Review: IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI - Dahua Technology Pro AI Dome Network Camera

trevorf

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Hey, this is a wonderful forum, and since I’ve recently purchased a new set of Dahua cameras, I thought I’d share my thoughts and opinions. This camera is the IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI, and it’s actually the fourth camera from Dahua that I’ve purchased for my house over the years. Prior to this, I was using models from Mobotix.

Scenario
A few details about my situation, my house has pretty good illumination in front of my house. I’ve got street lights across the road, sensor lights on the house and also installed a separate dedicated infrared light at the front of my house (not overly powerful though).


Build Quality
Just to start off with, the build quality. As I mentioned before, this is my fourth camera, so the quality is basically the same as prior Dahua cameras. This model is a Dome style, which I realise isn’t exactly the favourite style of camera around these forums - usually due to internal reflections. But in this case, there’s no IR/LED lights on this model, plus I never really activate the IR/LED lights on the cameras themselves.

The outer shell of the camera includes the clear protective dome, which is plastic - not glass. And the surrounding casing metal. Inside the shell is the usual silica gel pellets for moisture. The base component is metal as usual. The lens structure is encased in black housing which can be rotated around, and tilted as required. It’s all pretty much standard Dahua build quality and design.


Why this model?
I thought I’d write a section on this, as I’ve seen other cameras suggested over the years. Common feature to look for in security cameras is their ability to see in the dark. Some of the suggestions of other models have worked out well, but in most cases have always left me wanting a little bit more. Always been interested in models with a wide aperture, and large sensor paired - which the full colour start light models always seem to offer.

My first one was the IPC-HDBW4239R-ASE, and the clarity and ability to see at night, I thought was amazing. The resolution was good enough, not great but reasonable. Then this model came out, with higher resolutions, and similar sensor and lens specifications - I knew I needed to give this a shot. And potentially change all my cameras to the starlight full colour series.

So the full colour star light series, what makes this so special or at least interesting to me. The lens and sensor combination. The lens itself comes with a really wide aperture, of a f-stop of F1.0. When comparing to some of the other models, I see F1.6 being quite common, this is over twice the amount of light being captured by the lens. The lens paired with the 1/1.8” sensor size, is all that I could really ask for at this price point.

As I mentioned, I’ve had a few models over the years, and bought ones which are good all-round, some of the full colour starlight series, and some 4k models. When I’ve compared the other models to the full colour series, I’ve always thought that they looked a little dark, and I always wanted a little bit more.


Product details


Headline features
1/1.8” 4Megapixel progressive scan CMOS
H.265 & H.264 triple-stream encoding
25/30 fps@2688 × 1520, 50/60 fps@1080 (1920 × 1080)
WDR (140 dB), Day/Night (Electronic), 3D DNR, AWB, AGC, BLC
Multiple network monitoring: Web viewer, CMS (DSS/PSS) & DMSS
3.6 mm fixed lens
1/1 Alarm in/out, 1/1 audio in/out
Micro SD memory, IP67, IK10
The unit itself
DSC01214.JPG DSC01215.JPG DSC01216.JPG DSC01217.JPG DSC01218.JPG DSC01219.JPG DSC01220.JPG DSC01221.JPG DSC01222.JPG


Sample images

20201010_162314.png
Default settings
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)
20201010_162302.png
Default settings
(DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS)
20201010_191047.png
Default settings
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)
20201010_191206.png
Default settings
(DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS)
20201010_191840.png
Manual exposure Shutter: 1/25 Gain: 70
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)
20201010_192128.png
Manual exposure Shutter: 1/25 Gain: 70
(DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS)
20201010_192332.png
Manual exposure Shutter: 1/25 Gain: 70 3D Noise: 0
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)
20201010_192330.png
Manual exposure Shutter: 1/25 Gain: 70 3D Noise: 0
(DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS)
20201010_192821.png
Manual exposure Shutter: 1/25 Gain: 70 3D Noise: 0 BLC enabled
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)
20201010_192820.png
Manual exposure Shutter: 1/25 Gain: 70 3D Noise: 0 BLC enabled
(DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS)
20201010_193631.png
Default settings (forced Black and White)
You can see it's not benefiting from the IR illuminator on the left.
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)
20201010_193629.png
Default settings - This is benefiting from IR
(DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS)
20201011_223554.png
Manual exposure Shutter: 1/50 Gain: 40
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)
20201011_223556.png
Manual exposure Shutter: 1/50 Gain: 40
(DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS)
20201011_223503.png
Manual exposure Shutter: 1/50 Gain: 50
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)
20201011_223502.png
Manual exposure Shutter: 1/50 Gain: 50
(DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS)
20201011_223525.png
Manual exposure Shutter: 1/50 Gain: 70
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)
20201011_223519.png
Manual exposure Shutter: 1/50 Gain: 70
(DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS)

