An Affordable 4K Security Camera!

Would you believe me if I told you that you could purchase a state-of-the-art 4K bullet security camera for only $99?

4K is quickly becoming the new standard for TVs and computer monitors. So it makes sense that security cameras are following suit. More and more companies are producing 4K security cameras and NVRs, so that you can enjoy all 8MP that your screen has to offer.

There's only one problem. The price of 4K cameras doesn’t seem to be dropping.

Do you own a Hikvision or Dahua NVR that supports 4K resoultion? Do you want a 4K camera without throwing down the money for a name-brand model? We have the solution.

At Nelly’s Security, we believe everyone should have access to 4K technology. For a long time, we’ve been leaders in the 4K industry. We were the first in the US to bring you affordable IP and TVI 4K security cameras for your home or business. Now we’ve taken that one step further with our new GoSwift 4K Ultra HD security bullet cameras. You can pick one of these cameras up for only $99, which is by far the cheapest 4K camera of this caliber that you’ll find on the market.

Sure, the price point is attractive. But can it perform? Is it worth paying for a more affordable model? Will you be missing out on important features that other, more expensive 4K security cameras offer?

That’s the question we’ll be exploring in this blog post and in the video above. We put the GoSwift camera to the test to see how it compares with similar 4K cameras from Dahua and Hikvision. By the end of this post, you’ll see that the GoSwift has all the functionality of a 4K security camera from an established brand but at a fraction of the price.

The Cameras

Check out the clip below with footage from all three cameras. Take a look and see if you can tell which camera is which. Keep in mind that the Hikvision and Dahua cameras typically cost between $160 and $200.

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Click the following images to view the full 4K resolution

Do you have a guess? Are you able to tell which camera costs up to $200 and which camera is the $99 GoSwift? Let's go ahead and reveal these cameras.

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Camera One

Camera number one is... Dahua’s 4K bullet security camera, the DH-IPC-HFW4831E-SE. Click here to check out the current pricing on Amazon.

Click the following images to view full-size

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Camera Two

Camera number two is... Hikvision’s DS-2CD2085FWD-I. Click here to check out the current pricing on Amazon.

Click the following images to view full-size

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Camera Three

That means, last but not least, camera number three is... the GoSwift GS-4KBULLET-1. Again, this camera clocks in at only $99.

Click the following images to view full-size

The Specs

As you can see in the photo above, all three of these cameras are roughly the same size. Our Dahua camera is the biggest, but not by a whole lot. Nonetheless, GoSwift is the most compact and lightweight model of the three cameras.

Lenses

Now let’s check out these lenses.

Our Dahua and Hikvision cameras both have 4mm lenses. Dahua has a wider 88° field of view, while Hikvision has 79° field of view. Both cameras also come in a 2.8mm option. But there's nothing in between.

The GoSwift is unique in that it comes in a 3.6 wide angle lens with a 79° field of view. This gives the GoSwift a pretty good middle ground. It's wider than its 4mm competitors, but it’s not zoomed in or out too much. This really is a sweet spot when it comes to lens focal lengths.

Resolution

Again, it’s the same across the board. 15fps at 4K resolution, which is 8MP or 3840x2160. With Hikvision and Dahua, you can increase the FPS to up to 30 if you lower the resolution from 8MP to 3MP. With the GoSwift, you’re pretty much stuck at 15fps. But in the end, if a higher frame rate is more important to you than higher resolution, you can save a lot of money by not investing in a 4K camera at all. But if 4K is really what you’re looking for, all three cameras produce exactly the same quality video.

Click the following images to view the full 4K resolution

Infrared

The infrared range of the GoSwift and Hikvision are both around 100 feet. Dahua seems to be the winner in this category, with an IR range of around 130 feet. However, in practice, it doesn't seem to be the case. You really can't tell much of a difference between the two images below. The GoSwift camera produces a very nice image at night, and its image is even a bit more illuminated than the Dahua's.

