Where can you find Starlight+ Cameras? Plus other questions

Geomancer

Geomancer

Young grasshopper
Jul 15, 2019
40
21
USA
Hello,

I've been looking at cameras for awhile and saw that Dahua has new Starlight+ cameras for 4MP. I see a lot of talk, and can find to buy, several of the 2MP models but can't find much of anything on the 4MP. I've also seen some 4K discussions with Starlight, but can't find anything on Dahua's website to show they even make 4K Starlights. B&H Photo I saw recently just got one of the 4MP (the varifocal dome style) but none of the others. I hear that domes are bad for use outside though?

Does Dahua just not sell much directly and I need to look at rebrands? If so, which manufacturer's should I be looking at?

For a somewhat unrelated question, with Blue Iris for H.265+ support and Quick Sync what Intel processor generation do you need? Seems like Skylake for HEVC or Kaby Lake for 10-bit HEVC, but I don't know how many bits IP cameras use. Those are still pretty pricey processors (for an i7) since they're still relatively new but sometimes you can get lucky on a used machine on eBay. I tried sending an email to Blue Iris sales email, but they never responded.

Thanks for any help!
 
Last edited:
Geomancer said:
Hello,

I've been looking at cameras for awhile and saw that Dahua has new Starlight+ cameras for 4MP. I see a lot of talk, and can find to buy, several of the 2MP models but can't find much of anything on the 4MP. I've also seen some 4K discussions with Starlight, but can't find anything on Dahua's website to show they even make 4K Starlights. B&H Photo I saw recently just got one of the 4MP (the varifocal dome style) but none of the others. I hear that domes are bad for use outside though?

Does Dahua just not sell much directly and I need to look at rebrands? If so, which manufacturer's should I be looking at?

For a somewhat unrelated question, with Blue Iris for H.265+ support and Quick Sync what Intel processor generation do you need? Seems like Skylake for HVEC or Kaby Lake for 10-bit HVEC, but I don't know how many bits IP cameras use. Those are still pretty pricey processors (for an i7) since they're still relatively new but sometimes you can get lucky on a used machine on eBay. I tried sending an email to Blue Iris sales email, but they never responded.

Thanks for any help!
Click to expand...

@EMPIRETECANDY should have what you need.

Some popular models people reviewed here:
Dahua Cameras - Quick Reference Guide (Cam Specs & Reviews)

It doesn't seem h.265 works with quick sync & blue iris- this is basic setup of quick sync and maybe you can get it to work but I have yet to see it:
Getting Intel Quick Sync to work with Blue Iris (Settings & Troubleshooting)
 
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TL1096r said:
@EMPIRETECANDY should have what you need.

Some popular models people reviewed here:
Dahua Cameras - Quick Reference Guide (Cam Specs & Reviews)

It doesn't seem h.265 works with quick sync & blue iris- this is basic setup of quick sync and maybe you can get it to work but I have yet to see it:
Getting Intel Quick Sync to work with Blue Iris (Settings & Troubleshooting)
Click to expand...

I didn't see any of the Starlight+ cameras in that thread. Are they just literally brand new and I just happened to start looking when they were/not quite yet released?

As for Blue Iris, that's disappointing. I thought they advertise H.265 support? Or is that only with Nvidia? I have a GTX 1060 that supports HEVC but I'm using it in my real machine :) Would be an expensive addon, especially when considering operating costs due to the power usage.
 
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Geomancer said:
I didn't see any of the Starlight+ cameras in that thread. Are they just literally brand new and I just happened to start looking when they were/not quite yet released?

As for Blue Iris, that's disappointing. I thought they advertise H.265 support? Or is that only with Nvidia? I have a GTX 1060 that supports HEVC but I'm using it in my real machine :) Would be an expensive addon, especially when considering operating costs due to the power usage.
Click to expand...

Sorry I have not seen Starlight+ hit this site yet unless I missed it.
I am not 100% sure on h.265

ok great - there is a review:
Review IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED (Full Color, Starlight+)
 
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bigredfish said:
Starlight+ is fairly new, but there are a number of discussions about them here. Search box top right - Starlight+

Many of the 4MP and Full color cameras in the Eco-savvy 4.0 AI series have the Starlight+ designation.
Click to expand...

I will try searching for that again, thanks.

I followed that link, but none of the cameras listed on that page are Starlight. The sensor sizes were also 1/2.8" instead of 1/1.8". Aren't bigger sensors better?
 
Geomancer said:
Hello,

I've been looking at cameras for awhile and saw that Dahua has new Starlight+ cameras for 4MP. I see a lot of talk, and can find to buy, several of the 2MP models but can't find much of anything on the 4MP...
Click to expand...

