For these tests I replaced the 4K-X 6mm camera on the garage with a T54PRO-ZE. The other camera is a B54PRO-Z4E. Andy asked if I could run some tests at the default setting for the cameras, so that is what I did for the first set of clips. Also, it was requested if I would try setting the cameras for 0-20ms shutter, 0-80 gain, 3D NR=50, 2D NR=40. The last clips I just experimented with some settings.
B54PRO-Z4E first impression
- Thread starter tmxv4128
- Start date
Good points @bigredfish in your post a few back ... because yes, capturing motion is the ultimate objective.
But if camera #2 can capture a "better" still image (at "similar" settings) than camera #1, it probably is going to do better in video. And even if it's not "acceptable" (we always want better), if camera #2 is "better", then that would be the logical choice to use. And one can decide if they just want to "accept" the sub-par image, add more light ... or see "progress" and hope that camera #3 (come on Dauha, give us a bigger/better sensor with a faster lens) further improves.
So here's the T54PRO-ZE versus the 5442-S3 in IR.
Neither have their on-board IR on ... instead, there is an external Tendelux DI20 IR illuminator that is mounted (basically) the same distance from them ... so they are "seeing" the same light.
Since I saw 6msec mentioned as a shutter speed, I went with that. I, of course, opened up the iris all the way. At gain ZERO, the picture is super-dark (DUH!) ... but that is the "last dial" I have to play with ... so I ended up bumping it to 60. Exposure is decent (especially for the T54PRO-ZE ... which is actually too "hot" at close-in) ... but with NR=ZERO, it's a hot, noisy mess ... so lets spin that up to 50/50 for 2D/3D NR.
Yes, gain is higher than I went and ditto the NR ... but my only other option is to add even more light ... and/or wait for that mythical camera #3.
On both camera, I used area-focus several times using the driveway light halfway down (about 60' away) on the right side - Focus values bounced around a bit, but I used the one that was in the most frequent range.
So after all those words, it really come down to images/video ... so lets see how those two cameras did in a challenging scene.
GIF image compares them as I walked across the sidewalk ... and then I've included the two videos.
Again, I'm not saying this is "acceptable" - it's not ... but given THIS SCENE, I'm not sure I can get it much better with what I have ... but to me, the T54PRO-ZE looks better - what 'ya think?
Also, is the 1217 Firmware an improvement? Unfortunately, I no longer have a 2nd T54PRO-ZE to directly compare against, but my off-the-cuff opinion is YES, the 1217 Firmware is "better" that the previous I've tested ... which I think is dang close to all of them!
But if camera #2 can capture a "better" still image (at "similar" settings) than camera #1, it probably is going to do better in video. And even if it's not "acceptable" (we always want better), if camera #2 is "better", then that would be the logical choice to use. And one can decide if they just want to "accept" the sub-par image, add more light ... or see "progress" and hope that camera #3 (come on Dauha, give us a bigger/better sensor with a faster lens) further improves.
So here's the T54PRO-ZE versus the 5442-S3 in IR.
Neither have their on-board IR on ... instead, there is an external Tendelux DI20 IR illuminator that is mounted (basically) the same distance from them ... so they are "seeing" the same light.
Since I saw 6msec mentioned as a shutter speed, I went with that. I, of course, opened up the iris all the way. At gain ZERO, the picture is super-dark (DUH!) ... but that is the "last dial" I have to play with ... so I ended up bumping it to 60. Exposure is decent (especially for the T54PRO-ZE ... which is actually too "hot" at close-in) ... but with NR=ZERO, it's a hot, noisy mess ... so lets spin that up to 50/50 for 2D/3D NR.
Yes, gain is higher than I went and ditto the NR ... but my only other option is to add even more light ... and/or wait for that mythical camera #3.
On both camera, I used area-focus several times using the driveway light halfway down (about 60' away) on the right side - Focus values bounced around a bit, but I used the one that was in the most frequent range.
So after all those words, it really come down to images/video ... so lets see how those two cameras did in a challenging scene.
