---
product_id: 75198461
title: "RLC-520A(2.8mm)"
brand: "reolink"
price: "AED 18"
currency: AED
in_stock: false
reviews_count: 9
url: https://www.desertcart.ae/products/75198461-rlc-520a-2-8mm
store_origin: AE
region: United Arab Emirates
---

# 100ft IR Night Vision 5MP Ultra HD clarity PoE single-cable power & data RLC-520A(2.8mm)

**Brand:** reolink
**Price:** AED 18
**Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock

## Summary

> 🔒 Elevate your security game with crystal-clear vision and smart detection — never miss a moment!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** RLC-520A(2.8mm) by reolink
- **How much does it cost?** AED 18 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Currently out of stock
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ae](https://www.desertcart.ae/products/75198461-rlc-520a-2-8mm)

## Best For

- reolink enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted reolink brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Smart Detection Tech:** Cut false alarms with AI-powered human, vehicle, and pet detection—security that knows what matters.
- • **Flexible Local Storage:** Store up to 256GB on an SD card or integrate with Reolink NVR/FTP for tailored, reliable recording options.
- • **Vivid Night Color Vision:** See beyond darkness with advanced IR LEDs delivering up to 100ft of clear, color-rich night surveillance.
- • **Seamless PoE Installation:** Simplify your setup with Power over Ethernet—one cable for power and data, perfect for sleek, clutter-free installs.
- • **Crystal-Clear 5MP Super HD:** Experience razor-sharp 2560x1920 resolution with a wide 130° diagonal lens for unmatched coverage.

## Overview

The REOLINK 5MP PoE Security Camera (RLC-520A-2.8mm) delivers professional-grade surveillance with 5MP ultra HD resolution and a wide 130° field of view. Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, it features advanced AI detection for humans, vehicles, and pets, minimizing false alerts. Installation is streamlined via Power over Ethernet, combining power and data in a single cable. Night vision extends up to 100 feet with vivid color imaging, while flexible recording options support up to 256GB microSD storage or network solutions. Built-in microphone adds ambient audio for enhanced security. Ideal for millennials seeking reliable, smart home protection with a sleek, modern edge.

## Description

Product description Accurately detect people/vehicles/pets with customizable motion zones to minimize false alarms. Upon motion events, you can receive push notifications/emails in real-time for better preparation. See crisp, clear details even in low-light conditions without compromising your privacy. Effortlessly capture ambient sound using the built-in microphone. Connect up to 20 accounts, including 1 admin & 19 users, for simultaneous viewing on many devices. Simple PoE Installation & Reliable Connectivity Easily set up and access the camera with Reolink App/Client/web browsers using power sources like Reolink PoE NVR, IEEE802.3af PoE switch, injector, or a DC 12V power adapter (not included). Enjoy stable connection, efficient transmission, and hassle-free cabling for your convenience. Multiple Storage Options Securely store your motion recordings on the microSD card, or Reolink NVR featuring a 2TB HDD, or FTP server, without capacity concerns. Invest in lasting data protection. *Note: Third-party NVRs are not supported. Reolink NVR and microSD card are not included. Build Your Own Reolink Security System Reolink provides various security products for you to DIY your multi-functional PoE system. RLC-520A(2.8mm) 5MP Outdoor PoE IP Camera Specifications Highly Recommended: The most popular Reolink PoE Camera and PoE Security System RLC-520A(2.8mm) RLK8-520D4-5MP RLC-520A CX410 CX410C Trackmix PoE Video Doorbell PoE