Weatherproofing

Finally, looking at the weatherproofing, all three of these cameras can withstand pretty much anything that comes their way. GoSwift’s weatherproofing is rated IP66 while both Hikvision and Dahua carry an IP rating of 67. Really the only difference between these two numbers is that you can fully submerge the Hikvision and Dahua cameras in water 1 meter deep for half an hour. So unless you want to take your cameras swimming with you, the IP66 rating of the GoSwift camera is really all you need for a good, outdoor, weatherproof security camera.

Summing Up The Specs

As you can see, these cameras are all very similar. It's essentially the same camera with different designs and branding. So when you purchase a Dahua or a Hikvision, you're essentially paying anywhere from $60 to $100 more just for the fancy brand. When you buy the GoSwift, not only are you getting a quality 4K security camera, but you're also saving a ton of money.

Installation and Interfaces

Installation is super simple for all three of these cameras. The Dahua, since it's a bit bulkier, is slightly more awkward than the rest. GoSwift's compact body makes it even more of a breeze to install.

From left to right: GoSwift, Hikvision, and Dahua.

Now that they're all installed, let's boot them up. All three of these cameras can be accessed through an NVR, a computer, or a mobile device. Let's look at each one of these in order:

Recorders

I know what you might be thinking. “The GoSwift camera looks awesome, but I’m already invested in a Hikvision or Dahua environment.”

Here’s the best thing about the GoSwift: it’s ONVIF compatible, which is just a fancy way of saying you can use GoSwift cameras with recorders from other brands, as long as it supports ONVIF cameras. And both Hikvision and Dahua recorders do.

So if you already have a Hikvision or a Dahua recorder, as long as it supports 4K resolution, you will be able to use the GoSwift camera with either of these systems.

Computers

To access the camera’s interface from your computer, each of the three brands have about the same functionality. If you’ve used Dahua or Hikvision before, you’re familiar with this interface, as it’s pretty standard across all their devices. To the newcomer, however, it can be a little daunting and confusing.

GoSwift’s interface is super user-friendly. You don’t even need a configuration tool to activate the camera, and you don’t need to log into a web browser to view the feed. All you have to do is download the included GoSwift Viewer software and log in. It’s much cleaner and easier to navigate than the Dahua and Hikvision counterparts.

Click the following images to view full-size

Mobile Devices

All three of these cameras also have their own mobile applications for viewing the camera’s feed from anywhere. Once again, GoSwift’s application is the easiest to set up and use.

The main difference between the three brands’ interfaces and mobile apps is that the GoSwift interface was designed with this particular camera in mind. Everything you see on any of the menus pertains specifically to the GS-4KBULLET-1. The Dahua and Hikvision interfaces, on the other hand, are just carbon copies that they use for all of their cameras.

Video Compression

All three of these cameras offer H.265 video compression. This advanced codec helps reduce file sizes and bandwidth, which is important when dealing with ultra high definition video. This can all be viewed conveniently from the interface or your DVR. But what if you want to download video for external viewing or editing?

Dahua is the hardest to work with here, as it records its files in a .DAV format. This filetype is difficult to view or work with outside of the Dahua interfaces. However, Dahua does provide a free file converter to help you accomplish this task.

Hikvision records their videos in a proprietary .MP4 format. It's easier to work with than the Dahua files, as you can convert this with pretty much any file converter you already have.

GoSwift, once again, is the easiest to use. Any files you download will already be in a standard MP4 format, meaning you can view and edit these straight out of the interface.

Final Thoughts

Dahua. Hikvision. GoSwift. You’ve seen how the specs for these cameras compare. You’ve seen their interfaces. You’ve watched them in action. Do you believe me when I say you don’t need to spend over $100 on a fully capable 4K security camera? Stop paying extra money for a brand. Purchase your GoSwift 4K Ultra HD Bullet Security Camera today and experience the 4K advantage.

Example Footage (Click "Full Screen" for best viewing experience)

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GoSwift Unboxing