Dahua outdoor camera recommendation for porch installation

[cmihai]

Hi,

I'm very new to this. Trying to understand if there are specific things to keep in mind when selecting a security camera for a porch installation (outdoor). Capturing about 90 degrees (view angle) and about 5 meters ahead should work fine for my requirements.

I've been eyeing IPC-HDBW4431R-AS (dome) or IPC-HDW4431C-A (eyeball), I love their PoE feature. Don't necessary need motorized lens. Is alarm in/out a good feature to have (to future proof it)?

I believe I understand limitations when buying a Chinese model (cannot use official English firmware).

Do people usually back up footage to the cloud?

Thanks so much.

 

[molimelight]

Just bought this one on FleaBay. 2.8 Lens give it good spread and image is clear out to 150 to 200 feet. Good IR range. It has English firmware installed. Not upgradeable, but I can't think of why one would need to. Not sure what you mean by alarm in/out, so I can't comment there. Fast shipping and good support from these guys also. You can go to the Dahua site and download their suite of tools for the config tool and the english manual and quick start guides are there also. As far as the cloud goes, I found backing up to One Drive quickly overloaded the meagre free storage limit. I back up to another computer on my network. For $65.00 it's hard to beat.

Dahua IPC-HDW4431C-A 4MP H.265 Network IP Camera POE Built-in MiC 2.8mm US stock

 

[cmihai]

Thank you so much for feedback molimelight. There are a few reasons one might want to upgrade the firmware, such as security patches or new features, but not being able to upgrade is not really a showstopper for me.

 

[Crazykiller]

Hi,

I'm very new to this. Trying to understand if there are specific things to keep in mind when selecting a security camera for a porch installation (outdoor). Capturing about 90 degrees (view angle) and about 5 meters ahead should work fine for my requirements.

I've been eyeing IPC-HDBW4431R-AS (dome) or IPC-HDW4431C-A (eyeball), I love their PoE feature. Don't necessary need motorized lens. Is alarm in/out a good feature to have (to future proof it)?

I believe I understand limitations when buying a Chinese model (cannot use official English firmware).

Do people usually back up footage to the cloud?

Thanks so much.

You should also consider the HDBW4233R-AS if you would choose a dome model. It performs better in low light conditions. For 90 degree better choose the 3,6mm lens. With the 2,8mm you'll have to much surrounding. Probably 110 degrees. 6mm might also be right, depending on the angle. If it's mount over the door the 6mm would be better to ID people.

 

[cmihai]

Thanks for input Crazykiller.

I now realize HDW4431C-A might not have a microSD card slot, while HDBW4431R-AS (1/3" 4MP image sensor) and HDBW4233R-AS (1/2.7" 2MP image sensor) have (microSD support). I can't seem to find the specs on Dahua Security US web site for either of them. Do US models have different model numbers?

If I understand correctly, the tradeoff between HDBW4233R-AS and HDBW4431R-AS is about better performance in low light conditions vs. better resolution. I noticed they have HDBW4431R-AS-V2 which they claim has improved lenses.

I think you are correct, 3.6mm might be a better option for porch installation, which would provide more detail on close-up images.

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

Thanks for input Crazykiller.

I now realize HDW4431C-A might not have a microSD card slot, while HDBW4431R-AS (1/3" 4MP image sensor) and HDBW4233R-AS (1/2.7" 2MP image sensor) have (microSD support). I can't seem to find the specs on Dahua Security US web site for either of them. Do US models have different model numbers?

If I understand correctly, the tradeoff between HDBW4233R-AS and HDBW4431R-AS is about better performance in low light conditions vs. better resolution. I noticed they have HDBW4431R-AS-V2 which they claim has improved lenses.

I think you are correct, 3.6mm might be a better option for porch installation, which would provide more detail on close-up images.

if you have budget, just buy a cheap nvr much better than the SD card, the SD card storage too less! NVR4108-4KS2? @Crazykiller how is your nvr working

 

[Crazykiller]

if you have budget, just buy a cheap nvr much better than the SD card, the SD card storage too less! NVR4108-4KS2? @Crazykiller how is your nvr working

But SD card is also fine to have a backup instead of only having a NVR. I tested the NVR4116-4KS2 I bought from you for a colleague, and i would say, for the price it's just nice can't beat my NVR5232-16P-4KS2 but only cost a 1/3 of it.

 

[cmihai]

if you have budget, just buy a cheap nvr much better than the SD card, the SD card storage too less! NVR4108-4KS2?

Thanks for suggestion, I was thinking to start small and grow as/if needed. I assume an NVR can easily be added later. The model you mentioned does not have Gigabit Ethernet port, which might pose performance issues down the road. I have a NSA (DNS-323) capped at 100Mbps and it is quite slow.

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

Thanks for suggestion, I was thinking to start small and grow as/if needed. I assume an NVR can easily be added later. The model you mentioned does not have Gigabit Ethernet port, which might pose performance issues down the road. I have a NSA (DNS-323) capped at 100Mbps and it is quite slow.