Sample video


Default settings
Car driving off in the day time

Default settings
Man walking by in day time
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)

Default settings
Man walking by in day time
(DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS)

Default settings
Car driving by in the day time

Default settings
Car driving by in the evening
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)

Default settings
Car driving by in the evening
(DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS)

Default settings
Car driving by in the night
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)

Default settings
Car driving by in the night
(DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS)

Default settings
Couple walking by in the morning
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)

Default settings
Couple walking by in the morning
(DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS)

Default settings with shutter fixed to 1/50
Night time car driving by
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)

Default settings with shutter fixed to 1/50
Night time car driving by
(DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS)

Default settings with shutter fixed to 1/50 Gain 70
Night time car driving by
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)

Default settings with shutter fixed to 1/50 Gain 70
Night time car driving by
(DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS)

Default settings with shutter fixed to 1/50 Gain 70 BLC enabled
Night time car driving by
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)

Default settings with shutter fixed to 1/50 Gain 70 BLC enabled
Night time car driving by
(DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS)

Default settings
Man walking towards the house
(IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI)

Whats the AI detection like?

Samples detected as "Human" - Smart motion detection set to medium.
202010111059525600000ch01.jpg 202010111059255610000ch01.jpg 202010111057575620000ch01.jpg

Samples detected as "Vehicle" - Smart motion detection set to medium.
202010111059355610000ch01.jpg 202010111059185610000ch01.jpg 202010111057375620000ch01.jpg 202010111058265610000ch01.jpg

What about face detection?

Samples with the face detection feature enabled. I got these two images in the email notification.
202010121330510950201ch01.jpg 202010121330510950000ch01.jpg

Associated video

Other models on hand for comparison
  • VTO2101E-P
  • IPC‐HDBW2831R‐ZS
  • IPC‐HDBW4239R‐ASE
  • DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS
Let me know if you have any questions, or things that you would like to see. I'll see what I can do.

Otherwise, I'll just add more things to the post over time.

Firmware V2.800.0000000.19.R, Build Date: 2020-07-09 from 11:11 11/10/2020
 
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bigredfish

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Yes the 5442-NI series are quite good IMHO

At night though 1/25 is far to slow a shutter speed without a LOT of ambient light. 1/60 or better 1/120 will reduce or eliminate motion blur at night
 

trevorf

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Yes the 5442-NI series are quite good IMHO

At night though 1/25 is far to slow a shutter speed without a LOT of ambient light. 1/60 or better 1/120 will reduce or eliminate motion blur at night
Yup, I included those clips to illustrate the difference in light capture. Rather than leaving the settings on auto (fixing the gain and shutter speed), so you can see what each camera has to work with as their raw image.

I'll add example clips with those shutter speeds too later tonight.
 

Arjun

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Are you planning to install this outdoors?
 

trevorf

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Are you planning to install this outdoors?
This is making me wonder if I've overlooked something ... This camera and the models in the comparison are all installed outdoors - specifically under the roof eaves.
 

Arjun

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A turret would have probably been a better choice because overtime the dome cameras get exposed to the sun

This is making me wonder if I've overlooked something ... This camera and the models in the comparison are all installed outdoors - specifically under the roof eaves.
 

trevorf

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A turret would have probably been a better choice because overtime the dome cameras get exposed to the sun
What issues would arise from sun exposure?

It'll probably get an hour worth of direct morning sun hitting the unit. I've had domes in that location for the last 10 years already. I've not seen issues so far, but I'll keep that in mind.

-----

Just reading other forums, is the concern to do with overheating the unit, and the dome magnifying the sun rays?
 
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Arjun

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Its more pertaining to the effect it will have on the dome cover itself (i.e. haze, yellowish tint, rapid wear from the elements, etc.)

What issues would arise from sun exposure?

It'll probably get an hour worth of direct morning sun hitting the unit. I've had domes in that location for the last 10 years already. I've not seen issues so far, but I'll keep that in mind.

-----

Just reading other forums, is the concern to do with overheating the unit, and the dome magnifying the sun rays?
 

trevorf

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Its more pertaining to the effect it will have on the dome cover itself (i.e. haze, yellowish tint, rapid wear from the elements, etc.)
Ah ok, yeah, I've considered that too. Looking at the unit (IPC‐HDBW2831R‐ZS - dome also) that's been just been pulled down. The dome actually looks perfectly fine, like new actually, which is 2 years already, so I think I should be ok - at least until I decide to swap it out again.
 

sdl0311

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Where did you purchase this camera from and do you still like it? Any update?
 

trevorf

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Yeah, I bought this from Andy. I still have them installed, that’s the two cameras that are facing outwards at the front of my house. They are still working perfectly fine, and, yeah, nighttime visibility is significantly better. Why, what is it that you were interested in?
 
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