Which app for a single dahua?

awsum140 said:
Keep in mind that a varifocal is not a zoom. A varifocal is designed to be set to the focal length needed at installation and left that way. It is not designed for regular, constant, zoom operations.
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ok i'm finding some varifocals are zoom? i.e. you can zoom in optically via an app. is there a way to tell which cams are what or is that misinformation? I have my eye on the 5231E-Z12 which is a 5.3-64mm motorized zoom which i can control from the app correct?

also confused at the Z5, Z5E cameras, one is poe, and one is epoe? epoe is cheaper, i still dont understand the difference other than the epoe means you can run a longer cat5e cable? that would mean a different voltage switch or epoe nvr correct? what else am i missing?
 
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Read the data sheet for each camera to determine whether or not it is a varifocal or a zoom. I can zoom my 5231 and 2231 from the UI3 console, but don't do it simply because they are varifocal and not designed to be used as a zoom. The mechanism will, likely, wear out prematurely if used as a zoom but that's only a guess. I'm sure many people use them as zooms. You can also zoom the UI3 interface video digitally. There is a "loss" of resolution doing it that way though.

The "E" series" cameras do offer extended cable length, up to 800 feet I believe, but do not require anything special in terms of a switch or PoE power. The "trick" used is when cable length gets long enough the camera switches to 10MbPS versus the "standard" 100MbPS. You really won't see much of a difference in the video. Dahua seems to be making the "E" series a "standard" in many of their cameras so they're probably producing more which lowers costs. CAT5 cable should work fine, but just to future proof if you're installing cable, I'd go with CAT6.

From personal experience years ago when I was installing networks, I had more than one occasion where the cable length exceeded spec, significantly, and after running an analysis of the cable, lost packets and collisions were not a problem and the workstations functioned normally. I am not advocating violating specifications, just pointing out that under some circumstances it can be done and still operate properly.
 
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awsum140 said:
From personal experience years ago when I was installing networks, I had more than one occasion where the cable length exceeded spec, significantly, and after running an analysis of the cable, lost packets and collisions were not a problem and the workstations functioned normally. I am not advocating violating specifications, just pointing out that under some circumstances it can be done and still operate properly.
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Mine as well. If you know the limitations and have tested it out, you can exceed the specs by quite a bit. But you need to test!!!
 
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ok guys, i've been to dahua usa and also went to a page called dahua wiki , i went to select a starlight eyeball and it says there are none? so i searched and found a N24CG52 is a starlight, but according to the part number decoder the 52 is NO a starlight but the 62 is, but i can't find a 62. to make it more confusing where does the 5231R-Z fit in that everyone raves about? isnt that a 5MP camera? aren't the 2MP versions actually better? i found a 2231 that is supposed to be starlight but there's no audio and it's currently unavailable according to andys amazon. I've been looking at all these cameras trying to figure out what i want, i think 2mp starlight eyeballs everywhere with the exception of a mini ptz to take place of the 12-35mm bullet for the gate and a large PTZ for the radio tower, bang for the buck with a good zoom, i'd love for an upwards tilt so i can stream starwatches. just when i feel like i'm starting to get a grasp on things some of these websites and part numbers throw me for a loop!
 
The 5231R-Z, now replaced by the 5231R-ZE, is a 2MP camera. You won't find it on the Dahua USA site because it is an International version and Dahua USA has a very limited selection of cameras. Look in the Wiki, in the blue bar at the top of the page, and read the Cliff Notes in there in particular. Contact Andy at Empire Tech, there is a thread here on IPCT in the "Vendors" section. He can supply the International version cameras and provide excellent support at very competitive prices. Alternately, look at the IPCT Store for cameras with similar capabilities.
 
