Dahua Starlight Varifocal Turret (IPC-HDW5231R-Z)

tangent

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If you were frequently changing the zoom on a camera based on some schedule or trigger do you guys think that would shorten the lifespan of the camera much? In other words, compared to a PTZ what do you think the MTBF is on the zoom motor/gears.

I realize these are relatively slow compared to a PTZ and zooming without PT is can be limited in utility.
 

nayr

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guess it depends, if its scheduled twice a day to change view I dont think it'll be an issue.. if its triggered by a sensor or something and that sensor goes haywire and it spends all day flipping back and forth then it may be an issue.
 

hmjgriffon

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If you were frequently changing the zoom on a camera based on some schedule or trigger do you guys think that would shorten the lifespan of the camera much? In other words, compared to a PTZ what do you think the MTBF is on the zoom motor/gears.

I realize these are relatively slow compared to a PTZ and zooming without PT is can be limited in utility.
I wondered that myself because once the motor dies it's worthless, at least once you it somewhere else, if I get a couple years out of it not so horrible.
 

LittleScoobyMaster

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I wondered that myself because once the motor dies it's worthless, at least once you it somewhere else, if I get a couple years out of it not so horrible.
I am wondering this exact same question. I can control the zoom feature on the 5231 using Milestone Xprotect and I was wondering if these zoom cameras are designed to be used similarly to a regular PTZ whereby you can zoom in and out quite frequently, or if the zoom on the 5231 is designed to be more of a set it up a couple times to get it just right, and then leave it in the same zoom position for long periods of time (i.e. weeks or months).

My regular PTZ cameras I zoom in and out almost every day at least a few times, even dozens of times on some days, but I don't know if that will be ok to do with this 5231 or not. Curious what everyone thinks as I really want to use this camera just like a regular PTZ just without the P & T. I definitely don't want to burn out the motor on this little gem of a camera.

I would cry myself to sleep every day for a year if that were to happen.
 
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EMPIRETECANDY

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Hey Guys,

Today get 30pcs stocks in at dahua, so can close all waiting guys' orders. Ship out in Rocket time on Saturday, we have to work with no weekends. Will be delivered on next Wednesday.

This new stock, 5 days earlier than the scheduled 15th Jan, hope the left ones can be here soon. Then can do more shipping before our holiday, our office closed on 23rd.
But i asked my friend(My shipping agent, he also a nice guy, last time he worked till 3:00am for processing all shipping docs for DHL) here to package some orders if can get more stocks, so no worry at all if have stocks.
By the way, no one need other cams?lol i have some normal dahua, cheaper ones, want to do some discounts for you guys as a new year gift, lol.

Andy
 

nayr

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the optics in these are quite quality; should be just fine.. the varifocal optics and ptz zoom optics are pretty much the same thing under the skin.

ptz's are at risk if you put them in constant motion; but if the duty cycle is low it wont be an issue..

and the cameras wont be worthless if it did stop moving, you'd just have to start doing it manually :p
 

hmjgriffon

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I am wondering this exact same question. I can control the zoom feature on this camera using Milestone Xprotect and I was wondering if these zoom cameras are designed to be used similarly to a regular PTZ whereby you can zoom in and out quite frequently, or if the zoom on the 5231 is designed to be more of a set it up a couple times to get it just right, and then leave it in the same zoom position for long periods of time (i.e. weeks or months).

My regular PTZ cameras I zoom in and out almost every day at least a few times, even dozens of times on some days, but I don't know if that will be ok to do with this 5231 or not. Curious what everyone thinks as I really want to use this camera just like a regular PTZ just without the P & T. I definitely don't want to burn out the motor on this little gem of a camera.

I would cry myself to sleep every day for a year if that were to happen.
in the end it is a tool, I will use them however I want and if it dies, I'll buy more, if I feel it died too quick, I'll look for something better, lol.
 

hmjgriffon

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Hey Guys,

Today get 30pcs stocks in at dahua, so can close all waiting guys' orders. Ship out in Rocket time on Saturday, we have to work with no weekends. Will be delivered on next Wednesday.

