Dahua Dual Imager Dome Camera Tested (HDBW4231FN-E2-M)

By: Rob Kilpatrick, Published on Nov 07, 2018

Dahua has introduced a dual-imager dome model, the HDBW4231FN-E2-M, with two independently positionable sensors including integrated IR, not found on competitive dual-imager cameras.

To see how this new model performs in real world scenes, we bought and tested the dual dome against Dahua's own single imager models, examining:

  • Camera positioning flexibility
  • Full light imaging performance
  • Low light color performance
  • <1 lux dark performance
  • Bandwidth comparison
  • VMS integration
  • Pricing compared to others

***** *** ********** * dual-imager **** *****, *** HDBW4231FN-E2-M, **** *** ************* positionable ******* ********* ********** IR, *** ***** ** competitive ****-****** *******.

** *** *** **** new ***** ******** ** real ***** ******, ** bought *** ****** *** dual **** ******* *****'* own ****** ****** ******, examining:

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

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

*******

** *** *****, *** Dahua **********-**-* **** ****** dome *** ******* *** positives:

  • **** ***********:*** ******'* **** ******* were **** ** ******** due ** ***** **** floating "*******" ******, **** support *** ******** **** to ****** ***** *** shaped *****.
  • ******** *** *****/**:*** ***** *********** *** superior ** **** **** imager ****** ** **** tested *** ** ********** IR, *** ***** ** competitors **** ** ****** or *******.
  • ***** *** ***********:*** ****** **** **** one ******* *** **** imagers ** ********, *****, Genetec, *********, *** ** Witness, ********** *** *.*** to *** ***** ******, and *.*** ** *******, Milestone, *** ** *******.

*******, ** ******** **** three *** *********, ** well:

  • **** ** ********:*** ******* ********** ** brightly *********** *** ****** of *** *****, **** objects ** *** ***** poorly ***********.
  • **** *** ***********:*** *********** *** **** against ******** ****** **** light, **** *** ********** and ******* ******** ********** washed ***.
  • *** ***** ************:*******, ** *** ***** color **** ******* ******* were ******, *** ******* objects **** ** *** test ***** **** *********** at **** ***** *** far ***** ** *** tests. **** ** **** rare/niche **** **********/** ************ but ***** ************ ******* for ***** ** ***** should ******.

***************

*** ****** **********, *** Dahua **** **** ****** dome ** * ***** choice *** ***** ******* to ***** *** ****** or ****** ***** ***** may ******* ******** ****** imager ******, *** ** its **** ***********, ********** IR, *** ***** *** support, ** * ***** competitive ** *** *** cost ** *****, *** requiring **** *** ***** and *** *******.

*******

*** ***** **-***-**********-**-* ******* online *** ~$*** ***. This ** ************* ***** than *********** **** ****** domes **** ** *** Hanwha***-******(~$*** ******) *** ******* MicroDome *** (~$*** ******).

**** ******* ** ******* to *** ******* ** domes (********* ~$*** ****), though ******* *** *** licensing ** ******* **** using *** **** ****** camera.

Competitive *******

**** ****** ****** ******* are ***** ********** ****.*******'* ********* ***,******'* ***-******, *******'**** *********** *********. ******* *** Mobotix ******* ******* ******* not ********* ** ***** and ******, **** ** higher *********** (* *** 6 **), ** *********** audio, *** */*. *******, Dahua *** ****** ****** are **** ****** ********* and **** ******** **** brands.

Physical ********

*** ***** **********-**-* ** similar ** **** ** single ****** *****, **** than *" ** ********, with *** **** ********** being *** *** ***** domes ******* ** *** larger ***. **** *** be **** ** *** comparison ** * ******* Dahua ****** ****** **** and ****** *****:

similar size to single imager domes

**** ****** ** ************** on * **** ***** an "*******" ***** ******. Camera ****** *** *****, with ** ********* ******* and ** ***** ******* aside **** *.*** (***° AOV) ** ***** *******. A ******** **°/*.*** ****** is ********* ** ***** regions.

***** ** ****** *** camera's ******** ********.

Open ****** *******

** ****** *** ****** in ** **** ****** area ~**' ****, **** both ******* ******* ******** of **** *****, **** the ****** ****** **** of ****** ** *** open ****** ****, ******* the *** **** *****.

