Dahua 4K Micro 4/3 Camera Tested (IPC-HF8835F)

By John Scanlan, Published Apr 03, 2018, 01:08pm EDT

Dahua is going big.

Their new 4K HF8835F Micro Four Thirds sensor is one of the largest now on the market. Dahua is claming:

Starlight Technology and Ultra Wide Dynamic Range to produce crisp, clear images with minimal ambient light

How well will Dahua face in this segment against Axis' Q1659 or Sony's 35mm VB770? And how does it compare to 1/2" super low light models like Hanwa's ExtraLux or Hikvision Darkfighter?

We bought and tested the HF8835F to find out. Inside we report our findings on:

  • Dark (<0.1lx) monochrome image quality
  • Low light (<1lx) color image quality
  • Daytime image quality
  • WDR performance
  • Lens options
  • Physical features
  • VMS support
  • Bandwidth

*******

*** ******* *** ******* key ********* ** *** testing:

  • ****** ***:*** ******* ******** *** best *** ******* ** cameras ******, **** ***** images ******* ****** ********* and ** ****** ***** of *** *****.
  • ****** **** ***** *******:**** ***** ******* ******* were ******, ***** ** the **** **** ***** and **** ****** **** Hanwha *** ********* ***** 1/2" ****** ******.
  • ****** *** ***** *******:** *** ***** ******, ~1-3lx, *** ******* ******** better ****** **** *** Axis *****, ****** ******** 6085, *** ********* **** due ** ******* ************. However, ***** ****** **** that ******* *** ***** poor ******** ** *** high *** ****** (~** PPF ** ~**' *****, effectively ******* ** ~** PPF). ************, ******* **** much ***** **** ****'* 35mm *****, ***** ******** usable ******* ******* *** more ******* **** **** the *******.

*******, ***** **** *** key *********:

  • **** **** ********* *******:** **** ****** (the ******* ******** **** rough ******* ** *** subject, ********** ** *********'* 1/2" ***** *********** (****) and **** ***** **** Hanwha's ******** **** *** Sony *****, **** ** which ******* ***** ******* detail. *** **** ***** produced ** ******* ** the ******* ** **** chart ** ***** ****** (with **-****/**.* ****).
  • **** *** **** ******/** third ***** ****** *********:***** ****** **** * single *.*** **** ***** with * **** **** 107° ***** ** **** and * **** **.**-****. ***** **** ******* states **** *** ****** does *** ******* ***** lenses, *** ** **** unable ** ***** * third ***** (*********/*****) ***** in *** *****. ** contrast, **** ****** ***** different **** ******* *** supported ***** ** ***** lenses ** *** *****.

*******

*** ***-******* ***** ***~$*,***-*,*** *** ********* *** ****** ****, with ** **********~$*** *** *****'* *.*** M43 ****. **** ** ******* less ********* **** ***** large ****** *******, **** as *** **** ***** (~$4,200-7,200 ********* ** ****) or **** ***-***** ($*,***, not ********* ****). *******, the ***** ******* ** ~$1,000 **** **** *****'******* ****/** *****(**** */*.*" ******).

*** *******'* ******* ** also ******* **** ********* than */*" ****** ****** here:

Physical ********

*** ******* ** ******* to ******* *** *******, with *** **** ******* difference ***** *** ****** Micro **** ****** **** mount. *** **** ****** and ******** *** ********* similar ** ******* ** mount *** *******, **** audio, ******, *******, *** microSD ******* ** *****, located ** *** **** of *** ******. ** review ***** ******** ** this ******** ********:

Closer ** **** ** ******* *** *******

*** ****** ** ********** larger **** ******* ** mount *** ****** ******, such ** *** ********* 6026 ***** *****, *** notably ******* **** ****** imager ****** **** ** the **** ***** (***-* sensor). ************, *****'* *********** 8.5mm **** ** **** smaller **** ******* **-***** lenses, **** ** *** 10-22mm ***** ***** ** the **** ****** *****.

