Hey, this is a wonderful forum, and since I’ve recently purchased a new set of Dahua cameras, I thought I’d share my thoughts and opinions. This camera is the IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI, and it’s actually the fourth camera from Dahua that I’ve purchased for my house over the years. Prior to this, I was using models from Mobotix.
Scenario
A few details about my situation, my house has pretty good illumination in front of my house. I’ve got street lights across the road, sensor lights on the house and also installed a separate dedicated infrared light at the front of my house (not overly powerful though).
Build Quality
Just to start off with, the build quality. As I mentioned before, this is my fourth camera, so the quality is basically the same as prior Dahua cameras. This model is a Dome style, which I realise isn’t exactly the favourite style of camera around these forums - usually due to internal reflections. But in this case, there’s no IR/LED lights on this model, plus I never really activate the IR/LED lights on the cameras themselves.
The outer shell of the camera includes the clear protective dome, which is plastic - not glass. And the surrounding casing metal. Inside the shell is the usual silica gel pellets for moisture. The base component is metal as usual. The lens structure is encased in black housing which can be rotated around, and tilted as required. It’s all pretty much standard Dahua build quality and design.
Why this model?
I thought I’d write a section on this, as I’ve seen other cameras suggested over the years. Common feature to look for in security cameras is their ability to see in the dark. Some of the suggestions of other models have worked out well, but in most cases have always left me wanting a little bit more. Always been interested in models with a wide aperture, and large sensor paired - which the full colour start light models always seem to offer.
My first one was the IPC-HDBW4239R-ASE, and the clarity and ability to see at night, I thought was amazing. The resolution was good enough, not great but reasonable. Then this model came out, with higher resolutions, and similar sensor and lens specifications - I knew I needed to give this a shot. And potentially change all my cameras to the starlight full colour series.
So the full colour star light series, what makes this so special or at least interesting to me. The lens and sensor combination. The lens itself comes with a really wide aperture, of a f-stop of F1.0. When comparing to some of the other models, I see F1.6 being quite common, this is over twice the amount of light being captured by the lens. The lens paired with the 1/1.8” sensor size, is all that I could really ask for at this price point.
As I mentioned, I’ve had a few models over the years, and bought ones which are good all-round, some of the full colour starlight series, and some 4k models. When I’ve compared the other models to the full colour series, I’ve always thought that they looked a little dark, and I always wanted a little bit more.
Product details
Headline features
The unit itself
Sample images
Sample video
Whats the AI detection like?
Samples detected as "Human" - Smart motion detection set to medium.
Samples detected as "Vehicle" - Smart motion detection set to medium.
What about face detection?
Samples with the face detection feature enabled. I got these two images in the email notification.
Associated video
Other models on hand for comparison
Otherwise, I'll just add more things to the post over time.
Firmware V2.800.0000000.19.R, Build Date: 2020-07-09 from 11:11 11/10/2020
Scenario
A few details about my situation, my house has pretty good illumination in front of my house. I’ve got street lights across the road, sensor lights on the house and also installed a separate dedicated infrared light at the front of my house (not overly powerful though).
Build Quality
Just to start off with, the build quality. As I mentioned before, this is my fourth camera, so the quality is basically the same as prior Dahua cameras. This model is a Dome style, which I realise isn’t exactly the favourite style of camera around these forums - usually due to internal reflections. But in this case, there’s no IR/LED lights on this model, plus I never really activate the IR/LED lights on the cameras themselves.
The outer shell of the camera includes the clear protective dome, which is plastic - not glass. And the surrounding casing metal. Inside the shell is the usual silica gel pellets for moisture. The base component is metal as usual. The lens structure is encased in black housing which can be rotated around, and tilted as required. It’s all pretty much standard Dahua build quality and design.
Why this model?
I thought I’d write a section on this, as I’ve seen other cameras suggested over the years. Common feature to look for in security cameras is their ability to see in the dark. Some of the suggestions of other models have worked out well, but in most cases have always left me wanting a little bit more. Always been interested in models with a wide aperture, and large sensor paired - which the full colour start light models always seem to offer.
