HDW5442TM-AS – Washed-out image with IVS on latest official FW – Is downgrade to SmartIR possible?

[Zoltán Szabó]

Hi Everyone,


I have several IPC-HDW5442TM-AS cameras. All of them have been running the latest Smart IR firmware by EmpireTechAndy:


V2.840.15OG00D.0.R.220818


On one of them – an older HDW5442TM-AS model – I decided to switch to the newest official Dahua firmware
(hoping the updated IVS algorithm would reduce false alarms):


General_IPC-HX5XXX-Volt_MultiLang_PN_Stream3_V2.840.0000000.30.R.250227


The upgrade completed successfully and I fully reconfigured the camera manually (no config import).
The Algorithm Version changed from 1.0.7 → 1.0.8, so it appears the algorithm package was included.

---

Issue after the update (older HDW5442TM-AS)​

As soon as any IVS rule is enabled, the image quality becomes noticeably worse:

• washed-out / lower contrast
• darker in B/W night mode
• especially degraded around the edges

Disabling IVS instantly restores the normal image quality.


I already tried multiple factory resets and also manually flashed the firmware.bin algorithm package — but none of this helped.

---

Additional finding on another camera (5442 S3)​

I also own a newer 5442 S3 model where IVS rules are enabled as well.
I tested the same thing: when IVS is turned OFF, the image becomes noticeably brighter, just like on the older model.
However, on the S3 unit I played around with disabling and re-enabling the IVS functions and rules several times — and at some point the issue almost disappeared.


Currently on the S3, when IVS is active, only a very slight image change remains, not as severe as on the older HDW5442TM-AS.
So it looks like this may be something common across the 5442 series — and maybe firmware-related.

---

Temporary workaround​

The only way I can avoid the image degradation on the older HDW5442TM-AS is by keeping BLC (Backlight Compensation) turned ON.
But with BLC enabled, some image details tend to get lost, so this is not an ideal long-term solution.

---

My questions now:​

• Has anyone experienced the same image degradation with IVS enabled on the older HDW5442TM-AS or other 5442 models (including S3)?
• Is there any confirmed fix or workaround other than downgrading the firmware?
• And if downgrade is the only solution — is it safe to do via the web interface?

---

I attach IVS ON/OFF comparison screenshots.
Any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated!


Thanks in advance!

 

[wittaj]

It's a known quirk. Create an IVS rule first and then do the camera adjustments for shutter, brightness, etc.

And best practice is to factory reset, flash firmware, factory reset and setup by scratch.

 

[Zoltán Szabó]

It's a known quirk. Create an IVS rule first and then do the camera adjustments for shutter, brightness, etc.

And best practice is to factory reset, flash firmware, factory reset and setup by scratch.

Thanks for the reply!

Yes, I’m aware that when an IVS rule is created the camera automatically switches to Shutter Priority mode — this behaves the same way on the new firmware as well. However, even if I reapply my usual shutter and gain settings after creating the IVS rule, the result is still a darker and slightly washed-out image.
In fact, the two example screenshots I posted in the first message were taken with identical shutter and gain values — the only difference was IVS ON vs IVS OFF. So in this case it’s not simply the automatic switch to shutter priority that causes the issue.


One more question regarding this:
do you think it’s safe to downgrade back to the Smart IR firmware version (V2.840.15OG00D.0.R.220818) — of course while following the usual best practice of factory reset → flash → factory reset?

Also, for the factory reset:
is the web interface reset reliable, or should I definitely use the physical reset button on the camera instead?


Thanks again for your help. Every detail is appreciated!

 

[wittaj]

You can downgrade, although I did that with a camera and then experienced what you have. Go figure. Some things are head scratchers.

Personally I prefer the physical reset button, but in theory the GUI reset should be fine as well.

 

[bigredfish]

Huh, I’m not noticing it.
I’ll test tonight.

Are you using a manual exposure value?

No WDR enabled?

I don’t use any backlight other than HDR on some at night

 

[Zoltán Szabó]

Huh, I’m not noticing it.
I’ll test tonight.

Are you using a manual exposure value?

No WDR enabled?

I don’t use any backlight other than HDR on some at night

Hi!

Yes, I’m using manual exposure (0–8 ms).
No WDR is enabled.
Normally I don’t use any backlight options either — only now I enabled BLC as a temporary workaround.

But even with BLC turned on, IVS still makes the image slightly darker.
It helps compared to IVS alone, but some image details are still lost and the result is not as good as IVS OFF.

 

[bigredfish]

I have 3 S3 versions (bullets) a 5442TM-AS 3.6 and an S3 Z4

If it’s happening I hadn’t noticed. They’re all solid cams. Maybe I hadn’t directly compared. I get very little if any motion blur or noise out of them.

I’ll test and post results after dark tonight

 

[bigredfish]

I’m typically running 0-5 or so, high bitrates and h.264.h

 

[bigredfish]

So yes a shows a clear difference. I learned something!
Never noticed it before....

*These are all various ‘23 and ‘24 FW

Z4 S3 - turning IVS OFF actually degraded the image. More noise

IVS ON >>>>>>>>>>>>>> IVS OFF



5442TM-AS- 3.6

IVS ON >>>>>>>>>>>>>> IVS OFF



5442H-ZHE-S3
Turning off IR blew out the image. This may be due to the added IR coming from the other camera that overlaps the area

IVS ON >>>>>>>>>>>>>> IVS OFF

 

[wittaj]

Right. Clearly some other parameter is being adjusted with IVS toggling.

Probably an unintended coding error.

And can explain why some people never get the washed out face mitigated - they probably have MD/SMD turned on.

 

[bigredfish]

Either Gain or Exposure

 

[bigredfish]

B54IR-ZE-S3

IVS ON


IVS OFF

 

[bigredfish]

WHAT THE FUCK? - Color Too

54IR-ZE - S3

 

[Zoltán Szabó]

As I see it, the SmartIR firmware developed by Andy (and other forum members here) seems to operate using parameters related to BLC — especially considering that SmartIR and BLC cannot be used together, which suggests they may be working on similar exposure logic.

It might not be a coincidence that the SmartIR firmware is the only one that doesn’t suffer from this issue, and possibly also not a coincidence that when IVS is enabled, the firmware seems to try to compensate for IR overexposure — almost as if it’s applying some kind of protection or correction.

Of course, this is only speculation on my part — but maybe someone here can confirm this or prove it wrong.

If this behavior is indeed intentional, then I don’t necessarily consider it a problem as long as there is an option to disable it (like SmartIR), since it may not always be needed — but unfortunately it seems like there is currently no way to disable it.

For example, I personally never use the SmartIR function on any of my cameras, because it makes the night image noticeably darker, and I prefer not to push the exposure time or gain too high.
However, I do need sufficient brightness for IVS to work reliably at night — in my case the camera has to clearly see around approx. 15 meters into the yard, in case someone walks there.

Yes, I know that installing an external IR illuminator is always an option — but if possible, I’d rather not rely on that solution.

P.S.: During daytime (color image), I don’t experience any difference when IVS is turned ON or OFF — the issue only appears in B/W mode.
EDIT:
I was mistaken.
If shutter and gain values are manually set to a normal/healthy range, then even in daytime (color mode) the image becomes darker when IVS is enabled.

 

[bigredfish]

Agreed though on Smart IR
But there are cases, particularly at entrances where some type of smart IR is needed to prevent IR blowing out faces.

The Z4 S3 as well as the high end 5442H-ZHE and 7000 series implementation (Illumination Overexposure Remover) works reasonably well

 

[bigredfish]

I haven’t tried to test moving targets without the IVS so I’ll do a bit of that tonight.

Will be interesting to see what makes the image brightness change; the IR intensity being manipulated? Or Exposure/Gain

 

[bigredfish]

By the way @Zoltán Szabó

The test I did above, the 5442TM-AS 3.6 fixed lens WAS using Smart IR on this older FW and still shows the brightness deficit when IVS is enabled as the images depict
TM-AS- V2.840.15OG008.0.R, Build Date: 2022-02-18

 

[laurscr]

I have the same situation on my HDBW5449R1-ZE-LED

Each smart plan (or all disabled) retains the exposure settings for each state.
You need to save exposure settings for each state.

It can be useful to have different exposure settings depending on the smart plan.

 

[bigredfish]

Yes but this is simply turning IVS OFF. Not changing Smart Plan at all.
Thats not a good thing regardless

It does it with the 3449H fixed and ZE models as well

3449H-Fixed lens


3449H Z varifocal

 

[laurscr]

Yes but this is simply turning IVS OFF. Not changing Smart Plan at all.

Setting IVS OFF also disables the smart plan (even if it still appears selected)

If you check, you will notice when you turn IVS on/off, exposure settings also change.
You have to save the exposure settings for each state and after that nothing will change when you turn ivs on/off