For the cameras themselves, if you would be interested in DIY solutions and have some old spare Raspberry Pis around, you can turn them into streaming IP cameras and have some control over what camera specs and lenses you use. I can't tell you how they compare to purpose-built cameras though.
this post was submitted on 17 Nov 2025
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Have seen some camera projects with Pis that look fun, would def like to try some one day.
It sounds like a fun project but I dont know if I'd rely on it for security purposes. Plus with the cost of Pis now you might as well but a full fledged camera.
For sure, that would be something just for fun, not main usage.
I just checked out frigate, and I see it crutches on docker. Anything docker-free?
Zoneminder is an option.
It's been around since before containers were a thing, so fairly stable.
Not used it myself, but when I get around to needing cameras (I'm in a small house in a low crime area), then thats what I'm planning to use.
It has (had?) an integration in MythTv too, so I can see who's a the door whilst watching TV at the same time.
@jabeez@lemmy.today You could use Frigate for the 'feature' set, no? frigate+HA should work very well for the use case. Rest you should be okay with something that does RTSP and feeding that to frigate/HA, no? I remember researching something about this last year, and found that Reolink IIRC offers that.