DIY cheap IP cam with Sony IMX322 ?

[cam235]

Has anyone tried using one of the cheap IP camera modules on aliexpress such as
IPCam (1080P) 2.8mm LEN 1/2.8" SONY IMX322 + Hi3516 CCTV IP camera (built in IRC filter) + Audio-in Surveillance Cameras from Security & Protection on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

I am interested in this model because it claims to use the 2MP Sony IMX322 sensor, which by all accounts is a good performer in low light (the newer IMX323 is similar). I would substitute my own M12 lens. I assume with such a device, you can expect no support whatsoever from the seller, but all I really need is a working RTSP stream, and hopefully also day/night auto switching. I don't need any other in-camera functions.

https://dashcamtalk.com/cams/lk-7950-wd/Sony_IMX322.pdf

 

[Kawboy12R]

You plan on making a hidden cam? If not, just get a cheap eyeball dome or bullet with that chip in it. They're easy to get for $40 prebuilt.

 

[cam235]

Thanks for the reply. I assume the dome / bullet versions claiming that chip are probably using the same board inside, but maybe there may be some firmware difference, etc? Buying from ebay or aliexpress always seems like a blind leap of faith. I liked that one vendor in my first link had a board photo with labelled pinouts, so at least some minimal technical info on the product.

 

[Kawboy12R]

Firmware/software would probably be more of a crapshoot with a board cam. The only advantage I can see would be if you want to hide the cam inside something you already have. The budget imx322 cams make great nature or critter cams. The colour reproduction on the ones I have is great.

 

[cam235]

Thanks Kawboy. Last night I ordered a "Watchman" Amazon.com : Watchman WM-IPC-39AR/3CS(FP)-3(WPH69) IP CAMERA 2.0 MP 1080P, 1/3" SONY IMX322 CMOS, IR-LED 5x42pcs 40M IR Distance, Metal Housing IP66 Weatherproof, 2.8-12mm Manual Zoom Lens With IR-CUT Filte, NTSC : Camera & Photo
...and it arrived today before noon (not too bad!).

I have to say, for what it is, I think I like this camera. I have definitely paid more and gotten less in the past. Photo using the stock 2.8-12mm varifocal at 12 mm, and the plate is about 37 feet away.

 

[Dodutils]

I found a few difference in the description, one time it's IMX322 next time it is IMX291, also it is written Hi3516C but on the PCB I see only a Hi3516 (V1.00)

 

[framednlv]

Looks good, let us know how it works out at night with moving object.
Can you take a snapshot of the web interface?

 

[cam235]

The MSIE web interface on this "Watchman" cam looks exactly the same as with an older 720p board cam I had from ebay a year or two ago. It also has the same odd glitch, that once you call up a menu settings screen, you can't remove it without shutting down Explorer and reopening it. Maybe because I'm on Win10? No biggie as I'll never use the web interface except for setup. Here's a few shots:

 

[framednlv]

Thanks for posting the interface, not my favorite.

 

[Kawboy12R]

Try using the software for setup and not the web interface. I have better luck.

 

[cam235]

I can't get a very good image on motion at night, even using three external IR spotlights plus the internal LEDs (which I can't turn off?) The web interface has an "auto" shutter mode ("Exposure mode: Automatic") with min and max settings labelled in milliseconds, but the min/max settings do not work. The fixed shutter speeds do work, but the slowest available shutter is 1/60 and thatalready makes the image almost completely black, unless you crank up DWDR to about 70, which then washes out details. It behaves like the gain is always set to 0... not good for night.

I tried the CMS software, and I see the live image, but I can't enter the menu for remote setup (it says "first log into device") but I don't know why I'm not logged in, and don't see a way to do it if I'm not already.

 

[Kawboy12R]

There should be a slow shutter setting to disable.

 

[cam235]

One other thing: the camera's web login page HTML source contains an iframe link to a "Brenz" site (in Poland?) which I take as a bad sign (trying to load malware?) It seems to be what this article talks about: Warning! CCTV Cameras Sold on Amazon Come with Pre-Installed Malware

I guess this has been discussed here before: Find new firmware for this IP Cam?
I did not load any firmware to the camera myself.

 

[cam235]

Note to self: with these settings, the night-time image is at least slightly better than before. I am not sure which setting was the key change.

 

[Kawboy12R]

Set DWDR to close for best night performance unless you really need it during the day and add an external illuminator.

 

[cam235]

Thanks. I only just came across a user manual for a cam with similar UI settings (I didn't know some of them, Like "Dnc Threshold" sets the light level where the Day/Night mode switch happens, and "NightNTLevel" is a noise reduction setting)
http://www.avacomtech.com/uploads/3/4/3/1/34313741/avacom_h60xx_ip_camera_user_manual_v100r001.pdf

 

[cam235]

For what it's worth, I just got another board-level camera (no case), this one:
IPC 1080P 1920 x 1080 1/2.8" CMOS Hi3516D+SONY IMX322 CCTV IP camera module board + HD IR CUT dual filter switch-in Surveillance Cameras from Security & Protection on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

I got the version including the RJ45 cable. I added my own M12 lens. It works perfectly well, but it has a different and even more limited control panel; there is no real manual control of exposure, just Contrast and Brightness sliders and that's it. At night it gives a relatively bright image, but it depends on using long exposure and huge noise reduction with frame stacking (averaging). Any object in motion simply disappears.

 

[framednlv]

Snapshot of the web interface?
Snapshot of night time with motion?

 

[cam235]

This is all the image parameter controls there are. Didn't come with an external light sensor and doesn't seem to use the internal shutter to figure out day/night, so the only option for day/night switch at the moment is the time of day control.



Night image is not entirely hopeless. I'm walking along at a good pace here without much light and you could sort of almost see a face. I'll try adjusting it some more. Lens is a M12 16mm f/2.0 fixed focus.

 

[frank10]

Have you seen my:
mini IPcam Gadinan 2MP vs Dahua 4431

It doesn't state the IMX sensor (it says generally 1/2.7 CMOS, that should be larger than IMX...) but you can see some pics at night and it seems good.
In the price there is also the zoom lens, it has IRcut.
I was digging to understand the settings that are identically to the first one you bought... now I'll read your pdf link.