New, absorbing. So far path for hardware leads to dahua, software either dahua or bi...amiright?

[ItsThatEasy]

HowD,

Dahua caught my eye because of the AI tech and reputable build quality (and the presumed upkeep of firmware). I found a YouTube review of the IPC-HDW5442TM-AS-LED model and thought that was the one and then I came across a coax camera, 4MP-B180, that had a 1/2.8" Sony STARVIS CMOS with a fixed 2.5mm 180 Degree Fisheye Lens / 172 Degree Effective Range. I thought wow, what if I could find a Dahua panoramic, low light camera that would allow me to decrease network runs. I did a cursory look but I think my past self must have found out they are expensive because nothing was stored in ram. Have you guys come across a solid performer for a field of view of around 170ish (honestly, 270 would be ideal)? I am looking for the latest gen/technology. Any cameras coming out next spring worth waiting for? If not, I may just pull the trigger on the HDW5442TM-AS-LED, the vari-focal version and maybe a front door camera with a speaker/mic to get a feel for them. My brain hurts when I try to understand Dehua's "ai" marketing and PC software. I can't tell if the AI is built into the cameras or the NVR...and why does Dahua have DSS, Smart PSS, and different tiers of IVS (premium, advanced, and analytics+) and now wiz sense? What do you guys like for front doorway that has a speaker and mic? Also, Dahua hardware and either Dahua or BI software will pass the spouse test, right? No issue with push notifications and the mobile software?

Thank you.

 

[samplenhold]

Welcome to the forum. Make sure you read the Cliff Notes and check out the WIKI.

As far as coax cams vs IP cams, I would go with the IP cams. A 4MP on a 1/2.8" sensor will not give the low-light performance of a 4MP on a 1/1.8" sensor. The 5442 series is the current best for low-light color in the prosumer line.

Dahua hardware and either Dahua or BI software will pass the spouse test, right?

That depends on the spouse. How would anyone here be able to answer that for you?

The T5442T-ZE is a 2.7-12mm varifocal. It also comes in a 2.8mm fixed lens version. As far as a 'solid performer' with a FOV of 270 is concerned, what is the use case for such a cam? What are you trying to accomplish? Without knowing that, one really can't give a recommendation.

 

[ItsThatEasy]

Welcome to the forum. Make sure you read the Cliff Notes and check out the WIKI.

As far as coax cams vs IP cams, I would go with the IP cams. A 4MP on a 1/2.8" sensor will not give the low-light performance of a 4MP on a 1/1.8" sensor. The 5442 series is the current best for low-light color in the prosumer line.

That depends on the spouse. How would anyone here be able to answer that for you?

The T5442T-ZE is a 2.7-12mm varifocal. It also comes in a 2.8mm fixed lens version. As far as a 'solid performer' with a FOV of 270 is concerned, what is the use case for such a cam? What are you trying to accomplish? Without knowing that, one really can't give a recommendation.

I am sure the 5442 line is what I will end up with, at least for the the first camera. I was 98% sure before the post, but after your response (TY), it's enough to tick off the other 2%. The spouse wants accurate, timely notifications from a phone app that isn't buggy. I'll most likely do a comparison of the Dahua(DSS or Smart PSS?) and BI. I would like to capture my entire front lawn with one run/camera, centrally placed. That is why I am looking for an ultra wide, though my gut is telling me that I will need to have to be two cameras. Since the 5442 is right around $140-150 depending on the model, that leaves my budget at $400 for a 270 FOV camera as I am willing to pay a little more for keeping the install down to one run. (if there is such a camera that someone has had a great experience with).

 

[sebastiantombs]

Keep in mind that a wide field of view will not allow identification of who is approaching. They will need to be within, at most, six or eight feet of the lens of the camera to be able to reliably identify with wide angle cameras. Look at the "DORI" specs for the camera to see what the identification ranges are. I use a minimum of three cameras to monitor my yards, front and rear, with additional cameras planned for the doors as well. Even with that, getting acceptable identification video can be problematic at times.

 

[samplenhold]

^^^What he said. While wide-angle overviews have their place, and I have three on my house, they will never get you a face ID.
See this thread:

Why I Like Redundant Views/Multiple Cam Views

A lot of newbies ask for help with their camera setups and most think that they can get by with a single cam to cover quite a bit of area. While that is possible if all you are interested in is a wide-angle overview, it usually will not give you a great chance of getting a face shot good enough...

ipcamtalk.com

 

[ItsThatEasy]

^^^What he said. While wide-angle overviews have their place, and I have three on my house, they will never get you a face ID.
See this thread:

Why I Like Redundant Views/Multiple Cam Views

A lot of newbies ask for help with their camera setups and most think that they can get by with a single cam to cover quite a bit of area. While that is possible if all you are interested in is a wide-angle overview, it usually will not give you a great chance of getting a face shot good enough...

ipcamtalk.com

Thanks mate, I found "They are contained in a box placed in the garden behind a tree. "....I want to do this.

 

[looney2ns]

On a real computer not your phone, study the cliff notes. wide-angle cameras have their usefulness but you want to know who did it, not just what happened.
Blue Iris will blow the pants off of any nvr.

 

[SouthernYankee]

My standard welcome to the forum message.

Read Study Plan before spending money
Cameras are for surveillance to get information for after the fact.

Please read the IP Cam Talk Cliff Notes and other items in the IP Cam Talk Wiki. (read on a real computer, not a phone). The wiki is in the blue bar at the top of the page.

Read How to Secure Your Network (Don't Get Hacked!) in the wiki also.


Quick start
1) If you do not have a wired monitored alarm system, get that first
2) Use Dahua starlight cameras or Hikvision darkfighter cameras if you need good low light cameras.
3) Start with a good variable focus camera, so you test for the correct lens,lighting, camera placement.
4) use a VPN to access home network (openVPN)
5) Do not use wifi cameras.
6) Do not use cloud storage
7) Do Not use uPNP, P2P, QR, do not open ports,
8) More megapixel is not necessarily better.
9) Avoid chinese hacked cameras (most ebay, amazon, aliexpress cameras(not all, but most))
10) Do not use reolink, ring, nest, Arlo cameras (they are junk), no cloud cameras
11) If possible use a turret camera , bullet collect spiders, dome collect dirt and reflect light (IR)
12) Use only solid copper, AWG 23 or 24 ethernet wire. , no CCA (Copper Clad Aluminum)
13) use a test mount to verify the camera mount location. My test rig: rev.2
14) (Looney2ns)If you want to be able to ID faces, don't mount cams higher than 7ft. You want to know who did it, not just what happened.
15) Use a router that has openVPN built in (Most ASUS, Some NetGear....)
16) camera placement use the calculator... IPVM Camera Calculator V3
17) POE list PoE Switch Suggestion List
18) Camera Sensor size, bigger is general better Sensor Size Chart
19) Camera lens size, a bigger number give more range but less field of view. Which Security Camera Lens Size Should I Buy?
20) verify your camera placement, have a friend wearing a hoodie, ball cap and sunglasses looking down approach the house, can you identify them at night ?
21) DO NOT UPGRADE your NVR or camera firmware unless you absolutely have a problem that needs to be fixed and known what you are doing, if you do you will turn it into a brick !!

Cameras to look at
IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED . Review IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED (Full Color, Starlight+) - 4MP starlight
.................... Dahua IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED review
IPC-T5442TM-AS ..... Review-OEM 4mp AI Cam IPC-T5442TM-AS Starlight+ - 4MP starlight+
IPC-HDW5442t-ZE .... Dahua IPC-HDW5442T-ZE 4MP Varifocal Turret - Night Perfomance testing -- variable focus 2.7 mm-12mm 4 MP Starlight
IPC-B5442E-ZE ...... Review - OEM IPC-B5442E-ZE 4MP AI Varifocal Bullet Camera With Starlight+ -- variable 2.7mm-12mm bullet
IPC-B5442E-Z4E .... bullet 8mm-32mm variable focus zoom 4MP
IPC-HFW7442H-Z ..... Review - Dahua IPC-HFW7442H-Z 4MP Ultra AI Varifocal Bullet Camera -- 4 MP variable focus AI
IPC-T2347G-LU ...... Review of the Hikvision OEM model IPC-T2347G-LU 'ColorVu' IP CCTV camera. (DS-2CD2347G1-LU)
IPC-HDW2231R-ZS .... Review-Dahua IPC-HDW2231RP-ZS Starlight Camera-Varifocal
IPC-HDW2231T-ZS-S2 . Review-OEM IPC-T2231T-ZS Ver 2, 2mp Varifocal Starlight Camera
IPC-HDW5231R-ZE .... Review-Dahua Starlight IPC-HDW5231R-ZE 800 meter capable ePOE
IPC-HFW4239T-ASE ... IPC-HFW4239T-ASE
IPCT-HDW5431RE-I ... Review - IP Cam Talk 4 MP IR Fixed Turret Network Camera
IPC-T5241H-AS-PV ... Review-OEM IPC-T5241H-AS-PV 2mp AI active deterrence cam
IPC-T3241-ZAS ...... Review-OEM IPC-T3241-ZAS 2mp AI Lite series Varifocal -- 2mp AI Lite series Varifocal
IPC-HFW2831T-ZS ... Review-Dahua IPC-HFW2831T-ZS 8MP WDR IR Bullet Network Camera -- 8MP Bullet 1/1.8” sensor variable focus.
DS-2CD2325FWD-I
N22AL12 ............ New Dahua N22AL12 Budget Cam w/Starlight -- low cost entry
IPC-T2347G-LU....... Review-Loryta OEM 4MP IPC-T2347G-LU ColorVu Fixed Turret Network 4mm lens & Junction Box -- 4MP ColorVu
.................... Review of the Hikvision OEM model IPC-T2347G-LU 'ColorVu' IP CCTV camera.
SD49225XA-HNR ...... Review - Dahua SD49225XA-HNR 2MP 25x Starlight + IR PTZ AI Camera with Deep IVS & SMD Plus -- 2mp startlight AI

Other dahua 4MP starlight

https://ipcamtalk.com/threads/dahua-4mp-starlight-lineup.42000/#post-388253

My preferred indoor cameras
DS-2CD2442FWD-IW
IPC-K35A Review-Dahua IPC-K35A 3mp Cube Camera
IPC-K42A

If interested in Blue Iris and other setup items see the following post

Newbie Starter Guide to IP Cam System – VPN setup – Computer Hardware – Blue Iris – Dahua Cameras

This is an intermediate / newbie guide for people just starting out looking for a surveillance setup. I know this setup might not be for everyone and there are many options. You can find a lot of this information in the Wiki: IP Cam Talk Wiki | IP Cam Talk A great place to start in the Wiki...

ipcamtalk.com

Read,study,plan before spending money ..... plan plan plan
Do it right the first time saves money over having to do it twice.
Test do not guess