**** ************* ******* **** sides ** *** **** office ****, **** **** exposure **********. *******, ***** is * ******* ***** spot ******** ***** *** camera (** *** ****** of *** ***** ****), which ***** *** **** to ***** **** * separate ****** ** *******.

Entry ****/******* *******

****, ** ****** *** camera ******** ** ***** vestibule ** **** ** a ********* *******, **** one ****** *** ** in ******** **** ****** fit *** *******. ** this *****, ******** *** even, **** *** ******* fully *******, ********* *** area ******** ***** *** camera. *** ****** ***** toward *** **** **** tightly ******* *** ***** and ***** **** ****.

Image ******* **********

******** ** * ******** 1080p ***** ****, *** dual ****** **** ******** similar ******/***** ******* ** near *****, **** **** slight ************ ** *** subjects **** ** ~* klux.

day performance comparison 10

** ***** ** ***/~**', performance *** ***** *******, but ****** ******* ************* reduced ** **** *******, with **** ***** ******* visible. ****** **** *****, detection ** ****** ********, but ************** ** *** possible.

day performance comparison 20

Dark ***** ******* (

** **** ****** **** IR **, ******* *** strong ** ***** ***** (~10'/~70 ***) ** *** dual ****** ******, *** slightly **** ** *** single ****** ****, **** better ***** ********** ** the **** ****** **** (line * **. **** 5)

dark performance comparison 10

******** *** ******** ** ~20' (~** ***), **** facial ******* *** ***** available ** *** ********** while **** *** **** in *** ****** ****** camera.

dark performance comparison 20

Poor ** ********

** ******** ** *** HDBW4231FN *** ****, ******** illuminating *** ****** ** the ***** ***** ******* the ***** ****, *********** reducing ******* ** *** subject *** *****.

weak ir at edges of imager fovs

************, ** *** **** imager ******'* ********* ** range (***/~**'), ************ ** weak, ****** ********* ** possible. ** ********, *** single ****** ***** **** not ******* ******* ** the ******* ** **** range.

weak ir illumination at spec range

Low ***** ***** *******

*******, ** *** ***** (~2 ***) *** ****** into ***** ****, *********** was ********** ****** ** the **** ****** ******, with ******* ******** ******* in *** ****** ****** dome, ****** **** ******* overexpose **** ** *** test *****.

night color performance comparison

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

*** *** ****** ** a ********* ******* **** an ******** ****, **** lux ******* ********** *** due ** ***** ***** ~1,200 ***, **. ~** inside.

wdr test field of view

**** ******* ********* ********* in **** ********, **** facial ******* ********** ***********, though *******, ******* ******* backlight, *** ******* ******* in *** ****** **** beside *** ****.

wdr comparison

*********

********* ** *** *** Dahua **** ****** *** similar ** *** ****** imager ****** ****** *** day, *** ********** ****** at *****. ******** **** comparable ** ******'* ***-****** dual ****** ******, ****** note **** ***** ******** integrated **, ***** ****** does ***. ************ **** taken **** ******** ****** in *** *****, **** smart ****** **.

bitrate comparison

Broad *** ***********

*** ******* *** *** HDBW4231FN *** *****, **** both ******* ********** *** streaming *** *.*** ** all ***** ******. *******, H.265 ********* *** *** supported ** ******** ** Exacq. ****** *** ****** in *** ***** ****** Avigilon. *** ***** ****** used **** **** ******* license *** **** *******.

Versions ****

*** ********* ******** ******** were **** ****** *******:

  • **********: *.***.*******.**.*

*** ********** ** **** in *****.

Comments (4)

Undisclosed #1

11/08/18 06:18am

*** ***** ******** ***** ******* *** **** ******?

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 11/08/18 10:43am

***!

Avatar

Abaas Mahroos

Al Aswar Trading Group | IPVMU Certified | 11/08/18 06:27am

** ***** *** **** ********* **** *****, ** ***** **** the **** ** **** **** ** ***** ************ ***********.

Avatar

Jason Thomas

In reply to Abaas Mahroos | 03/02/19 02:26pm

* **** * **** ** *** ** *****, *** * thought *** **** *****. **** *** ***** ******* ** *** apart ** ***** ****. **** *** ** ********** ***** *** forward. ***** **** **** ***** ****. *** * **** **** some ** *******.

