Full Video Review - Dahua SD1A203T-GN PTZ Mini Starlight

[Dasstrum]

Hey guys,

I am thinking of expanding the channel from not just Blue Iris Tutorial Videos to also product reviews such as this one. This is just a test run to see how you guys like it and if you want to see more.

Let me know what you guys think! Thanks!

This camera was purchased from Andy at @EMPIRETECANDY for about $170

As of this time the camera can be purchased here:

https://www.amazon.com/EmpireTech-S..._1?keywords=SD1A203T-GN&qid=1547914545&sr=8-1

or
US $169.09 5% OFF|Aliexpress.com : Buy SD1A203T GN 2MP 3x Starlight IR PTZ Network Camera SD1A203T GN, Free DHL shipping from Reliable network camera suppliers on Empire Technology Co., Ltd





Full Details:

SD1A203T-GN

2MP 3x Starlight IR PTZ Network Camera

> 1/2.8” 2Megapixel STARVIS™ CMOS
> Powerful 3x optical zoom
> Starlight, WDR
> Max. 25/30fps 1080P
> IVS
> Support PoE
> IR distance up to 15m
> IP66

PTZ
Pan/Tilt Range
Pan: 0° ~ 355°; Tilt: 5° ~ 90°

Manual Control Speed
Pan: 0.1° ~70° /s; Tilt: 0.1° ~30° /s

Preset Speed
Pan: 80° /s; Tilt: 40° /s

Intelligence
Auto Tracking
N/A

IVS
Tripwire, Intrusion,Abandoned/Missing, Face Detection

Video
Compression
H.265+/H.265/H.264+/H.264

Resolution
1080P(1920×1080)/720P(1280×720)/D1(704×576/704×480)/CIF(352×288/352×240)

Frame Rate
Main stream: 1080P/720P(1 ~ 25/30fps)
Sub stream1: D1/CIF(1 ~ 25/30fps)
Sub stream2: 720P/D1/CIF(1 ~ 25/30fps)

Bit Rate Control
CBR/VBR

Bit Rate
H.265/H.264: 448K ~ 8192Kbps

Day/Night
Auto(ICR) / Color / B/W

Backlight Compensation
BLC / HLC / WDR(120dB)

White Balance
Auto,ATW,Indoor,Outdoor,Manual

Audio
Compression
G.711a/G.711mu/G.726/AAC

Power Supply
DC12V 1.5A / POE (802.3af)

Power Consumption
7.8W / 10.5W (IR ON)

 

[awsum140]

Good review, but maybe add resolution and a few other specs at the beginning.

 

[Dasstrum]

Good review, but maybe add resolution and a few other specs at the beginning.

I didn't want to talk for a minute just reading the product spec sheet. I kinda find that info boring in video reviews when I can just click a link and read the spec sheet. Maybe its just me?

 

[SouthernYankee]

good review.
Need to provide recording settings, Frame rate,Iframe, bitrate, vbr,cbr, lens setting

 

[Dasstrum]

good review.
Need to provide recording settings, Frame rate,Iframe, bitrate, vbr,cbr, lens setting

Everything was default settings except when I started messing with the "Backlight" settings

 

[Dasstrum]

I have since changed setting to make Blue Iris more happy with this camera such as:

Frame Rate: 15
iframe: 15

 

[pozzello]

tough crowd... ;-) thanx for the review!

would you not be able to view the far cam under soffit if your mini-ptz were
mounted on the wall (vertically) rather than under the soffit? and would that
otherwise limit your view in some other way?

 

[actran]

@Dasstrum Nice video. When you mentioned about tilt limit (panning up), did you tweak the setting here?

 

[awsum140]

That's good with the specs under the review and the links are also a good plus. While two minutes of blather with specs is boring, just mentioning resolution and basic sensor, IE Starvis or what not, wouldn't take much time at all. We are a tough crowd in here

I have a similar house and I mount all my cameras on the soffet. While I could mount them on the wall, vinyl siding is a PITA plus the added hassle of fishing the cable. After twenty years of alarm installation followed by ten years of network installation, I always look for the easiest route for myself.

 

[Dasstrum]

@Dasstrum Nice video. When you mentioned about tilt limit (panning up), did you tweak the setting here?

