SVAT CV31 Hi-Res Outdoor CCD Security Camera w/Long Range Night Vision

Reviews of SVAT CV31 Hi-Res Outdoor CCD Security Camera w/Long Range Night Vision

1.) Incredible camera for the price
Reviewed by: Timothy Carroll Gainesville, Florida, USA
Rating:
This camera works better than I expected. The image is about the clearest I've seen over a composite video source. I can make out details very well. The color saturation is very true, and the night vision is incredible. I can easily see my entire front porch at night, and even almost all the way to the garage. I'm definitely going to buy a few more of these units in the future. My only gripe is that the cable that sticks out of the camera (which connects to the very long extension cable which is included) is a little awkward at only 1 foot in length. It makes it so that the connection is just sort of hanging off in space out the back of the camera, whereas if the built-in cable was two feet longer, I could have hidden the connection inside the wall of my house (much more elegant). It's a small gripe for an otherwise awesome camera.

2.) Solid camera/ good value
Reviewed by: R. P. Gesch
Rating:
I am impressed with the resolution for the price. I use it to monitor my sheep lambing in the barn. Using a 60 watt cfl, the night vision is the same as daylight in brightness. I have 200' of cable and no loss of picture. Easily covers 40'.


3.) Great range and color
Reviewed by: Just Me Punta Gorda Florida
Rating:
Great camera- Easy to install - So much better than the black and white. At night the video is so clear you would think it was still day time! Very happy with this product. Purchaed three so far

4.) Very Satisfied customer
Reviewed by: Barbara Currier
Rating:
I purchased 4 CV31B color night vision cameras. They are great and comes with 60 feet of cable. Has very nice resolution and is very easy to hook up. All cameras done in 20 mins. If I needed more would definitely buy again and the price is terrific.

5.) As good as stated.
Reviewed by: D. M. Pepper
Rating:
So far I have bought seven of these cameras .To date they all have preformed well with the exception of the last one I installed today. It had a cystal clear picture on it during the day but tonight has a little RF drift that is rolling over the screen.I had these professionally installed so it could be that this camera was installed with some part of the connection not shielded well.I will call the installer tomorrow to see.I have one that hasn't been installed yet so actually the only review I can give on these is on six of the ones installed. I give these camera's an A+ for performance and price.Better than most and maybe as good or not as good as higher priced.Not sure because I have only owned on very high priced camera.Price on that one was 3000.00 but it wss a ptz and I expected it to be way better .Anyway over all the camera's are as stated in their decripition and overall im delighted with them ,so much I bought one to start with and so far have bought an additional six.

6.) I just ordered another one!
Reviewed by: Tom Sharon, PA USA
Rating:
Pro: sharp image, good wide angle coverage, turns night into daylight.

Con: large and heavy compared to most others in this price range.

7.) 100% Satisfied
Reviewed by: Lucas Hutchins
Rating:
i purchased these before and i loved them they work great day and night. i came across these they are cheaper than the ones i purchased before. i bought two and im going to buy another one. A++++

8.) SUPERB QUALITY!!!!!!! HI-TECH CAMERA GADGET!!! A+++++
Reviewed by: J. Louie Manhattan, New York
Rating:
THIS IS FAR THE BEST OUTDOOR CAMERA I HAVE EVER SEEN. ITS NOT LIKE THOSE TINY CAMERAS THAT HAVE LIMITS TO SEE ANYWHERE FROM 7-15FT. THIS CV31 CAN SEE UP 45FT!!!!!! THAT RIGHT 45FT. I HAVE IT ON AERIAL SURVEILLANCE AND THE PICTURE IS SOOOOO.........GREAT!!! THIS IS EXACTLY LIKE WHAT YOU SEE ON HDTV. GET THIS CAMERA FOR YOUR HOME OR FOR YOUR OWN SECURITY!!! FEELS LIKE WATCHING 1080P RES ON THIS CAMERA.

9.) Pretty decent option for those on a very tight budget, but if you pay more you get more.
Reviewed by: D. Frrazier
Rating:
I have been experimenting with a few low-end security cameras. This camera is in the mid-price range of the cameras I have tried. It also delivers mid-range results. You get what you pay for I guess. The only reason I give this camera 4 stars is that it seems like a bargain for $75. I'm sure it is not a great camera compared to some of the pricier models. I have compared it side by side to the Q-See QSC48030 and I was not very impressed with SVAT when compared to the Q-See. On the other hand, the SVAT is much better than the X-10 camera line, especially in dim light or at night. The SVAT is a bit oversized, which may be good if you are mainly trying to create a deterrent. But the camera feels a bit flimsy and hollow to me. One of the power units I received was defective and that might have rendered the camera useless had I not been able to replace the power unit. The SVAT does have a few infrared LEDs for night-vision, but the illumination is quite dim, and you probably won't get enough illumination for security purposes beyond about 10 or 15 feet. The camera is much sharper than X-10 cameras, but not as sharp as a Q-See camera. The sharpness issue is most apparent in dim lighting and at night. The camera is surprisingly bright in very dim lighting situations, like right before dark, and at first light. This camera has a minor problem with color imaging -- I have noticed a pinkish cast to images at certain times of the day. If money is tight, or you are using this camera in a not-too-critical situation, the SVAT might be a good choice. But if you can afford it, I recommend splurging on the Q-See model mentioned above. Right now, I think the price difference is only about $40.

10.) Clear Resolution Even At Night
Reviewed by: g45 TX United States
Rating:
I wanted to monitor, then eventually record traffic entering my driveway. I know NOTHING about surveillance cameras, but I thought I might experiment with inexpensive camera equipment that would transmit VIDEO ONLY wirelessly to a home security PC that I would establish. As usual, I started my search at the trusty Amazon. After reading reviews and comparing prices I opted for the QSee Model No. QSC48030 Nightvision CCD Color Camera. I honestly do NOT know how it maintains the high rating presented here. From the start the "night" vision was so faded and resolution so poor it was almost useless even with the perimeter lights on. The resolution and color in daylight was also washed out and fuzzy. The installation was a bit clunky for a novice and the placement adjustment was awkward. I had decided I would be wasting my money by continuing this project when I saw a review for SVAT CV31 nightvision color camera. Since it was about 30% cheaper than the QSee and the reviews were high rated I decided to take the risk.

This little IR camera is a GENUINE night vision camera. I get CLEAR high resolution monitoring in just moonlight and street lights at least 50ft away. The daylight vision is very clear at 720x480 and 30fps. Sometimes I get altered tints, e.g., too much blue or red in the color field, but it is not objectionable. The installation and placement adjustment are easy and intuitive. The one problem I experienced is strange. For some reason the AC/DC adapter does not hold up. Communication with the Merchant was excellent and they replaced the adapter on the spot. However, the second adapter is failing in the same mode. I decided there must be a design flaw in the adapter and just replaced theirs with one of my own 12VDC adapters and the camera is working well. With a better performing adapter, I would give the rating 5-stars. The Merchant DOES get the 5-stars. You cannot fault a seller for a design flaw outside of his control.

For newcomers to the surveilance system arena, this is a BEST BUY, for trying out and setting up a do-it-yourself system.

11.) Great Buy...
Reviewed by: XtraSavings New York
Rating:
Great camera with good resolution and night vision. Comes with 60 feet of cable (that was not mentioned in product description) that was easy to hookup.

12.) Nice camera for the price
Reviewed by: spjinseattle Seattle, WA
Rating:
This is a very nice camera, and the housing is solid and functional in terms of getting the viewing angle you need and keeping the camera out of the elements. The 60' cord included is great, and since it's an RCA connection, if you need more distance ANY RCA audio/video cable will work (eg; I used an old 50' mono/phono RCA cable added to the cable provided and it works fine). I have two of these cameras hooked up to a Slingbox for remote monitoring of our family vacation cabin. The picture in any type of daylight, including twilight, is great. The night vision leaves a little to be desired BUT with any additional light source it works very well. Past 15 feet in total darkness the infrared is only good for seeing objects which reflect light, such as license plates. Another nice thing about the infrared is the suble red light which makes the camera visible in darknes - a good deterent in total darkness.