This new stock, 5 days earlier than the scheduled 15th Jan, hope the left ones can be here soon. Then can do more shipping before our holiday, our office closed on 23rd.
But i asked my friend(My shipping agent, he also a nice guy, last time he worked till 3:00am for processing all shipping docs for DHL) here to package some orders if can get more stocks, so no worry at all if have stocks.
By the way, no one need other cams?lol i have some normal dahua, cheaper ones, want to do some discounts for you guys as a new year gift, lol.

Andy

I can't bring myself to use non starlight cameras other than the two I have not sold yet lol, when will you have some free turrets that we can buy? I'd love to pick 2 or 3, maybe 4 up before Chinese new year.
 

hmjgriffon

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the optics in these are quite quality; should be just fine.. the varifocal optics and ptz zoom optics are pretty much the same thing under the skin.

ptz's are at risk if you put them in constant motion; but if the duty cycle is low it wont be an issue..

and the cameras wont be worthless if it did stop moving, you'd just have to start doing it manually :p
I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO MANUAL. LOL!!! I have you to blame I mean thank for that.
 

LittleScoobyMaster

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the optics in these are quite quality; should be just fine.. the varifocal optics and ptz zoom optics are pretty much the same thing under the skin.

ptz's are at risk if you put them in constant motion; but if the duty cycle is low it wont be an issue..

and the cameras wont be worthless if it did stop moving, you'd just have to start doing it manually :p
Based on that do you think they could be added to preset schedules similar to regular PTZ cameras? (set to cycle through different presets all day long just like many people set up their regular ptz cams to do).
 

hmjgriffon

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Based on that do you think they could be added to preset schedules similar to regular PTZ cameras? (set to cycle through different presets all day long just like many people set up their regular ptz cams to do).
you can't move it, what are you going to do, zoom in and out on the same spot all day?
 

LittleScoobyMaster

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you can't move it, what are you going to do, zoom in and out on the same spot all day?
Of course, because it's fun. :) But, as an example, you could have it zoom from X1 to X4.4 throughout the day, or when people walk by or something. Or it could be set to show X1 for 10 minutes, then switch to X4.4 for 10 and then back, or something crazy like that.
 

nayr

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but then all the motion detection and IVS rules will be out of wack; it dont have preset specific IVS rules like the PTZ's

you also risk it not focusing correctly and the rest of the day being out of wack

its your camera do whatever you want with it; throw it at prowlers for all I care..
 

LittleScoobyMaster

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but then all the motion detection and IVS rules will be out of wack; it dont have preset specific IVS rules like the PTZ's

you also risk it not focusing correctly and the rest of the day being out of wack

its your camera do whatever you want with it; throw it at prowlers for all I care..
I was planning to use it like a yo-yo or a flail but couldn't decide which (it would be easy to add the spikes on it but I better not do that). :) Basically I have just 3 presets set up, 1X, 4X, and home. I haven't set any IVS rules yet. I also haven't checked on things like how much percentage a persons face needs to be in the scene for face detection to work or anything. Just kinda trying out the zoom presets at the moment, that's when I started to think about longevity and whether or not the zoom feature is fragile or not.

 
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hmjgriffon

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but then all the motion detection and IVS rules will be out of wack; it dont have preset specific IVS rules like the PTZ's

you also risk it not focusing correctly and the rest of the day being out of wack

its your camera do whatever you want with it; throw it at prowlers for all I care..
Be more effective that way, LOL.
 

FlipNJ

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I received this little miracle today. Excellent camera. Thanks @nayr , @EMPIRETECANDY and many others.

btw, zoom works fine in Blue Iris...Dahua HFW2300R-Z/2320R-ZS/81200E protocol.:)
It does however focus just hunts for a while and stops way out of focus. This may be because it is super dark out. IR is on but the focal point for me is quite far.
 

hmjgriffon

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It does however focus just hunts for a while and stops way out of focus. This may be because it is super dark out. IR is on but the focal point for me is quite far.
I've got my turret on the coffee table, no problems zooming in and out in BI, it's pointing at the christmas I haven't taken down yet haha, also streaming it to youtube live.
 
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