4K (8mp 4mm) IP Camera Question

[havjoe]

I came across an online seller (cctvcameraworld) that sells 4K IP cameras.
The cameras come in 8mp and 12mp. I'm looking at this camera, which is $500, for monitoring the front of the house.
It's 8mp at 15fps, and 3mp at 30fps, and is a 4mm fixed lens. It's got WDR.

http://www.cctvcameraworld.com/4k-ip-camera-dome-4mm.html

Anyone have any experience with either the seller or this particular camera.

 

[fenderman]

I came across an online seller (cctvcameraworld) that sells 4K IP cameras.
The cameras come in 8mp and 12mp. I'm looking at this camera, which is $500, for monitoring the front of the house.
It's 8mp at 15fps, and 3mp at 30fps, and is a 4mm fixed lens. It's got WDR.

http://www.cctvcameraworld.com/4k-ip-camera-dome-4mm.html

Anyone have any experience with either the seller or this particular camera.

That is a dahua camera (and available for half that price from china sellers)....http://www.dahuasecurity.com/products/ipc-hdbw4800e-798.html

stop chasing the megapixel train...more MP does NOT mean a better image. you will get MUCH better low light/night images with a 500 dollar 2mp/3mp camera. You will have issues with low light and night images on that camera.
If you are willing to pay 500 for a camera pick up this unit with full warranty from newegg sold by newegg (note, newegg also has third party sellers on their site, you will receive no warranty if you go that route)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16881182085&cm_re=dahua_starlight-_-81-182-085-_-Product

 

[havjoe]

That is a dahua camera (and available for half that price from china sellers)....http://www.dahuasecurity.com/products/ipc-hdbw4800e-798.html

stop chasing the megapixel train...more MP does NOT mean a better image. you will get MUCH better low light/night images with a 500 dollar 2mp/3mp camera. You will have issues with low light and night images on that camera.
If you are willing to pay 500 for a camera pick up this unit with full warranty from newegg sold by newegg (note, newegg also has third party sellers on their site, you will receive no warranty if you go that route)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16881182085&cm_re=dahua_starlight-_-81-182-085-_-Product

Thanks fenderman, appreciate it. How is it that you know that this particular camera model will have issues with low light and night images?
I can't imagine this is an attribute specific to 8mp IP cameras, right? What is it that you are looking at in the specs that tells you that it will have poor low light performance?

Isn't the whole point of a higher megapixels to capture more information, and thus get crisper detail? What am I not getting right here?
Thanks!

 

[havjoe]

Another question...one of the members had pointed out the Darkfighter line (from Hikvision).
I found this on B&H's site, and it can ship rather quickly.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1162153-REG/hikvision_darkfighter_series_ds_2cd4526fwd_izh_2mp.html

How would you compare this 2mp darkfighter camera (which is around $600) to the 4K 8mp camera from cctvcameraworld and to the 2mp Dahua from nestegg? Right off the bat, one major difference is the 8mp camera is a fixed 4mm...the darkfighter is a manual 2.8mm to 12mm varifocal...while the Dahua is a motorized 2.7mm to 12mm varifocal.

Will one be better in the day time, while another better at night?

 

[nayr]

never under estimate the power of some good external lighting, it can turn a cheap $100 camera into a gem..

https://www.ipcamtalk.com/showthread.php/13859-Dahua-4MP-w-IR-Cannon-Before-After

if you can add lighting, its cheaper... alot, helps all MP; the higher MP the more lighting to accomplish the same as the lower MP.. those 4k are pathetic at night

 

[bp2008]

@havjoe,

I have a similar camera to that 4K dome you linked originally. It was the bullet model and half the price, but otherwise the same. It has a decent picture during the day, but at night it is so bad you would be better off with just about any other camera. The daytime video isn't great enough to make up for that. See this thread for full details: https://www.ipcamtalk.com/showthread.php/13034-DH-IPC-HFW4800EN-(4K-1-2-3-quot-bullet)

I don't have any exceptional low light cameras so it is hard to recommend any if you want great night vision. Dahua has a "starlight" series and Hikvision has their Darkfighter series, though I've never owned one or seen good video/snapshot examples from them so I would be hesitant to spend a lot of money on either. I've never been one to spend double to get an extra 10% performance, if you know what I mean.

There are some people on this forum who would recommend certain camera models from "Longse" or other smaller Chinese brands, mainly due to their use of larger CMOS sensors (larger sensors = better low light performance). I have not tried any of these, because I don't want a repeat of the many disappointments I've had with small Chinese brands in the past. Still, they are an option you should be aware of as you do your research.

 

[fenderman]

http://www.cnet.com/news/htc-explains-why-4-megapixels-are-better-than-8/
While the sensor in the 4k cam is larger, its not large enough to compensate for the extra pixels.
While you cannot use manufactures lux ratings to compare across brands, you will see this cameras rating is poor compared to even cheap 100 dollar dahua cams.