Synology today announced the official release of its BC500 and TC500 IP surveillance cameras. The company first teased these new devices in October 2022, with the release of its second Wi-Fi 6 router, the WRX560.
This is major news for fans of DIY home surveillance systems. The Surveillance Station has been by far the most capable and flexible on this front. I know many who buy a Synology NAS server for this function alone.
Since these IP cams are made specifically for the Surveillance Station, among other things, you know for sure they will work well. The need to pick and choose among a sea of supported third-party models is now, for the first time, no longer.
But that’s the least interesting thing about them. Let’s dig in.
Synology 500 Series: Flexible IP cameras with built-in licenses
The first and most significant thing about the BC500 and TC500 IP cams, per Synology, is that they don’t require a device license.
That saves users a lot of hassles. All you have to do is buy the cameras, as many as you want, within the total support of the server, and hook them to the system.
And secondly, the Synology BC500 and TC500 feature “advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, exceptional video quality, and seamless integration with the Surveillance Station video management system.”
All that remains to be seen, but it’s safe to say the new cams will have all, if not most, of what the Surveillance Station can do regarding features and customizability.
On top of that, it’ll be much easier to control the camera’s settings and function via the interface of the Surveillance Station or the DS Cam mobile app.
With that, let’s check out these new camera’s specs.
Synology BC500 and TC500: Hardware specifications
The BC500 adn TC500 are essentially the same cameras. They differ slightly in physical designs. The former is a bullet cam (BC), and the latter is a turret cam (TC) with a tougher chassis to resist impact.
On the inside, they share the same hardware capability and characteristics. Both are outdoor PoE cameras that can be powered via a network cable or a power adapter.
One important thing to note: neither support Wi-Fi. To use them, you need to run network cables.
| Synology BC500 | Synology TC500 | |
| General Specifications | ||
| Dimensions | Ø110 x 161 mm (Ø4.33 x 6.34”) | Ø97 × 88 mm (Ø3.82 x 3.46”) |
| Weight | 353 g (0.78 lbs) | 387 g (0.85 lbs) |
| Weather Resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
| Impact Resistance | None | IK10 |
| Power Source | PoE (802.3af) or 12V DC |
PoE (802.3af) or 12V DC |
| Power Consumption | 4.8 W | 4.8 W |
| Network Port | 1 x Fast Ethernet (100Mbps) PoE | 1 x Fast Ethernet (100Mbps) PoE |
| Built-in Storage | MicroSD (up to 128GB) | MicroSD (up to 128 GB) |
| Operating Environment | • Temperature (IR off): -30°C to 50°C (-22°F to 122°F) • Temperature (IR on): -30°C to 40°C (-22°F to 104°F) • Relative humidity: 5% to 95% RH (non-condensing) |
• Temperature (IR off): -30°C to 50°C (-22°F to 122°F) • Temperature (IR on): -30°C to 40°C (-22°F to 104°F) • Relative humidity: 5% to 95% RH (non-condensing |
| Certification | IP67, FCC, IC, CE, BSMI, VCCI, RCM, UKCA, KC, JATE | IP67, FCC, IC, CE, BSMI, VCCI, RCM, UKCA, KC, JATE |
| Environmental Safety | RoHS compliant, WEEE, REACH | RoHS compliant, WEEE, REACH |
| NDAA / TAA Compliance | Yes | Yes |
| Package Contents | 1 x BC500 main unit • 1 x Installation guide • 1 x RJ-45 connector cap cover • 1 x Screw pack |
• 1 x TC500 main unit • 1 x Installation guide • 1 x RJ-45 connector cap cover • 1 x Screw pack |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
| US Price | TBD | TBD |
| Optical | ||
| Lens | 2.8 mm (110° H, 56° V, 132° D LDC ON) | 2.8 mm (110° H, 56° V, 132° D LDC ON) |
| Aperture | F1.8 | F1.8 |
| Night vision | 30 meters | 30 meters |
| Shutter speed | 1/16000s~1/30s | 1/16000s~1/30s |
| DORI | D: 60m, O: 24m, R: 12m, I: 6m | D: 60m, O: 24m, R: 12m, I: 6m |
| Video | ||
| Max. Streaming Resolution | 5 MP (2880×1620) @ 30 FPS | 5 MP (2880×1620) @ 30 FPS |
| Sub Streaming Capability | 1920×1080 @ 15 FPS or 1280×720 @ 30 FPS | 1920×1080 @ 15 FPS or 1280×720 @ 30 FPS |
| Video Compression | H.264, H.265 | H.264, H.265 |
| Image Settings | Brightness, contrast, saturation, sharpness, white balance, High Dynamic Range (HDR), 3D/2D noise reduction, exposure control, 50/60 Hz flicker reduction, day/night mode, overlay, privacy mask |
Brightness, contrast, saturation, sharpness, white balance, High Dynamic Range (HDR), 3D/2D noise reduction, exposure control, 50/60 Hz flicker reduction, day/night mode, overlay, privacy mask |
| Video Orientation | Rotation (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°), Flip, Mirror | Rotation (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°), Flip, Mirror |
| Event Analytics (available with Synology DVA Series video recorders) |
People & Vehicle Detection (including Crowd Detection and Loitering Detection), Intrusion Detection, Motion Detection, Tampering Detection, Audio Detection |
People & Vehicle Detection (including Crowd Detection and Loitering Detection), Intrusion Detection, Motion Detection, Tampering Detection, Audio Detection |
| Instant Search | People, Vehicle, Motion | People, Vehicle, Motion |
| SD Card Event Recording | Disconnection from NAS People & Vehicle Detection Intrusion Detection Motion Detection Audio Detection Tampering Detection |
Disconnection from NAS People & Vehicle Detection Intrusion Detection Motion Detection Audio Detection Tampering Detection |
A reliable and secure surveillance solution
Synology says the two new BC500 adn TC500 cameras feature failover edge storage. Specifically, they can automatically record to their built-in storage and the NVR (NAS server) simultaneously.
That ensures continuous recording in case of disconnections. On top of that, they also sport automatic firmware updates and support HTTPS and SRTP protocols for better security and privacy via the encryption of video and data streams.
Availability and pricing
Synology says the new BC500 adn TC500 outdoor PoE cameras require Surveillance Station 9.1 or later (DSM 7.1 implied) and will be available worldwide later this year.
In the US you can expect to get them on May 10 for $219 each which is slightly higher than similarly-specced third-party cams, but still reasonable considering the included camera licenses.
I’ll update this post when I learn more and possibly will do a hands-on in-depth review. Check back for more.
In the meantime, check out my take on Synology’s Surveillance Station using third-party cams, whose rating box is below.
Pros
Lots of recording features and settings
Supporting thousands of IP cameras on the market
Excellent interface and remote management
Version 9.0 adds free Integrated Maps and C2 Surveillance (subscription required).
Cons
Only two camera licenses are included with a server
Require networking know-how for setup and management
No direct management for off-site cameras without additional NAS servers or DVRs at the remote locations; no free C2 Surveillance tier
No solar-powered cam option