Welcome @Geomancer

Check out the various reviews by members here, you can use the search function on the site to find reviews and starlight+, also you can look for models which have x4xxx in them - the 4 = 4MP.

Currently Andy is probably the best possible source for Dahua OEM starlight+ models.
 
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Geomancer said:
Does Dahua just not sell much directly and I need to look at rebrands?
Click to expand...
For whatever reason, Dahua North America doesn't make many of the available Dahua International models available for sale here... and when they do, they completely change the model number, which makes trying to find information about it here almost impossible since most folks here use the Dahua International model numbers.

Like others have mentioned, Andy (@EMPIRETECANDY) is a very trusted and liked vendor that's been working with the forum here since the first Starlights came out in 2016. He can get just about any International model. And more importantly (to me, anyway), he spends a good amount of his time providing support on the forum, working directly with Dahua support when needed, making sure the latest firmware updates are posted, keeping everyone in the loop with Dahua info, and also providing units for forum members to use for review. Andy got forum members all three of the Starlight+ models reviewed so far:

Review-OEM 4mp AI Cam IPC-T5442TM-AS Starlight+

Review - OEM IPC-B5442E-ZE 4MP AI Varifocal Bullet Camera With Starlight+

Review IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED (Full Color, Starlight+)

IMO, it's still "early days" for the Starlight+ models. I think that series not having a varifocal turret model is something that's slowing down some folks that would otherwise jumped on upgrading some of their 5231/2231 2MP 1/2.8" Starlight models...
 
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aristobrat said:
For whatever reason, Dahua North America doesn't make many of the available Dahua International models available for sale here... and when they do, they completely change the model number, which makes trying to find information about it here almost impossible since most folks here use the Dahua International model numbers.

Like others have mentioned, Andy (@EMPIRETECANDY) is a very trusted and liked vendor that's been working with the forum here since the first Starlights came out in 2016. He can get just about any International model. And more importantly (to me, anyway), he spends a good amount of his time providing support on the forum, working directly with Dahua support when needed, making sure the latest firmware updates are posted, keeping everyone in the loop with Dahua info, and also providing units for forum members to use for review. Andy got forum members all three of the Starlight+ models reviewed so far:

Review-OEM 4mp AI Cam IPC-T5442TM-AS Starlight+

Review - OEM IPC-B5442E-ZE 4MP AI Varifocal Bullet Camera With Starlight+

Review IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED (Full Color, Starlight+)

IMO, it's still "early days" for the Starlight+ models. I think that series not having a varifocal turret model is something that's slowing down some folks that would otherwise jumped on upgrading some of their 5231/2231 2MP 1/2.8" Starlight models...
Click to expand...


Are these on dahua site at all?

I see this one only:
IPC-HDW5442TM-AS-LED
 
I see at least 16
 
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bigredfish said:
See the tabs on that page? See the ones that say "Full Color" and "4MP"?
Click to expand...

I had missed the tabs, thanks for pointing that out.

aristobrat said:
For whatever reason, Dahua North America doesn't make many of the available Dahua International models available for sale here... and when they do, they completely change the model number, which makes trying to find information about it here almost impossible since most folks here use the Dahua International model numbers.

Like others have mentioned, Andy (@EMPIRETECANDY) is a very trusted and liked vendor that's been working with the forum here since the first Starlights came out in 2016. He can get just about any International model. And more importantly (to me, anyway), he spends a good amount of his time providing support on the forum, working directly with Dahua support when needed, making sure the latest firmware updates are posted, keeping everyone in the loop with Dahua info, and also providing units for forum members to use for review. Andy got forum members all three of the Starlight+ models reviewed so far:

Review-OEM 4mp AI Cam IPC-T5442TM-AS Starlight+

Review - OEM IPC-B5442E-ZE 4MP AI Varifocal Bullet Camera With Starlight+

Review IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED (Full Color, Starlight+)

IMO, it's still "early days" for the Starlight+ models. I think that series not having a varifocal turret model is something that's slowing down some folks that would otherwise jumped on upgrading some of their 5231/2231 2MP 1/2.8" Starlight models...
Click to expand...

That does make it confusing and would explain why I wasn't finding anything at all on google, except for Dahua's own website.

Thanks for the reviews, the information helps. I have lots to digest now as I research into what to get.

I appreciate the information and help from everyone.
 
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Speaking of... Does anyone know what sensor is being used in these Starlight+ models? I wish everyone was just open about sensor specs so it's easier to compare, but I get it, trade secrets and all lol
 
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