Dahua Starlight Varifocal Bullet Z5 7-35mm (IPC-HFW5231E-Z5)

turkeyshootfl said:
Hello @happf yes, I'm planning on using Dahua cameras exclusively after my research I've done so far. I'm wanting to get 8 bullets and 2-3 turrets just for starters. Might add 1 or 2 PLZ later?
Click to expand...

I assume you meant PTZ? I can't help with PTZ. Each location is different and again depends on your priorities. An auto tracking PTZ or just one you manually control?

You have to decide if the location really really really could benefit from a PTZ or you're just wanting to spend the money to have a cool PTZ camera. For the amount of money that is spent for a PTZ, maybe it's better served with 2 or 3 more cameras and then you've got more video and don't risk loosing anything because the PTZ was off aiming the wrong way tracking something else?

If you're going to be sitting in front of the system and really want to PTZ something yourself, then a PTZ is the way to go.

turkeyshootfl said:
Do you think the money used for Dahua NVR might be wiser to use those funds for a skylark i7-7700 / i7-6700 to learn the process once and be set for the future ???
Click to expand...

That is another one of those questions that IMO has no right or wrong or better or worse. It depends on your priorities, what features are most important to you, how quickly do you want to be up and running, how much tinkering are you willing to do long term, costs, etc.

I researched the heck out of BlueIris vs NVRs.

BI is the nicer software, more features, but IMO, from enough posts I've read, it seems to require a lot of tinkering and none of the features are ones I absolutely need right now. Worst case, the NVR, set it to record 24/7 and you are up and running quickly and won't miss a thing. Both have their different types of issues and neither is perfect.

I downloaded and played with the BI demo and one camera some time ago for a while. Neither is perfect nor a clear winner over the other in IMO. BI can do some things that the Dahua NVR can not, and vice versa. BI cannot, last I checked, make use of the dahua IVS. Just this month, BI finally added support for H265. I read that Dahua just added support for grabbing backup video from the cameras with SD cards installed should the network go down (or the device reboots?). I am tired of the posts of why is my BI cpu high, fps issues, camera stopped working, etc. With the NVR, you're never going to see a post of why is my nvr cpu usage so high. Of course, the NVR5216 has it's own separate types of issues, some people have reported random reboots and dropped frames with IVS, but there appears to be an easy workaround to the latter. I get the feeling there is more potential for things to go wrong with BI than with the NVR. That said, if you're the type of person that just cares about as many features as possible and the most possible flexibility, then you should go with BI.

Caligirls video is really nice, but at the same time, worthless to me, and I would never ever spend anytime to make a video like that as I have no need for making that type of video. I am purchasing this for security. I want my security system to work with the best chance of reliability like a taken for granted appliance, it needs to record, and when needed playback.

I will in time revisit BI, another reason I decided to go the NON-POE NVR route. Once the NVR is setup, I will setup a BI machine and then experiment with it further and with external switches my understanding is both systems can access the cameras.
 
turkeyshootfl said:
My understanding thus far is a Skylake (6xxx series) and newer because this generation and newer has H.265 acceleration hardware.
So one can have full use of the IVS, without the issues you wrote about.. Again just the research I've seen so far.
Click to expand...

My understanding is that hardware acceleration helps BI process the video itself as BI has it's own motion detection algorithms. Of course, BI doing it's own motion processing leads to higher cpu usage, just that it's not as much as extra cpu usage as before hardware acceleration was added. Everything has a price. The nice thing about IVS is it's the cameras doing the processing and sending events, at least that's how I understand it.

Acoording to the post below, as of May 9th BI can still not make use of IVS.

Is Blue Iris compatible with Dahua IVS smart detection?

BI released an update on 5/31 and I don't see any mention of IVS (unless they are calling it something else).

Blue Iris Updates

I do see support for BI now saving H265 straight to the drives but am unclear if it can do motion processing on H265 or if it's doing it on an H264 stream.

Let's try please try and not turn this into another BI vs NVR thread. Anyone know of a better dedicated BI vs NVR like thread?
 
turkeyshootfl said:
@EMPIRETECANDY
Hi Andy, I've made up my mind unless someone here can tell me that the NOT to purchase IPC-HFW5231E-Z12 over the Z5's

I need x8 of the IPC-HFW5231E-Z12
for Z5 "Shenzhen Win Vision" quoted a price of $175.00

I need x3 of the IPC-HFW5231R-Z
Found for $152.00

If I purchase ALL 11 cameras at Once Today can you match this pricing ? as a bundle deal?

Thanks, I wanted to go you 1st chance at this since Everyone talks highly of you .

Mike
Click to expand...

Mike, I recommend that you PM Andy, either here or via his email: kingsecurity2014 <kingsecurity2014@163.com>, rather than in a public forum.
 
