Review: OEM IPC-B5442T-ASE-NI 4MP Pro AI Starlight Full-color Fixed Bullet

[bigredfish]

Many thanks once again to Andy @EMPIRETECANDY we have for testing the OEM IPC-B5442T-ASE-NI 4MP Starlight+ Full Color bullet.
This camera has been provided by Andy in exchange for a fair and honest review. This is a fixed 3.6mm bullet (Pro AI) series with the 1/1.8” sensor. It has no built in IR or white LED's.

Amazon Link :coming soon
AliExpress Link & Specs: US $180.0 5% OFF|2019 New Smart Model IPC B5442T ASE NI 4MP Pro AI Full color Fixed focal Bullet Network Camera , free DHL shipping|Surveillance Cameras| - AliExpress

*The IPC-B5442T-ASE-NI is an OEM model number specific to EMPIRETECANDY


Specs
1/1.8” 4Megapixel progressive scan CMOS
H.265 & H.264 triple-stream encoding
25/30 fps@2688 × 1520, 50/60 fps@1080 (1920 × 1080)
WDR (140 dB), Day/Night (Electronic), 3D DNR, AWB, AGC, BLC
Multiple network monitoring: Web viewer, CMS (DSS/PSS) & DMSS [/QUOTE]
3.6 mm fixed lens
1/1 Alarm in/out, 1/1 audio in/out
Micro SD memory, IP67

Camera
Image Sensor 1/1.8” 4Megapixel progressive scan CMOS
Effective Pixels 2688 (H) × 1520 (V)
RAM/ROM 1 GB/128 MB
Scanning System Progressive
Electronic Shutter Speed Auto/Manual, 1/3 s–1/100000 s
Minimum Illumination 0.001 Lux @F1.0
Lens
Lens Type Fixed-focal
Mount Type Board-in
Focal Length 3.6 mm
Max. Aperture F1.0
Angle of View H: 93°, V: 50°
Aperture Type Fixed
Close Focus Distance 2.0 m (6.56 ft)


Artificial Intelligence
Face Detection Support face image capture
Perimeter Protection Tripwire; intrusion (Recognition of vehicle and people); fast moving; loitering detection; parking detection and people gathering
People Counting, Support Line crossing/Region/Queueing people counting; Support 4 accesses independent detection, 4 areas independent detection
General Intelligence
Event Trigger Motion detection, Video tampering , Scene changing, Network disconnection , IP address conflict, Illegal Access, Storage anomaly
General Intelligence Object Abandoned/Missing, Heat Map
Video
Compression H.265, H.264, H.264B, H.264H,
MJPEG(sub stream)
Smart Codec Yes
Streaming Capability 3 Streams
Resolution 2688 × 1520/2560 × 1440/2304 × 1296/1080P (1920 × 1080)/1.3M (1280 × 960)/720P (1280 × 720)/D1 (704 × 576/704 × 480)/VGA (640 × 480)/CIF (352 × 288/352 × 240)
Frame Rate
Main Stream: 2688 × 1520 (1 fps–25/30 fps)
2560 × 1440 (1 fps–25/30 fps)
1920 × 1080 (1 fps–50/60 fps)
Sub Stream: D1 (1 fps–25/30 fps)
D1 (1 fps–50/60 fps)
Third Stream: 1080P (1 fps–16 fps)

Bit Rate Control CBR/VBR
Bit Rate H.264: 32 Kbps–8192 Kbps
H.265: 19 Kbps–8192 Kbps
Day/Night Day/Night: Electronic - Color/B/W
BLC Mode BLC/HLC/WDR (140 dB)
White Balance Auto/Natural/Street Lamp/Outdoor/Manual
Gain Control Auto/Manual
Noise Reduction 3D DNR
Motion Detection Off/On (4 Zone, Rectangle)
Region of Interest Off/On (4 Zone)
Defog Yes
Flip 0°/90°/180°/270°
Mirror Off/On
Privacy Masking Off/On (4 Area, Rectangle)

===================================================================================

Review
This is the "Full Color" model of the 5442 bullet. It has NO IR emitters or White light LED's.
For this review I'll focus on the nighttime image as daytime image is virtually identical to all of the 4MP 1/1.8" sensor cameras - excellent!
I'll also do some comparison to the 5442-ASE bullet that uses the same sensor but with built-in IR.

*Note that in most of my tests I allow the motion activated flood lights to come on a this is how I run them normally. For this test, Ive turned the motion floods off because, well, this camera simply doesn't need them!

Some initial impressions

• Though specs say a max bitrate of 8192Kbps, I found it will run much higher and my tests were all done at Customized 10,240Kbps and 30FPS
• The default settings tend to be very bright and over-sharp and noisy. I'm still testing, but find reducing sharpness to 40 is a good place to start
• Exposure compensation is very helpful on this camera as again default settings at "Auto" tend to be over-exposed. The interaction between GAIN and EXPOSURE COMP is key to getting the right balance of brightness and noise level.
• The camera has no "Auto" color setting. You must choose between full time Color or full time B&W
• This model is currently offered in 3.6mm lens ONLY

Out of the box on default AUTO settings the light pickup is pretty intense.
*Note: there is no floodlight on.



And in Black and White
(remember this camera has NO IR emitters and does not pick up IR light)



AUTO Exposure, Exp Compensation 45, DNR50, Sharpness 50 (which is too much IMHO)
*Set Youtube player to 1440



Exposure set to 1/60, Gain 45, Exp Comp 45, DNR 50
*Set Youtube player to 1440



Exposure 1/120, Gain 45, Exp Comp 45, DNR 50
*Set Youtube player to 1440



B&W Exposure AUTO, Exp Comp 25, DNR 50
*Set Youtube player to 1440




And here's a quick look of the comparison between this Full color model and the 5442-ASE.
Both running 1/120 Exposure but the standard ASE requires much more Gain to even approach the light that the ASE-NI collects at just Gain 50

5442-ASE Gain 75


Full color 5442-ASE-NI Gain 50



MUCH more to come later this evening........

 

[bigredfish]

One thing I think worth mentioning is that you don't HAVE to have nighttime color in all locations. In many scenes, there simply isnt enough light to make nighttime color practical. With this camera and its ability to pick up light in B&W mode quite well, without using IR, Its a great alternative.

Also as pointed out, there is some slight DNR blur/trail on a couple of the sample clips. This was due to DNR being set to 50 as I worked on reducing the inherent noise in the bright sensor. Note this mostly applies to Color as the B&W video seems to tolerate DNR a bit better.

Here are 3 clips at different settings with DNR at 35 and little to no blur
*** Remember to change the Youtube player to 1440

B&W (No IR)
Exposure Auto, Exposure Comp 50, DNR 50


Color
Exposure 1/120, Gain 50, Exp Comp 50, DNR 35


Color
Exposure 1/120, Gain 45, Exp Comp 45, DNR 35

 

[bigredfish]

Reserved for AI testing

 

[samplenhold]

When you walk, there is a blurry trail behind you. Any idea what that is? It clears up in a second or two.

 

[bigredfish]

DNR blur. Still tweaking to tone down the noise and reduce DNR. It was set at 50 for most of these, like to have it about 30-35.
It's present but slight on the Auto and 1/60 clips, very hard to see on the 1/120 clip, and non existent on the B&W clip.

When I cross behind the FJ, I'm in pitch black for 15 ft or so and if you look closely you'll see some there. Not much to do about that except move the truck.

See updated clips in Post #2 above

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

Great review, thanks @bigredfish !

 

[aristobrat]

Looks like that bigger f1.0 aperture really helps out!

 

[juliand]

Great review..BRF
This cam is very similar to mine (N45EF63) , and in the day time it gathers tons of light that I have to back down on also.

 

[bigredfish]

Yes, it is a light monster. I do find there is more noise than the standard 5442 and finding the right balance is tricky. I'm still working with it.

 

[juliand]

bigredfish, what version of firmware is installed to your cam?
I have version 2.800.0000000.16.R, Build Date: 2020-05-29
@EMPIRETECANDY - is this the latest build?
and will firmware for the asa-ni work with my N45EF63?
Dahua's site has another firmware listed, (DH IPC-HX5XXX-Volt Eng N Stream3 V2.800.12JW000.0.R.200717.bin. ) but it can not be downloaded, or any other firmware, for that matter, I can't tell if it is newer or older>

 

[bigredfish]

Yours is newer.
V2.800.0000000.10.R, Build Date: 2019-11-18

 

[djernie]

Really good video, i like color even though the black and white has a great picture. I like being able to describe what some one is wearing as far as the color, for the police.

 

[TheGooginator]

@bigredfish or @EMPIRETECANDY can you help me determine the official Dahua model number I am having a hard time locating this specific camera in IPVM so I can see how it will look as my driveway overview cam.

 

[aristobrat]

Try IPC-HFW5442T-ASE-NI. If it's not there, click the button at the bottom of the IPVM calculator to request they add it.

IPC-HFW5442T-ASE-NI

IPC-HFW5442T-ASE-NI

www.dahuasecurity.com

 

[TheGooginator]

Try IPC-HFW5442T-ASE-NI. If it's not there, click the button at the bottom of the IPVM calculator to request they add it.

IPC-HFW5442T-ASE-NI

IPC-HFW5442T-ASE-NI

www.dahuasecurity.com

I couldn't find it so I have requested they get it added. Thank you.

 

[Dave Lonsdale]

Hello bigredfish

Thanks for this post. I was just at the point of ordering two of these from Andy (one bullet and one dome) but hadn’t realised that it would appear “full colour” cameras have a permanent IR block. I live in the country without street lighting and at the moment use lots of discrete IR illuminators for my existing cameras.

I am, nevertheless, still interested in this camera and ask if you would please do another test for me to help me find out how big a (modest) white lamp I would need for my application. Your comparison against the 5422 ASE uses gain. But I’m sure the range in gain will vary from camera to camera. Using the difference in shutter time to get the equivalent brightness image instead would I think be more definitive and specifically something that I could then trial at home using my existing cameras. (Does your 5422 ASE also have a 3.6 mm lens?).

Doing a shutter time comparison for the same brightness in colour in addition to black and white would also be very helpful. By the way, I imagine bp2008’s dahua sunrise/sunset would do a good job of changing over from colour to black and white, you having pointed out that this feature is absent from the 5422 ASE-NI

Incidentally, a very clever person may perhaps be able to calculate the shutter time difference for 0.001 lux@F1.0 vs 0.002 lux@F1.6 to get the same brightness image - all other parameters being identical... Any takers?

 

[bigredfish]

I can do that tonight if you're interested... and if we dont get yet another monsoon rain...

 

[Dave Lonsdale]

Yes please bigredfish!

 

[bigredfish]

Comparison of image with changes to shutter speed

• OEM IPC-B5442T-ASE-NI 4MP Pro AI Full-color Fixed-focal Bullet (3.6mm)
• OEM-IPC-HFW5442T-ASE 4MP Starlight+ Fixed focal Bullet (3.6mm)

*All images were with default settings, except the 5442 NI with sharpness to 40 as its very noisy otherwise. Gain 50, DNR 45 on both
**IR is turned off on the 5442 ASE insure a valid comparison
*** Cameras mounted 1” apart

<<<<<< Standard ASE on Left, __ ASE-NI Full Color on Right >>>>>>>

In descending order
AUTO, 1/30, 1/60, 1/120, 1/250











B&W NO IR
Auto, 1/30, 1/60, 1/120, 1/250

 

[Dave Lonsdale]

What an excellent test bigredfish, very many thanks. I see that the ASE-NI is brighter than the ASE even with half the shutter time. There are a couple of things though that I can’t get my head round just yet:-
Firstly, in black and white, some objects in the background appear to be brighter with the ASE than the ASE-NI.
Secondly I would have expected that for the same shutter setting, the black and white images would be far brighter than the colour images.
What am I missing here? Perhaps the problem is that it’s way after midnight here in the UK and I need a fresh look tomorrow.
Thanks again for now.