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

Verkada Video Quality Problems Tested on May 23, 2019
Verkada suffers from numerous video quality problems, not found in commercial IP cameras, new IPVM testing of Verkada vs Axis and Hikvision...
Average Frame Rate Video Surveillance 2019 on May 23, 2019
What is the average frame rated used in video surveillance systems? In IPVM's 2011 statistics, the average was 6-8fps increasing to ~10fps in...
Axis ~$150 Outdoor Camera Tested on May 21, 2019
Axis has released the latest in their Companion camera line, the outdoor Companion Dome Mini LE, a 1080p integrated IR model aiming to compete with...
Facial Recognition Systems Fail Simple Liveness Detection Test on May 17, 2019
Facial recognition is being widely promoted as a solution to physical access control but we were able to simply spoof 3 systems because they had no...
Panasonic 32MP Multi Imager Camera Tested (WV-X8570N) on May 16, 2019
Panasonic has released their first multi imager models including the 32MP (4x4K) WV-X8570N, claiming "Extreme image quality for evidence capturing...
Bank Security Manager Interview on May 15, 2019
Bank security contends with many significant threats - from fraudsters to robbers and more. In this interview, IPVM spoke with bank security...
Milestone XProtect 2019 R1 Tested on May 15, 2019
For the past few years, Milestone has released quarterly software updates XProtect VMS platform. What is new and how much impact do the updates...
Bluecherry Open Sources Entire VMS on May 13, 2019
Bluecherry announced they have "released the entire Bluecherry software application open source with a GPL license". We spoke to Bluecherry's...
Mining Company Security Manager Interview on May 10, 2019
First Quantum Minerals Limited (FQML) is a global enterprise with offices on 4 continents and operations in 7 countries with exploratory operations...
Hikvision DeepinView Camera Analytics Tested on May 08, 2019
Hikvision is expanding its 'deep learning' offerings with a new camera series called 'DeepinView' claiming false alarm reduction and improved...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Kidnapping Victim Rescued With Video From Ring Doorbell Camera on May 24, 2019
A kidnapping victim was rescued within 24 hours, with the police crediting video from a Ring Doorbell camera as key to solving the case. A girl was...
NJ Law Requires Apprenticeship For Public Works Integrators on May 24, 2019
Few integrators do a formal apprenticeship program. However, now a NJ law is requiring any integrator on public works projects (such as state...
Security / Privacy Journalist Sam Pfeifle Interview on May 24, 2019
Sam Pfeifle is best known as the outspoken former Editor of Security Systems News. After that, he was publications director at the International...
Verkada Video Quality Problems Tested on May 23, 2019
Verkada suffers from numerous video quality problems, not found in commercial IP cameras, new IPVM testing of Verkada vs Axis and Hikvision...
Average Frame Rate Video Surveillance 2019 on May 23, 2019
What is the average frame rated used in video surveillance systems? In IPVM's 2011 statistics, the average was 6-8fps increasing to ~10fps in...
Dahua USA Celebrates 5 Years of Errors on May 22, 2019
Dahua USA is, in their own words, 'celebrating' 5 years in North America or as trade magazine SSN declared: Dahua Technology finds success in...
Access Control Job Walk Guide on May 22, 2019
Significant money can be saved and problems avoided with an access control job walk if you know what to look for and what to ask. By inviting...
ASCMA / Monitronics Declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Plan on May 22, 2019
Monitronics is entering into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company, also called Ascent Capital Group Inc., aka ASCMA, aka Brinks Home Security,...
US Considers Sanctions Against Hikvision and Dahua on May 22, 2019
The US government is considering blacklisting "up to 5" PRC surveillance firms, including Hikvision and Dahua, Bloomberg reported, with human...
Axis ~$150 Outdoor Camera Tested on May 21, 2019
Axis has released the latest in their Companion camera line, the outdoor Companion Dome Mini LE, a 1080p integrated IR model aiming to compete with...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact