Synology BC500 Camera Review – Smart Choice?
When Synology first revealed that they were going to be releasing their own surveillance cameras, many users (myself included, arguably louder than many) that this was long, LONG overdue. But why exactly is the Synology BC500 Camera a big deal? Pretty much all of the premium NAS brands (not just Synology) provide turnkey products that are a combination hardware+software solutions. Although this software includes a lot of backend services and popular tools to maintain your data, they also include surveillance camera software that allows you to use your NAS as a NVR/CCTV central hub. Running parallel with the rest of the NAS services, these surveillance services that are included with most NAS have often been the main motivation for their purchase (or make up a decent % of the intended use and therefore result in a better ROI by the buyer), with Synology’s Surveillance Station software largely considered to be the very best of the bunch! However, till now, NAS brands would never directly recommend a singular camera brand/model.. they would recommend one of the 7000-8000 compatibility cameras (of varying price, quality, services, etc), but that was about it. Therefore when Synology took the big step in actually releasing their own single ecosystem cameras for Surveillance station, a lot of ‘all in one’ solution buyers were very happy indeed! Likewise, a 1st party camera largely ensures top-tier service and long-term support in the software too. It also means that you don’t need a camera license for the camera either, as support and staying onto of compatibility is integrated in the software itself. Plus, unlike a lot of budget cameras on the market predominantly coming out of China, the BC500 arrive TAA and NDAA compliant (so, must more appealing to IU.S Businesses and users with concerns of security and production conditions). So, what’s the catch? Well, when we saw that the Synology BC500 Camera was rolling out with a $250+ price tag, that was something of a surprise. Camera licenses, support, security, warranty’s and compatibility aside – that is more than double the cost of similar camera hardware from the likes of Reolink, Hikvision, Edimax and more. So, today we want to dig into the Synology BC500 Camera in our review and help you decide if they are safe enough for your data!
You can find our Synology BC500 Camera Review on YouTube HERE
Check Amazon for the Synology BC500 and TC500 Cameras
Synology BC500 Camera – HERE
Synology TC500 Camera – HERE
Synology BC500 and TC500 IP Camera Specification Highlights:
- BC500 = Compact Style IP Camera
- TC500 = Dome Style IP Camera
- Resolution: 5MP – 2880×1620 – 30FPS
- Horizontal angle: 110 degrees
- Weatherproof standard with IP67
- Nightvision covers 30 Metres
- SRTP/HTTPS support for enhanced security of video streams
- Complies with US NDAA/TAA standards
- Intelligent vehicle and person detection
- Integrate seamlessly with Surveillance Station, enhancing the seamless surveillance management experience
- Encrypted recordings
- SD Card Slot
Synology BC500 Camera Review – Quick Conclusion
The edge-based AI recognition of cameras like the BC500 is designed to minimize unnecessary alerts from surveillance feeds, maximizing efficiency and time management. Despite Synology’s high pricing, its superior software and commitment to cybersecurity (with TAA and NDAA-compliant cameras) could justify the cost for many users. However, compared to some affordable models in the market, Synology’s cameras might lack in terms of hardware like resolution and sensor quality. These cameras seem primarily designed for business-class users, given their value for mass-deployed surveillance systems and edge AI recognition. Home users, who could find comparable hardware for less, might find less appeal, especially considering Synology’s current limited model range and the emphasis on security features more relevant to businesses. The Synology BC500 offers tangible benefits for businesses, but home users might want to wait for Synology to expand its range to cater more to their needs.
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Synology BC500 Camera Review – Packaging
Upon first look, the BC500 retail box is very ‘on brand’. True to the Synology house style, the packaging is almost completely recyclable, clearly labeled and very modern – an aesthetic that’s stylishly minimalist and straightforward.
The box’s sides are amply covered with detailed information specific to the BC500 camera. This presentation is impressively neat, particularly for a product traditionally not associated with such looking nice at the retail level.
The camera kit itself includes the BC500 camera, a quick-start setup guide, a wall guide for installation, screws, raw plugs, and a waterproof cable cover.
Unfortunately, the package lacks a Power over Ethernet (PoE) injector for mains power. Considering the camera’s price tag of $250-300, this omission is a bit disappointing.