funkybunch said:
ok guys, i've been to dahua usa and also went to a page called dahua wiki , i went to select a starlight eyeball and it says there are none? so i searched and found a N24CG52 is a starlight, but according to the part number decoder the 52 is NO a starlight but the 62 is, but i can't find a 62. to make it more confusing where does the 5231R-Z fit in that everyone raves about? isnt that a 5MP camera? aren't the 2MP versions actually better? i found a 2231 that is supposed to be starlight but there's no audio and it's currently unavailable according to andys amazon. I've been looking at all these cameras trying to figure out what i want, i think 2mp starlight eyeballs everywhere with the exception of a mini ptz to take place of the 12-35mm bullet for the gate and a large PTZ for the radio tower, bang for the buck with a good zoom, i'd love for an upwards tilt so i can stream starwatches. just when i feel like i'm starting to get a grasp on things some of these websites and part numbers throw me for a loop!
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You want to be looking at cams models here: Dahua Technology - Leading Video Surveillance Solution Provider with CCTV Produc Be sure to choose the International site.
This isn't something most people will grasp in an afternoon, it takes planning and reading, and some more planning.
From a real computer screen, not your phone, Study the Cliff Notes as @awsum140 suggests.
 
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thanks for the quick replies guys! my head was spinning at all these different sites tryingto make heads/tails of the US and intl part numbers, just trying to figure out what the latest camera is. I dont mind buying a 2 year old camera if it's that good. some of these threads have over 200 pages which is nuts. the new color night time cams looks tasteful too. I'm thinking about getting a varifocal camera and setting it up at each location to determine what FOV lens i actually need. maybe i'm going overboard. after searching 12mm-64mm motorized varifocals it seems the 64mm would be the way to fly, even if 35mm would do the trick, i guess it's better to have it and not need it. I've read the cliff notes, good stuff. i doubt there's a 64mm eyeball, so will prob have to stick with the bullet. lots to soak in and i thank you for tolerating my goofy questions. I'm going to read for several more hours tonight, hoping to pull the trigger on a system soon. I only need an 8ch NVR, and want IVS, etc so looks like there's only one of those. thanks again for all the input!
 
been reading the internatoin dahua site, all these part numbers are complete different than most mentioned in these forums. still trying to sort it all out. the question in my head now is 2MP or 6/8/12MP? if you have a high enough lens, like a 12mm, then a 2MP will suffice to read a license at 50 feet, or get a 2.8 4K camera and when you digitally zoom you'll still be able to read it no? I really want a few starlights, to look down the back side of the house. starlight with IR also confuses me. what's the best starlight eyeball series? best bullet and ptz bang for the buck? the 6al345 was on my list until i say it was $3k. and just to be clear andy can order just about any part number i throw at him or is there a limitation to these cams? i read they are dahuas without the logo so they are discounted? just trying to hear it from the horses mouth , i've been on this forum for months and i still feel lost.
 
Have you read the Cliff Notes in the Wiki? Read them on a real computer and not a smartphone.
 
funkybunch said:
been reading the internatoin dahua site, all these part numbers are complete different than most mentioned in these forums. still trying to sort it all out. the question in my head now is 2MP or 6/8/12MP? if you have a high enough lens, like a 12mm, then a 2MP will suffice to read a license at 50 feet, or get a 2.8 4K camera and when you digitally zoom you'll still be able to read it no? I really want a few starlights, to look down the back side of the house. starlight with IR also confuses me. what's the best starlight eyeball series? best bullet and ptz bang for the buck? the 6al345 was on my list until i say it was $3k. and just to be clear andy can order just about any part number i throw at him or is there a limitation to these cams? i read they are dahuas without the logo so they are discounted? just trying to hear it from the horses mouth , i've been on this forum for months and i still feel lost.
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No the part numbers arn't.
The vast majority of Dahua cams discussed on this site are indeed found on the International site. You must look at the top right corner and select International. Again, use a real computer not a phone.
For LPR, read the LPR section of this forum.
Most all of your questions are answered in the Cliff Notes.
Still the king of the hill at this point: Review-Dahua Starlight IPC-HDW5231R-ZE 800 meter capable ePOE
Don't chase megapixels.
 
