Read This Ultimate H.264 IP Camera Guide To Be The Smartest Buyer In 2023 - Reolink Blog (2023)

#1. What is H.264 IP Security Camera?

H.264, ie MPEG-4 Part 10, Advanced Video Coding (MPEG-4 AVC), is the most widely used video compression standard in IP cameras.

The purpose of creating such an advanced video compression standard is to provide good quality video at lower bit rates compared to previous standards like MPEG-2, H.263, etc.

In other words, you can get clear live streaming and recorded video without consuming too much bandwidth and storage space.

This is why manufacturers of high-end security cameras choose the H.264 standard over lower standard versions.

And an even more advanced standard that will be widely used in the future is the H.265 video compression standard.

H.265 Security CamerasCompared to H.264 IP cameras, it reduces bandwidth and disk space consumption by around 50% without sacrificing image quality.

Since the H.265 standard is said to have higher compression speed and smaller video file size, the downside is that it requires more processing power to decode and there is a higher chance of incompatibility with your older NVRs.

So H.264 megapixel IP cameras would continue to be the leading standard for video compression today.

You can read on to discover the types of H.264 video cameras and see which one is the perfect match.

#two. Types of H.264 IP Cameras

H.264 cameras and security systems can be divided into many types from different perspectives.

1. Sort H.264 network cameras by resolution

In terms of resolution, there are 5 types of H.264 IP cameras: 720p, 1080p, 4MP, 5MP and 4K cameras.

Higher megapixel security cameras generally provide sharper images under ideal circumstances, but require robust hardware and software.

However, low-resolution security cameras like the old H.264 720p IP cameras can't help you capture the details you want, like license plates.

To identify the details you want, you need at least H.264 1080p Full HD cameras.

4MP (1440p) and 5MP H.264 security cameras have become popular these days. You can choose these 2 types if you want to get much clearer videos and monitor larger areas.

4K security camerasthey require special Network Video Recorders (NVRs) that can handle this amount of video/image resolution.

In other words, you need more disk space to store videos captured by 4K or higher megapixel IP cameras.

Therefore, 2MP, 4MP, and 5MP h.264 security cameras would be the best options considering existing hardware and software capabilities.

2. Split H.264 HD IP cameras based on camera formats

H.264 megapixel security cameras come in three main types: bullet, dome, and PTZ security cameras.

You can check the comparison details between them.Here.

And some of the H.264 smart home IP cameras will come in other shapes like cube, capsule, etc.

They can be charged with USB cables, they sayUSB-H.264-Cameras.

You can check the table below to check the details of H.264 CCTV camera type.

Camera type	Look	example camera	camera image
H.264 Bullet Security Cameras	Bullet or lipstick shape They usually come in a smaller size.	RLC-410
H.264 IP-Dome-Kameras	dome shape Low Profile	RLC-522
H.264 PTZ-IP-Kameras	usually big They can turn in all directions.	RLC-423
Other Types of H.264 Home Security Cameras	Cubic Haircut It looks like a doll and other forms.	Reolink Argus Pro

3. Classify H.264 IP network camera types with data transmission paths

H.264 HD IP cameras usually include both PoE and WiFi IP cameras depending on the data transmission methods.

Wired H.264 PoE security cameras only need a Cat 5/6 cable to realize the data and power transmission.

Wireless H.264 cameras rely on WiFi to transmit the video stream to your smartphones or computers.

Pluggable WiFi H.264 security cameras need to be plugged into the wall outlet for powerBattery Powered WiFi Security Cameras, making them completely wireless from top to bottom.

#3. MJPEG VS H.264 VS H.265 IP Cameras: Pros and Cons

They are all video compression standards, but each of them has its specific advantages and disadvantages.

In the table below, you can see the pros and cons of the 3 types of video compression standards and find out why H.264 IP cameras still hold the dominant position.

Considering compatibility and cost, H.264 real-time IP camera surveillance systems would be the best choice.

You can check out the following top H.264 security camera options for reference.

#4. Top 2 Choices for H.264 IP Cameras (With Free Shipping)

The following top 2 H.264 IP security cameras are very popular among customers.

You can buy these high quality cameras at cheap prices.

And both are compatible with third-party software.

1.RLC-410H.264 PoE Bullet Security Camera

The video compression speed of this camera is quite fast with H.264 standard.

You can get live streaming right away as this camera doesn't take up much bandwidth.

This camera is waterproof for outdoor and indoor use with IP66 rating. You can check out the following footage of this multifunctional H.264 IP camera module.

2.RLC-522Vandalensichere H.264-Dome-IP-Kamera

Equipped with a rugged IP66 waterproof housing, this outdoor H.264 IP camera can prevent physical abuse and lens abuse, and can withstand even extreme weather conditions.

#5. H.264 IP Camera Setup and Installation: Step-by-Step Guide (with Video)

Thanks to P2P technology, you can access H.264 cameras and security systems with the app installed on your iPhone or Android smartphone or the client installed on your Windows/Mac computers.

Here we will takeIP-Kamera RLC-410 H.264to view detailed configuration steps.

Step 1. Connect the camera to the router with the network cable.

step 2. Download and installReolink-ClientSoftware for your computer or Mac to access this H.264 IP camera.

step 3. give clickadd device>>Scan device on LANto scan this IP camera with H.264 bitrate.

Level 4. Double-click the device shown in the list and fill in the required fields to access the camera.

Now you can watch the live stream with H.264 IP Security Camera Viewer or Player.

You can also watch the following video with detailed configuration steps to access the H.264 IP cameras from the client software.

You can also access the H.264 IP camera with the Reolink app installed on your iPhone or Android phone.

To use H.264 IP cameras more easily, keep your H.264 IP camera's firmware and software up to date with the latest versions.

So you can keep up with the latest features and enjoy all the great features.

#6. H.264 IP Camera Knowledge Base

We have created a special H.264 security camera knowledge base part so that you can get more detailed information about these types of cameras.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comment below. Let's add your questions to this list here.

Q 1: What is the default IP address of H.264 IP camera?

e 1: Different H.264 IP cameras have different IP addresses.

As a rule, most manufacturers of surveillance cameras useDHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)so that you can change the IP addresses of your H.264 IP cameras.

Q 2: What is H.264 IP Camera RTSP and Port Forwarding?

e 2: RTSP stands for Real Time Streaming Protocol and is a type of network protocol used for streaming real-time video.

Olivia, Technology Editor at Reolink, shared a post about RTSP IP cameras. He canclick on this postto check all the details you want.

Port forwarding is a service enabled on your router to make devices on your local area network (LAN) accessible to devices on the public internet.

It is very useful to access your H.264 IP cameras remotely. You can check more details viaIP camera port forwardingHere.

Any ideas you'd like to share with us? Leave them in the comment below :)