IPC-T54PRO-AS 1/1.8" or IPC-Color4M-T 1/1.8"

[Bruce_H]

Which of the above cameras is going to give me better low light performance or is there another model that I should consider that will not break the bank?

I have several T54IR-AS cameras and a T54IR-ZE and want something that will be better in the low light.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated, thanks

 

[bigredfish]

Better how?

In IR or color?

Distance?

Are you confident your current settings are as good as they can be?

Both of those have similar issues. You should read the reviews.

The advantage is they have onboard white LED's that the 54IR (Dahua 5442 series) doesnt.
The problem is that while they have an awesome static picture, when movement occurs, like a bad guy breaking into your house, they produce a weird AI noise on moving targets that sucks.

IMHO best in most cases to add light (Either IR or white light) and stay with the 54IR series

 

[Bruce_H]

Thanks, I was wondering about the white lights on these cameras, I don't want to have to have white lights on all night drawing attention to the cameras on my residential street, I would like to have a better low ambient light color picture if possible, or I will just have to add some extra IR lighting to improve the IR picture on the current cameras. With the current T54's the problem that I have is that moving vehicles at night are quite blurry with just the onboard camera IR lights!

 

[samplenhold]

With the current T54's the problem that I have is that moving vehicles at night are quite blurry with just the onboard camera IR lights!

Moving objects in low light situations is the biggest problem that we all face. The only way to 'stop the blur' is to set the shutter speed quicker. The less time the shutter is open, the more the moving object freezes. It is no different than sports photography.

The only problem with a quick shutter is that you need more light to get color, image definition, and low video noise. So when BRF asks about your settings are as good as they can be, that is what he is referring to. Finding the right combination of shutter speed, gain, etc.

 

[bigredfish]

Thanks, I was wondering about the white lights on these cameras, I don't want to have to have white lights on all night drawing attention to the cameras on my residential street, I would like to have a better low ambient light color picture if possible, or I will just have to add some extra IR lighting to improve the IR picture on the current cameras. With the current T54's the problem that I have is that moving vehicles at night are quite blurry with just the onboard camera IR lights!

So that comes down to distance and exposure mostly. (and vehicle speed) and of course how much light you have on target

At 50-60ft in front of my house my priority is humans. Because they're typically a lot slower than vehicles, I can dial in the exposure to get good crisp human shots.
With vehicles I sacrifice and accept a little more blur because in order to prioritize vehicles, I'd have to run a faster shutter, which by nature means a darker image.

So vehicle captures are not bad,, humans are better
(5442H-ZHE bullet and 5442 Z4 higher zoom bullet. Botht he current S3 variants.)

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[bigredfish]

If color at night is important, look at the 4K-T and 4K-X
They have bigger sensors and pickup light even better than the 54IR series

I run the white lights on this one but you dont have to IF you have enough ambient light.

But it takes a LOT more light than most think to get a GOOD nighttime color image. Its the holy grail fro most of us and physics keeps getting in the way


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[wittaj]

+1 to all of the above.

Keep in mind all cameras need light - either infrared or white light.

The Pro and 4M need light. If the light there is not good, then you would need to use the built-in white light of the camera, which many people don't want to use. Sure these newer cameras can produce a nice static image at night in color, but clean capture with an object in motion is what we are after.

The 54IR is the trusted and time tested camera.

Many will use that for detail and then an overview camera with the shutter slowed down to allow it to run in color to get the color aspects of what is going on.

Keep in mind that you can force a 54IR in color if you have enough light. The only advantage the PRO and 4M provide is white light also along with a speaker. But if you don't need the speaker and don't want to have the white lights on the camera as it is unaesthetic with the house or draws attention to the camera, then the 54IR is the clear winner.

But between the PRO and 4M and I am going with the 4M.

You said the cars are blurry now - what shutter speed are you running?

This is the 54IR-Z4E at a 1/250 shutter and it looks like the jeep is parked and in reality is doing about 25MPH

 

[Bruce_H]

Thanks for the feedback and suggestion, I am going to order 2 of the 54IR's to replace my 24IR's; I had thought that their were the 54 models but I was mistaken, which probably explains the rather poor night time performance with moving vehicles!

 

[bigredfish]

Thanks for the feedback and suggestion, I am going to order 2 of the 54IR's to replace my 24IR's; I had thought that their were the 54 models but I was mistaken, which probably explains the rather poor night time performance with moving vehicles!

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Its not the 2MP vs 4MP - see the parked pickup across the street..

You would still have less blur with a faster shutter and/or less NR
What are your exposure and NR settings at night on that?


What part of Florida are you Snowbirding in?