Best Dahua Camera and NVR for low light situation?

jkn · Sep 7, 2018

I want to upgrade my HD-SDI camera system to IP system.
I was looking into Dahua and I see this camera IPC-HDW4431EM-ASE is also offered in 6mp and 8mp, is their any big difference in low light situation? Is their another Dahua camera that will perform way better in low light situation? I currently have a 850nm illuminator to help my current lighting situation. Also what Dahua NVR would you guys recommend?

Also I noticed that Dahua cameras mostly have built-in-mics vs other cameras, how is the quality and do I need extra wiring or does it also use the Ethernet cable?

EMPIRETECANDY · Sep 7, 2018

Low light one, 2mp always the best one, IPC-HDW2231R-ZS, IPC-HDW4231EM-ASE, IPC-HDW5231R-ZE, IPC-HDBW4231F-AS, IPC-HFW5231E-ZE, IPC-HFW5231E-Z5E., IPC-HFW5231E-Z12E, the best model IPC-HFW8232E-ZE, IPC-HDBW8232E-ZE.

MacFun · Sep 7, 2018

EMPIRETECANDY said:
Low light one, 2mp always the best one, IPC-HDW2231R-ZS, IPC-HDW4231EM-ASE, IPC-HDW5231R-ZE, IPC-HDBW4231F-AS, IPC-HFW5231E-ZE, IPC-HFW5231E-Z5E., IPC-HFW5231E-Z12E, the best model IPC-HFW8232E-ZE, IPC-HDBW8232E-ZE.

Andy, are you saying one of these models is best?

jkn · Sep 7, 2018

Dahua makes 8mp version, why do 2mp perform better in low light situation? Do 2mp perform better in day light too?

MacFun · Sep 7, 2018

jkn said:
Dahua makes 8mp version, why do 2mp perform better in low light situation? Do 2mp perform better in day light too?

The 2MP low-light advantage typically relates to the larger pixels on the sensor that naturally collect more light at a given aperture. Higher pixel densities are typically less sensitive to light and noisier signals that are harder to compress. Clean video compresses better, better quality at a given data rate.

jkn · Sep 7, 2018

Would you consider this as low light? The picture from my current hd-sdi camera has my house front lights on + ir illuminator + ir on camera.

fvdwerdt · Sep 7, 2018

I have a few IPC-HDW5231R-Z and IPC-HDW2231R-ZS and they are great in low light but the HFW4239T-ASE i've bought last week is the better camera because of the F1.0 lens.
I run them at 1/60 shutter speed at night and it gives a nice crisp full color picture in my light conditions.
The camera is a lot bigger then a HDW2231R-ZS so I prefer the turrets but if the size doesn't mind i'll take the HFW4239T-ASE. Also these cameras is ofcourse with a fixed lens so that has to work for you.
I wish a turret version of that camera came out..
Take the IPC-HDW5231R-ZE if you want the microphone, it works great. Dont go for more megapixel in low light conditions, it does'nt work, stick to the Starvis 2MP.

Burton_Flooring · Sep 7, 2018

Check out this post on the differences between the "low light" cameras. (8MP) IPC-HFW1831E Review

The short version; if your distances are less than 20-30 ft. use (2MP) "Pro" Starlights as mentioned by @EMPIRETECANDY. Any larger open areas will benefit from the incredible day-time quality of the IPC-HFW1831E and perform similar to the 2MP "Pro" Starlight line at night (after tweaking the Gain/Gamma).

None of the other cameras between 2MP and 8MP have any lighting advantages unless you move to the more expensive "Ultra" line. I have the 5MP H.265 Lite and also the 6 and 8MP "Pro" series cameras and if the 1831E had been available sooner, I would have never purchased them.

EMPIRETECANDY · Sep 7, 2018

Burton_Flooring said:
Check out this post on the differences between the "low light" cameras. (8MP) IPC-HFW1831E Review

The short version; if your distances are less than 20-30 ft. use (2MP) "Pro" Starlights as mentioned by @EMPIRETECANDY. Any larger open areas will benefit from the incredible day-time quality of the IPC-HFW1831E and perform similar to the 2MP "Pro" Starlight line at night (after tweaking the Gain/Gamma).

None of the other cameras between 2MP and 8MP have any lighting advantages unless you move to the more expensive "Ultra" line. I have the 5MP H.265 Lite and also the 6 and 8MP "Pro" series cameras and if the 1831E had been available sooner, I would have never purchased them.

IPC-HFW1831e is very good, i get many good report for this 4K model.

jkn · Sep 7, 2018

It seems I might have a misunderstanding on what you guys mean low-light.

