Dahua Low-Cost 4MP Camera Tested (N44CL52)

By: Ethan Ace, Published on Sep 10, 2018

4MP use continues to increase, especially in low-cost models, according to integrators in our 2018 Resolution Usage Statistics.

We bought Dahua's latest generation entry-level 4MP model, the N44CL52, to see how it performs in real scenes, examining:

tested

  • Full light performance
  • Low light performance
  • Integrated IR coverage
  • Integrated IR range
  • WDR performance
  • Bandwidth consumption
  • Physical features
  • Pricing compared to others

Readers should also see our tests of other 4MP models, including:

And coming soon, we plan to release a shootout of these and other 4MP models to see which stand out.

*** *** ********* ** increase, ********** ** ***-**** models, ********* ** *********** in *** **** ********** ***** **********.

** ****** *****'* ****** generation *****-***** *** *****, the *******, ** *** *** it ******** ** **** scenes, *********:

tested

  • **** ***** ***********
  • *** ***** ***********
  • ********** ** ********
  • ********** ** *****
  • *** ***********
  • ********* ***********
  • ******** ********
  • ******* ******** ** ******

******* ****** **** *** our ***** ** ***** 4MP ******, *********:

*** ****** ****, ** plan ** ******* * shootout ** ***** *** other *** ****** ** see ***** ***** ***.

[***************]

*******

** *** ******** ****, the Dahua's ******* *** ***** advantages:

  • ***'+ ** *****:*** ******* ******** ******** its ***/~**' ** *****, with ******** ******* *********** (though *** *** *** to *** ******** *** wide ***).
  • ***** ******* *******: *** *******'* ******* ****** were ***** *** ****** exposed ******* ****** ********, providing ****** ******* **** some ***** *** ****** tested.
  • ***** *** *******: *****'* *** ******* ** broad ******** ** **** low **** *** ****** tested, **** *.*** *** camera **** ****** ********* in *****, *******, *********, and ** *******, **** H.264 *** ****** ******* in ********.

*******, ** ******** **** two ****** ******** ** other *** ****** ** our *****:

  • ****** ** ********:*** *******'* ** ************ was **** ****** ** the ****** ** *** scene, ****** ** *** point ** ************, *** much ****** ** *** edges, ******** *******.
  • ***** ******* **** *** performance: *** ******* ******** **** artifacts/halos ******* ****** ********, reducing ******* ******* ******** to *********** *** *** not ****** **** ***** issues.

*******

*** ***** ******* ******* for ~$*** *** ******, which ** ******* ** or ******** ***** **** others, **** ** *** Digital ******** ***-****** (**** ~$***).

** ******** ** *** 2.8mm ***** (***°), ***** also ****** *** ******* in *.*** (**°).

Physical ********

*** ******* ** ******* to *****'* **** **** models, **** ****** *********** in ** *** ****** and ************, *** ********* similar ************.

*** ****** **** ******** audio ** *** *** as **** ** ********** ***** *** ******, ******** ******** ** many ***** ***** *****.

Size/Form ****** ******** ** ***********

*** ******* ** ******* in **** ** *********** outdoor ***** **** ** the ********* **-**********-* *** Hanwha ***-***** ***** *****. Note **** ***** *** Hikvision *** * ***** whip *** ************, ***** Hanwha **** ***.

Uneven ** ********

*** *******'* ** ************ is **** ****** ** the ******, ************ *** subject ****** ** *** point ** ************, ***** leaving *** ****** *** at *** **** ** the ***** ** ****, obscuring *******.

Slight **** ********** **** ** *****

*** ******* ******* **** slight **** ********** ** the ***** ** *** field ** ****, ******* a ****** ********* ** detail. *******, ***** ******* are ********** ******/***-***** ** the ****, *** ****** maintains ****** ***********, **** the ******* *** ***** not ********* ******** ** stretched ** ** **** other *** **** **** angle ******.

Image *******

** ~**'/~** ***, **** the *** *** ***** images **** ******* ******* details, **** *** ******* easily ************ ** *****. Text ********** ** ******** worse ** *****, **** 5 ***** ** ******* text ******** ** *-* during *** ***.

** ***** ***** *** distance *** **** *** PPF (~**'/~** ***), ******* subject ****** ******* *** rougher, *** ***** *******, with *** ***** ******* to *** ***** ****, though **** ****** ************. At *****, ******* ******* are **** *****, **** only *** ***** *** second ***** ******* ** the **** *****.

