Nighttime 4MP vs 8MP battle, Dahua 5442 Starlight+ 3.6mm vs Hikvision 2385 Darkfighter 4mm

[Warptrooper]

Not an extensive review, cams purchased from Andy. Just some quick comparisons. All sliders to middle default, features like WDR etc all turned off.

4MP 5442 3.6mm. Shutter 1/60. Gain 0-70. Exposure comp 65. Mounted at 7 feet.





8MP 2385 4mm. Shutter 1/60. Gain 0-80. Mounted at 11 feet (right above 5442).





I need perhaps 10 more gain on 2385 to get similar looking picture at a glance. 2385 is VERY nice considering it has a bit smaller sensor (1/1.8" vs 1/2") and 2x the pixel count. Can even get that plate across the road at night, I did NOT expect that. Makes me think Hik cameras are perhaps superior. I wonder if a 2347 with it's F1.0 instead of F1.6 would outperform my 5442.

EDIT: Did some motion testing, 2385 is kind of better somehow. The 5442 is blowing up the face with too much light once my motion light goes full blast but 2385 captures a ton of detail without washing out the face.

Honestly, if you don't care about audio and you have a ton of lighting, GO 8MP DARKFIGHTER, Otherwise for low light 5442 wins.

Waiting for daytime shots tomorrow.

 

[Parley]

I agree that the amount of light that you have available will have an effect. Here is a night picture from my Dahua 8MP PTZ. You have to look carefully but in the upper left you can see a man entering his car. He has a brown jacket on. About the center of the roof line on the black Chevy pickup truck. The 8MP can give good detail like reading license plate numbers.

 

[Warptrooper]

I agree that the amount of light that you have available will have an effect. Here is a night picture from my Dahua 8MP PTZ. You have to look carefully but in the upper left you can see a man entering his car. He has a brown jacket on. About the center of the roof line on the black Chevy pickup truck. The 8MP can give good detail like reading license plate numbers.

View attachment 67995

Which PTZ is this ?

 

[ljw2k]

Which PTZ is this ?

Just a cheap one

 

[Parley]

Which PTZ is this ?

This one.

https://www.dahuasecurity.com/asset/upload/uploads/soft/20190627/SD8A820WA-HNF_Datasheet.pdf

 

[alastairstevenson]

Here is a night picture from my Dahua 8MP PTZ.

One of this impressive array ... ?

 

[Parley]

The white one in the center. It replaces the Hikvision PTZ to its right which is in the midst of coming down when this photo was taken. The ones on the right are two of my four license plate cameras.

 

[Parley]

One of this impressive array ... ?
View attachment 68006

That array of cameras has been reworked since that photo was taken. The bottom camera is gone. Now there are two cameras in the middle right with one a dedicated license plate camera. The top PTZ has been replace by a Dahua DH-SD5A425XA-HNR . A camera has been added to the left of the PTZ to cover the sidewalk etc. on the East side of the house.

 

[Warptrooper]

This one.

https://www.dahuasecurity.com/asset/upload/uploads/soft/20190627/SD8A820WA-HNF_Datasheet.pdf

Oh god how much is that monster.

 

[bigredfish]

Not an extensive review, cams purchased from Andy. Just some quick comparisons. All sliders to middle default, features like WDR etc all turned off.

4MP 5442 3.6mm. Shutter 1/60. Gain 0-70. Exposure comp 65. Mounted at 7 feet.

View attachment 67972

View attachment 67973

8MP 2385 4mm. Shutter 1/60. Gain 0-80. Mounted at 11 feet (right above 5442).

View attachment 67974

View attachment 67975

I need perhaps 10 more gain on 2385 to get similar looking picture at a glance. 2385 is VERY nice considering it has a bit smaller sensor (1/1.8" vs 1/2") and 2x the pixel count. Can even get that plate across the road at night, I did NOT expect that. Makes me think Hik cameras are perhaps superior. I wonder if a 2347 with it's F1.0 instead of F1.6 would outperform my 5442.

EDIT: Did some motion testing, 2385 is kind of better somehow. The 5442 is blowing up the face with too much light once my motion light goes full blast but 2385 captures a ton of detail without washing out the face.

Honestly, if you don't care about audio and you have a ton of lighting, GO 8MP DARKFIGHTER, Otherwise for low light 5442 wins.

Waiting for daytime shots tomorrow.m

Looks good, but a lot of noise on that 8MP shot a full resolution. Can you post your motion video comparison? Thats the true test, pretty still shots are easy with $50 cameras.

As to the light blowing out your 5442, its easily adjusted with the right Gain, Exp Comp, and shutter speed.

 

[Warptrooper]

Looks good, but a lot of noise on that 8MP shot a full resolution. Can you post your motion video comparison? Thats the true test, pretty still shots are easy with $50 cameras.

As to the light blowing out your 5442, its easily adjusted with the right Gain, Exp Comp, and shutter speed.

Yup there is more noise. I've cranked down the gain on both. Overall dark image like we were discussing before but nicer face shots with spot lights. No promises on putting up a video I'll see if I get a chance.

 

[Parley]

Oh god how much is that monster.

$1800.

 

[Warptrooper]

$1800.

So a Million Canadian.