Review: Works good, Recommended... but a few issues... - UPDATE: So, originally gave 3 Stars due to the issues mentioned below, most of the problems still apply, but honestly, I don't think you can get a better camera on the market. I spent literally days on end researching these cameras, hours and hours, and I found the Reolinks to be the ONLY actual "reliable" ones and made well. So, despite the below-mentioned issues, I HIGHLY recommend these cameras. I also recommend them because Reolink's customer service was excellent. They fixed the issues I had that they could fix (and forwarded the rest), and for upgrading my star they even sent me a free power adapter (though I made that offer, they just asked if I would upgrade my star, but they bent over to help me, so you can't beat that kind of customer service). While it is too late, bought the switch/injector already, I still want it as a backup and if I need to use it in other situations, etc. So, still very happy with that. Anyway, despite the flaws, I'm VERY happy with the Reolink product, and my research also demonstrated that. So, you can't find better than the Reolinks in Camera quality, image quality, features, and customer services. So, I give them 5 Stars for doing whatever they could to help...! PREVIOUS REVIEW: (with a couple of updates) 1. They don't allow you to use the "Cloud" with the POE cameras, apparently only the "wireless" or whatever cameras. That's not fair. I would have gotten one of the wireless, but I wanted reliability, thus a wired connection option, so I had no choice but to go POE. I'm just using one camera, so I should be allowed to use the Cloud also. 2. The Motion Detection doesn't work well... I have it set to high, like 75% which was the default, and I have the camera in my room. And the camera apparently detected "light" changes that came through the window. The camera isn't even facing the window. It detected "shadows" on the friggen WALLS or something. So, I had to put the motion detection lower. We'll see how I low I have to go, I'm testing 50% now. UPDATE: 50% seems to be working fine, no more false positives save I think one for some reason, which is okay. 3. The firmware update was confusing... They have apparently two versions of this camera a "B" version and a version # that has no "B" in the middle of the #. Though, it looks like they fixed the firmware update article and the update. UPDATE: Looks like they fixed this and I was able to get the proper update thanks to support. 4. I almost thought there wasn't a way to activate and deactivate the camera, but I finally discovered the "Scene" function, so I create activate and a deactivate scene options. However, I don't understand why they don't also provide a "Camera Off" function. At least in the Android APP they don't. In the Desktop App you can "disconnect" the camera which I guess serves like an "off" switch turning off the camera, but we need it in the App too. Though, I also don't know when you shutdown the Desktop App whether the camera comes back on or not? I'm going to "assume" it actually remains off? But still, we need a setting in which the Camera is totally shutdown in all Apps. Otherwise, all seems to be working so far... They do really need to give us single-camera users access to the Cloud also. That's just not fair. I thought I was able to have access, so that wasn't clear either. And I likely would have gotten the E1 Zoom or whatever, but I wanted to ensure a reliable connection, was disappointed they didn't provide a "wired" ability to that camera. That would have been my preferred option since I only need one camera for my current situation. P.S.... Oh, one other thing.... The camera didn't come with a "Power Adapter" (and there is a plug for it).... I was forced to get a POE Injector, which was a pain trying to figure out, they don't make that easy either as to what and how to do it, and it's easy to get the wrong thing and unnecessarily expensive switch/injector too. But, at least the one I got was cheap and is working. I got the "IPCamPower Mini POE Injector Wall Wart Plug | 802.3af Full 15 watts | Designed for IP Cameras". You have to make sure you get the right rated switch/injector, and that it's an injector, not just a switch etc. The information was seriously lacking in this area that needs to be improved. Worse... On their website they had some power adapters you could buy, but NONE of them said they were compatible for the RLC-520. So, I couldn't even buy one. Also forgot to mention they don't provide a way to DELETE recorded scenes.... I mean what is that? Can't do it in the App nor the Windows App. You have to Re-Format the entire drive to delete videos. This is a big flaw too...
Review: A must-read if you’re considering this camera - If you’re looking at this camera there is a high probability that you are familiar with Reolink products and are considering this as an add-on to your existing system. Great! In that case I have some very important information for you to know. If you landed here still in the early stages of researching security cameras and aren’t sure which of the many brands to buy that’s also great. Please read on for some things that should make your decision easier. ME I have bought and installed Reolink cameras and NVR (network video recorders) at my various properties for over 10 years after doing a ton of research. I used to run a well-known video security company for many years and I would be considered an expert on the subject, but I promise not to use any big techie terms here, just some simple hints and tips. REOLINK IS A CLOSED SYSTEM There are several ways of saving this but maybe one of the most important things you need to know is that Reolink designs their products to work best with other Reolink products and for the most part they are not interchangeable with other brands. Some people don’t like that and try to turn it into a negative but in reality I think it’s a very good thing. My experience with the almost countless number of no-name brands coming out of China is that they rarely have any U.S based after-sale support and almost never do anything to keep their products updated with software and firmware releases so once you buy something you’re stuck with what you get. Reolink is different, my cameras and NVR’s are constantly updated with new features, bug fixes, compatibility revisions for newer models, etc. The bottom line here is that if you are considering this camera it is an excellent choice for your existing Reolink system but if you are starting to plan a new system know that it probably won’t just plug in and work with another brand’s system. WHAT IS CHANGED FROM THE PREVIOUS MODEL The chances are you ran across this camera when searching for an add-on to your existing Reolink system or (like me) to replace a camera, in my case my camera was destroyed in a violent storm. You might also already have the previous almost identical model and want to know if this one is improved in any way. Yes it is, but unfortunately the manufacturer doesn’t do a good job making that clear in the model number. The old model and this one are both RLC-420 and all they did was to add “5MP” to it. As a direct comparison I’ve found numerous other ways the camera is improved beyond much higher resolution, starting with the price which is about half of what I remember paying for the previous model. At about forty dollars now it is a steal, perhaps one of the best values for a security camera anywhere. Beyond that the big news is higher resolution and it is improved enough that anyone can see the difference. The image is sharper and the colors are better and because this is a fixed focal length camera the difference is especially appreciated if you tend to pinch zoom for a closer look at something. The IR LED’s look different, being square instead of round and when installed in the same location they seem to illuminate brighter and further than my old camera. The sensor sensitivity seems improved as well, it gives me a full color image at night in conditions where the old camera would only operate in B&W and it gives an excellent color picture under very challenging conditions, for example in one instance I had it pointed at a street but there was a very bright white strobing holiday decoration right in front of the camera lens. Instead of stopping down the iris and darkening the whole picture it handled the lighting situation remarkably well. Finally, they’ve now included a memory card slot built right into the camera housing. I have no use for it but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing, I can see some circumstances where it would be useful. The card isn’t easy to get to but that discourages tampering so I guess that’s a good thing. ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT If you’ve opted in to the Reolink ecosystem you pretty much have to accept their products the way they are, warts and all. And despite me being a long-time user of their products and giving this camera 5 stars that doesn’t mean I don’t think there could be room for improvement. For one, this camera is not easy to install with the fussy bracket design and that tiny retaining setscrew that always falls out into the bushes. Once the camera is installed it’s not that easy to rotate the “eyeball” to adjust it. And then there is the odd dongle that splits into the PoE connector, microphone connector and reset button. The way it’s designed it remains exposed to everyone’s view after installation and it’s also exposed to the elements. It could also invite unwanted hands to reset and thereby disable your entire system. I think all of those things should be built into the camera housing, with the PoE connector weatherproofed and the reset button hidden from view. SUPPORT When I bought this camera it appeared to be dead out of the box despite trying every troubleshooting thing I could think of. I emailed them (their support is U.S. based) and got an immediate personalized response leading me through several checklist steps, NOT the usual “unplug it and wait 10 seconds” scripted babble some tech support gives you. I tried their suggestions and after about the fourth step my camera was working as it should. Most people would have already returned it as “defective” and written a negative review but their excellent service advisor saved me all that. Then after I got it installed I discovered that the built-in microphone wasn’t recording so I contacted them again and once again they lead me through some bulletpoint steps, this time it was because my NVR’s firmware wasn’t updated to work with the newer high-res cameras and in about 30 seconds after updating it my camera was up and running perfectly. And then the service rep followed up with me through another email to make sure everything was working the way I expected. I consider their service support as among the best I’ve seen. RECOMMENDED OR NOT I’ll repeat what I said earlier, at about forty bucks this is the best add-on or replacement camera you can possibly buy for your existing Reolink system. This and the other factors I discussed should also give you reason to strongly consider this brand if you are building a new video security system from scratch. As the world becomes more privacy and security conscious the greed of security product sellers is increasing and a lot of junk is being sold at exorbitant prices. This is one company that stands out from the rest for offering quality products and excellent service for reasonable prices. I highly recommend this camera.