*******, ** ~***' **** day *** ***** **** provide ********* ** *** subject *** ** ******* on *** *****. **** that *** ******* ** still *********** ****, ******* the ******'* ** ***** specifications (***/~**').

WDR ***********

** ****** *** ** a ********* ***** **** open ******** ****, **** a **** ******** ******** (~90 *** ******* **. 10,000+ *******). 

*** *******'* *** *** below ******* ** *** tests, ********* **** *********** glows/halos *** ********* ****** the *******, *** ******* in ***** ****** ******, such ** ****, ******, or *********. ** *** darker **** **** ** the ****, ******* ******* can ** **********, ****** he ** ********** ****.

Solid *** ***********

*.*** ********* *** ****** configuration ****** ******* ***** Avigilon, *****, *******, *********, and ******* ***** *****. However, *.*** *******, ** well ** ****** **** motion *** *********, ****** depending ** *** ***:

vms integration comparison

Smart *.***+ ********* **********

*** ******* ******** *****'****** *.***+/*.***+ *****, **** *.*** ********* in *** ***** ****** except ********.

***** *.*** ******** **** notably ***** **** ***** H.264 ****** *** ***, over **%, *** **** ~15% ***** ** *****.

**** **** *** ************ were ***** **** ******** motion ** *** ***** (subjects *******). ***** **** less ****** ** ******* still ****** *** *** much ***** ********.

bitrate comparison

Versions ****

*** ********* ******** ******* was **** ****** *******. Settings **** **** ** default **** *** ********* of ******** (*** ** "Customized *****" **** * max ** **.****/*** ****) and *** ** *****.

  • ********: *.***.*******.**.*, ***** ****: 2018-03-30

Comments (5)

Robert Shih

IPVM | 09/10/18 03:48pm

********, * ***** **** issues *** ***** ** one ** *** ******** versions *****:

******-******-***************************.***.*******.**.*.******

******-******-***************************.***.*******.*.*.******

**'* ****** **** ** check*****://*********.***/******/********/******** *** ******* ********.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Robert Shih | 09/10/18 03:55pm

** ** ******** **** ******** ******, ******, *** ****** for *******. *** ******* we ****** **** ** what ***** **. ** these ******** *** *****, Dahua ***** ** ** a ****** ***.

****, ** * **** for ******* ** **** list *** ****** **, I ***** **** ** idea **** *******. ******* matches **** ****** *****, and ***** ** ** indication ** **** ****** anything **** **. *** filenames *** *** *** before *** *** **** see *** *******:

** **** **** ***** (and *********) **** ******* before ** ****, ***, because ** ***** ******, and **** **** ** what ** ****** **** was ******. 

Robert Shih

IPVM | In reply to Ethan Ace | 09/10/18 05:42pm

*'** ******* **** *****'* R&D ***'* *** **** communicative **** *** **** of *** ****. *** firmware **** ******** *** posted ********* ****** ******* full ************* *****....**% ** the ****?

*********, **** ******* ***'* always **...*******?

Avatar

Sean Nelson

Nelly's Security | In reply to Ethan Ace | 09/10/18 07:12pm

** ** *** ***** **** ******** ******, ******, *** ****** for *******. *** ******* we ****** **** ** what ***** **. ** these ******** *** *****, Dahua ***** ** ** a ****** ***.

****, ** * **** for ******* ** **** list *** ****** **, I ***** **** ** idea **** *******. ******* matches **** ****** *****, and ***** ** ** indication ** **** ****** anything **** **. *** filenames *** *** *** before *** *** **** see *** *******:

******. **** ** *** way ** ** **** most ******* *************. ** you **** *** **** current ******** ** ** displayed *** **** ** users, **** **** *** a *** ** ** make ** **** ****** findable ******* ****** ** "know *** ******" ** get *** ********.