ThomasPI said:
Agreed and would be GREAT to have some side by side comparison pictures OR video of the Z5 and the Z12. The capabilities of the Z12 seem really good but without SEEING what those capabilities are at varying distances with a direct comparison of images, kind of difficult to discern the best route. I've got a good bit of time before I need to make that choice so hopefully in due time someone will be posting up a comparison from multiple distances with both cameras side by side.
Click to expand...
I have both a Z5 and a Z12. Both are great cameras. The IR in the Z12 is slightly more narrow and the zoom range is much greater. I shot some really good comparison images and video two weeks ago but in my front yard I have a very easy to Google landmark. My overall OPSEC paranoia kept me from sharing the comparison.

I should have some time this weekend to try another comparison at another location. I can shoot stills at different lengths with a Z5, Z12, and 5231R-Z. I have a range of about 200FT that would be easy to access.

The Z5 will cover my driveway from a range of about 90FT and the Z12 is pointed at my mailbox at 105FT. They are mounted about 6" apart and look positively sinister with all 8 IR LED's burning together.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CamCrazy, ThomasPI and turkeyshootfl
@3-phase , I don't have my Z12s yet. Can you confirm that the Z at 12mm has the same field of view as the Z5 at its start 7mm focal position? if this is true, as the data sheet indicates, it is annoying, and something i don't understand since it has the same sensor and f-stop.
 
3-phase said:
I have both a Z5 and a Z12. Both are great cameras. The IR in the Z12 is slightly more narrow and the zoom range is much greater. I shot some really good comparison images and video two weeks ago but in my front yard I have a very easy to Google landmark. My overall OPSEC paranoia kept me from sharing the comparison.

I should have some time this weekend to try another comparison at another location. I can shoot stills at different lengths with a Z5, Z12, and 5231R-Z. I have a range of about 200FT that would be easy to access.

The Z5 will cover my driveway from a range of about 90FT and the Z12 is pointed at my mailbox at 105FT. They are mounted about 6" apart and look positively sinister with all 8 IR LED's burning together.
Click to expand...

Outstanding thank you!
 
Is this an ideal camera for LPR?

I am at the end of a long driveway (200+ feet) with no lighting. I am assuming I want the Z12, not the Z5. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
 
Got my Z5 temporarily setup on a ladder a few feet from where I was hoping to mount it. WOW. 75' away horizontally from the center of street aiming approx 45deg to the left towards the neighborhood opening where that distance to the center of the street is about 115'. Zoomed all the way in, in very nice daylight, I can make out license plates, barely. Some much easier than others. Will be interesting to see what it looks like tonight. There is a light nearby but wonder if it will be enough. Focus is super key. Since the Z12 overlaps most of the Z5 but goes even further, and I have room to tighten it down some and cut some worthless trees out of the pics, I'll definitely be getting a Z12 for this position.
 
Finally got it permanently mounted. Night shots are worthless. I'm amazed at the night view quality (when nothing moving) but cars are a blur and the plate is washed out. I've experimented with night mode and got the wash out reduced, but still nothing but a blob. I know I'm pushing it at 115'. Have Z12s on orders, just waiting for them.

Need to figure out how to get this profile stuff to work. I can't seem to set a schedule. Which makes me think of a feature request for the firmware. Day/night changes throughout the year, would be nice if they offered an option to tie the profile to the light sensor (or whatever is used to trigger the smartIr). I have the IR turned off, but it would be nice to connect the night profile to whenever the light sensor thinks it's night.
 
Played around with some night settings, forced the camera to 1/2000, now the scene is much much darker almost worthless, but when a car drives by now the plates are not completely washed out. Sometimes I am able to pick out a few chars. I want my Z12s to come in!
 
Hi All,

I'd like to invest in this camera, but I've been trying to figure out if base of the camera has an articulating arm that can bend the camera about 80-90 degree. I essentially need to attach to the side of my house pointing down the alley. Thanks for the feedback.
 
  • Like
Reactions: looney2ns
Yes, you can aim it 90 degrees, essentially a 3way adjustment. You do have to be careful when trying to aim down the side of a house as the IR can reflect off the wall and washout the image.
 
  • Like
Reactions: firelizard
bigredfish said:
Yes, you can aim it 90 degrees, essentially a 3way adjustment. You do have to be careful when trying to aim down the side of a house as the IR can reflect off the wall and washout the image.
Click to expand...

So, with the reflection issue in mind, how should I avoid this? Should I experiment with the angle?
 
Ideally mount it on a corner of the building, or at least at a point where you can get say 60 degrees or so or less. But yeah each location will be different as to the angle and the reflectiveness (not sure thats a real word o_O ) of the wall. I have a problem with one bullet camera looking down the side of a stucco wall. Fortunately I'm able to keep it in color mode with the help of some bright LED floodlights I leave on all night in the backyard, so no IR reflection as they arent on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: firelizard
firelizard said:
So, with the reflection issue in mind, how should I avoid this? Should I experiment with the angle?
Click to expand...

1) you can use a separate IR light and turn off the IR on the camera
2) you can force the camera to remain in color mode if there is enough light
3) you can get a junction box / public fixture ( PFA121 ) which will give you a couple more inches off your wall to help out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: firelizard and bigredfish
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom