Review- EmpireTech IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3 4mp Varifocal Turret

[looney2ns]

Courtesy of @EMPIRETECANDY we have this camera to check out.

Camera is available HERE or HERE.

• 4-MP 1/1.8" CMOS image sensor, low luminance, and high definition image.
• Outputs max. 4MP (2688×1520) @25/30 fps.
• Built-in IR LED, and the max. illumination distance is 40 m.
• ROI, SVC, SMART H.264+/H.265+, AI H.264/H.265, encoding after filter, flexible coding, applicable to various bandwidth and storage environments.
• Rotation mode, WDR, 3D NR, HLC, BLC, digital watermarking, applicable to various monitoring scenes.
• With deep learning algorithm, it supports: video metadata, IVS, face detection, smart object detection, and people counting, etc.
• Supports max. 512 GB Micro SD card, built-in MIC.
• 12 VDC/PoE power supply; ePoE.
• IP67 protection.
• SMD 3.0.

This camera is a very nice improvement on previous 5442 series cams. The Audio is also bumped up nicely over other older 5442's.
I will not go into details here, as others have already did so.
Works fine with Blue Iris.

When I get the chance, I will mount this on my mailbox and see how LPR works out.

Day Settings:
Brightness 42
Contrast 50
Saturation 50
Sharpness 28
Gama 50
CBR 10240
Shutter 0-4ms
Gain 0-30
Exposure comp 50

Night Settings:
Shutter 0-8ms
Gain 0-50
Exposure comp 50

Be sure to select 1440p for video playback.
Night Video


Day Video


Day video zoomed in fully. 50' from cam to end of drive.

 

[looney2ns]

Reserved

 

[Parley]

I just ordered one from Andy a couple of days ago. The timing of your post is perfect for me. Mine will be going in the backyard.

 

[herpderpdederp]

I recently installed 6+ of these cameras and found the IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3 4mp Varifocal Turret to be excellent. As others have mentioned before, the 'S3' is also surprisingly capable as a license plate reader camera.

The Bullet style camera is also an impressive performer and all of these are great improvements over the already good 5442.

 

[bigredfish]

The 5442 series have all been updated to S3

 

[Parley]

What I need is a PTZ with the S3 chipset. So far these have all been great performers.

 

[wittaj]

The other review that compared this one with the previous version. Between this and the Z4E, they are incredible cameras.

Mini-Review - 5442-ZE-S3 AKA T54IR-ZE-S3 - Replacement to 5442-ZE

As many of us are aware, Dahua decided to keep the same model numbers of some of their most popular models like the 5442-Z12E and the 5442 series cameras, but they have been updated with a newer GUI and specs that on paper show better than the previous version as was discussed in this thread...

ipcamtalk.com

 

[alekk]

I have a couple of these ... very nice camera's!

Looking forward to your review @looney2ns as you do excellent work so will probably point out some stuff I have missed.

 

[CCTVCam]

Whats the full colour performance like at night? Do you have a 4kt to compare it to?

The one thing I really like about these cameras is the depth of field.

The 4Kt appears as if it lowers the bit rate away from the focal point. It looks to me almost as if it's like the trick now used by some gaming graphics cards where the peripheral vision isn't rendered as well to say processing power.It's good to see these cameras don't exhhibit that behaviour of artefact filled periphery.

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

Thanks Looney's great job, always simple showing how the camera is working. This is camera is the best for low light with motorized lens, IR tech. Looney's place is the best place to test out the low light.
By the way, looney bought a new car, haha.

 

[tmxv4128]

Nice work Looney. What is the distance from the mounted camera to the street?

 

[alekk]

Probably worthwhile @looney2ns to mention what Firmware you are running - I assume the latest (11/27/2023) from Andy's download page?

Per this post from another thread, here what I had AS-SHIPPED (late/2023) ... and BOLDING shows the changes after the upgrade:
Device: IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3 SAME
SN: 9F0EA64P####### SAME
ONVIF: 22.06 (V3.1.0.1349397) 22.13 (V3.1.0.1403710)
System Version: 3.100.0000000.5.R Build Date:2023-05-09 3.100.15OG000.0.R Build Date:2023-11-27
Web Version: V5.01.0.1431017 V5.01.0.15332205
Algorithm Version: V3.5.6.0 V3.5.26.0
Security Baseline Version: V2.3 SAME

 

[looney2ns]

Nice work Looney. What is the distance from the mounted camera to the street?

50' to end of the driveway, as stated in OP.

Thanks Looney's great job, always simple showing how the camera is working. This is camera is the best for low light with motorized lens, IR tech. Looney's place is the best place to test out the low light.
By the way, looney bought a new car, haha.

That "new car" I've had it for 19 yrs.

 

[looney2ns]

Probably worthwhile @looney2ns to mention what Firmware you are running - I assume the latest (11/27/2023) from Andy's download page?

Per this post from another thread, here what I had AS-SHIPPED (late/2023) ... and BOLDING shows the changes after the upgrade:
Device: IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3 SAME
SN: 9F0EA64P####### SAME
ONVIF: 22.06 (V3.1.0.1349397) 22.13 (V3.1.0.1403710)
System Version: 3.100.0000000.5.R Build Date:2023-05-09 3.100.15OG000.0.R Build Date:2023-11-27
Web Version: V5.01.0.1431017 V5.01.0.15332205
Algorithm Version: V3.5.6.0 V3.5.26.0
Security Baseline Version: V2.3 SAME

11/27/2023 version.

 

[bigredfish]

50' to end of the driveway, as stated in OP.

That "new car" I've had it for 19 yrs.

It’s just getting broke in then

 

[hunternm]

hi, thanks for the review. Do you have a link for a bullet version of this or similar camera that can be used for license plate identification? I am planning to upgrade a bullet camera and already have the 4 screws junction box installed so would prefer another bullet camera.

 

[hunternm]

forgot to mention the distance is about 50 feet.

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

forgot to mention the distance is about 50 feet.

Mini-Review - 5442-Z4E-S3 AKA B54IR-Z4E S3 - Replacement to the 5442-Z4E | IP Cam Talk
LPR camera for 50ft the best one is this one. LPR camera need powerful lens, 2.7-12mm is bit limited

 

[bigredfish]

^^^^^
Agree. This

 

[hunternm]

awesome. thanks

Mini-Review - 5442-Z4E-S3 AKA B54IR-Z4E S3 - Replacement to the 5442-Z4E | IP Cam Talk
LPR camera for 50ft the best one is this one. LPR camera need powerful lens, 2.7-12mm is bit limited

Awesome. thanks. BTW, is this the correct link to purchase ?

https://www.amazon.com/Loryta-IPC-B...5861241&s=merchant-items&sr=1-17&tag=ipctk-20

Do IPCAMTALK member still get discount? and how?