Review-Dahua SD1A203T-GN Starlight Mini PTZ

lasakro

Young grasshopper
Joined
Oct 1, 2017
Messages
34
Reaction score
4
Location
Upstate NY
No problem here getting 5-90 deg out of the box.
 

looney2ns

IPCT Contributor
Joined
Sep 25, 2016
Messages
15,521
Reaction score
22,657
Location
Evansville, In. USA
Hey looney2ns! Great review on this camera. I just got the same one. What is your tilt range? Mine only goes from 20 degrees to 90 degrees. But specs say it is 5 degrees to 90 degrees, it wont let me get into any menus to allow me to go to 5 degrees. Curious if you know how to get me there!

Sent from my ASUS_Z01BDC using Tapatalk
5 to 90° online is no problem, I don't recall exactly what tab that's on but it's in there and can be adjusted.
 
Last edited:

darrenph1

Getting comfortable
Joined
Feb 10, 2017
Messages
108
Reaction score
42
Hey looney2ns! Great review on this camera. I just got the same one. What is your tilt range? Mine only goes from 20 degrees to 90 degrees. But specs say it is 5 degrees to 90 degrees, it wont let me get into any menus to allow me to go to 5 degrees. Curious if you know how to get me there!

Sent from my ASUS_Z01BDC using Tapatalk
It's in the PTZ Limit tab.
 

Attachments

TallPaul

Pulling my weight
Joined
Nov 9, 2015
Messages
70
Reaction score
120
Anyone have problems with condensation inside the dome on these?
 

TallPaul

Pulling my weight
Joined
Nov 9, 2015
Messages
70
Reaction score
120
It would appear so!

I have not opened the camera, but I would assume there is a silica pack inside?

It’s mounted indoors in the garage for testing at the moment, and lots condensation on the bottom of the dome.

It does run pretty warm, condensation is getting less after a few days running, but was quite surprised to have the problem. When I first turned it on lost the picture after a while as lens could not see out!

Trouble posting picture at the moment, have you opened yours up at all? Looks like I need to add some more silica to dry it out.
 

hikwpg

Young grasshopper
Joined
Jun 18, 2018
Messages
63
Reaction score
20
Location
Can
I am noticing that the outside edge of the image is a little blurry when at the widest angle shot.

Anyone else seeing this?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

looney2ns

IPCT Contributor
Joined
Sep 25, 2016
Messages
15,521
Reaction score
22,657
Location
Evansville, In. USA
It would appear so!

I have not opened the camera, but I would assume there is a silica pack inside?

It’s mounted indoors in the garage for testing at the moment, and lots condensation on the bottom of the dome.

It does run pretty warm, condensation is getting less after a few days running, but was quite surprised to have the problem. When I first turned it on lost the picture after a while as lens could not see out!

Trouble posting picture at the moment, have you opened yours up at all? Looks like I need to add some more silica to dry it out.
That's odd, I'd open it up and let dry in the house for a day or two. There is suposupp to silica gel packs in it, but may have been forgotten.
 

looney2ns

IPCT Contributor
Joined
Sep 25, 2016
Messages
15,521
Reaction score
22,657
Location
Evansville, In. USA
I am noticing that the outside edge of the image is a little blurry when at the widest angle shot.

Anyone else seeing this?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You may be seeing a bit of barrel distortion, which happens at very wide angles.
 

hikwpg

Young grasshopper
Joined
Jun 18, 2018
Messages
63
Reaction score
20
Location
Can
You may be seeing a bit of barrel distortion, which happens at very wide angles.
It isn’t distortion. It’s actual blurriness but only in the four corners, more so in the top left. I have had a few other 2.8mm lenses, they aren’t great to begin with. Fisheye and lack of clarity aside, this is actual blurred image.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

TallPaul

Pulling my weight
Joined
Nov 9, 2015
Messages
70
Reaction score
120
Ok here is what the cam looked like shortly after install:

This is what it looks like at the moment after being on for a week:


This was blurring the image - took me a while to work out, its the heat that causes it if you rotate the camera its ok for a bit them it condenses in the new position. Strange right?

Must have some silica as its got better than it was, I guess I will need to take it down and open it up in a warm location - glad I didn't put it in final position up high but did a test mount in the garage now!
 

looney2ns

IPCT Contributor
Joined
Sep 25, 2016
Messages
15,521
Reaction score
22,657
Location
Evansville, In. USA
Ok here is what the cam looked like shortly after install:

This is what it looks like at the moment after being on for a week:


This was blurring the image - took me a while to work out, its the heat that causes it if you rotate the camera its ok for a bit them it condenses in the new position. Strange right?

Must have some silica as its got better than it was, I guess I will need to take it down and open it up in a warm location - glad I didn't put it in final position up high but did a test mount in the garage now!
Yikes, thats not typical. Is it cold where the cam is located?
 

TallPaul

Pulling my weight
Joined
Nov 9, 2015
Messages
70
Reaction score
120
Nope, 15c out there at the moment, that's 60f in funny units.

Apart from hat fully functional, gearing seems very quiet, everything else ok.
 

BillG

Getting the hang of it
Joined
Nov 6, 2015
Messages
178
Reaction score
83
That thing must have shipped with a ton of moisture in it. Or fell off the boat on the way over here...
 

TallPaul

Pulling my weight
Joined
Nov 9, 2015
Messages
70
Reaction score
120
That thing must have shipped with a ton of moisture in it. Or fell off the boat on the way over here...
:lol:

This one I would add not form Andy as he had no stock, but its legit Dahua both camera and firmware are branded (2231 from Andy was "IP Camera" branded).

I don't really want to open it up, I might undo the SD door and bring it inside for a bit.
 

hikwpg

Young grasshopper
Joined
Jun 18, 2018
Messages
63
Reaction score
20
Location
Can
Ok here is what the cam looked like shortly after install:

This is what it looks like at the moment after being on for a week:


This was blurring the image - took me a while to work out, its the heat that causes it if you rotate the camera its ok for a bit them it condenses in the new position. Strange right?

Must have some silica as its got better than it was, I guess I will need to take it down and open it up in a warm location - glad I didn't put it in final position up high but did a test mount in the garage now!
I returned the first one I bought because there was something protruding from the black plastic around the dome. It was enough to heave the plastic and lift the adhesive and I was worried about the IP rating.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Top