Dahua WizColor 5x59-PRO and SmartLight 5x59-IL new series

[CamCrazy]

Looking forward to a AS versus ZE shootout.

Would love to see a no-IR, no-LED (i.e. color only) comparison in very low light using manual settings - curious what the F/1.0 lens of the AS can do.

Wait...is the AS f1.0? Andy lists it as f1.2 same as the ZE...just checked Dahua site and of course you are correct damn, I almost added one to my order but instead got ZE's, that is annoying. Ah well, live and learn, always double check the specs! guess I will add one to my next order and hope they don't show up the ZE too much in low light. I was so close to ordering one, not even funny

The f1.0 aperture should in theory help quite a bit:

ZE
0.0006 [email protected] (Color, 30 IRE)
0.0003 [email protected] (B/W, 30 IRE)

AS
0.0004 [email protected](Color, 30IRE)
0.0003 [email protected] (B/W, 30IRE)

Odd how the B/W lux is the same for both, colour a reasonable boost on the AS. Well isn't that just a pain, ironically at least one of the locations I don't even need varifocal

 

[bigredfish]

I can’t say about this new camera with all the secret hi-tek AI hocus pocus but traditionally fixed lens cameras of the same series have always had a lower FStop and min illumination spec and resulting better light pick up than VF cams.

Something I hadn’t noticed was that the VF has much better close focus distance specs

 

[alekk]

The AS also has a fixed Iris ... so no depth-of-field adjustment, whereas the ZE has a P-Iris that you have some control over.

Although shouldn't be that big of deal for the AS since it's a wide-angle lens (2.8/3.6mm ... and recall that there were focus complaints about the 6mm lens on the previous fixed-focal) and the focus point isn't "close" ... so assuming set correctly, most everything at the target distance should be in "reasonable" focus.

I debated getting one to compare to the ZE and 5442-S3 ... but don't think I would use it long-term.
But if someone in the Denver/Boulder area has one they'll loan me for a week or two, I'd be happy to do a low-light shootout per this thread.

F1.0 versus F/1.2 isn't that much different, but the ZE closes down as you zoom in ... be nice if Dahua published aperture versus focal length (zoom #) specs.
Having said that, the simplicity of a fixed focal lens (versus variable) should mean (all else equal) a bit more light from just from that.

LOL it's going to have a super-fast shutter speed at F/1.0 (no gain) in broad daylight.

P.S. Yea, @CamCrazy, the specs don't make sense. Why would the color performance be better but not the B&W?

 

[CamCrazy]

The AS also has a fixed Iris ... so no depth-of-field adjustment, whereas the ZE has a P-Iris that you have some control over.

Although shouldn't be that big of deal for the AS since it's a wide-angle lens (2.8/3.6mm ... and recall that there were focus complaints about the 6mm lens on the previous fixed-focal) and the focus point isn't "close" ... so assuming set correctly, most everything at the target distance should be in "reasonable" focus.

I debated getting one to compare to the ZE and 5442-S3 ... but don't think I would use it long-term.
But if someone in the Denver area has one they'll loan me for a week or two, I'd be happy to do a low-light shootout per this thread.
F1.0 versus F/1.2 isn't that much different, but the ZE closes down as you zoom in ... be nice if Dahua published aperture versus focal length (zoom #) specs.
Having said that, the simplicity of a fixed focal lens (versus variable) should mean (all else equal) a bit more light just from that.

LOL it's going to have a super-fast shutter speed at F/1.0 (no gain) in broad daylight.

P.S. Yea, @CamCrazy, the specs don't make sense. Why would the color performance be better but not the B&W.

Yes, fair comment on those point, f1.0 vs 1.2 isn't end of the world but as a camera guy we always want the faster aperture, also in the camera world away from cctv I will take a prime lens all day long. I did have another theory that with the fixed focal length, if there is variation in the factory calibration so to speak, there is not much you can do about it. With a varifocal, for the most part this is overcome by the nature of the design, just a theory. I do like the spot focusing on the varifocals also, not that this is much use when set at 2.7mm.

I will see how the testing pans out then maybe pick one up to try in my darker areas without floodlight assistance. Think I might have got carried away picking up three of the ZE's but there we go

 

[alekk]

Yes, fair comment on those point, f1.0 vs 1.2 isn't end of the world but as a camera guy we always want the faster aperture, also in the camera world away from cctv I will take a prime lens all day long.

YEP!