Robert Shih

IPVM | In reply to Sean Nelson | 09/10/18 08:10pm

******* **********: ***** ***** to ** * ****** job.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

UTC Interlogix Series 6 Tested on Mar 25, 2019
UTC Interlogix has long been deceptively OEMing Hikvision as our 2017 results show. Now, Interlogix is back with their newest IP camera series,...
Axis 5MP P Vs Q Camera Shootout (P3227-LVE vs Q3517-LVE) on Apr 02, 2019
While Axis' Q3517-LVE tested well, it is one of Axis' most expensive dome cameras, over $1,000 USD. Because of this, members asked us how it...
Hikvision 4K Camera Shootout on Aug 02, 2019
With their latest Smart Series 5 cameras, Hikvision is claiming cameras "fully loaded" with "state-of-the-art technology for high performance and...
Hanwha 4K Wisenet P Camera Tested on Jul 30, 2019
Hanwha claims "premium performance" and to "deliver the best in high resolution performance and efficiency" with their Wisenet P series 4K models,...
Dahua 4K Camera Shootout on Aug 20, 2019
Dahua's new Pro Series 4K N85CL5Z claims to "deliver superior images in all lighting and environmental conditions", but how does this compare to...
Axis 4K Camera Shootout 2019 on Aug 14, 2019
Axis' 4K Q3518-LVE claims the "best video quality possible", with Lightfinder super low light performance, Axis' high end Forensic WDR, and...
Uniview Pro 4K Camera Tested (IPC3238ER3-DVZ) on Aug 29, 2019
In our 8MP / 4K Fixed Lens Camera Shootout, Uniview's low end 8MP was firmly in the middle of the pack. Does their higher end Pro Series 4K camera...
Panasonic 4K Camera Tested (WV-S2570L) on Sep 13, 2019
Panasonic has released their latest generation 4K dome, the WV-S2570L, claiming "Extreme image quality allows evidence to be captured even under...
Uniview Prime Series 4K Camera Tested on Sep 18, 2019
Is the new Uniview 'Prime' better than the more expensive existing Uniview 'Pro'? In August, IPVM tested Uniview 4K 'Pro' but members advocated...
Axis Next Gen P32 Camera Tested (P3245-LVE) on Dec 18, 2019
Axis has released the next generation of their widely used P32 camera series, now with their current ARTPEC-7 chip, claiming their imaging...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Hazardous & Explosion Proof Access Control Tutorial on Feb 27, 2020
Controlling access to hazardous environments requires equipment meeting specific ratings that certify they will not start fires or will not...
Motorola / Avigilon Drops ISC West on Feb 26, 2020
Motorola Solutions has pulled out of ISC West 2020 effective immediately, because of coronavirus concerns, IPVM has learned. This is done amidst...
Cancel or Not? Industry Split Over ISC West on Feb 26, 2020
The industry is split, polarized, over whether ISC West 2020 should run or be canceled. New IPVM survey results of 400+ respondents show heated...
Coronavirus Hits Sony, Bosch Says Switch on Feb 26, 2020
Sony's fall in video surveillance has been severe over the past decade. Now, they may be done. In this note, we examine Bosch's new...
Video Surveillance Cameras 101 on Feb 25, 2020
Cameras come in many shapes, sizes and specifications. This 101 examines the basics of cameras and features used in 2020. In this report, we...
Favorite Video Analytic Manufacturers 2020 on Feb 25, 2020
Video analytics is now as hot as ever, driven by the excitement of advancing deep learning offers. But what are actually integrator's...
Latest London Police Facial Recognition Suffers Serious Issues on Feb 24, 2020
On February 20, IPVM visited another live face rec deployment by London police, but this time the system was thwarted by technical problems and...
Masks Cause Major Facial Recognition Problems on Feb 24, 2020
Coronavirus is spurring an increase in the use of medical masks, which new IPVM test results show cause major problems for facial recognition...
Every VMS Will Become a VSaaS on Feb 21, 2020
VMS is ending. Soon every VMS will be a VSaaS. Competitive dynamics will be redrawn. What does this mean? VMS Historically...
Video Surveillance 101 Course - Last Chance on Feb 20, 2020
This is the last chance to join IPVM's first Video Surveillance 101 course, designed to help those new to the industry to quickly understand the...

What IPVM Is

The world's leading authority on video surveillance, with 200,000+ visits monthly.

  • Articles on cameras, video analytics, VMS, and trends
  • Tests showing actual performance and problems
  • Courses in surveillance, access control, etc
  • Camera Calculator for designing systems

Dedicated To Independence

We're dedicated to staying independent and objective. We're the only industry source to refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship, and consulting from manufacturers. Why?