Imager **** **********

*** ***** ******'* ***** Four ****** ****** ** notably ******* **** *** Axis ***-* ******, ***** below.

Lens *************

***** ****** **** * single *** ****, **** a ***° ***** ** view (*.***, **.*). ************, while ***** **** ***** states:

"**** ****** ** ********** with *** **** ** M43 ******, ********* ***** and ********* ****-***** ******."

*******, ** *** *******, the ****** *** ****** to ***** **** ***** an *** ***** **.* Panasonic/Leica **** (***** *****). When *****, ***** **** support ****** **** **** do *** ******* ***-***** lenses.

Axis ***** *********: **** ***********

*****'* **** ** **** options ** * *** disadvantage *** *** *** shared ** ***** ***** imager *******. *** *******, the **** ***** ***** with ***** ********* **** options *** *** ********** with ****** ** *** tests, ******* **** **** angle (~***°) ** ********* (~12°).

** **** ****, *** Axis ***** **** *** 10-22mm **** ****** (**** a **** **.* *-****) as ***** **** ****** were *** ****** ** fairly **** ******* *** Dahua *****'* **** ***/**** F ****. ******* ** this, *** ***** *********** of *** ***** ** reduced ** **** ****, as ******* ***** **** needed ** ** ********* too *** ***** *** realistic ******* ** ********** for *** ***********.

*** *******, ** *** original **** ** *** Q1659, ****** ** ******* PPF ****** (** *** shown *****) **** ************* brighter, ****** ***** ****** details.

***** ******* *** ***** examples ** ***** *** light *********** ****** *** our *****:**** **** ***** ****** Tested******* ** **** ***** Size ******** (***** ** SNC-VB770).

Versus **** ***-*****

******** ******'* **** ***-***** (*** our ****), *** ******* ******** dimmer ****** **** **** detail. *** *******, ********* the ******* ******* ****** from **** ***** ****, the **** ****** ******** much ******** ******, **** detection **** ******, ****** facial ****** ******* *****.

Super *** ***** *********** (

** **** *** ***** below *.***, *** ****** produces ***** ****** ** the ******* ** **** range (~** ***), ****** than *** ********* **** which ******* **** ***** digital ***** *** *** Q1659, ***** **** *** display *** ******* ** test *****. *** ****** ExtraLux ****** ******** *** best ****** ** **** light *****.

******** ********, *** ***** camera **** *** ******* usable ******* ** *** subject, **** ***** *********, though ***** ******** ****** than ********* *** ****.

*******, ** ~**', *** Dahua ****** ***** *** subject *******, **** **** the ****** ****** ********* solid *********.

Low ***** *********** (*-***)

**** **** ******** ****** on, *** ******* ****** from ************ ** *** subject *** **** *****, but *** ***** ****** provided *** ******** ****** of *** *******. *** Axis ***** *** ******* bad ***** *** ****** resolution *** *********** *** (122 **. **).

******** ********, ****** **** others ****** *********** *** unclear, ***** *** ***** HF8835 ***** ******** ***** facial ******.

Full *****

** **** *****, *** Dahua ****** ******** ******** more ****** ** *** test ***** **** *** Axis *****, **** **** even ********.

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

*******, ** ~**' ********, details ** *** ******* remain ******* ** *** Axis *****, *** ****** than ******.

Lens **********

******* ** *** **** angle ** ****/***** ***** length, *** ***** *.*** lens ******** ********** ********** at *** **** ** the ***** ** ****. For *******, *** ******* is ********** ******* ** the ***** ** *** image *****:

************, **** ******* ******* of *** ******* *** chart, ***** *****. *** Axis ***** ******* ************* less **** **** *****. While *** ******* ** still *******/******, ******* ****** clearer ** *** **** camera.

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

*** ***** ******* ****** 140dB "***** ***", ***** we ****** ** * warehouse *****, ***** *****. Note **** **** ***** was ****** ** ******* samples ** *********** *********** differences, ****** ***** *** unlikely ** ***** * warehouse **** **** * single ** ** **** camera.

*** ******* ********* ****** than *** ***** ****** in **** *****, **** clear ****** **** ******* strong *********, ** **** as ** *** ****** are ****** *** ****, where ***** ****** ******** worse *******.

VMS *******

** *** *****, *** HF8835F ********** ***** *** Dahua ****** ** ********, Exacq, *******, *********, *** via ***** ** ******* Optix/Hanwha ****, ****** ** is *** ************ ****** as ********* ** *** of ***** *****. ****** configuration ****** ******** ** all ***** *****, **** camera **** *** *** camera ******* ********* ** Avigilon, *****, *******, *** Milestone.

** ***** *****, *** H.265 ****** ********** ******** in *****, *******, *** Milestone.

Bandwidth **********

***** *.***, *********'* ***** ***** *******, *** *******'* ******** are ******* ***** **** the **** ***** *** and *****, ****** **** higher **** *** ***** models ******.

*******, ****** **** *** megapixel, *** ***** ****** performs ***** **** *** and *****, ******* ****** the **** ******* *** megapixel ****** *** ***, and ~**% ****** ** night.

Limited ***** ******* **** *******

****** *** *****, *****'* North ******* **** ******* admitted **** **** ********** with *** *******. *** questions ***** ******** ****** a **** **** ** a ****** ***** ** answer.

*** ********* ** ******** were *******, *** *****. For *******, **** ****** about ***** ***** **** support (********* *****), ***** did *** ******* *** support *** ******* ** the ***** **** ******** with *** ******, ** whether ********** ******* **** planned, **** ******* **** the ****** **** *** support ***** ******.

Firmware ******** ****

*** **** ******* ******** available ** *** **** of ******* *** ****:

  • ***** ***-*******: *.***.*******.*.* ***** 2017-11-15
  • **** *****: *.**.*
  • ****** ***-*****: *.*********
  • ********* **-***********-*: **.*.** ***** 170310

Comments (20)

Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | 04/03/18 06:40pm

FWIW, several people have tried alternate lenses here with varying degrees of success.

The camera has an (auto) back focus adjustment, yes?

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 04/03/18 06:46pm

Btw, lol at this:

A direct from Asia seller on IPCamTalk is selling it at 1/2 of what the USA price is. Quite the channel management.

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to John Honovich | 04/03/18 06:57pm

There are prices as low as $399 on Alibaba.

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 04/03/18 06:53pm

It has a button on the camera and in the web interface that says auto focus, yes. But they didn't do anything in our tests. 

I believe it's auto focus, not auto back focus, and aimed at driving motorized lenses, but that simply didn't work. If it were auto back focus, we would've heard the imager move. 

 

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Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ethan Ace | 04/03/18 08:14pm

I believe it's auto focus, not auto back focus, and aimed at driving motorized lenses, but that simply didn't work. If it were auto back focus, we would've heard the imager move.

Is their lens motorized? 

Maybe there is a m43 equivalent of the c to cs adapter ring :)

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 04/03/18 08:17pm

No, it is not.

There are M43 to other lens type adapters, but it's even less realistic to expect that users would purchase an EF lens just to adapt it to this camera, given the price tag of low F stop EF lenses, often $1,000+.

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Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ethan Ace | 04/03/18 08:35pm

There are M43 to other lens type adapters...

No, I meant like a spacer ring to extend the focal length without changing the threads, like a c-cs spacer.  Half joking as well.

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Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ethan Ace | 04/04/18 01:39am

No, it is not.

The A&E doc does claim it:

Curiously the official image seems to show a different lens, a SLR Magic f1.6:

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 04/03/18 06:56pm

Also interesting in that link is multiple people testing EF lenses with adapters with the camera. I really do not see why others should not work, and was baffled when the other lens we tried did not. 

Regardless, Dahua flat out says it does not support other lenses, so it's a use at your own risk situation. 

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

04/04/18 09:00am

I tried different manual focus lenses and it worked fine. Strange. 

Also, next time you can check Dahua Accessorie selector, you will get all lens options. Currently there are two models from Dahua available and I prefer this one, much more light. 

PFL2070-J12M

 

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 04/04/18 01:56pm

Thanks for that link. That is a much more reasonable F-Stop and AOV. Unfortunately, that lens is not yet shipping in NA, and tech support wasn't even aware of it. We will keep an eye out for it and update here when it's available to us.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

In reply to Ethan Ace | 04/05/18 03:27pm

This is the vari focal lens on HDCVI version of this camera: LEns for 4/3" Dahua camera

 

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Tony Lagan

04/05/18 08:10am

Looking at our pricelists there is a varifocal lens for this camera too. I will try to get more details and post them later.

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Tony Lagan

In reply to Tony Lagan | 04/10/18 05:30am

The lens is a DH-PFL2070-J12M which is a 20 to 70mm varifocal lens.

Some Specs.

Model DH-PFL2070-J12M
Parameter
Image format 4/3”
Focal length 20~70mm
Lens pixel 12MP
Aperture F1.5
Mount M43
Field Angle (D*H*V) 4096*2160(17:9) W: 55°x 48.1°x 24.9°
T: 17.9°x 15.9°x 8.4°
3704*2778(4:3) W: 55°x 43.3°x 32.2°
T: 17.9°x 14.4°x 10.8°
3840*2160(16:9) W: 52.1°x 45°x 24.9°
T: 17°x 14.9°x 8.4°
Lens Control Focus Manual
Iris Manual
IR Correction No
M.O.D. 3m(9.84ft)
Dimension ɸ73x149.2mm(ɸ2.87”x5.87”)
Weight 0.99kg(2.18lb)
Operating temperature -30℃～+70℃(-22℉~158℉)
Humidity <90% RH
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Robert Shih

Independent
04/05/18 02:16pm

Is this a Nova or Nova2 chipset/firmware or something entirely different? I don't see this version correlating with anything I have on hand.

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Robert Shih | 04/05/18 03:45pm

It's Nova2 from the wiki.

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Robert Shih

Independent
In reply to Ethan Ace | 04/06/18 09:07pm

DH_IPC-HX8XXX-Wei-Nova2_EngSpnFrn_N_Stream3_V2.622.0000001.2.R.171115

Oooh, looks like it's a new chipset. Not a pure Nova2....I wonder what the "Wei" portion is for.

My curiosity is piqued. Time to bug a few engineers @ Dahua.

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | 04/06/18 03:04am

Note: We originally listed the F-stop of the Axis 10-22mm lens as 2.8, but it is actually 3.5, an even greater difference compared to the F1.2/F1.4 lenses used in past tests. We've corrected this above.

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Rafael Oneda

04/06/18 09:12pm

I didn't understand why to do a comparison between 4K, 20MP and 1080p cameras.. is almost like to compare bananas and watermelons, does not make sense. I think the right Axis camera to be compared with Dahua HF8835F is P1368, dont you think?
Of course the 20MP sensor camera will perform worst in dark and will generate a biger net troughput.

I would like to see a Axis Q1659 vs Avigilon 24L-H4PRO-B super hight resolution cameras comparison. It would be interesting.

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Rafael Oneda | 04/06/18 10:41pm

I think the right Axis camera to be compared with Dahua HF8835F is P1368, dont you think?

Rafael, it's a good question but not the right conclusion, at least if focusing on low light performance. The P1368 is the same resolution as the Dahua tested here (8MP) but according to Axis own specs the Q1659 has ~10x better low light performance than the P1368.

From the 20MP Axis Q1659 datasheet:

From the 8MP Axis P1368 datasheet:

The 8MP P1368 has a 1/2.5" sensor while the Axis 20MP Q1659 sensor is vastly larger which is likely the main reason that Axis itself specs the 20MP as so much better in low light.

To be clear, we are not opposed to testing other models but the rationale in this shootout was to pick cameras that we know from previous tests are strong in low light.

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