## Features

- 5MP SUPER HD & Built-in Microphone: At 2560x1920 resolution, RLC-520A with a 2.8mm lens captures crystal-clear details from a wider angle (H:100°; V:75°; D:130°). The built-in microphone adds an extra layer of security by recording ambient sounds.
- SMART PERSON/VEHICLE/ANIMAL DETECTION: Say goodbye to unwanted alarms. With advanced person/vehicle/animal detection, the camera identifies genuine threats using cutting-edge algorithms, providing you with ultimate peace of mind. Animal detection is supported if your camera's firmware is updated to the latest version.
- TIME LAPSE: Capture time-lapse videos with this surveillance camera. Track 3D printing progress, observe construction in minutes, or record scenic transformations from dawn to dusk. Simple to use and share with friends. (Exclusive to Reolink App)
- EASY POE INSTALLATION: This PoE camera uses one Ethernet cable to transmit both data and power. Simplified wiring means easier and clean installation. A hassle-free, plug-and-play connection perfect for DIY enthusiasts. (Power supply not included).
- FLEXIBLE RECORDING OPTIONS: RLC-520A supports 24/7 continuous recording. Event videos can be saved locally on the microSD card (up to 256GB, not included), Reolink NVR, or FTP server. Choose the way you prefer and enjoy customized security.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B07FQ2T89L |
| Alert Type | Motion Only |
| Antenna Location | Outdoor Security |
| Are Batteries Required | No |
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,337 in Dome Surveillance Cameras |
| Brand | REOLINK |
| Built-In Media | RLC-520A(2.8mm) x 1, 1M Network Cable x 1, Surveillance Sticker x 1, Waterproof Lid x1, Quick Start Guide x 1, Mounting Template x 1, Pack of Screws x 1 |
| Color | White |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop, Laptop, Smartphone, Tablet |
| Connectivity Protocol | Ethernet |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Control Method | App |
| Controller Type | iOS/Android App control |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,109 Reviews |
| Effective Still Resolution | 5 MP |
| Effective Video Resolution | 5 MP |
| Enclosure Material | Aluminum |
| Form Factor | Turret |
| Frame Rate | 30 fps |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00725423889970 |
| Indoor Outdoor Usage | Outdoor |
| Indoor/Outdoor Usage | Outdoor |
| Installation Type | Ceiling Mount |
| Item Dimensions | 5.51 x 5.51 x 5.51 inches |
| Item Type Name | 5MP Outdoor PoE Security Camera |
| Item Weight | 0.57 Kilograms |
| Light Source | Infrared |
| Manufacturer | Reolink Digital |
| Manufacturer Warranty Description | 2-Year Limited Warranty |
| Model Name | RLC-520A(2.8MM) |
| Model Number | RLC-520A(2.8MM) |
| Mount Type | Ceiling Mount |
| Night Vision | Night Color |
| Night Vision Range | 100 Feet |
| Number of Channels | 1 |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Other Special Features of the Product | Waterproof, Wide Angle |
| Photo Sensor Resolution | 5 MP |
| Photo Sensor Technology | CMOS |
| Power Source | Power over Ethernet |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Outdoor Security |
| Room Type | Cover every corner in your home/business as a security camera |
| Special Feature | Waterproof, Wide Angle |
| Specific Uses For Product | Outside |
| UPC | 725423889970 |
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
| Video Capture Format | H.264 |
| Video Capture Resolution | 5MP |
| Video Encoding | H.264 |
| Viewing Angle | 80 Degrees |
| Voltage | 12 Volts (DC) |
| Water Resistance Level | Waterproof |
| Waterproof Rating | IP67 |
| Wattage | 8 watts |
| Wireless Technology | Wired |
| Zoom Type | Digital Zoom |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** REOLINK
- **Connectivity Technology:** Wired
- **Model Name:** RLC-520A(2.8MM)
- **Recommended Uses For Product:** Outdoor Security
- **Special Feature:** Waterproof, Wide Angle