View attachment 38127

I actually noticed this after the fact. I will change the setting later and see what the results are

 

[Dasstrum]

So I changed the "Max Elevation" to 5°... It definitely tilts higher up now but still isnt as much as the old camera.

 

[pcunite]

Is the SD1A203T-GN the same as the1A203TNI?

 

[weigle2]

Is the SD1A203T-GN the same as the1A203TNI?

International version. The US version you are asking about is actually pretty reasonably priced by BH Photo.

 

[aristobrat]

International version. The US version you are asking about is actually pretty reasonably priced by BH Photo.

I was surprised to see the B&H price (well, the "real price" that they only show when you login) was only $45 more than Andy's price for the international version. Usually that spread's quite a bit more!

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

Hey guys,

I am thinking of expanding the channel from not just Blue Iris Tutorial Videos to also product reviews such as this one. This is just a test run to see how you guys like it and if you want to see more.

Let me know what you guys think! Thanks!

This camera was purchased from Andy at @EMPIRETECANDY for about $170

As of this time the camera can be purchased here:
https://www.amazon.com/EmpireTech-S..._1?keywords=SD1A203T-GN&qid=1547914545&sr=8-1
or
US $169.09 5% OFF|Aliexpress.com : Buy SD1A203T GN 2MP 3x Starlight IR PTZ Network Camera SD1A203T GN, Free DHL shipping from Reliable network camera suppliers on Empire Technology Co., Ltd





Full Details:

SD1A203T-GN

2MP 3x Starlight IR PTZ Network Camera

> 1/2.8” 2Megapixel STARVIS™ CMOS
> Powerful 3x optical zoom
> Starlight, WDR
> Max. 25/30fps 1080P
> IVS
> Support PoE
> IR distance up to 15m
> IP66

PTZ
Pan/Tilt Range
Pan: 0° ~ 355°; Tilt: 5° ~ 90°

Manual Control Speed
Pan: 0.1° ~70° /s; Tilt: 0.1° ~30° /s

Preset Speed
Pan: 80° /s; Tilt: 40° /s

Intelligence
Auto Tracking
N/A

IVS
Tripwire, Intrusion,Abandoned/Missing, Face Detection

Video
Compression
H.265+/H.265/H.264+/H.264

Resolution
1080P(1920×1080)/720P(1280×720)/D1(704×576/704×480)/CIF(352×288/352×240)

Frame Rate
Main stream: 1080P/720P(1 ~ 25/30fps)
Sub stream1: D1/CIF(1 ~ 25/30fps)
Sub stream2: 720P/D1/CIF(1 ~ 25/30fps)

Bit Rate Control
CBR/VBR

Bit Rate
H.265/H.264: 448K ~ 8192Kbps

Day/Night
Auto(ICR) / Color / B/W

Backlight Compensation
BLC / HLC / WDR(120dB)

White Balance
Auto,ATW,Indoor,Outdoor,Manual

Audio
Compression
G.711a/G.711mu/G.726/AAC

Power Supply
DC12V 1.5A / POE (802.3af)

Power Consumption
7.8W / 10.5W (IR ON)

thanks to @Dasstrum great video!

 

[DLONG2]

Thanks for this review. I would aim the camera to favor more of the ground than the sky and trees, plus the eaves wouldn't be reflecting IR.

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

Thanks for this review. I would aim the camera to favor more of the ground than the sky and trees, plus the eaves wouldn't be reflecting IR.

that is fine, it can work out very well. Just this camera can't watch too far away, IR distance is limited, for the front door using or small area, it's good enough.

 

[tibimakai]

Thanks Andy for the camera, it arrived today and it's working great.
Tomorrow, I will make a few mounting modifications to this mount and it should be good to go. Need to drill a different 3/4" hole and I need to drill and tap the new mounting holes.
I'm using the template, that was provided with the camera.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HMNJG7U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Most likely, you will wonder why I went with this mount and not one of the Dahua ones, like the 203, This one is bigger in diameter, unlike the 203 that is smaller.

 

[jazzy1]

nice review!...is there a similar mini ptz with auto tracking? something like that would be ideal at a front door that locks on to a person walking towards a door and follow them right up the the door

 

[tibimakai]

Here are some pictures, with the mount that I will be using.