I assume this picture of my front is not considered low light since I have a couple of down lights and ir illuminator - https://ipcamtalk.com/attachments/20180907_005005-png.32941

And this picture of my backyard and garage would be considered low-light?

Screen Shot 2018-09-07 at 10.32.15 AM.png

@EMPIRETECANDY IPC-HFW1831e looks nice specs, is their a turret style?

Burton_Flooring · Sep 7, 2018

jkn said:
It seems I might have a misunderstanding on what you guys mean low-light.

I assume this picture of my front is not considered low light since I have a couple of down lights and ir illuminator - https://ipcamtalk.com/attachments/20180907_005005-png.32941

And this picture of my backyard and garage would be considered low-light?
View attachment 32946

@EMPIRETECANDY IPC-HFW1831e looks nice specs, is their a turret style?

There is currently no turret style for the H.265 Lite 8MP line.

You don't need a starlight for either of those two locations in order to get a good EXPOSURE. However, I would use the 8MP in the location at the top of your picture and a 2MP Starlight in the garage for the following reasons:

1) Best quality for the 1831E (in 4K) is 3fps @ max bitrate. (However, I run mine @ 7fps) At this rate, an intruder simply won't generate a lot of frames with which to positively ID them. So it's better to stick this camera in a location that has a wider area. This would work great for the longer distance you have to cover in the top location.

2) The 1831E would be fine (exposure-wise) in the bottom location as well. BUT, THE INTRUDER WON'T BE IN THE FRAME AS LONG. You will want a higher fps for short distances like this. (or lower the resolution to make more bandwidth available for more frames)

Bottom line:

If you crank the fps very high at all (above 14fps), you're better off using IPC-HDW2231R-ZS (a 2mp starlight) as this will do 22fps @ 10240kbps bitrate vs. the 1831E (in 1080p) only being able to crank out 14fps @ 8192kbps (that is it's max allowed bitrate).

The 1831E should do everything you need unless you fall under the usage scenarios mentioned above.

P.S. - I've played with the H.265 mode and higher fps on the 1831E and in my limited testing, it didn't make THAT much of a difference in image quality. Just my $.02

LoLight · Sep 7, 2018

jkn said:
I assume this picture of my front is not considered low light since I have a couple of down lights and ir illuminator

Are you keeping those lights on all night long?
In that situation you can't beat HFW4239T-ASE for low-light performance.
Review:
Dahua HFW4239T-ASE review

jkn · Sep 7, 2018

1) I have my Front lights and IR Illuminator on Dusk/Dawn. So I was planning to get this camera for the front of my house IPC-HDW5831R-ZE (I prefer B/W with IR on)

2) I plan to get this for my backyard, garage and side yard since there are no lights - IPC-HDW5231R-ZE

3) I plan to get this for my Front door which also has a porch light on dusk/dawn but will stay in color. I like the idea of having a camera pointed down to see my packages - IPC-HDBW4231F-E2-M/M12

4) I plan to get the Dahua 8 channel - NVR5208-8P-4KS2

And of course Junction box PFA130E(Which i think is the latest one vs PFA137) for all of the Dahua Cameras.

I think I have it narrowed it down thanks to all your suggestions/help!!!

Steve Bowman · Sep 29, 2018

How do you like that NVR? What mobile app are you using?

jkn · Sep 30, 2018

I'm mostly happy with the nvr, I just have to use it through the web user interface too get the most out of it. I use gDMSS K plus and open vpn.

AIS · Oct 12, 2018

Which mobile app is best for Dahua cams

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ookie · Oct 16, 2018

As others have said, lower MP tends to equal better night performance for a given physical sensor side.

That said, having spent a good deal of time as a police detective in a major metropolitan area, I have a different perspective than most with regard to low light performance.

If any modern IP cams are having issues because of darkness, the biggest problem in your security plan is not cameras--it's your lighting situation. Get a quality motion sensor (RAB is the only one) and blow the place out with 9,000 plus lumens of motion security lighting.

I have seen plenty of interviews with career criminals. One common theme is that they hate brightly lit places.

Yes, it's nice to catch bad guys. But trust me, if the police do ID the mutts, you will be in court for months. More importantly, what they stole has been fenced (sold) within minutes of them leaving the property. Yes, you may get restitution (e.g. where the judge forces them to pay for what they stole in order not to go up north for an extended period). Still, deterrence is the name of the game.

No one is a bigger proponent of cams than I am. But in general, they protect the public (e.g. other people) and not you.

mat200 · Oct 16, 2018

jkn said:
..

4) I plan to get the Dahua 8 channel - NVR5208-8P-4KS2
..!!!

Hi jkn,

The 16 channel is just a bit more, and will give you more options to add cameras.

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