Mini-Review - 5442-Z4E-S3 AKA B54IR-Z4E S3 - Replacement to the 5442-Z4E

[Parley]

Here is the post comparing the color camera with the IR camera at night. I am using this pickup truck with the old plate because of the lack of reflection with the old plate. In reality I need a lot more cars to pass by the all color camera to make a final judgement as I have not really fined tuned it. I am not sure it will make a difference. Here are the 4 photos with commentary.

Rear plate view with the color camera.



Front plate view with the color camera.



Front plate from my LP4 camera which has the IR on and in black and white.



Rear view with my LP4 camera with the IR on and in black and white.

 

[Parley]

did you try WDR (yes WDR) with values below 40? In low value mode WDR on Dahua cams one video frame is taken from one (not two or three) exposures.

It simply works by using more advanced gamma mappings/manipulations compared to colour or HLC mode.

It can help with your problems with different plates and low contrast. WDR increase local contrast a lot.

Yes, I did have it on and set below 20. I need to take a look and see if it is still on and where I last left it. That would be part of my fine tuning phase. I just checked and it is currently set at 5. I just need to see a lot of cars go by so that I can see the results of my tuning. This could take a few days.

 

[Parley]

So jealous - I need more light!

...and the camera as close to the light source as possible.

 

[steve1225]

Yes, I did have it on and set below 20. I need to take a look and see if it is still on and where I last left it. That would be part of my fine tuning phase. I just checked and it is currently set at 5. I just need to see a lot of cars go by so that I can see the results of my tuning. This could take a few days.

check different values for WDR (like 5/20/40). Plus gamma and contrast settings.

WDR should give much better results comparing to HLC.

WDR divides image into sections with different brightness and use different gamma mappings for each section.

HLC is using only one global mappings

 

[Parley]

Here is an update from last night. The main adjustments were raising the WDR to 20 and raising the shutter speed to 1/600. The HDR is still at 99. I would say there is less noise in the picture by raising the WDR. The ability to read a plate at a further distance is now possible. Here are just a couple of pictures from last night.

Front plate a little further away from the camera.



In this picture we get two rear plates in one photo.



One last photo showing a Racoon crossing the street. They are around but I do not see them very often. Skunks are out every night.

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

@Parley becomes a LPR specialist now, thanks a lot for the sharing!

 

[David L]

@Parley becomes a LPR specialist now, thanks a lot for the sharing!

He definitely has the traffic...

 

[wittaj]

And the light most of us don't have!

 

[dubber]

When are we having another big sales?
If not in the near future, maybe a small group buy where Andy can give us same discount as big sale ? lol

 

[Parley]

Andy's B54IR-Z4E S3 is enough of an improvement over the standard 5442Z-Z4E that I will order another one next month to replace the general surveillance camera I have at the 7F position.

 

[dubber]

Andy's B54IR-Z4E S3 is enough of an improvement over the standard 5442Z-Z4E that I will order another one next month to replace the general surveillance camera I have at the 7F position.

Dam!! How many cams do you have now? lol

Can you donate one

 

[Parley]

Dam!! How many cams do you have now? lol

Can you donate one

Still the same number. I am just upgrading them when a better model comes out.

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

@dubber watched @Parley and @wittaj great review here he bought 2 of this cam, hopefully he will post some of his experience here.

 

[dubber]

@dubber watched @Parley and @wittaj great review here he bought 2 of this cam, hopefully he will post some of his experience here.

Guilty as charge!!

This is the first camera that I bought from Andy that really really impress me.

I had 4KT, 5442 S3 Turret and have Mini PTZ. All has little "quirks"

Example: 4KT was my first camera that I got from Andy. Didn't know didly squat about close focus distance or other nuances that came with the camera.

Like every newbie, I was focus on color at night and MPS and didn't do much research.

Short story, 4KT is amazing but due to close focus distance and for my particular scene some areas were blurry.

I had to "live" with this "quirk".

This camera is truly as close to "plug and play".

I just have to change the regular common settings like fps/iframe etc and it was ready to go.

No "quirks". Don't need to find that "sweet spot" etc.

It just works and picture quality is amazing!!!

I wish I took a screenshot of this Z4E S3 Bullet vs ZE S3 Turret to show the difference in performance.

I was running both at 1/250 shutter speed and Z4E was more "brighter" then the ZE.

I would highly recommend this camera to all the newbies in terms of picture quality.

 

[wittaj]

Guilty as charge!!

This is the first camera that I bought from Andy that really really impress me.

I had 4KT, 5442 S3 Turret and have Mini PTZ. All has little "quirks"

Example: 4KT was my first camera that I got from Andy. Didn't know didly squat about close focus distance or other nuances that came with the camera.

Like every newbie, I was focus on color at night and MPS and didn't do much research.

Short story, 4KT is amazing but due to close focus distance and for my particular scene some areas were blurry.

I had to "live" with this "quirk".

This camera is truly as close to "plug and play".

I just have to change the regular common settings like fps/iframe etc and it was ready to go.

No "quirks". Don't need to find that "sweet spot" etc.

It just works and picture quality is amazing!!!

I wish I took a screenshot of this Z4E S3 Bullet vs ZE S3 Turret to show the difference in performance.

I was running both at 1/250 shutter speed and Z4E was more "brighter" then the ZE.

I would highly recommend this camera to all the newbies in terms of picture quality.

I find the Z4E to be my new favorite camera. The quality of the image from wide to zoomed in is outstanding.

And the ability to run faster shutters than the previous models is incredible.

The full color cameras have their place, but this camera is a strong contender.

 

[steve1225]

I wish I took a screenshot of this Z4E S3 Bullet vs ZE S3 Turret to show the difference in performance.
I was running both at 1/250 shutter speed and Z4E was more "brighter" then the ZE.

Z4E have constant more open aperture F1.6 - in wide and zoomed settings...
ZE have aperture which starts at F1.8 in wide settings and it is closing much more in zoomed settings...

So ZE will be always more dark in comparison to Z4E.. Especially with zoomed image..

There is 5442H-ZE-S3 bullet model, which are in chassis and optics from Ultra line (7442). This model have very open aperture which starts at F1.2 in wide settings... And this is most bright model in 5442 line...

But this is not available as turret (only bullet and dome).. And Andy don't sell this model in shop..

 

[bigredfish]

^^^^
I have 2 of them (5442H-ZE-S3 bullet model)

 

[alekk]

Z4E have constant more open aperture F1.6 - in wide and zoomed settings...
ZE have aperture which starts at F1.8 in wide settings and it is closing much more in zoomed settings...

So ZE will be always more dark in comparison to Z4E.. Especially with zoomed image..

There is 5442H-ZE-S3 bullet model, which are in chassis and optics from Ultra line (7442). This model have very open aperture which starts at F1.2 in wide settings... And this is most bright model in 5442 line...

But this is not available as turret (only bullet and dome).. And Andy don't sell this model in shop..

Great info - is the aperture variation with zoom setting documented anywhere?

 

[Parley]

Just placed an order for one more of these cameras. It will replace a standard 5442E-Z4E. This one will be doing standard surveillance versus a license plate camera.

 

[bigredfish]

Great info - is the aperture variation with zoom setting documented anywhere?

I've not seen any range documented. It is for most PTZ's as the optical zoom is so much greater its quickly obvious to the naked eye.
But with 2.8-12mm and even 8-32mm on these varifocals I'm quite sure the FStop changes, but likely relatively small change