GIF image compares them as I walked across the sidewalk ... and then I've included the two videos.
Again, I'm not saying this is "acceptable" - it's not ... but given THIS SCENE, I'm not sure I can get it much better with what I have ... but to me, the T54PRO-ZE looks better - what 'ya think?
Also, is the 1217 Firmware an improvement? Unfortunately, I no longer have a 2nd T54PRO-ZE to directly compare against, but my off-the-cuff opinion is YES, the 1217 Firmware is "better" that the previous I've tested ... which I think is dang close to all of them!
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Here's the same scene comparing the T54PRO-ZE (FW1217) versus the 5442-S3 in COLOR
As discussed ad-nauseam above, there is a dark scene ... much more so since not in IR, so the IR illuminator doesn't help out.
Our settings here are (OMFG!) 20 msec shutter, 100 iris, 100(!) gain, and 50/50 2D/3DR.
So the video is even more unacceptable than the IR version (6msec shutter, 60 gain) but what I want to do know is how does the T54PRO-ZE (running the 1217 Firmware) compare to the 5442-S3 ... and I would say that is does much better. And again, without being able to directly compare to previous firmware, my off-the-cuff opinion is YES, the 1217 Firmware is "better" that the previous I've tested.
As discussed ad-nauseam above, there is a dark scene ... much more so since not in IR, so the IR illuminator doesn't help out.
Our settings here are (OMFG!) 20 msec shutter, 100 iris, 100(!) gain, and 50/50 2D/3DR.
So the video is even more unacceptable than the IR version (6msec shutter, 60 gain) but what I want to do know is how does the T54PRO-ZE (running the 1217 Firmware) compare to the 5442-S3 ... and I would say that is does much better. And again, without being able to directly compare to previous firmware, my off-the-cuff opinion is YES, the 1217 Firmware is "better" that the previous I've tested.
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Come on now, you have been around here long enough to know that many cameras can produce a better static image than the Dahua, but motion looks like crap.
All of my neighbors consumer cams produce a great static image at night, but motion blur city.
Your neighbor's consumer cams produce a great static image at night because they using a super-slow shutter speeds ... have them set the same as the Dahua and compare!
You can set reolink to similar settings, but the firmware will override any setting that darkens the image too much.
I could set my Sunba to similar settings and it would do the same thing. Same with other cheap cameras I had before I found this site.
A good test is to set a camera shutter in dark setting to 1/4000 and the image should be black. If it isn't, then you know the firmware is making adjustments to keep bright static images.
T54PRO-ZE at 1/4000s shutter speed in Color mode ... all you see are the driveway/neighbor lights.
Note that I have to set Backlight BLC=1 ... because if Backlight is OFF, there is a shadow boost applied that I've talked about ... but it just adds a smidgen of halo around those lights.
Speaking of which, at 1/4000s shutter, the lights "pulse" ... because they must be cycling (very old lights) at a frequency faster than I can see with my naked eye, but "caught" by the fast shutter speed.
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Your testing is useless. You didnt post any video until today. Just write pages of text no one needs. Your writing is just useless without any videos and/or comparison to other cams.
So why testing? Do you think some firmware guy at dahua reads your text and even understand ? lol
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You missed the point - I had no doubt this camera would be all black at that speed.
I was referring to cheap cameras that favor a bright image that produce nicer ststic images than Dahua.
It appears the issue with this camera is the AI that makes the static image nice is wreaking havoc on motion.
OK - I was just confirming that yea verily, that isn't happening with my cameras.
Roger that - I've talked about the "Pig-Pen Dust Cloud" ... but I think that might be improved/reduced in the 1217 Firmware - wish I still had the 2nd 54PRO-ZE to directly compare. However, I can compare to a 5442-S3 and the videos are above if you want to express an opinion.
I'm real curious what others, such as @tmxv4128, say as they start testing 1217FW as they are more knowledgeable/experienced in motion testing with more appropriate setups versus my "scene"