Nonetheless, the BC500 camera comes with a 3-year hardware warranty and offers lifetime support in Synology Surveillance station, which is probably going to matter more to most users who plan on having this camera deployed for 5-10 years without thinking about it. All in all, the BC500 is packaged neatly and practically, setting the stage for the camera’s design and functionality.
Synology BC500 Camera Review – Design
The BC500 camera boasts a rugged, compact design. It’s noticeably shorter in the main barrel compared to other bullet-style cameras, which comes as a pleasant surprise. The Synology logo is imprinted on either side of the device, and it sports a slightly protruding top panel designed to shield the lens from rainfall during operation.
However, it’s worth noting that unlike its counterpart, the TC500 Turret-style camera, the BC500 isn’t rated IK10 vandal-proof. Although this won’t be an issue for some users, it’s something to remember when comparing these two for specific setups. Still, it is IP67 weatherproof, demonstrating Synology’s commitment to durability.
The BC500 has a robust rotating base joint/bracket that offers flexibility for different deployment scenarios. The base is constructed of metal and employs a three-screw design. Even though the kit doesn’t include an additional wall mounting bracket (only a paper wall sticker is provided), it does come with the necessary screws and raw plugs for outdoor deployment.
A removable panel at the bottom of the camera reveals an SD card slot supporting up to 128GB and a reset button. This SD card slot allows edge recording. In the event of a network error or an unreachable target surveillance NAS, it will record directly onto the SD card and then resync the recordings with the NAS when the connection is restored.
The BC500 features a considerably large lens surface area, with a status LED on the top right and a microphone on the top left. This microphone can be used to record audio alongside the video feed. Moreover, the BC500 supports Audio Detection, allowing the user to be alerted when noise exceeds a certain threshold.
The BC500 camera can record at 2880×1620 resolution at 30 FPS, or a substream at 1920×1080 @ 15 FPS or 1280×720 @ 30 FPS, using either H.264 or H.265 (also known as HEVC).
Unfortunately, given its price tag, the 5 Megapixel/5MP lens is slightly underwhelming when you consider that you can buy 4K cameras with optical zoom at a lower price point. That said, there is a large amount of adjustment possible in the Surveillance station software:
There is no denying that the Synology BC500 camera lens and recording quality maximum is a little underwhelming for the price point, however, the image clarity is nevertheless commendable and should satisfy the needs of most users.
Synology BC500 Camera Review – Surveillance Software and Services
The Synology BC500 camera is specifically engineered to provide optimal performance with Synology Surveillance Station, the current version being 9.1.1. The camera’s integration with Surveillance Station offers advanced functionality that outshines the features provided by third-party and non-edge-AI-recognition cameras.
The BC500 camera, when paired with Surveillance Station, supports a plethora of services that transform your security experience. It provides access to live camera feed (monitoring center), which can be scaled to accommodate several cameras on screen simultaneously. You can also view live feeds and previous recordings side-by-side on the software.
Additionally, the Surveillance Station allows for privacy mask and watermark applications on the feed.
It also supports the upload of eMaps and integrates with third-party mapping services like Google Maps and OpenMaps.
Surveillance Station isn’t limited to camera support. It also provides control for IP speakers, door controls, and I/O supported peripherals. Users can access the system swiftly and intuitively via a mobile app, and even use their mobile as another surveillance camera feed with Synology Live Cam. Alerts and push notifications can be scheduled for specific events, and the system generates downloadable analytical reports.
The Surveillance Station further extends its functionality with an array of additional add-ons. These range from YouTube Live Streaming and video integrity tools to transaction checking and IFTTT/Webhook services.
It also offers features like motion detection, missing object detection, idle zone monitoring, and foreign object area tagging. Access to the Surveillance Station is conveniently provided through web browsers, desktop clients, and mobile clients, either over the local network or remotely.
One of the key features is the Smart Lapse creation, which lets you truncate long periods of recording into speedy sequences. For example, you can turn a full day’s footage into a few minutes for quick scanning. It also supports cloud recording with Synology C2 Surveillance (available with a free trial, then on a subscription basis).
