T54PRO-ZE vs IPC-Color4M-TZ

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payenne99

n3wb
Apr 28, 2025
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0
Germany
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.
 
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.
 
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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


View attachment Best-192.168.1.110_ch12_20250322221210_20250322221312.mp4
 
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Let's say I want to use IR at night at all cameras (IPC-Color4M-TZ / IPC-T54PRO-ZE / IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3). Which one do you suggest now? Why not the Color4M above the IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3?

I am also still unsure about the IPC-T54PRO-ZE vs IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3, because on the datasheet the PRO should be better: higher F1.8 instead 1.2, 2GB RAM instead 1GB Ram, SMD 4 instead SMD 3, white light and speaker (which I could automate via Home Assistant i.e. when someone enters at night enable light). So is there really a big difference?
Do you think a newer firmware would fix the issues mentioned on the PRO because as far as I understand it's the same hardware? And because it's newer I think it will get supported longer? Please bear in mind that I want to use them with Frigate in combination with Home Assistant (maybe Dahua integration), so some features should be not that important to me.
 
If IR at night, 5442 series (54-IR) hands down. There’s simply no question

The 54PRO series has some serious issues. They are working on trying to correct it, but there are no guarantees. No they are not the same hardware.

The new VF model of the 3449 TIOC PRO (4M-TZ) has similar issues to the 54PRO. I have one but have yet to test it in depth.
I’ll throw it up tonight in place of a 5442 and post a quick comparison. As I showed in the video sample above, the fixed lens version (has been out about a year) is acceptable in a small defined space

If the added features such as white LEDs and reasonably good mic are a higher priority than moving target image quality, the new 54PRO would be an option. It does present very good looking still images in scenes without movement or where movement is far enough away that detail doesn’t matter.
 
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With many things, specs versus reality are two different things. Heck Reolink claims their cameras need 0 LUX with IR and we all know how well they perform at night LOL.

There are enough comparisons here that show the 54IR is the superior camera.

Also keep in mind that the heart of the camera - sensor/optics/glass/whatever you want to call it - makes a difference and the sensor/glass in the 54IR Omnivision seems to be a better sensor than the SmartSens sensor that appears to be in these newer cameras. A Ferrari with a Ford Pinto engine is going to perform like a Ford Pinto LOL.

If one is only using IR and doesn't need the speaker, don't fall for the new is better. Many cameras have come and gone trying to knock the 54IR off its throne and it hasn't happened yet. It will one day, but the PRO isn't it.

We have had many members here replace their 54IR with the latest new cam only to remove the new cam and put the 54IR back.

Most here do not use SMD because it sucks, so it doesn't matter which version it is, we aren't going to use it. The AI with IVS is far superior.

So unless you want the white light or need the speaker, if you are only doing IR, the 54IR is the way to go. If you need a speaker, get the bullet with an audio out and add one.

Or be like many here that need to learn the hard way and have to purchase for themselves despite all the evidence here showing the 54IR is the better camera LOL.
 
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payenne99 said:
I am also still unsure about the IPC-T54PRO-ZE vs IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3, because on the datasheet the PRO should be better: higher F1.8 instead 1.2, 2GB RAM instead 1GB Ram, SMD 4 instead SMD 3, white light and speaker (which I could automate via Home Assistant i.e. when someone enters at night enable light). So is there really a big difference?
Click to expand...

The SMALLER the aperture number, the "bigger" it is ... so more light is let in ...
F/1.2 is actually better than F/1.8.
 
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