Differences Between Warm Light and Spotlight in Reolink Cameras

The main difference between warm light and spotlight lies in their color temperature and lighting ambiance.

• Warm Light (typically with a color temperature between 2700K to 3000K): Emits a soft, warm yellow light that creates a comfortable and cozy atmosphere. It is commonly used in homes, restaurants, bedrooms, and other spaces where a warm ambiance is desired.
• Spotlight (typically with a color temperature between 4000K to 6000K): Emits bright, cool white or near-natural light, which appears clearer and brighter. It is commonly used in offices, stores, work areas, and other places where strong lighting is needed.

2. Application of Warm Light and Spotlight in Reolink Cameras

1. Lighting Effect and Image Quality

   • Warm Light: Suitable for environments that are not very bright, it reduces overexposure and harsh reflections, providing a warm visual experience. In low-light conditions, warm light helps enhance the camera’s night vision, resulting in softer, more natural image quality.
   • Spotlight: Provides higher brightness and contrast, making it ideal for areas that require high-definition and clear image quality. In practical monitoring applications, spotlight helps cameras capture more details in the surrounding environment, especially in locations where high brightness and distortion-free images are needed (such as for security surveillance or public spaces).

2. Brightness Difference

   • Warm Light: Compared to spotlight, warm light has a lower brightness and softer glow, which limits its illumination range. Warm light is more suitable for creating a cozy atmosphere and providing close-range lighting, such as in homes or indoor settings. While it offers warm, comfortable light, its coverage and intensity typically don't reach the levels of spotlight.
   • Spotlight: Typically provides higher brightness and stronger light output, enabling it to illuminate greater distances. Spotlight can cover a larger area and effectively light up farther distances. It is often used in places that need high brightness and extended illumination, such as street lighting, parking lots, and work areas.

3. Common Reolink Models with Warm Light and Spotlight

Reolink cameras come with different types of lighting to suit various surveillance needs. Here are some common models and their respective light sources:

• Models with Warm Light:

  CX410, CX810, E1 Outdoor CX, RLC-540A, RLC-840A, etc.

• Models with Spotlight:

  E1 Outdoor Pro, RLC-811A, Argus 3 Ultra, Argus 4 Pro, etc.

4. How to Identify Whether Your Reolink Camera Uses Warm Light or Spotlight

To determine if your Reolink camera uses warm light or spotlight, you can visit the official website and select the corresponding product. The light type can be identified by looking for the terms "warm light" or "spotlight" in the product description. Alternatively, you can check the color temperature difference, as warm light typically has a lower color temperature (around 2700K-3000K), while spotlight has a higher color temperature (around 4000K-6000K).

You can also find the color temperature values on the product's "Specs" page.

Note: In the Reolink software interface, both warm light and spotlight are referred to as "Spotlight".

Although some Reolink cameras use warm light and others use spotlight, the overall lighting effect is quite similar. In addition to considering the above characteristics to select the appropriate camera, you can also take into account other factors such as power supply method, network connection method, resolution, and feature variety when choosing a camera.

For more information on the settings and performance of the spotlight, refer to the two articles below:

• Introduction to the Spotlight of Reolink ColorX Series
• How to Configure Spotlight Settings via Reolink App