This is just a funny story I wanted to share.
I have a long collection of Dahua cameras spanning almost 10 years. Recently I bought a IPC-T54IR-ZE and set it up to replace a T5442-ZE which itself was moved to replace an even older 1/2.8" camera in a different spot.
Now that I could directly compare the IPC-T54IR-ZE to the T5442-ZE, I pulled up some day and night videos to see if there was any difference. I was surprised to find the IPC-T54IR-ZE much better during the day, and much worse during the night. The sensor noise was very bad (I've attached a small 100% crop).
This was really surprising to me, I spent a long time tuning the IPC-T54IR-ZE but couldn't get it anywhere near as good as the T5442-ZE at night. I was so confused by this. Eventually I looked into the setting menu and discovered my mistake. I had bought not a IPC-T54IR-ZE but a IPC-T58IR-ZE!
So my discovery is that IPC-T58IR-ZE and IPC-T54IR-ZE work together in pairs really well. Mount them side by side, use the 8MP for daytime and the 4MP for night time. Maybe this is obvious. We all know a 4MP 1/1.8 sensor will beat an 8MP 1/1.8MP sensor at night, but I didn't realise the 8MP 1/1.8 sensor could be better during the day in good light. I can do daytime LPR with the 8MP but not the 4MP.
From now on I will buy pairs of IPC-T54IR-ZE + IPC-T58IR-ZE. It would be great if Dahua released a camera with both sensors and two separate video streams, they are a great combo.
I have a long collection of Dahua cameras spanning almost 10 years. Recently I bought a IPC-T54IR-ZE and set it up to replace a T5442-ZE which itself was moved to replace an even older 1/2.8" camera in a different spot.
Now that I could directly compare the IPC-T54IR-ZE to the T5442-ZE, I pulled up some day and night videos to see if there was any difference. I was surprised to find the IPC-T54IR-ZE much better during the day, and much worse during the night. The sensor noise was very bad (I've attached a small 100% crop).
This was really surprising to me, I spent a long time tuning the IPC-T54IR-ZE but couldn't get it anywhere near as good as the T5442-ZE at night. I was so confused by this. Eventually I looked into the setting menu and discovered my mistake. I had bought not a IPC-T54IR-ZE but a IPC-T58IR-ZE!
So my discovery is that IPC-T58IR-ZE and IPC-T54IR-ZE work together in pairs really well. Mount them side by side, use the 8MP for daytime and the 4MP for night time. Maybe this is obvious. We all know a 4MP 1/1.8 sensor will beat an 8MP 1/1.8MP sensor at night, but I didn't realise the 8MP 1/1.8 sensor could be better during the day in good light. I can do daytime LPR with the 8MP but not the 4MP.
From now on I will buy pairs of IPC-T54IR-ZE + IPC-T58IR-ZE. It would be great if Dahua released a camera with both sensors and two separate video streams, they are a great combo.