## Images

![RLC-520A(2.8mm) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51nG6384lrL.jpg)
![RLC-520A(2.8mm) - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81EH+pdbB6L.jpg)
![RLC-520A(2.8mm) - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71j0DznKIKL.jpg)
![RLC-520A(2.8mm) - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/715mmPA1fVL.jpg)
![RLC-520A(2.8mm) - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Kygf8yE9L.jpg)

## Questions & Answers

**Q: What mm is the power adapter plug? i know it's 12v/1a dc.**
A: Dear customer, parameters of power interface is φ6.3*5.5mm *2.1mm

**Q: can i use this as a stand alone camera?**
A: Hi, yes. You need a PoE injector/switch or DC12V power adapter to power on the camera. If you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact us our support team by submitting a request here: https://support.reolink.com/hc/en-us/, we will try our best to help.

**Q: Can this work with cat7? can it work with nvr and not with card? or with both can i choose?**
A: Yes, it will work with cat7.  Very unnecessary, but it will work.  The camera has a fast ethernet interface on it (100MB) cat5 can carry that for 100 meters.  You can run the camera without a card.  I run mine without it.  You can also choose to use a card and then have your NVR grab the recordings from the card.  Depending on the NVR this should be fairly easy to do.

**Q: Does this camera support rtsp or onvif for use with other viewers/nvrs?**
A: Hi,Yes, RLC-420-5MP supports RTSP protocol.Also RLC-420-5MP supports onvif 2.1.So RLC-420-5MP is compatiable with 3rd-party softwares but it needs work with Reolink NVR.

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Works good, Recommended... but a few issues...
*by L***E on March 30, 2021*

UPDATE: So, originally gave 3 Stars due to the issues mentioned below, most of the problems still apply, but honestly, I don't think you can get a better camera on the market. I spent literally days on end researching these cameras, hours and hours, and I found the Reolinks to be the ONLY actual "reliable" ones and made well. So, despite the below-mentioned issues, I HIGHLY recommend these cameras. I also recommend them because Reolink's customer service was excellent. They fixed the issues I had that they could fix (and forwarded the rest), and for upgrading my star they even sent me a free power adapter (though I made that offer, they just asked if I would upgrade my star, but they bent over to help me, so you can't beat that kind of customer service). While it is too late, bought the switch/injector already, I still want it as a backup and if I need to use it in other situations, etc. So, still very happy with that. Anyway, despite the flaws, I'm VERY happy with the Reolink product, and my research also demonstrated that. So, you can't find better than the Reolinks in Camera quality, image quality, features, and customer services. So, I give them 5 Stars for doing whatever they could to help...! PREVIOUS REVIEW: (with a couple of updates) 1. They don't allow you to use the "Cloud" with the POE cameras, apparently only the "wireless" or whatever cameras. That's not fair. I would have gotten one of the wireless, but I wanted reliability, thus a wired connection option, so I had no choice but to go POE. I'm just using one camera, so I should be allowed to use the Cloud also. 2. The Motion Detection doesn't work well... I have it set to high, like 75% which was the default, and I have the camera in my room. And the camera apparently detected "light" changes that came through the window. The camera isn't even facing the window. It detected "shadows" on the friggen WALLS or something. So, I had to put the motion detection lower. We'll see how I low I have to go, I'm testing 50% now. UPDATE: 50% seems to be working fine, no more false positives save I think one for some reason, which is okay. 3. The firmware update was confusing... They have apparently two versions of this camera a "B" version and a version # that has no "B" in the middle of the #. Though, it looks like they fixed the firmware update article and the update. UPDATE: Looks like they fixed this and I was able to get the proper update thanks to support. 4. I almost thought there wasn't a way to activate and deactivate the camera, but I finally discovered the "Scene" function, so I create activate and a deactivate scene options. However, I don't understand why they don't also provide a "Camera Off" function. At least in the Android APP they don't. In the Desktop App you can "disconnect" the camera which I guess serves like an "off" switch turning off the camera, but we need it in the App too. Though, I also don't know when you shutdown the Desktop App whether the camera comes back on or not? I'm going to "assume" it actually remains off? But still, we need a setting in which the Camera is totally shutdown in all Apps. Otherwise, all seems to be working so far... They do really need to give us single-camera users access to the Cloud also. That's just not fair. I thought I was able to have access, so that wasn't clear either. And I likely would have gotten the E1 Zoom or whatever, but I wanted to ensure a reliable connection, was disappointed they didn't provide a "wired" ability to that camera. That would have been my preferred option since I only need one camera for my current situation. P.S.... Oh, one other thing.... The camera didn't come with a "Power Adapter" (and there is a plug for it).... I was forced to get a POE Injector, which was a pain trying to figure out, they don't make that easy either as to what and how to do it, and it's easy to get the wrong thing and unnecessarily expensive switch/injector too. But, at least the one I got was cheap and is working. I got the "IPCamPower Mini POE Injector Wall Wart Plug | 802.3af Full 15 watts | Designed for IP Cameras". You have to make sure you get the right rated switch/injector, and that it's an injector, not just a switch etc. The information was seriously lacking in this area that needs to be improved. Worse... On their website they had some power adapters you could buy, but NONE of them said they were compatible for the RLC-520. So, I couldn't even buy one. Also forgot to mention they don't provide a way to DELETE recorded scenes.... I mean what is that? Can't do it in the App nor the Windows App. You have to Re-Format the entire drive to delete videos. This is a big flaw too...

