Detectability / Compression / Details | RLC-820A

[robert_5420]

Hello,
I have a camera set (RLK16-820D8-A) with 8 cameras (RLC-820A).

The setting is: 4K and 25fps

I am dissatisfied with the visibility of details. In daylight and at a distance of 16m, a license plate is hardly recognizable. Other details such as faces are also difficult or impossible to see.

I looked for a compression setting, but couldn't find anything.

What can I do?

Greetings from Germany,
Robert

[Reolink Fiona]

@robert_5420 You can also adjust the bitrate in the Stream setting. When you view the video, do you view it in clear mode?
You can right-click the mouse on the LiveView screen and then choose the clear mode.

Here is the guide, https://support.reolink.com/hc/en-us/articles/900000662483-How-to-Playback-Recordings-Smoothly-in-Clear-Mode.

[robert_5420]

@reolink-fiona
Hello!

Thank you for your reply and questions.

Resolution: 3840x2160
Bit rate: 8MB/s (full)
FPS: 25

The license plate is only 16 meters away from the camera and is a sunny day. The license plate is not clearly legible.
People and faces are also difficult to identify.

The picture quality on the other cameras is also bad. I tested it over several days with many cars and people on multiple cameras and positions.

What good is 4K resolution if the sensor blurs out all the details in the image?
I am dissatisfied with the image quality of the cameras.

I bought it two weeks ago from Amazon. (NVR+8Cams, ca. 1000 Euro).

Attached are five photos. The last photo is the original resolution photo (3840x2160).

[Folly]

@robert_5420 I think the image is very clear. But the detail is not that perfect. Hope Reolink can collect the feedback and work it better.

[robert_5420]

I think the image is very clear.

The picture is taken during the day, sunshine and it was the best weather. A clear picture in these good weather conditions is nothing great. Every camera in the world should be able to do that without any problems.
To test it, I took a photo from the same direction with a cheap mobile phone. The photo was very clear AND the license plate number was easy to read.

But the detail is not that perfect.

The details are not nearly perfect, the details are cruel and unacceptable. I expect a surveillance camera to be able to read license plates well at a short distance (16 meters).

Hope Reolink can collect the feedback and work it better.

That doesn't help me. With the technology (4K, tiny sensor, no WDR), the image quality will never be good, where you can see details (e.g. license plates).

Since I get no answer (and no solution) from Reolink (@reolink-fiona) I will have to contact Amazon. I will also take a few more screenshots and write a very detailed 1-star review with lots of photos on Amazon.

[robert_5420]

...

My post with the photos is 5 days old. Can I still expect an answer?

[Reolink Fiona]

@robert_5420 Hi there, the details of the image are limited by the distance. The detail is not perfect enough. I will let our tech look at this issue. Sorry for the inconvenience caused.

[robert_5420]

the details of the image are limited by the distance.

This is wrong! In fact, it is a surveillance system with 4K. Here it is only 16 meters away and the license plate is large (52cm wide), the characters are black, the background is white. The lighting conditions (sunshine) are also very good.
All circumstances of this situation are perfect for detection. And the result: lousy picture quality and you can't read the letters.

I will let our tech look at this issue.

What does the engineering department say about the problem?

Sorry for the inconvenience caused.

I don't need an apology, I need a solution!
My money was perfect, I expect the system to work well too.
A surveillance system should be able to make a license plate readable at this relatively short distance and with 4K.

[Reolink Fiona]

@robert_5420 Because our camera is not the license plate camera. So some video details of the license plate are not perfect and are limited by distance.

[robert_5420]

@robert_5420 So some video details of the license plate are not perfect and are limited by distance.

What's hard to understand about that?
It's a surveillance system.
With a surveillance system, I want to monitor an area, identify people and vehicles.
Vehicles have license plates. License plates are large and easy to read.
The license plate in the video is 52 cm wide and only 16 meters from the camera.

Let's summarize the facts:

• Sunshine, best view
• Surveillance System in 4K (3840 x 2160 Pixel)
• only 16m distance
• large license plate in white with black

Despite these best conditions, you cannot read the letters on the license plate.

Any eye, cheap camera or cell phone can read the license plate at this short distance. Just not the Reolink system.
 
What is the surveillance system for? So the system is unusable. This is technical crap.
And from the support? No support! No solution. Nothing.

[faasio82_480971996033257]

This post is deleted!

[robert_5420]

@robert_5420 : I have an 523WA and the same problem.
This car is about 15 meters away and i can't read the license plate.

Do you have your example photo in full resolution (4K)?

[faasio82_480971996033257]

@robert_5420 : The picture is taken with 5MP. That is the highest I believe.

[John_350143387672724]

I agree, something seems wrong. I wonder how Reolink’s software (app, client) handles h265 video and making a snapshot from it. I’m sure there’s potential problems on which computer/browser/phones Reolink’s software is running on and how it handles h265 video. It could be a problem on the hardware’s side where the Reolink’s software is running on.

I’m not sure what the problem could be if you’re taking your image from the highest resolution video from the camera and making sure there’s no resolution loss.

[robert_5420]

I’m sure there’s potential problems on which computer/browser/phones Reolink’s software is running on and how it handles h265 video.

I've tried multiple ways (Live View, PC, Mobile, USB over NVR, etc.). It doesn't matter, the same problem everywhere.

I’m not sure what the problem could be if you’re taking your image from the highest resolution video from the camera and making sure there’s no resolution loss.

I asked a surveillance engineering pro.
He told me that in his estimation the problem is that the image sensor is too small for 4K. The sensor cannot capture a clear image in 4K at all due to its small size.
That would mean that a software update cannot solve the problem. The camera would be technical scrap.

[John_350143387672724]

I asked a surveillance engineering pro.
He told me that in his estimation the problem is that the image sensor is too small for 4K. The sensor cannot capture a clear image in 4K at all due to its small size.

That better not be true since Reolink's stated spec is for 3840X2160 (8.0 Megapixels) at 25 frames/sec. I bought a RLC-820a camera that's going to be delivered this weekend.

[user_587092910207017_587092910207017]

Hello,

i have the same problem with RLC-810A

i have set to 2k and to 4k (both max quality 8000kb encoding) there is absolute no change in quality. (i used the direct stream and encoded with VLC/ffmepg and also used the software with snapshot)

even if i zoom out the picture, it result in absolute same details.

there is may a bug in software or the sensor cmos has only 3MP and is scaled up by software.

i also see that the stream run on 29 FPS ?? how could this possible in 4k?

i hope we can clearify this issue, i do not want to have bought (on amazon) a fake 4k.