NVR4108-8P-4KS2 has 8 ports Poe ports

 

[Crazykiller]

NVR4108-8P-4KS2 has 8 ports Poe ports

I think he means the LAN port. Well this NVR could only eat 80Mbps of data, so a Gbps port would make any sense. I record my cams with 1080p @ 4Mbps VBR each. Someone if you would record 16 channels you would be fine with 80Mbps incoming traffic, so what's your worries?
I've got a 32 channel NVR and bought one with 320Mbps incoming data because of the high amount of channels. It has a gigabit interface but could also "only" eat 320Mbps of data.

 

[Fastb]

cmihai,

Welcome to the forum!

Capturing about 90 degrees (view angle) and about 5 meters ahead should work fine for my requirements.

Wouldn't life be grand if we had a wide Field Of View (FOV), and could capture detail out to 5 meters! Unfortunately, physics won't cooperate.
If you want wide FOV, the subject must be 2 to 3M away, if you want to identify a face. A 2.8mm lens for outdoors will tell you "what" happened, but not "who" did it. Generally, 2.8mm lens should not be used outdoors, except mounted near a "pinch point", where people will walk close to the cam. Eg: cam mounted near your front door, or a gate to backyard.

Is alarm in/out a good feature to have (to future proof it)?

Alarm in is good for a laser line or switch (like on a gate), since MD sucks for dependable alerts. Too many false alarms with MD.
If the cam has external alarm i/o, it will likely have ext audio. I hook ext mics to some cams. Nice, esp for front door cam and driveway cam, to record the audio of events. Note: recording conversations may or may not be legal, laaws vary greatly.

 

[randytsuch]

My standard recommendation these days is
Dahua Starlight Varifocal Turret (IPC-HDW5231R-Z)
Best low light performance you can get right now, and probably all the features you want or need. There are reason this thread is 144 pages long.

Randy

 

[looney2ns]

Use this: Camera Calculator / Design Software keeping PPF>100.
You want to know who did it, not just what happened.

Here: Dahua 2MP Starlight Lineup

Look at Dahua's International site for most of the cam models discussed here.
Dahua Technology - Leading Video Surveillance Solution Provider with CCTV Products, IP Camera, PTZ, HDCVI products, NVR, Intelligent Building, Intelligent Transportation and Software

Domes outdoors have reflection issue's, especially as they age.
Typically advised to not use domes outdoors.

 

[cmihai]

Thanks to all who provided feedback, I'm learning a lot!

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

I think he means the LAN port. Well this NVR could only eat 80Mbps of data, so a Gbps port would make any sense. I record my cams with 1080p @ 4Mbps VBR each. Someone if you would record 16 channels you would be fine with 80Mbps incoming traffic, so what's your worries?
I've got a 32 channel NVR and bought one with 320Mbps incoming data because of the high amount of channels. It has a gigabit interface but could also "only" eat 320Mbps of data.

maybe i can add some chinese models to sell? They are cheap and some guys still need the cheap ones to install, budget is limited.

 

[Crazykiller]

maybe i can add some chinese models to sell? They are cheap and some guys still need the cheap ones to install, budget is limited.

Chinese domestic NVR? Didn't recognized any. I think the NVR41xx are cheap anyway. Which ones would be Chinese ones and how much is the fish?

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

Chinese domestic NVR? Didn't recognized any. I think the NVR41xx are cheap anyway. Which ones would be Chinese ones and how much is the fish?

I mean the ones cheap hacked cams. Hdw4431c-a and other models. Because I can get them but not sell too many

 

[Mike A.]

I mean the ones cheap hacked cams. Hdw4431c-a and other models. Because I can get them but not sell too many

We can get those lots of places here relatively cheap. Unless maybe you can offer them at an really extraordinary price. Might end up being more trouble than it's worth. We know that we're getting the good versions from you now. If you start mixing that kind of stuff in, then people end up confused and not knowing what they're buying or trying to save a buck and ordering cheap stuff and then complaining because they get cheap stuff. Just ends up hurting your reputation. Maybe put them in a different store or something if you did.

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

We can get those lots of places here relatively cheap. Unless maybe you can offer them at an really extraordinary price. Might end up being more trouble than it's worth. We know that we're getting the good versions from you now. If you start mixing that kind of stuff in, then people end up confused and not knowing what they're buying or trying to save a buck and ordering cheap stuff and then complaining because they get cheap stuff. Just ends up hurting your reputation. Maybe put them in a different store or something if you did.

Yeah, you are right. Normally we mention the firmware can't be updated when some guys ask for this but not sell too many. We mainly sell the original english one.lol

 

[Crazykiller]

I mean the ones cheap hacked cams. Hdw4431c-a and other models. Because I can get them but not sell too many

I think not all of these are bad. Some are. I'm satisfied with the HDBW4233R-AS and am still searching ich there is an equivalent turret version of this, because the HDW4431C-A is plastic not the best for low light and has no sd card. So there are not that much 2MP Chinese domestic models which perform good at night.
And for the firmware, maybe @cor35vet will provide us with future releases, nobody knows