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thanks again! i've read the cliff notes twice , and reading them again lol. i'm ready to buy 2MP 5231R-ZE's for the perimeter but it seems that a motorized varifocal behind the house looking at the HVAC might me overkill. I'd like a -Z12 if it's available for the mailbox across the road from the gate and still undecided about which PTZ for the radio tower. is there a dot plot chart of all these cameras? something i can quick reference, like if i want a 5231 that has IVS or shows H265, or starlight, etc? does that makes sense? i'm finding myself reading page after page, and spec sheets just to see if one camera is IVS compatible to another.

***now that i look at your videos, i like the 5231R-Z over the -E model , call em crazy :) i need them in black tho, yeah i know, rattle can or plasti-dip.
 
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Well I bought a reolink RLC-511 for <$100. it's a 5MP 12mm motorized varifocal, SD, w/audio bullet. Nice camera for the money and has set a bar for the dahuas I want to buy. Funny, i returned the reolink because it would not stay in focus and it kept locking up and rebooting itself. I was able to configure the camera brightness, contrast, etc and actually see better with little to no ambient light compared to the IR. The camera looked better than the 2231 videos i've seen with no IR. Aren't the starlights supposed to shine? is that only with IR on? I want to buy 6 turrets, starlight, or something that's kick arse in little to no light and without IR. color night vision is very tasteful, i just want to see in the dark out here in the country. need a mini ptz that will do the same with at least a 12x if not 20-30x zoom. the reolink 12 was a nice experiment for the mailbox, yes i could read license plates but there's just something about 5MP cameras that i dont like, everything is stretched out. i think i need 2, 4, or 4K cameras to be happy. hopefully i'm barking up the right tree.
 
funkybunch said:
Well I bought a reolink RLC-511 for <$100. it's a 5MP 12mm motorized varifocal, SD, w/audio bullet. Nice camera for the money and has set a bar for the dahuas I want to buy. Funny, i returned the reolink because it would not stay in focus and it kept locking up and rebooting itself. I was able to configure the camera brightness, contrast, etc and actually see better with little to no ambient light compared to the IR. The camera looked better than the 2231 videos i've seen with no IR. Aren't the starlights supposed to shine? is that only with IR on? I want to buy 6 turrets, starlight, or something that's kick arse in little to no light and without IR. color night vision is very tasteful, i just want to see in the dark out here in the country. need a mini ptz that will do the same with at least a 12x if not 20-30x zoom. the reolink 12 was a nice experiment for the mailbox, yes i could read license plates but there's just something about 5MP cameras that i dont like, everything is stretched out. i think i need 2, 4, or 4K cameras to be happy. hopefully i'm barking up the right tree.
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Reolink 5mp cameras dont set the bar for anything. They are crap, particularly in low light. They have firmware limitations that they dont want to address and the company lies to its customers and spams this forum. The camera does not and CANNOT perform better than the 2231. You need to understand that the location your test it in makes a HUGE difference in performance of the night image - indoors vs outdoors, near reflective surfaces vs dark surfaces etc.
The starlights are superior with and without IR, you just dont have the experience to understand how to compare cams. Start reading.
 
i've been reading off and on for years, no kidding, and when i think i've found the camera, there's 3 new ones that have been released. maybe i should buy one and see how it performs. i can tell you're just a little upset with reo. some of these threads are 200+ pages long.
 
I have a Reo clone. 4MP and the daytime picture is fine. At night it stinks. The other thing is that there is no way to control the I frame rate which, in turn, actually degrades the video. The worst thing is that because of that I frame problem, I believe, hardware acceleration can't be used with it. Compared to a 2231, 4231, 5231 it is a total piece of junk that I wasted money on. I learned the hard way, don't be another to learn that way.

Fenderman is right, Reolink is total crappola.
 
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