The Surveillance Station also offers a Home Mode, which allows automated camera schedules to kick in when a defined user exits or enters the premises using WiFi links. More details on these features can be found in our review of Synology Surveillance Station 9.1 on our YouTube channel:
The BC500 camera, paired with Surveillance Station, supports sophisticated AI detection techniques like people detection, vehicle detection, intrusion detection, crowd detection, and loitering detection. It also offers a Smart Search feature that lets you search a predefined area of a recorded feed for specific incidents.
Vehicle Detection – Similar to its capability for human detection, the BC500 camera extends its intelligent recognition to vehicles as well. This feature proves particularly useful in situations when the premises are closed, and an unexpected vehicle enters the vicinity. The surveillance system can be programmed to provide ‘out of hours’ alerts, notifying owners whenever vehicles approach their premises during closed or off hours. It’s an excellent way to ensure the security of your property when you’re not physically present.
Intrusion Detection – The BC500 camera takes intrusion detection a notch higher with its advanced features. Users can draw lines on the feed that can have multiple bend or break points, marking out specific areas as off-limits. This allows the system to monitor if people or vehicles cross into these forbidden zones. Thanks to edge AI recognition, you can customize this feature to fit your needs—for example, allowing an area to be entered by people but not vehicles or vice versa. This level of customization helps create ‘no go’ zones at specific times, further enhancing the security of your premises.
Crowd Detection – The BC500 camera’s recognition capabilities extend beyond just humans and vehicles. It also offers nuanced crowd detection. For instance, the system could be programmed to ignore one or two people in a predefined area. However, if that number increases to five or six, it could trigger an alert. This crowd detection feature enables you to set thresholds for alerts based on the number of people in a particular area, ensuring you’re notified only when necessary.
Loitering Detection – Similar to crowd detection, loitering detection is another impressive feature of the BC500 camera. This function enables the camera to alert you when an individual or vehicle remains within a predefined area for an unusually long period. People just passing by won’t trigger an alert, but if they loiter around for a while, the system will notify you. This helps you keep an eye on any potential suspicious activity around your premises.
Smart Search – This feature significantly enhances the surveillance process by allowing you to focus on a specific area within recorded feeds. For instance, you can set the system to alert you of any movement, person, or vehicle in a predetermined spot, such as a door, desk, or window. By combining Smart Search with Smart Time Lapse, you can sift through weeks of recordings in a fraction of the time, automatically identifying any noteworthy events in a particular spot. It allows you to retroactively apply advanced surveillance parameters, even if they weren’t set up at the time of recording.
While the BC500 camera is impressive, it’s important to note that it does not support database storage. It cannot store a reference of specific people or faces and vehicle registrations for future comparison when they appear in the feed, allowing alerts to be scaled accordingly. To access this kind of functionality, a DVA system such as the Synology DVA1622 2-Bay or DVA3221 4 Bay is necessary. Similarly, the BC500 camera cannot keep track of the number of people or objects crossing the set intrusion lines, making it impossible to maintain an accurate count—for instance, knowing who is in or out during a fire alarm. Thus, while the BC500 camera provides a range of advanced features, it has its limitations.
Recordings are sent via HTTPS/SRTP encryption to the NAS, are encrypted when recorded to the local memory card, and remain encrypted when backed up on the Surveillance C2 cloud service. Furthermore, the Synology BC500 camera is NDAA and TAA compliant, which gives it a distinct edge over lower-priced Chinese cameras. In conclusion, while the BC500 Camera does not match up to more expensive Deep Video Analysis systems like the DVA162/DVA3221, its exclusive features and exemption from surveillance licenses make it a compelling choice.
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Which AI Services Are Included with the Synology BC500 and TC500 Cameras (and which ones are not)?