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A must-read if you’re considering this camera
*by P***S on December 30, 2019*

If you’re looking at this camera there is a high probability that you are familiar with Reolink products and are considering this as an add-on to your existing system. Great! In that case I have some very important information for you to know. If you landed here still in the early stages of researching security cameras and aren’t sure which of the many brands to buy that’s also great. Please read on for some things that should make your decision easier. ME I have bought and installed Reolink cameras and NVR (network video recorders) at my various properties for over 10 years after doing a ton of research. I used to run a well-known video security company for many years and I would be considered an expert on the subject, but I promise not to use any big techie terms here, just some simple hints and tips. REOLINK IS A CLOSED SYSTEM There are several ways of saving this but maybe one of the most important things you need to know is that Reolink designs their products to work best with other Reolink products and for the most part they are not interchangeable with other brands. Some people don’t like that and try to turn it into a negative but in reality I think it’s a very good thing. My experience with the almost countless number of no-name brands coming out of China is that they rarely have any U.S based after-sale support and almost never do anything to keep their products updated with software and firmware releases so once you buy something you’re stuck with what you get. Reolink is different, my cameras and NVR’s are constantly updated with new features, bug fixes, compatibility revisions for newer models, etc. The bottom line here is that if you are considering this camera it is an excellent choice for your existing Reolink system but if you are starting to plan a new system know that it probably won’t just plug in and work with another brand’s system. WHAT IS CHANGED FROM THE PREVIOUS MODEL The chances are you ran across this camera when searching for an add-on to your existing Reolink system or (like me) to replace a camera, in my case my camera was destroyed in a violent storm. You might also already have the previous almost identical model and want to know if this one is improved in any way. Yes it is, but unfortunately the manufacturer doesn’t do a good job making that clear in the model number. The old model and this one are both RLC-420 and all they did was to add “5MP” to it. As a direct comparison I’ve found numerous other ways the camera is improved beyond much higher resolution, starting with the price which is about half of what I remember paying for the previous model. At about forty dollars now it is a steal, perhaps one of the best values for a security camera anywhere. Beyond that the big news is higher resolution and it is improved enough that anyone can see the difference. The image is sharper and the colors are better and because this is a fixed focal length camera the difference is especially appreciated if you tend to pinch zoom for a closer look at something. The IR LED’s look different, being square instead of round and when installed in the same location they seem to illuminate brighter and further than my old camera. The sensor sensitivity seems improved as well, it gives me a full color image at night in conditions where the old camera would only operate in B&W and it gives an excellent color picture under very challenging conditions, for example in one instance I had it pointed at a street but there was a very bright white strobing holiday decoration right in front of the camera lens. Instead of stopping down the iris and darkening the whole picture it handled the lighting situation remarkably well. Finally, they’ve now included a memory card slot built right into the camera housing. I have no use for it but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing, I can see some circumstances where it would be useful. The card isn’t easy to get to but that discourages tampering so I guess that’s a good thing. ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT If you’ve opted in to the Reolink ecosystem you pretty much have to accept their products the way they are, warts and all. And despite me being a long-time user of their products and giving this camera 5 stars that doesn’t mean I don’t think there could be room for improvement. For one, this camera is not easy to install with the fussy bracket design and that tiny retaining setscrew that always falls out into the bushes. Once the camera is installed it’s not that easy to rotate the “eyeball” to adjust it. And then there is the odd dongle that splits into the PoE connector, microphone connector and reset button. The way it’s designed it remains exposed to everyone’s view after installation and it’s also exposed to the elements. It could also invite unwanted hands to reset and thereby disable your entire system. I think all of those things should be built into the camera housing, with the PoE connector weatherproofed and the reset button hidden from view. SUPPORT When I bought this camera it appeared to be dead out of the box despite trying every troubleshooting thing I could think of. I emailed them (their support is U.S. based) and got an immediate personalized response leading me through several checklist steps, NOT the usual “unplug it and wait 10 seconds” scripted babble some tech support gives you. I tried their suggestions and after about the fourth step my camera was working as it should. Most people would have already returned it as “defective” and written a negative review but their excellent service advisor saved me all that. Then after I got it installed I discovered that the built-in microphone wasn’t recording so I contacted them again and once again they lead me through some bulletpoint steps, this time it was because my NVR’s firmware wasn’t updated to work with the newer high-res cameras and in about 30 seconds after updating it my camera was up and running perfectly. And then the service rep followed up with me through another email to make sure everything was working the way I expected. I consider their service support as among the best I’ve seen. RECOMMENDED OR NOT I’ll repeat what I said earlier, at about forty bucks this is the best add-on or replacement camera you can possibly buy for your existing Reolink system. This and the other factors I discussed should also give you reason to strongly consider this brand if you are building a new video security system from scratch. As the world becomes more privacy and security conscious the greed of security product sellers is increasing and a lot of junk is being sold at exorbitant prices. This is one company that stands out from the rest for offering quality products and excellent service for reasonable prices. I highly recommend this camera.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great camera for a very low price point
*by D***S on April 29, 2021*

