Just keep in mind all manufacturers play with the focal length.
Even though the Z4E claims it starts at 8mm, I think it is more than the 12-13mm of the ZE.
And when you start comparing field of view on different size sensors and resolution, all is tossed out the window LOL.
Heck even taking the 5442 6mm fixed lens and setting up the 5442-ZE to the equivalent 6mm and you will find the field of view is different for both. The 5442-ZE had to be set to a 9mm equivalent to get the same field of view as the 5442 6mm fixed lens.
You can see a member here demonstrated this:
I was testing out a new Dahua T5442T-ZE 2.7-12mm Varifocal camera (from
@EMPIRETECANDY ) and was going to compare it's performance to the Dahua HDW5231R-ZE and the HDW5431R-ZE cameras, which are 2.7-13.5mm varifocals, along with the T5442TM-AS fixed lens at 6mm camera. The HDW5431R-ZE has been covering my driveway from the left side since 2018. The HDW5231R-ZE was covering my driveway from the right side since 2018 until I replaced it with a T5442TM-AS in 6mm this past June.
So I placed the HDW5231R-ZE and the T5442T-ZE on my test rig and set that rig next to the T5442TM-AS in 6mm...