Now, despite the Synology BC500 and TC500 Surveillance Cameras arriving with onboard hardware for AI-powered recognition tasks, it is worth highlighting that using them is NOT the same as using the Deep Video Analysis (DVA) series of NAS servers in Synology’s portfolio. These operations are managed from inside the camera and the alerts are handled and actioned by the NAS after the camera sends the appropriate alert – and these cameras so NOT have the same level of hardware as the DVA1622 and DVA3221 inside each of them! Additionally, whereas the DVA series manages multiple tasks internally from multiple cameras, only using the camera hardware as a life ‘feed’, these cameras cannot run deeper AI tasks that involve counting, internal database management and keeping records of AI referral data internally – they do not have the storage or processing power for that. So more complex people counting and specific facial recognition will not be immediately available to your PLUS series Diskstation, just because you are using the BC500 and/or TC500. Here is a breakdown of the services available to users with either Synology Cameras or a Synology DVA NAS:
| AI Service | Case Use | BC500 & TC500
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DVA1622 & DVA3221
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| People / Vehicle/Loitering Detection | Reduce false alarm and protect against loitering | YES | YES |
| Crowd Detection | Monitor public safety or quality of service | YES | YES |
| Intrusion Detection | Protect perimeter and restricted area | YES | YES |
| Instant Search | Investigate incidents quickly after they happen | YES | NO |
| People/Vehicle Counting | Calculate occupancy in shops, food courts, or parking lots with aggregated counting of people and vehicles entering and leaving | NO | YES |
| Face Recognition | Automate personnel identification and prevent unauthorized access | NO | YES |
| License Plate Recognition | Identify license plates and set up triggers based on configurable allow or block lists | NO | YES |
If you are unaware of the Synology Deep Video Analysis NAS system, you can find out more about it in the video reviews of the hardware and software below from our YouTube channel:
Synology BC500 Camera Review – Conclusion & Verdict
Ultimately, the edge-based AI recognition that cameras, like the BC500 provide, is designed to minimize redundant or unsuitable alerts from your surveillance feeds. This optimization allows you to spend fewer man-hours checking on your surveillance setup unnecessarily and instead focus on genuinely useful alerts. This same efficiency applies when you leverage camera feed management in older recordings. If you find evidence of a security concern now, you can use that information to retroactively check old recordings, saving time by pinpointing relevant evidence and tailoring alerts accordingly. While Synology has set the pricing relatively high, they do so knowing that their software is among the best in the industry. The cameras are likely to be considered as part of a larger, single-ecosystem surveillance solution. Additionally, with cybersecurity concerns and debates over the sourcing of integral hardware at the forefront (for instance, the US-China Trade war), having cameras made outside of China (that is, TAA and NDAA compliant) works in Synology’s favor. Some users may also be swayed by the absence of an additional camera license fee when deploying a Synology BC500, although the savings here are modest, around $50 or so.
That said, the hardware inside these cameras is arguably lower-end compared to some of the more affordable Chinese models on the market, which offer higher resolution, sensor quality, pixel recording depth, and complexity. At present, Synology’s limited range of two models could constrain the scope of their deployment, but it’s clear that these are just the first of many cameras being introduced into this range. There is a distinct sense that these cameras are primarily aimed at business-class users. This focus makes sense considering the type of users who want to mass-deploy cameras and will realize the time savings from edge AI recognition (and DVA systems too). At this time, it’s hard to see many home users opting for these cameras at $250+ when they can find similar hardware for more than half that price from other IP camera brands. The emphasis on encryption/NDAA/TAA features also seems more relevant to businesses and home users with specific concerns about surveillance security footage being intercepted on the fly. In conclusion, the Synology BC500 is undoubtedly a good camera, and businesses of all sizes will quickly realize the benefits of its features and the accompanying Surveillance Station 9. However, home users might want to wait a bit longer to see if Synology expands the range to better serve their needs, much like their J, Play, Value, and Plus series have done.
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| Synology BC500 PROS | Synology BC500 CONS |
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is the camera type must be Synology Brand too?
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Have you managed to add a remote camera to your NAS via RTMP?
Congratulations on the video.
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Any tests/review of alert/notification on mobile device (where mobile is on a different network and turned off). That is the most important feature to me. What use from having video of masked men taking the goods away.
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They do charge with camera licensing, It is extortionary!
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How do you use the Smart Search in the monitoring center? I see the separate application but the search icon isn’t available like in your video. Do i have to turn it on somewhere?
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synology all the way , thankyou for sharing
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Most questions here have been answered already. Mask? Yes. Night? Yes. 24hrs? Yes. PoE? No. Watch and listen!
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Brilliant.. Can these feed be seen on an Android TV? Does that need any additional settings?
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How does this compare to Blue Iris?
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Thank you so much for the details
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Thanks for detailed review!
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DS923+ that I just bought. partially for cameras…
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How is the camera in low light, does it have color night vision?