I'm never sure about the Min. Illumination Specs (someone in the CCTV can explain how IRE is supposed to provide a common baseline for comparison), but since ideally(!) Dahua used the same testing methodology, I believe that 0.0006->0.0004 is more than you would expect from just going from F/1.2->F/1.0 ... but as mentioned, the prime lens probably helps a bit. Could also be rounding in the numbers - i.e. 0.00056->0.00044.

I defer to the CCTV folks, but I'm assuming(?) that if it was 0.00060->0.00030, that would be a full stop ... which basically means that all else equal (including sensor size/technology), you can run TWICE the shutter speed and get the same image brightness.

Nobody is going to complain being able to go from 1/30s to 1/60s !

Regardless of all that technical goobly-gook, I look forward to actual field comparisons which will show the reality ... where the "rubber meets the road" ... aka "the light meets the camera" ;-)

 

[CamCrazy]

YEP!

I'm never sure about the Min. Illumination Specs (someone in the CCTV can explain how IRE is supposed to provide a common baseline for comparison), but since ideally(!) Dahua used the same testing methodology, I believe that 0.0006->0.0004 is more than you would expect from just going from F/1.2->F/1.0 ... but as mentioned, the prime lens probably helps a bit. Could also be rounding in the numbers - i.e. 0.00056->0.00044.

I defer to the CCTV folks, but I'm assuming(?) that if it was 0.00060->0.00030, that would be a full stop ... which basically means that all else equal (including sensor size/technology), you can run TWICE the shutter speed and get the same image brightness.

Nobody is going to complain being able to go from 1/30s to 1/60s !

Regardless of all that technical goobly-gook, I look forward to actual field comparisons which will show the reality.

That'll do, I'm already feeling bad enough about not grabbing a fixed focal length - but yes in theory it should pull in quite a bit more light. Real world tests will tell the story, I suspect the gains will be less than we estimate, a fixed aperture varifocal is not something to be sniffed at, in the camera world this would be considered quite a nice lens still.

 

[alekk]

LOL @CamCrazy that you can "take one for the team" and order an AS to compare for us ... ;-)

Based on what I can gather from your background, it sounds like you would do excellent shoot-out!

 

[CamCrazy]

LOL @CamCrazy that you can "take one for the team" and order an AS to compare for us ... ;-)

Based on what I can gather from your background, it sounds like you would do excellent shoot-out!

Yes, I will be that guy!! 54Pro AS will be incoming at some point along with a bullet version, I have 2MP starlight PTZ's, 2MP starlight bullets and turrets, 4MP 5442 original in turret and bullet, with 54Pro and 5442 S3 incoming next week. Reasonable line up for me to give feedback, I also take no prisoners, freeze frame image quality is king, both day and night

As you have gathered I have a deep history of cameras both digital and cctv, seriously analytical thought process and a day job with similar requirements! Expect any reviews or feedback to be based on these foundations - I hate my brain sometimes

 

[alekk]

You are the man for the mission @CamCrazy - the 5442-S3, 54PRO-ZE, and 54PRO-AS are going to get wrung through the ("light") wringer! ;-)

BTW, I think(?) are on the same page when you quipped "freeze frame image quality is king" ... since (as others smarter than me will point), CCTV's need to capture motion and is the real/final test ... but the basic/raw capability needs to be there and I think that can be more objectively assessed ... so yea, looking forward to your low-light image shootout to show us the differences.

 

[CamCrazy]

You are the man for the mission @CamCrazy - the 5442-S3, 54PRO-ZE, and 54PRO-AS are going to get wrung through the ("light") wringer! ;-)

BTW, I think(?) are on the same page when you quipped "freeze frame image quality is king" ... since (as others smarter than me will point), CCTV's need to capture motion and is the real/final test ... but the basic/raw capability needs to be there and I think that can be more objectively assessed ... so yea, looking forward to your low-light image shootout to show us the differences.

Not sure I will get them running side by side for testing but you can be certain of my testing methodology and strict standards! The AS will come later, was so close to getting one on this order...anyway! the 54Pro ZE and S3 will be tested to infinity and beyond no doubt about it, I am working with zero ambient initially, some cameras have 4000-6000 lumen flood assistance, luckily the new ones coming will be placed in locations with no flood lights, so it will be easy to compare them relatively speaking.

All of my cameras without question get setup with fast shutter speeds and gain set as low as possible, I am always looking for sharp stills, ISO/gain low as can be. You can generally take my feedback and recommendations to the bank, my brain only has one way to operate