Customer Reviews

SVAT CV65 Outdoor Nightvision Security Camera (Color)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a good camera for $50 but it does have some limitations that more expensive cameras do not suffer from. The picture is decent, nothing special, and the night vision is OK for about 10-15'...but the lack of a wide angle lens makes this camera not very usable for monitoring areas like your front door. You need to mount it at a far distance to get a wide field of view and since its nightvision is only fair that kills its performance.

All in all, decent unit for $50, but the nightvision performance and narrow field of view really hurt when compared to CCD cams like Topica's. Good for a CMOS camera but no match for a slightly (OK..over twice the price) more expensive CCD camera.

This is my first security cam purchase. Installation could not have been easier. The 60 feet of cable was more than enough to pull through the attic and through a 1/2" hole for the connector to pass through at the installation location. Video quality is great, and the sound quality is much better than would have expected (I can even pipe in bird songs from outside). The little camera feels very sturdy in its machined aluminum housing. No problems with the adjustment.

Night vision range is okay if you install within about 10 feet of the subject.

I'm very happy with it, especially the price.

This has to be one of the best deals for a color camera that has night vision capabilities. I am completely satisfied with this camera. Very solid housing, plenty of cable included and good quality for the price. Worth every penny, plan on purchasing several more.

After a failure in less than 3 weeks with a NEW wireless ASTAK Multi Camera system I have learned a lot. Maybe I should list them as I found them.
----With the wireless, every foot away from the receiver AND the positioning of its antenna severely effects the performance. It is so important, it can cause complete loss of any usable bright daytime image from reaching your monitor even in a small distance of just 60 feet or LESS.

----If you have any type of wireless network in your home for computer with Cable or DSL, GOOD LUCK! If I ever wanted to view any cam, I had to 1st literally disconnect my network & unplug current to it to get the interference to stop enough to view any image I could recognize.

----Lines of resolution. Important or not? Well I suppose it is important but let me say this....This SVAT CV65 camera with its puny 330 lines is FAR more clear AND vivid outdoors than my Wireless ASTAK was with its touted 420 lines. And this is factoring in the BEST picture I could ever get with the wireless after I went around disconnecting and disabling my entire wireless internet network! I almost did not buy this unit as I wanted a clear image. Sure glad I tried this camera! I also have NO interference of ANY type no matter how or WHERE I place this camera. This is over 1/2 the battle already resolved.

----Audio. I see nothing here about this camera having audio capabilities but it DOES. I haven't found the microphone yet and it is NOT as clear or good as the ASTAK was but it is there and does work. I personally consider this as useful as the visual since I want to HEAR any audio at my front gate before wandering out to it unarmed/unprepared. If I hear something discussed by a seemingly harmless person, its just another layer of security.

----Durability? Brand new camera so I will update as time goes by. My Wireless Unit by ASTAK lasted under 3 weeks and the receiver failed! NO customer service info, I found them on the internet and got some person who barely spoke English telling me to "mail it all to them, they would try to fix it"....Sure thing. Luckily, I was able to return it where I bought it for a full refund. Exchange? Yeah right!

----Night Vision: I have this camera facing my front gate. It sits back only about25 feet from it so at this distance, I have EXCELLENT vision even in pitch black conditions. NOT tested at distances beyond that. As I have motion detected lighting that lights when called for, see no issues in this area if I were to add other camera's later to expand my views of other areas.

----Customer Service. After the above experience, I contacted SVAT by both phone AND E-mail. What a difference! PERFECT English, they knew what they were talking about, were helpful, and responded to BOTH my E-Mail and my phone calls. I have to admit, it was a bit unfair to test them this way but after my nightmare with Wireless and ASTAK, I wanted some security. It is just such a pleasure to finally find a company that I enjoy dealing with. For the record, the product states "MADE IN CHINA". So will it last? Will update the good, the bad, OR the ugly. Just don't dismiss a wired camera with 330 lines of resolution too quickly.

I have this to monitor my driveway. It provides a really clear picture for the money, faces are easily recognizable and color comes through well. At night when my own security lights aren't on, I can easily see vehicles parked near the house, but can't see anything by the street. Once the security lights are triggered, however, the camera picks up most things, even those far away, with ease. Plenty of wire to go through attic and around the roof, etc. The only downfall I have found so far after a few months is that the viewing angle is pretty narrow. It is difficult for me to get the whole of my front yard, even when on the very corner of the house. does best when up high and far away, though this is not always possible. From where you position it, it always seems like it is somehow zoomed in a little. A wider viewing angle would be nicer. Still, all in all, a really great value -- I have been impressed and will be getting a few more in the near future.

I bought this camera for outdoor purposes and was impressed with the picture quality (given the price). The down side is the quality. I can't for the life of me get the camera to point to where I want it to point. The screw does not fit well enough into the base. I will need to find a way around this, but otherwise, it's a decent camera.

EDIT: I've given up on this camera and orderd a Q-See which is much better built.

I have to give this 4 starts. Easy to hook up, works great, good color,
seems to be within specs. I also got a cv31, but it is 420 lines, really makes a difference.
OK, why the 4 stars and not 5, It seems like the focus is off just a little bit. Other than that, great for the price.
Mount is great. Comes with cable and power supply ready to go.
For the price I am going to take it apart and see if there is any way to fix the focus, if so, then its 5 stars.
frank

I've had this for about 15 months. It is useless now. The field is completely washed out and software adjustments don't correct. It worked for a while, but being on 24/7 seems to have affected its ability to automatically adjust for varying light conditions. I must now buy a new one. . .darn.

I bought this camera for my store. Not only does it see & hear everything happening, it also picks up what goes on right out front. If can see patrons of the restaurant across the alley, and it also works well at night.

I mounted it on the ceiling using my own clip and only had to position it where I wanted. Definitely worth the low price and easy to use & install.

This was my first foray into CCTV and I must say the functionality of this little camera was impressive. Prior to this, the only familiarity I had with security cameras was watching the grainy, B&W time delayed image from security cameras in commercial settings. The SVAT CV65 camera with color display, night vision and full motion video is splendid, at least to my perception.

Installation was a simple affair with the mounting bracket fastened with three screws, and the 60' of cable being more than long enough for the job (the SVAT brand 60' extension cable is also available if longer reach is required). The output end uses RCA connectors so be sure your display device has those; I had to buy an RF Modulator to hook the camera up to my television set.

In the daytime, the picture is crisp and clear with excellent color contrast. Another review said the colors were substandard, but on mine they were "picture" perfect. What's really a cool feature is the night vision. It's rather fun to watch the monitor at dusk and observe the display slowly changing from color to monochrome as the infrared LED's kick in. What I'm monitoring is only about 8-9 feet from the mounting location so the camera's purported 10-15' night range is more than adequate for my needs.

Supposedly the camera also has audio capabilities, but there isn't much of any noise in the application I'm using it for so I can't evaluate that aspect.

All in all, I'm impressed.

For a CCTV system well under $100.00, you can't go wrong with the SVAT CV65.