T54PRO-ZE vs IPC-Color4M-TZ

[payenne99]

Hello guys,

I am planning to buy new cameras and use them with Frigate. I planned to buy the good old IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3 but then saw that there is a newer model of this: T54PRO-ZE
Then after some more digging I found another similar model: IPC-Color4M-TZ

I want a varifocal camera with 4MP, the light here is ok in the dark, but it's definitely not good. Some years earlier I everytime read that IR cams are always better at night than color cams, but this seems to be have changed nowadays. The latter are not that bad anymore. I wouldn't say that color at night is a must for me but a nice to have (but only when the video quality is good enough).

As far as I understand these both cameras (PRO and Color4M) have IR + color mode at night. The color4m has also blue/red light which sounds cool but I think no one outside uses it frequently. So what is the big difference then? Which one would you suggest and why?

Thank you all.

 

[wittaj]

Keep in mind all cameras need 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.

Between the PRO and 4M and I am going with the 4M.

 

[bigredfish]

I would stay away from the 54PRO until they get it sorted out

For larger open spaces, forget color unless you have a shit ton of light and go with the 54IR (5442 series) as mentioned above

The 4M is a nice camera. I use it as an entry door cam. recommend it for smaller spaces

• Yes it has OPTIONAL red/blue TIOC lights but you can choose to set them to come on as part of an alarm or not.
• The white LED's are adequate for a small entryway, but not for a bigger open yard type space.
• You can choose to run the white LED's full time at night, or do as I do and have them activate on motion for a set period of time
• It also does very well in IR mode and picks up light even better than the 5442

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