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From a performance perspective the desktop app is way better than the web interface.. Can’t stand using the web interface once using that.
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If for not the license cost I would probably buy this. Make it $10 and okay. At $50, hard pass, that is half the cost of a camera.
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Thank you for all you do! I have learned so much about Synology, NAS, Surveillance Station, RAID configuration, etc. Currently I have two Synology NAS set up on two different sites, home and a commercial building I manage. Router/switches Unifi system in both locations. For the remote location, I opted for the DVA3221, based on my research and your excellent explanation of the capacity, and the fact that it is a pretty significant deployment. I figure about 25 remote cameras where complete.
What I have found over time is that you start to disregard the notifications when there are so many, which obviously defeats the purpose. With the better analytics, I can be aware of, and more tuned into, things that are issues or threats. For example there are several tenants, but for example I only need to know if an unknown character enters various areas.
What I found in setting up the systems was struggling with CMS or Central Management System. I was easily able to deploy CMS, which allowed me to monitor and configure the basic settings of the remote NAS. However, what I struggled with was remotely dealing with Surveillance Station and adding remote cameras into the monitoring center . It took a call to Synology to realize that there is a separate “CMS” app, specific for SS and even Synology support admitted that the documentation is pretty limited.
I think as multi-site deployment is likely becoming even more prevalent with home users, it may be a great video for you to consider. I am sure others would be interested in this and are searching for more detailed information.
Aside from the actual CMS setup, I still struggle with what is the best configuration for secure and quick connections. Although I am still working through the deployment, getting the cameras to all work over HTTPS and now getting DS Cam to also connect over HTTPS is giving me some headaches. A true complete setup for remote surveillance, with the CMS issues and best connection methods (VPN, Quick Connect?) would be so helpful as even when you get it working there is the lingering concern as to how exposed your setup may be.
Thank you again for all your effort and happy to see your subscriber list growing!
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Any recommendations on codec? H.264 vs h.265?
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How many cam license do you have, that extreme expensive
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Any way to get a feed to output through my home network to a smart TV on the same network? Would only be a single feed with no need to use a cursor on the screen.
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loving it so far, trying to get the PTZ patrol mode to work with my reolink. was hoping you would touch on this feature. also how to get speakers to work lol
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Really useful channel
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“I hate seagulls!” ???????????????? In all seriousness. I have Vivint here in the States. I have the old version of the Vivint cameras. It started as wireless/POE. Vivint believes, at least on the old system, a max of 4 cameras on the old panel. I purchased 4 outdoor cameras, 1 doorbell camera (first edition), and 3 indoor Ping cameras. (first edition). Vivint believed at the time, 2017, only 4 cameras could be used with the old panel that was used in 2017. So, I technically I had 8 cameras. Vivint has the mentality that all homes are one big square. I had a panel failure a couple of years ago. The upgraded panel is the current one that is used today. They state that the new panel can handle up to 12 of the new generation cameras. The cameras cost $399.99 for each camera. However, the big price jump is the Spotlight Pro. The Spotlight Pro goes for an unbelievable $649.98. I like the spotlight; however, I can purchase a separate, solar panel charged spotlight for around $75. I have 5 solar powered spotlights that I purchased at Costco in 2017, Other than cleaning the solar panel every 6 months and taking out the 3 rechargeable AA batteries, the spotlights work well. I think with everything that is advertised; the prices of goods sold need to be sold higher to get some sort of rate of return from their advertising. I have someone coming out in about 2 weeks. i plan on getting 8 new outdoor cameras, 1 PTZ with Autotrac. I’m keeping the Vivint security system, along with the 3 indoor Vivint “‘Ping” cameras. I’ve been watching you and a few other people here on YouTube. I’ve learned a lot. I think I’m going to save money in the long run by going with either Snyology or Amcrest. Thank you for the video.
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What a useless review damn
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Robbie you have earned a NAS PhD the hard-way by earn it.
Oh, I found a guy that’s almost as smart as you are 😉
Eddie’s DIGIBITE https://www.youtube.com/@DIGIBITE/videos
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I’m running a DVA 3221 at one customer site with 6 cameras at 4K, 1 at 4 MP, and multiple AI analytics (car counting, LPR, facial recognition, intrusion line crossing), and it works like a champ. On the other hand, I have seen some inconsistencies with a DVA 1622 deployed at another customer site that only has three cameras running, and only two LPR tasks (Entry and Exit) on two cameras. The vehicle are detected fine, but the license plates are not consistently captured like with the more powerful DVA 3221.
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Anyone notice the fox at 29:15?
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This is an awsome video for an equally awesome software from Synology. Thank you!
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This screams SMART system so is this something that can be done using a home network that is offline? If it requires to be connected to the grid then it’s a downgrade from the old software.
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PROBLEM with this camera! Only the centre portion of the image is sharp. 2/3 of the image roughly. I had a long, long, very long exchange with synology support, they contacted even the camera OEM etc but no solution provided yet. They said it would need a firmware update… (huh?!) I have years of experience with all sorts of cams but this one is the worst ever. Even cheap $20 chinese cams are sharper. I post this info to warn people NOT to buy at the Synology webshop. You do not have the ability to return without trouble. Buy this wre you CAN get support.
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PROBLEM with this camera! Only the centre portion of the image is sharp. 2/3 of the image roughly. I had a long, long, very long exchange with synology support, they contacted even the camera OEM etc but no solution provided yet. They said it would need a firmware update… (huh?!) I have years of experience with all sorts of cams but this one is the worst ever. Even cheap $20 chinese cams are sharper.
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Does it have an android and ios app?
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I love the camera!!! Just picked it up today & setup was extremely fast! Got mine for 98 Canadian dollars! Taxes in!!!
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The price is just ridiculous, for that price I can buy 2 to 3 cameras from third party incl. licenses
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Outstanding video, very useful overview and tips, thank you!
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This is the first camera I’ve ever bought, just setting up my initial home deployment.
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hello i wanted to ask this camera is doing continuous record 24 hours or just motion capture ? and if yes how much you can store on this maximum 128gb storage, like how much 24hours days? and i forgott to ask does it have privacy mask as well?
thanks a lot
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Thanks for this video! I just want to know if you can still use it as a regular NAS if you’re using it as a surveilance station? I’m looking to use it as both NAS and NVR.
Thank you!
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Nice video!! Can you run SMD, IVS and facial recognition at the same time?
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thankyou how about the qnap that we can use coral?
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14:40 Maybe the best ever moment on this channel
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Why do you need a 4K video of a courier?
I don’t want to see how long his stubble has grown. “Just because we can, doesn’t mean we have to”.
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Night Vision was disappointing, and lots of this depends on those specialized DVA machine, not their regular NAS.????
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Just three of these cameras would cost me about the same as my 8 bay system! Sure, you get a free licence, but I’m sure there is a third party offering that is as good and still costs less even taking the free licence into account. Synology tend to inflate their hardware prices quite a bit. They can get away with it on their NAS’s because of DSM, but not so sure they can on their HDD’s and cameras.
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Does the 30 ‘mitre’ night vision allow you to look round corners? ????????
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Nice review as always, thanks!
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I’ld like to see a comparison between surveillance station & blue iris.
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I really miss being able to set a high speed for playback, then click “next” after each clip, to quickly review all my security recordings in one go. With 9.x I have to change the speed on each clip. RIP my favorite 8.x feature.
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Just say ‘use’ rather than ‘utilise’! Sorry, was just driving me to distraction form otherwise great vids
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Hi, what camera’s are you using / suggest. Could you do a video on these. Thanks
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Serious question is it worth hammering and shortning the life of the drives on a ‘home nas’ (likely only gets use a few hours a day) 24/7 over using a dedicated NVR?
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I used Synology Surveillance Station Time Lapse to compress 24 hours into 2 minutes to highlight the different styles of night vision. It’s just one of the great features!
https://youtu.be/I3UZdiklNhk
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I am very interested in what BC500 functions change on a basic Synology DS918+/20+/23+, etc without the DVA model. Like the facial recognition?????
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If it wasn’t for Surveillance station I’d probably switched to TrueNAS. But Synology really did an amazing job on this.
So happy with my DS1621+ (and DS916+ for backups).
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Hello, we had a fire in our server room which affected our NAS too. Synology team says Motherboard is damaged & they shown us the same.
