Have you ever checked your security camera footage only to find that the vital moment happened just before your camera started recording?
It’s a frustrating situation, and unfortunately common, due to the way many cameras are designed. While conventional battery-powered security systems are able to react and begin recording once they’ve sensed motion, most are unable to anticipate it – meaning you often miss the lead-up to an incident. This flaw renders many security systems functionally useless. However, a new camera from smart security brand Reolink sets out to change that.
Reolink, trusted by millions for its smart, intuitive home and business security equipment, has just launched Altas, a revolutionary compact outdoor camera that cleverly solves some of the most tricky and irritating problems with modern surveillance. At the heart of it all? An ingenious piece of technology that lets your camera start recording even before any motion is detected.
What makes this camera special?
The new Altas features ‘pre-recording’ – a rarity in battery-powered models. In essence, the camera buffers footage at all times, so when motion is detected, it also cleverly saves the two to 10 seconds that came before. This might seem like a small thing, but it makes an enormous difference: instead of catching the back of someone’s head as they escape the frame, you can capture the full sequence of events. Essential when it comes to any meaningful investigation.
For anyone who’s installed a camera for peace of mind – be it for watching over a back garden, tracking deliveries, or keeping an eye on the office car park – this kind of seamless visibility is priceless.
Unbeatable battery life for continuous recording
Reolink has also made impressive strides in battery life. The Altas runs on a 20,000mAh battery, which translates to around 14 days of continuous recording, or an impressive 540 days of standby time if you’re using motion detection.
And if you’d rather not think about charging at all, there’s a solar panel option. With just one hour of direct sun per day, the panel provides enough juice for the Altas to run around the clock – making it a versatile option for off-grid locations, garden sheds, or anywhere set inconveniently far from a plug socket.
Industry-leading technology for sharper night-time videos
Night vision is another area where cheaper cameras often sadly fall short. Grainy footage, high-contrast glare and washed-out images are all, unfortunately, common complaints.
The Altas, however, uses Reolink’s industry-leading colorX technology, which combines a large F1.0 lens with enhanced 1/1.8 sensor capabilities to capture more ambient light. The result? Sharp, full-colour night-time video, even in low-light settings, without the need for intrusive floodlights – which is hugely helpful for capturing detailed images, from people to number plates.
AI-powered detection for better security
Other innovations? AI-powered detection that can tell the difference between, say, a person, a car and a cat – and doesn’t make you pay a subscription for the privilege. There’s support for local storage, up to 512GB on a micro-SD card, as well as integration with Reolink’s own hubs and network recorders if you need a more connected system.
Setup is straightforward, the design is weatherproof and footage can be accessed remotely via phone or desktop thanks to the dual-band wi-fi and secure encryption.
In short, the Altas has everything you’d want in a modern smart camera – vigilance, long life and the ability to spot problems before, during and after the fact.
The Reolink Altas is available now for £139.99, including a solar panel. To learn more or secure your device, visit reolink.com or amazon.co.uk
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