$190 Budget advice. Wide angle, very dark.

[matt1309]

Hi folks,

Looking for some advice/opinions on a camera for a wide driveway out in the country (very dark). Looking to avoid colour night vision (the light is jarring when there's no street lights at all), so prefer IR (ideally > 100ft). It's a relatively long/wide driveway.
Previously had a wide angle 8MP amcrest with 165ft IR and it worked well until it suddenly stopped, (we think some sort of issue with a power cut/UPS not working).

I'd given up on matching that IR distance at my price point as i struggled to find any. I was about to pull the trigger on

Hikvision DS-2CD2386G2-IU after deciding on this over the Hikvision DS-2CD2383G2-IU (2.8mm on both).

However did some more reading and stumbled upon a post on here highlighting the lesser effectiveness of high MP at night. I changed my search to 4MP cameras but then found the sensors to be smaller which I'd also heard was not ideal, with 1/1.6 4mp being noted as good choice whereas I was just seeing 1/3 on my searches

Any suggestions on where I can look in this pricepoint for what I'm after or is the hikvision as good as I'll get it/compromise on the IR distance?

 

[wittaj]

The Dahua 5442 series is 4MP on a 1/1.8" sensor are generally considered the best overall value

https://www.amazon.com/EmpireTech-IPC-T5442T-ZE-Vari-Focal-Eyeball-Starlight/dp/B08C77TNY9/ref=sr_1_1?m=A329YQ83EBQGJF&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1695985858&s=merchant-items&sr=1-1

https://www.amazon.com/Loryta-IPC-T5442TM-AS-Starlight-Eyeball-Network/dp/B07S47VXGY/ref=sr_1_5?m=A329YQ83EBQGJF&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1695985858&s=merchant-items&sr=1-5

https://www.amazon.com/Loryta-IPC-B5442E-Z4E-Starlight-8mm-32mm-Motorized/dp/B07ZGF9BRW/ref=sr_1_25?m=A329YQ83EBQGJF&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1695985946&s=merchant-items&sr=1-25

 

[matt1309]

The second one looks near exactly what I'm looking for.
IPC-HDW5442TM-ASE.

I dont suppose you know of any UK distributors/other brand names dahua is sold under in the UK/EU. Struggling to find somewhere that will sell it to me without a trade account.

 

[wittaj]

Reach out to @EMPIRETECANDY who sells these cameras on Amazon and his own website. He sells a lot to those in the UK.

 

[Flintstone61]

+1^

 

[matt1309]

Thanks fellas, I'll drop them a message. Can't find it anywhere else to be honest.

So frustrating when everywhere requires trade accounts

 

[looney2ns]

The Importance of Focal Length over MP in camera selection | IP Cam Talk

 

[mat200]

Thanks fellas, I'll drop them a message. Can't find it anywhere else to be honest.

So frustrating when everywhere requires trade accounts

Many of us have purchased from Andy and recommend him. Good, trustworthy, reliable.

 

[Ssayer]

Ok, on Amazon, it says that the B5442E-ZE bullet uses 12v and 3 watts. Something is off here. I've looked but I can't find it. How many watts max does this thing take?

 

[Flintstone61]

I think with IR on it specs out at 7watts....But my memory isnt the greatest...

 

[Flintstone61]

 

[gravelmonkey]

UK distributors

Not Dahua but when you register for an account on rfcomponents.co.uk, (free, open to anyone), you can see prices of Hikvision cams. I've found it useful to do price comparisons, when I started, I didn't know if xyz cam was £150 or £450.