Comparison of IPC-HFW5231E-Z and IPC-HFW4431R-Z

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tigerwillow1

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Jul 18, 2016
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Image-wise, it's in line with previously posted results: Overall, the 5231E gives a better image in low light situations, and the 4431R has a sharper image with more light. In the sample pictures, both cameras are fully zoomed, and the license plate on the fence is about 50' away. The 4431R is running at about double the bitrate of the 5231E. Unlike some other Chinese market cameras, the case on the 4431R feels to me like it's metal. The 4431R is smaller than the 5231E. The 5231E has more features: SD card slot, audio input, alarm I/O, and auto iris. (What is auto iris?)

So far (considering the price difference) I'm favorably impressed with the 4431R. Here are some daytime shots:
cam1.jpg cam2.jpg c-4431r_plate_19-58-25.jpgc-5231e_plate_19-58-25.jpg d-4431r_cali_7-29-29.jpg d-5231e_cali_7-29-29.jpg
 
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How do the images compare when running the same bitrate?
I know I see a clear and obvious difference on my 8231 and 52A1EN when running 8192 vs 4096 bitrate
 
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These are a couple of night shots using the IR light from the 5231E (4431R's IR is off). In each picture there's a cat near the concrete blocks, clearly more visible with the 5231E. One exception to the general conclusion is that the brightly lit grass in the bottom center is sharper with the 4431R.

a-4431e$_cs_2-38-43.jpg a-5231e$_cx_2-38-42.jpg b-4431R$_remyJump_1-03-21.jpg b-5231e$_remyJump_1-03-20.jpg
 
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Final batch of pictures using the IR from the 4431R. The dark outline shadows in the 5231E pictures are because the IR light is offset from the 5231E's lens. The 4431R's IR light has better coverage than the 5231E's, making the best pictures using the 4431R for the light and the 5231E for the picture. In the first 2 pictures there's a small amount of daylight creeping in, and there's a hard to see cat jumping down from the concrete blocks.

e-4431r_remy_4-49-02.jpg e-5231e_remy_4-49-02.jpg f-4431r_cali_2-09-02.jpg f-5231e_cali_2-09-02.jpg g-4431r_cali_1-53-00.jpg g-5231e_cali_1-53-00.jpg
 
The daytime difference is negligible...the plate can easily be read by both cams...at night the starlight is significantly clearer...it is important to note the night time images would be significantly worse with the 4431 if it was placed say over an asphalt driveway with no tree and white tank to reflect the IR....
 
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Agreed the plates can be read by both cams. I'm making the daytime conclusion from the fence wires, blades of grass, and state on the license plate. When enlarged, with the 4431 "washington" can almost be made out, while on the 5231 it's a total blur. Definitely less difference in daytime than at night.
 
tigerwillow1 said:
Agreed the plates can be read by both cams. I'm making the daytime conclusion from the fence wires, blades of grass, and state on the license plate. When enlarged, with the 4431 "washington" can almost be made out, while on the 5231 it's a total blur. Definitely less difference in daytime than at night.
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I cant make out "washington" on any of the images...they are both a total blur...
 
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bigredfish said:
How do the images compare when running the same bitrate?
I know I see a clear and obvious difference on my 8231 and 52A1EN when running 8192 vs 4096 bitrate
Click to expand...
Fair question. I'll post crops of the images showing the license plate and some fence wire and everybody can judge for themselves. The 2048 bitrate is close to maximum for the 5231 at my frame rate of 10. My take is that the 4431 at 2048 is still a bit better than the 5231 when looking at the full picture, but at nitpicking level. Looking at the cropped images I'd draw the opposite conclusion. With both cameras, the focus isn't consistent across the full frame image. I also tried the 4431 at its max 8192 bitrate, which gives a sharper image than at 4096. The pictures are in this order: 5231 at 2048, 4431 at 2048, 4431 at 4096, 4431 at 8192, and 5231 at 2048, resized the same as the 4431 images. The resizing makes for an easier visual comparison, but also corrupts the image with editing, so its usefulness is questionable.

plate_5231_2048-1.jpg plate_4431_2048.jpg plate_4431_4096.jpg plate_4431_8192.jpg plate_5231_2048_resize-1.jpg

The size of the full frame jpeg snapshots for the different bitrates is:
5231 @ 2048: 2.0 mB
4431 @ 2048: 2.9 mB
4431 @ 4096: 3.6 mB
4431 @ 8192: 3.8 mB
 

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Great comparison,

in my opinion the 4431 has a much sharper image and better contrast than the 5231 in the daytime pics - on the rocks next to the tank you can see all the little pits and texture as opposed to being smooth

the 5231 is brighter but it certainly isn't sharper on my monitor
 
What about the 4431 in the night but with some moderate flood light (like 50/100w led) or an external IR flood light? I bet it would match or surpass the 5231
 
mastarpaster said:
What about the 4431 in the night but with some moderate flood light (like 50/100w led) or an external IR flood light? I bet it would match or surpass the 5231
Click to expand...
No it would not...and the cost of running the bulb over several years would negate and savings...
 
mastarpaster said:
also you...
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I have experience with both 4mp dahuas and the starlights...you on the other hand buy the cheapest shit you can find, spend time and money adding lighting to save 20 dollars if that in the long run when you add up the costs....very dumb idea to buy hacked china cams that offer poor low light performance..
 
I also have experience with the 4MP Dahua cams. Sorry but you are wrong. With a nice floodlight I bet it's going to be better also in the dark than the 5231. But if you want to keep thinking the opposite you are free to do that who cares. With my advices people will save money and will have better quality.
 
mastarpaster said:
I also have experience with the 4MP Dahua cams. Sorry but you are wrong. With a nice floodlight I bet it's going to be better also in the dark than the 5231. But if you want to keep thinking the opposite you are free to do that who cares. With my advices people will save money and will have better quality.
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I though you made comparisons? why do you have to "bet"? Again, stop lying an purposely misleading folks. That will not be tolerated here.
 
Stop calling me liar dude. I did some testing already. and I will do more with those EXACT models just to prove what I am talking about. I cn easily buy 100x of those Dahua cameras. No problem here. I jsut don't want people to waste money when it's no needed. So 1) stop insultin 2) stop giving wrong advices.
 
mastarpaster said:
Stop calling me liar dude. I did some testing already. and I will do more with those EXACT models just to prove what I am talking about. I cn easily buy 100x of those Dahua cameras. No problem here. I jsut don't want people to waste money when it's no needed. So 1) stop insultin 2) stop giving wrong advices.
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More lies...please....in one thread you claim have tested the sensors in another you speculate that one will be better with more light...which one is it? I hate liars.
 
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