Best current low light eyeball/Turret for $100

Tazz 316

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Who has the best low light 2.8mm eyeball/Turret POE with IR for around $100 right now? Hikvision or dahua.
 

Flintstone61

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Tazz 316

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Is that a re-branded Hikvision? looks like dahua.
 
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Tazz 316

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The 2231 should be better in low light based on resolution versus sensor size, but it is over $100. For a few dollars more (Hat tip to Clint) the 3241 is as good, or even better than the 2231 and has audio and basic AI.
I don't mind spending more for a better image. There are so many to pick from!
 

sebastiantombs

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That Amcrest is a Dahua re-brand. Being a 5MP on a 1/2.7" sensor it will need roughly 2.5 times more light to produce a good low light image than either the 2231 or the 3241. The actual model I am referring to is 3241T-ZAS. Additionally the Amcrest is a fixed 2.8mm lens versus a 3.6-12mm varifocal lens in the 2231 and 3241. Yes, the Amcrest is less expensive but you get what you pay for and it will not perform nearly as well in low light situations as the 2231 or 3241.
 

Tazz 316

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That Amcrest is a Dahua re-brand. Being a 5MP on a 1/2.7" sensor it will need roughly 2.5 times more light to produce a good low light image than either the 2231 or the 3241. The actual model I am referring to is 3241T-ZAS. Additionally the Amcrest is a fixed 2.8mm lens versus a 3.6-12mm varifocal lens in the 2231 and 3241. Yes, the Amcrest is less expensive but you get what you pay for and it will not perform nearly as well in low light situations as the 2231 or 3241.
This?

 

sebastiantombs

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I have more than a few varifocals, including 2231s, 3241s and 5442s and the focus is fine on all of them. There is a slight penalty in the F stop, lens speed/light transmission, but it is quite negligible. The big advantage is being able to set the focal length you need in each specific use case rather than being stuck with one focal length. With a 2.8mm lens for a real identification the target needs to be within 15 feet, or less, of the camera. A varifocal lets you "reach out" much further to get identification shots or just more detail of the area of interest.

There are fixed versions of the 5442 series but I'm not aware of fixed lenses in the 2231 or 3241 turret series. Check with Andy as I can be easily wrong about that.
 

Mike A.

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The flexibility of the varifocal far outweighs any marginal difference in image quality. And you have the benefit of optical zoom which can greatly improve what's captured at a practical level. Cost really is the only significant downside.
 

Tazz 316

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The flexibility of the varifocal far outweighs any marginal difference in image quality. And you have the benefit of optical zoom which can greatly improve what's captured at a practical level. Cost really is the only significant downside.
You can say the same for a PTZ. I find i hardly use it and keep it at 2.7mm for my use which is just to monitor doors and entry points, UPS etc.
 

user8963

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You can say the same for a PTZ. I find i hardly use it and keep it at 2.7mm for my use which is just to monitor doors and entry points, UPS etc.
why would someone buy a varifocal when he want to install it as door cam ?

it was just a really good hint from @Flintstone61

sometimes your planning does not work in reality and you have to change the mounting position... then you may find out that 2,8mm or even 3.6mm is not good ... and then ? install it anyway ?
not everyone is a pro and sees any problems before mounting a camera... also not everyone do it everyday and can imagine how it would look with different focal lenghts.. so you can try it with a varifocal... its only a plus of around 30usd for the 5442 ... so why not ?

if you want to use IR light you may get reflections from walls with 2,8mm ...
even as doorcam 2,8 is maybe not the best... depends... look here:



source: Hikvision 2.8mm vs 4mm Comparison (Internal) | CCTV Aware - CCTV Installation Essex
 
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sebastiantombs

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Again, the 2231 or 3241 are good choices as mentioned in previous post in this thread. If you want to spend a little more, the 5442 series, in the 170 range, is a very good low light camera.
 

sebastiantombs

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There is a "full color" night version in the 5442 series, but most are IR capable while the full color isn't because it has no IR lights or cut filter. If you feel really "flush" there is an 8MP, full color version that just came out. Andy, from EmpireTech, will be running a sale starting on the 25th, I think, so you could save a few bucks off the regular price.



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