So I've got a bunch of reolink cameras ... A couple of 410's, some 420's and now 520. The 410's and 420's are different hardware versions, but they're still working fine. The 520 is easily the best of the bunch. Crystal clear picture during the day. Night vision is pretty good (not great), but if you use WDR you can get a decent picture without ghosting or blurring. I can't comment on the built-in motion detection or the SD card because I don't use them. I have all my cameras set up through Blue Iris and they work perfectly. The Blue Iris Motion detection and Alerts work flawlessly with these cameras. They also support sub-streams in Blue iris which is very nice! I use these mostly as a critter cams around the house and I have absolutely no issue with them whatsoever. The picture and audio are clear. I've used Foscam, Hikvision and Amcrest and honestly I like the Reolink better. I was looking for low cost cameras to play around with, and this seems to do the trick. I'll likely replace the 410's and 420's I have with the 520. At this price point, you really can't go wrong! I would be nice if you could adjust the I-Frame interval - but I'm not sure that's going to happen unless you go with a higher end model. Bottom line - If you're looking for a low cost camera that produces extremely good quality pictures and supports audio, you really can't go wrong with the 520.

## Frequently Bought Together

- REOLINK 5MP PoE Security Camera, 2.8mm Len, 130° Diagonal, 100ft IR Night Vision, Up to 256GB SD Card, Built-in Mic, Human/Vehicle/Pet Detection for Outdoor Indoor Home Surveillance, RLC-520A-2.8mm
- REOLINK 8CH Network Video Recorder for Home Security Camera System, Only Work with 16MP/12MP/4K/8MP/5MP/4MP REOLINK PoE IP Camera, 24/7 Recording to Pre-Installed 2TB Hard Drive, RLN8-410
- REOLINK 6MP PoE IP Fisheye Camera with 360° View, Surveillance for Home/Office Security, Smart Human Detection, Two Way Talk, Ceiling/Wall/Desk Mount, Multiple Panoramic Display Views, FE-P(White)

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*Last updated: 2026-08-09*