand why the design of this camera inexplicably leaves the wiring exposed. I have invested in numerous Reolink cameras, with the RLC-810A and RLC-1224A being among my personal favorites. These models boast a thoughtful design that allows the camera cable to be discreetly concealed within the mounting bracket. This not only provides a clean and polished appearance but also adds an extra layer of security to the installation.

Regrettably, it appears that the team responsible for the design of this particular camera has made a significant oversight, one that has seriously impacted my confidence in Reolink products. For the first time, I find myself returning a Reolink product to Amazon. This is especially disappointing given my previous positive experiences with Reolink's power over ethernet products, all of which I had held in high regard until now.

I dedicated over an hour attempting to mount this camera to the soffit in front of my garage, intending to replace an RLC-1224A. Unfortunately, there seems to be no feasible way to install the camera without compromising its aesthetic appeal. The result is an unsightly installation that falls far short of my expectations.

Before anyone suggests purchasing an additional mount from Amazon, I must express that, for a camera priced at $200, the included mounting hardware should be more than adequate. It is unreasonable to expect customers to incur additional costs to compensate for a design flaw in such a basic feature of the product.

[wisemanjaw]

@user_840683896512750_840683896512750
Have you also noticed how even when you tighten the mounting screw into the camera it takes very little torque between them (i.e. a good gust wind) and the joint pops loose! It sort of looks like there were supposed to be little nubs between the camera and the mount bracket that would prevent this from happening. The screw that is used there appears to be a standard camera mount screw (i.e., like used on tripods). In all of those applications though, there is always a thin ribbed piece of rubber to prevent the joint from turning and coming loose.

I have one of these but I'm afraid I will have to put a totally separate hole in the soffit for the cables to go through well behind the camera instead of through its mount. I also suspect that I will have to create some kind of thin rubber gasket to go between the camera and the knuckle where the screw goes through. If not that, I may have to just glue them together before putting in the screw (although I'm sure that will invalidate any warranty that I have).

Also if you don't get the mount in the exact right position, the mount will not allow you to correct any error in the tilt horizon of the camera's view. E.g., if the soffit that you are mounting to is sloped, the horizontal center of the image will be tilted as well and can not be fixed. If you have the camera angled down 45 degrees, you get a similar problem.

[user_840683896512750_840683896512750]

@user_846994761957606_846994761957606

Yep, seems like you could tighten it down with the force of a thousand suns, then a squirrel looks at it and it spins right off and dangles by the wire.

-- On a more serious note.

A significant portion of the mounting challenges could be effectively addressed if the design of the mounting bracket incorporated a reversible feature. By engineering the indentations on the opposing side of the ball socket to mirror those on the original side, users would gain the flexibility to reposition and reorient the hardware with ease. This simple yet impactful design modification would vastly improve the versatility and user-friendliness of the mounting system.

Furthermore, I am increasingly inclined to believe that Reolink may be phasing out their current line of cameras. The disparity in both quality and construction among their recent products is striking. Typically, when a company introduces a new camera model, there is a degree of consistency in design elements and features that create a recognizable brand identity. However, Reolink's latest offerings have diverged so significantly from one another that it is becoming difficult to identify them as products from the same manufacturer, save for the presence of the Reolink logo.

Given these observations, it may be prudent to begin exploring alternative companies for future camera acquisitions.