My first one was the IPC-HDBW4239R-ASE, and the clarity and ability to see at night, I thought was amazing. The resolution was good enough, not great but reasonable. Then this model came out, with higher resolutions, and similar sensor and lens specifications - I knew I needed to give this a shot. And potentially change all my cameras to the starlight full colour series.
So the full colour star light series, what makes this so special or at least interesting to me. The lens and sensor combination. The lens itself comes with a really wide aperture, of a f-stop of F1.0. When comparing to some of the other models, I see F1.6 being quite common, this is over twice the amount of light being captured by the lens. The lens paired with the 1/1.8” sensor size, is all that I could really ask for at this price point.
As I mentioned, I’ve had a few models over the years, and bought ones which are good all-round, some of the full colour starlight series, and some 4k models. When I’ve compared the other models to the full colour series, I’ve always thought that they looked a little dark, and I always wanted a little bit more.
Product details
Headline features
The unit itself
Sample images
 (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) |  Default settings (DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS) |
 Default settings (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) |  Default settings (DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS) |
 Manual exposure Shutter: 1/25 Gain: 70 (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) |  Manual exposure Shutter: 1/25 Gain: 70 (DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS) |
 Manual exposure Shutter: 1/25 Gain: 70 3D Noise: 0 (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) |  Manual exposure Shutter: 1/25 Gain: 70 3D Noise: 0 (DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS) |
 Manual exposure Shutter: 1/25 Gain: 70 3D Noise: 0 BLC enabled (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) |  Manual exposure Shutter: 1/25 Gain: 70 3D Noise: 0 BLC enabled (DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS) |
 Default settings (forced Black and White) You can see it's not benefiting from the IR illuminator on the left. (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) |  Default settings - This is benefiting from IR (DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS) |
 Manual exposure Shutter: 1/50 Gain: 40 (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) |  Manual exposure Shutter: 1/50 Gain: 40 (DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS) |
 Manual exposure Shutter: 1/50 Gain: 50 (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) |  Manual exposure Shutter: 1/50 Gain: 50 (DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS) |
 Manual exposure Shutter: 1/50 Gain: 70 (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) |  Manual exposure Shutter: 1/50 Gain: 70 (DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS) |
Sample video
Default settings Car driving off in the day time | |
Default settings Man walking by in day time (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) | Default settings Man walking by in day time (DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS) |
Default settings Car driving by in the day time | |
Default settings Car driving by in the evening (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) | Default settings Car driving by in the evening (DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS) |
Default settings Car driving by in the night (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) | Default settings Car driving by in the night (DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS) |
Default settings Couple walking by in the morning (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) | Default settings Couple walking by in the morning (DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS) |
Default settings with shutter fixed to 1/50 Night time car driving by (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) | Default settings with shutter fixed to 1/50 Night time car driving by (DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS) |
Default settings with shutter fixed to 1/50 Gain 70 Night time car driving by (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) | Default settings with shutter fixed to 1/50 Gain 70 Night time car driving by (DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS) |
Default settings with shutter fixed to 1/50 Gain 70 BLC enabled Night time car driving by (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) | Default settings with shutter fixed to 1/50 Gain 70 BLC enabled Night time car driving by (DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS) |
Default settings Man walking towards the house (IPC-HDBW5442R-ASE-NI) |
Whats the AI detection like?
Samples detected as "Human" - Smart motion detection set to medium.
Samples detected as "Vehicle" - Smart motion detection set to medium.
What about face detection?
Samples with the face detection feature enabled. I got these two images in the email notification.
Associated video
Other models on hand for comparison
- VTO2101E-P
- IPC‐HDBW2831R‐ZS
- IPC‐HDBW4239R‐ASE
- DH-IPC-HDW5442TM-AS
Otherwise, I'll just add more things to the post over time.
Firmware V2.800.0000000.19.R, Build Date: 2020-07-09 from 11:11 11/10/2020
Last edited:
