Upgrading IPC-HDW5231R-ZE to 4K

[HomeAuto87]

After seeing the 2020 Dahua Lineup, I'm interested in upgrading a few of my IPC-HDW5231R-ZE cameras to 4K. I understand that the 2020 lineup doesn't include varifocal 4k/30fps cameras.

Is there any way based on my current cameras that I can see which focal length is being used? For example, is there a way to extract it from the settings page?

 

[looney2ns]

Tools

A collection of free tools to assist in IP Camera installation. Open Port Checker, IP Tracer, Calculators & more.

ipcamtalk.com

 

[HomeAuto87]

With that calculator it asks "Maximum possible zoom setpoint of varifocal camera. Ex: Value you see when camera is zoomed all the way in. "

Is there a way to read what the zoom set point value is from the camera settings?

 

[catcamstar]

If your camera has cgi-bin activated, you can ask the camera to tell its zoom level:
http://<ip>/cgi-bin/configManager.cgi?action=getConfig&name=VideoInZoom
Response:
table.VideoInZoom[0][0].DigitalZoom=true
table.VideoInZoom[0][0].Speed=7
table.VideoInZoom[0][0].ZoomLimit=4
table.VideoInZoom[0][1].DigitalZoom=true
table.VideoInZoom[0][1].Speed=0
table.VideoInZoom[0][1].ZoomLimit=4
table.VideoInZoom[0][2].DigitalZoom=false
table.VideoInZoom[0][2].Speed=7
table.VideoInZoom[0][2].ZoomLimit=4

Source: Dahua API guide

However, my gutt feeling tells me it will state the same "20" as above in the UI.

Hope this helps!
CC

 

[aristobrat]

If you hover the mouse over the pointer, a little pop-up should appear to show you the current setting. Jot that down, then you can move the pointer to the sides to get the minimum/max settings, then repoint back to the current setting.

It's unusual to see someone jump from a great low-light camera (like the 5231) to a 4K camera. Even in 2020, the 4K cameras don't perform nearly as well in low-light as the 5231s from back in 2016 do.

If you haven't seen the 5442 models, they're 4MP and have an even better minimum lux rating than the 5231s do. It's the first time I've seen a camera model with more than 2MP outperform the 5231 in low light (while staying in the price range of the 5231). There is a new varifocal turret 5442 model.

Dahua IPC-HDW5442T-ZE 4MP Varifocal Turret - Night Perfomance testing

All @EMPIRETECANDY kindly provided 1 of these units for testing and I specifically wanted to focus on 1 area, night captures and IR as I know a number of people have been interested in understanding how this compares to the fixed lens variants in this respect and have been wanting a 4MP vari to...

ipcamtalk.com

 

[samplenhold]

I just replaced one of my IPC-HDW5231R-ZE that I got in 2018, and has served me well, with a IPC-T5442TM-AS in 6mm. It is a big improvement. I got the 5442 before the varifocal version came out. Now I am thinking of getting the varifocal to replace on of the other 5231's since it is set at about 8mm.

 

[CCTVCam]

Can't you just call up your invoice on the website you bought them from and see from that? Alternatively won't the cameras have an info plate which will include the focal length? 3rd option is simply buy the new varifcoal turret on test in this section. It's the same as the best 4K camera currently but has a multifocal lens allowing you to site it and then adjust the focal length to match your location. Beauty of this is if you ever choose to either move house or move cameras around to new locations in your current house, you can simply adjust the focal length and thus view once more instead of having to compromise the view or buy new cameras.

 

[IAmATeaf]

If you do go for the fixed lens 5442 don’t forget that they have a wider FOV that the 5231-ze.

There was a thread here where somebody showed a 5231-ze zoomed all the way out against a 2.8mm 5442 and even though the 5231-ze claims 2.7, the 2.8 of the 5442 still had a wider FOV.