13.) Good Camera, but...
Reviewed by: John R. Woodgate
Rating:
I was surprised at the picture you get off this thing. I figured for ~$75 how good could it be?
Well, I'd say pretty darn good. I can honestly say I could not expect better picture quality for
a sub-$100 camera. However the night vision part is where it falls short... It's not 45 feet
more like 25, But thats still pretty good. Within that 25 feet, people light up like the 4th of July
you can't miss em.

The picture in night vision mode is kinda grainy, but almost all night vision I have ever seen is
to some degree or another.

If you're looking for a low-cost camera that has 'ok' night vision capabilities, then this will definetly
fit the bill.

14.) Very Good Camera
Reviewed by: Goodpm NC
Rating:
The day time viewing is very good. Night time (B/W) is not too bad but works really well with a motion sensor light that really improves the view.

I would definitely recommend this camera. If you order the extension cable (SVAT SEW33) with the camera you could end up with a cable with both ends being male connectors ( Mine was ). Don't have a DVR yet
so can't advise on how that will work. Just hooked mine to the TV for
the time being.


15.) CSVAT CV31
Reviewed by: G. Hancock Atlanta, Georgia USA
Rating:
Great Device. Would like to have known that it has RCA inputs and not BNC. Which means that if you have a DVR thats accepts BNC type connections you will have to purchase a gender changer for conversion. This can be pricey if you purchase the gender changers from RADIO Shack for multiple cameras. I ended up purchasing mine on line. Picture Quality is Great and night vision is not to bad either. if not going wireless I would recommend it in fact I am planning on purchasing another One.

16.) great value
Reviewed by: Jason E. Craig
Rating:
I recently purchased a 4 camera (bullet style cameras made by astak) with a dvr. I was very displeased with the packaged 4 bullet cameras that came with my system. the cameras were zoomed in way too far and the field of vision was also very small. NOW I PURCHASED TWO OF THE SVAT CAMERAS AND PLACED THEM ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE. THEY HAVE A MUCH BETTER FIELD OF VISION, THE COLORS ARE MUCH BETTER AND THE NIGHT VISION IS ABOUT 40% BETTER THAN THE CAMERAS THAT CAME WITH MY SYSTEM. i HIGHLY reccomend these cameras wether it be that you are building a surveilance system or you want to upgrade you current system.

17.) Good, practical camera
Reviewed by: Allen M. Breitner
Rating:
I have had two of these in operation for a year. They are able to handle huge temperature extremes without a hitch. They work best when mounted up high. This illuminates the area w/ the IR. You can also use a dedicated IR illuminator to improve night vision range. I recommend this camera, especially since the price has come down $25.

18.) I am impressed
Reviewed by: Jerry
Rating:
I have tried wireless 2.4 cameras for years and ended up throwing them in the trash after a year. They aren't weatherproof. I just installed two of these and I am extremely happy with the quality. They have shields that cover them making them more weatherproof. The picture quality is excellent even having used two 60 foot RCA extention cords. Mounting was a breeze. Only drawback - I couldn't see any way to hang them from a roof overhang and flip the camera 180 degrees. Great product though.

19.) Love it.
Reviewed by: Janice L. Camp Ocean Springs, MS
Rating:
This camera is ten times better than the bullet camera I had before.
It really does what the manufacturer claims. It is worth the price.

20.) Nice for the price, but far too large to conceal at all.
Reviewed by: Corey G Spokane, WA USA
Rating:
This camera had awesome picture quality, probably the best I have seen so far. They definitely did a good job with this cam. The problem I had was that the size of the camera itself combined with the contrasting black bracket made it impossible to conceal or blend in at all. I should've believed the measurements on the product page but for some reason I assumed it was listing the box size. It also has a faint red glow from the LED's when they are on, which isn't all that noticable. The night vision is amazing on this cam, the best I've seen so far. The camera itself feels very solid and has an aluminum case. The bracket feels like a good solid metal bracket but the part that swivels and tilts up and down is plastic that doesn't feel all that durable at all. All in all a great camera if the size doesn't bother you!

21.) Good picture for the price
Reviewed by: Frank J. Miller
Rating:
I bought a cv65 lower price only 320 lines, and the cv31 side by side.
What a difference. The cv31 is bright sharp, nice wide lens. I gave it a 4 because of the mount. As others have said, I found out. Hard to lock into place, not really a nut to tighten. Maybe there is a cap on the nut, I will play with it some more. It needs a better mount. The picture shows the correct mount that came with my camera.
I have not tried it at night yet, but I wanted to write a review. I always read the reviews, and go by them. You guys were right again.
Great camera for price. Also comes with cable, power supply.
I will buy another one of these cv31 cameras.

Frank



22.) Great
Reviewed by: mukul
Rating:
needed to buy a adapter to get it to work with my security system and it was only $4 at radioshack A+ camera but note it doesn't have audio so its ideal for out door use

23.) Surprisingly effective
Reviewed by: Mike Lee
Rating:
Has a very good range. Had it covering a large room as a nanny cam. The only problem is the IR LEDs make it obvious that there's a camera there because they turn red in the dark. Maybe that would be good for someone setting a security system as a deterent, but I wanted something a little more inconspicuous.

24.) svat cv31
Reviewed by: Carmelita A. Provoncha
Rating:
bought this camera 1 month ago, video quality is good in the day time, at night a little fuzzy. very easy to install. worth buying some more for the price. B+ camera

25.) 45 Feet?
Reviewed by: Jim. Daneke Portland, OR
Rating:
The camera is a good looking unit.
The night vision for very short distances is fine, but I would not say anything over 30' in darkness can be seen with any clarity.
The price is right, and it is an excellent daylight camera.

26.) Better than my expensive ones but only last one year.
Reviewed by: frugal shopper Memphis, TN
Rating:
Excellent, honestly. Night vision, without lighting,is very good. It's a large camera, but that fine with me. I can see farther away with a wider angle than with my $115 each installed cameras or the CV65 which is practically useless at night. If I had purchased this camera before the others, I would have bought six of these. If you don't mind the size, it is highly recommended by me--I don't recommend many products. Aug 8, 2010, After one year rolling lines and cloudy view. Does not compare to the more expensive ones--They are still vivid. Get an extended warranty if you desire it.

27.) security camera
Reviewed by: M. Wesson Al.
Rating:
Camera provides a clear, sharp picture, good field of view, but does not appear to be in color, as it is advertized. Night vision is fair. Extra night illumination would help. Also note, there is no audio. All in all, not bad for the price, but i should have paid extra for a camera with audio.

28.) Up and running
Reviewed by: K. Anderson Louisiana
Rating:
Installed camera today or should say replacement camera. First one worked about 3 seconds before failing perhaps to a defective power supply. But Amazon stood by their sale and replaced unti within a week.

I have purchased a SVAT wireless cam previously which as functioned well for about a year now. But I wanted something with a bit more clarity and durability. Resolution for this price point is adequate with excellent color reproduction and a very good lens coverage. Haven't tested IR but if it's comparable to the other SVAT product line, it should also be adequate for my needs.



29.) Hi-Res SVAT CV31
Reviewed by: JOSHUA ASSAN
Rating:
Good Resolution in day and full color, it have low quality in the night, not see detail of faces of citizens at 15m. Easy install, only maybe need software for edit or capture video, for the price.

30.) Good only if you schedule the activity you are trying to catch.
Reviewed by: kevinbama alabama
Rating:
I bought one of these due to increased overall "hope and change" related criminal activity lately. I read the reviews on Amazon and pulled the trigger. I was initially blown away. The picture is excellent during daylight and way better than expected at night. I have this teamed with the SVAT CVP800 mini DVR. All was well.....for a while. After about two weeks, the unit would just stop producing video. If unplugged,then plugged back up, it will begin to work again. But only temporarily. Sometimes it will work fine for four or five days, and sometimes just a couple of hours. Unplug it, plug it back up, cross your fingers, and hope for the best. Once it stops working, it will stay dead until it is powered down, then back up. So, if you can schedule the criminal mischief around your property to coincide with the times this thing works, it is an excellent purchase. Otherwise, it is just one of those fake/dummy cameras. I probably just got a lemon and could be more forgiving, if it weren't for SVAT's customer service. I called them, hoping to hear something like "Send it back. When we receive it, we'll ship you another." However, when contacted, they gave me a "return authorization" number and said "we will evaluate it, determine if it is covered under warranty, repair it and send it back in four to six weeks." "If it is determined to not be warranty related, we will repair it for fifty dollars an hour." Wow, thanks! It's obvious that SVAT is concerned about my happiness with their product. NOT! I guess I'll send the thing back for them to tinker with, once I buy a camera (not an SVAT) that actually works. Anyone have a recommendation for a more reliable camera? In the meantime, I'll just hope any video-worthy activity that happens around here, happens when the CV31 isn't on one of its many "coffee breaks".

31.) returns are a problem
Reviewed by: R. Rothen
Rating:
I do own 2 of this cameras. One was stuck in B/W mode all the time (IR LED's were on, as well) - so there is a problem with the day/night circuit within the camera.
I called the service- hot-line and was told that I have to send in the unit on my costs... also that there would be a charge; I would get my money back, if it would be determined that the fault falls under warranty.
I decided to let it go - it's not worth it.

-Update: the second camera died shortly after end of warranty period.

32.) Worked for a few months before multiple failures
Reviewed by: Dan Billings Louisville, Kentucky
Rating:
Well, things started off pretty good with a decent picture day and night, but after 3-4 months, the night vision failed to work. After another month, the day vision only worked in black and white. After another month (it was mid-winter by now) the day vision only worked if the temperature was above about 35 degrees outside. In Kentucky 35 is a "warm" day in the winter. I'm giving up on this thing and trying the more expensive Q-See camera.

33.) Fire Hazard
Reviewed by: PhiloCirque Orlando, FL, US
Rating:
When I opened the box and started to put the camera components together I smelled the tell-tale odor of an electrical short circuit. As the power cord exits the transformer to power the camera, the insulation was torn allowing the cooper to be exposed. This allowed the two wires to cross and short circuit. I contacted the manufacturer and they sent me a new transformer. This one also had the cooper exposed as it exited the strain relief. I contact them again, they sent another transformer that had the same manufacturing flaw. They seemed to have drawn the line at replacing the faulty transformer only twice. This is the response I got from Daniel P at customer support:

"I have been informed that all the adapters for this product will have some copper coil that is visible through slots in the actual adapter."

Evidently they don't understand that the cooper that's exposed is outside the protection of the transformer case making this a fire hazard.

34.) These don't last...
Reviewed by: Ferny Keller, TX
Rating:
I purchase 3 of these and after less than one year of use 2 of them have failed.

Features of SVAT CV31 Hi-Res Outdoor CCD Security Camera w/Long Range Night Vision

Want a professional security camera that is durable, stylish and can see in the dark? The Clearvu Pro 31 is a quality surveillance camera that has all these features and more. Its high resolution (420 TV lines) and sharp color CCD sensor assures you crystal clear imaging both day and night, indoors and outdoors. The night vision capabilities of the CV31 are astounding. It features 24 built-in infrared LEDs that allow you to see your camera's video in the dark, illuminating surrounding objects up to 45 feet away! The built-in CDS sensor will automatically turn on the LEDs only when it gets dark, which saves on energy costs. The camera's stylish housing is made of anodized aluminum that protects the camera and will not rust. It is dust proof and rain proof, and will even protect the camera from low pressure jets of water coming from any direction (IP rating: IP65). This camera can be easily connected to your TV, VCR, computer or DVR through its RCA connection. The mounting bracket has a large range of motion so you can monitor a large area of your property.

1.) 24 infrared LEDs illuminate up to 45 feet away in the dark;
2.) High-resolution camera produces images of 420 horizontal lines;
3.) Weather-resistant casing for indoor and outdoor use;
4.) CDS sensor automatically activates night vision;
5.) Housing made of anodized aluminum to prevent rust;

Package Height x Length x Width: 16 in. x 16 in. x 10.6 in.
Package Weight: 3.3 lbs.

Accessories for SVAT CV31 Hi-Res Outdoor CCD Security Camera w/Long Range Night Vision