Now my question is should I buy the New NAS or go for second hand? However my purpose is to just have that for Backup only. Which I’ll be taking only once in a day.
Synology Nas 1821+ – 6 Bay
And should I buy 6 Bay again or 2 or 4 bay is okay?
I’m from India & I don’t know if buying from eBay is good option.
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Just installed a BC500. installation is so easy! BUT the image quality at the left and right 30% of the image is a bit BLURRY. My old Hikvision camera performs way better.
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Nice. Hope it will not be too expensive. Also: make a smart doorbell cam please that stores data locally on the NAS.
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I appreciate you making this pros/cons video about the cameras. This was very informative!
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Wow, thank you for this again amazingly informative video! I find the price of 265 euro’s (BC500) including shipping a great price! My 4 Hikvision IP cams are good but their software is crap. So I am very, very glad to be able to buy non chinese IP camera’s now with excellent support en no dodgy software.
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I think it is a great idea that Synology have gone into cameras, however due to their greed on spare parts ( eg. RAM, Power Board failure unrepairable, buy a new unit!), I would not buy a non NAS product by Synology ,if another manufacturer was producing something similar.
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licence is offer with the cam?
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#1 feature: Made in Taiwan with Taiwanese IC by Novatek, real security from the ground up, not another CCP camera, China free!
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the link doesn’t work for the cctv camaras i also cant find them in google for sale either
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These are just rebranded Dahua cameras, immediately reconized the base and placement of the speaker, microphone with the microSD in the middle with the single screw cover.
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Hey everyone, I am a first time Synology home user with a DS220+ with 2x10TB WD Red drives set up in a RAID 1 configuration. I’m looking to add 2 cameras to my house and these cameras seem like a good option. I’m looking for something that is hassle free integration into my DS. I only want to keep a couple days worth of video on the DS (before it overwrites) and be able to view the stream online at any time from my phone or a browser. Would these cameras work well or are there any other recs?
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3 years of warranty? If it’s like the EU demanded, the 3rd year is only to throw sand to customer’s eyes because on theat 3rd year, customers have to prove that the issue exists since the beginning. ????????
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Appreciate the info, but I still have a lot of questions. Especially when looking to consider Synology as an alternative to a complete ecosystem such as UniFi Protect, without the pricing, this seems more like a pre-announcement than an actual launch. After all, if they just set a very high price which includes the camera license, well, then you are really paying a license fee anyway compared with using other cameras, right?
Also, very disappointed they didn’t enter with an 8MP/4K resolution camera. Specifically, with Unifi, that is where the ecosystem breaks down as their 4K/AI cameras are quite expensive.
Minor question, but I don’t see it stated anywhere in the Synology specs that their cameras actually have “plain vanilla” RTSP/ONVIF support at all. It would be reassuring to know that they can be used with other systems (ignoring the warranty problem) in a basic camera mode (no AI features) for at least for “salvage value” or fallback if, in the future, changing out the Surveillance station NVR for something else.
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thanks for covering this. I want a Synology cameras now lol.
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I think a NAS company releasing their own camera is a great idea. Since there are just too many to choose from, simplifies the process. Adding AI was a brilliant call. I don’t see that as annoying at all (as HDD, memory, and n2.mvne are annoying.) Good call from Synology.
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Hi,
Great video! Can you do a video of several brands of cameras, so we can make a better choice.
Best regards. Keep the good job!
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5MP 110° is a big leap of faith ????
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Excellent video
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I imagine Synology has done what they’re doing with Seagate hard drives, rebranding an existing third party camera and customizing the firmware slightly to lock you in that bit more. Further, the price premium will likely be on the high side knowing Synology. Unless, of course, buying one of these works out no more expensive compared to an equivalent camera plus the required Synology licence.
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Where is the DVA 3221 software review?????
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Synology has come a long way with Surveillance Station, but the DVA devices are still very expensive when compared to some other solutions. It’s still a bit of a hard sell.
I find Reolink camera’s have very poor low light performance, but are great in brightly lit areas. If I was spending the money on a surveillance system like this, I would probably get Dahua Cameras and utilise the functions on the camera for AI detection rather than buying a DVA device and cheaper cameras. Surveillance Station on my DS918+ has almost all the same features utilising the IVS functions of the Dahua cameras.
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