Dahua Repositionable IR Multi-Imager Camera Tested

By: Rob Kilpatrick, Published on Apr 16, 2019

Dahua has released their first repositionable multi-imager camera, the Multi-Flex 4x2MP, claiming integrated IR, true WDR, and flexible positioning.

We bought and tested the Multi-Flex to see how it performs, examining:

  • How does it perform in full light (~300 lux) and low light/IR (~0.01 lux)?
  • Is IR coverage even and does it reach its specs?
  • How flexible is imager positioning?
  • How does it compare in size to competitive multi-imagers?
  • How do bitrates compare to single imager models?
  • How well does it integrated to third party VMSes (Avigilon, Exacq, Genetec, Milestone and NxWitness + Hanwha/DW)?
  • How many VMS licenses does it use?

This is the latest in a series of new repositionable multi imager testing. Readers should also see our tests of the Axis P3717-PLE and Hanwha's PNM-9000VQ. Coming up we plan to test Avigilon's H4 multi sensor, as well as a shootout of all these recent repositionable models.

***** *** ******** ***** first ************** *****-****** ******,*** *****-**** *****, ******** ********** **, true ***, *** ******** positioning.

** ****** *** ****** the *****-**** ** *** how ** ********, *********:

  • *** **** ** ******* in **** ***** (~*** lux) *** *** *****/** (~0.01 ***)?
  • ** ** ******** **** and **** ** ***** its *****?
  • *** ******** ** ****** positioning?
  • *** **** ** ******* in **** ** *********** multi-imagers?
  • *** ** ******** ******* to ****** ****** ******?
  • *** **** **** ** integrated ** ***** ***** VMSes (********, *****, *******, Milestone *** ********* + Hanwha/DW)?
  • *** **** *** ******** does ** ***?

**** ** *** ****** in * ****** ** new ************** ***** ****** testing. ******* ****** **** see *** ***** ** the**** *****-************'* ***-******. ****** ** ** plan ** ************'* ** ***** ******, ** **** ** a ******** ** *** these ****** ************** ******.

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

*******

*** *****-**** ***** *** three *** *********:

  • ***** *** ***********: *** ******'* *.*** streaming/configuration *** ****** **** motion ********* ********** **** all ***** ******: ********, Exacq, *******, *********, *** NX *******. *.*** ****** in *****, *******, *** Nx *******.
  • **** ***********/******:******* **** **** ** position, **** *-**° **** (including ******** ****) *** adjustable ** ***** **** for ******** **** *************.
  • **** ** ********:** ******** *** **** across *** ***** ** view, **** ******** **** illuminated ** *** ***** of *** ***** ** closer ****** (~**-**'). *******, overall ** ***** *** weak, ********* *****.

*******, ***** **** ******* negatives ** ******* *** licensing ************:

  • **** *** ***** ***********:******** ** ******* ****** imager ** *****, *** Multi-Flex ****** ******** ******* and ****** ******, **** noticeably **** ******, **** after **********.
  • **** ** *****:*** *****-****'* ** ************ was **** ** **** ~80', ***** ** *** 30m/~98' ********* *****, ****** coverage ** ******* ****** was ****** **** ****** the ***, ********* *****.
  • **** *** **** *** imager:**** *** ***** ****** of *** *****-**** ****** features **** *** ***********, with ****** ***** *******/**** WDR, ********** **** *****. This ** ******** ** multi ****** ******, ***** typically ******* **** **** WDR ****** ** ****.
  • **** ******** ******** ** most *****:****** **** ****** ***** integrate ** ***** ***** only *** ****** ******* for *** **** ********, the *****-**** ******** **** licenses ** *** ***** tested ****** *********, ***** required **** ***. **** results ** * *********** cost ******** **** ***** third ***** ***.
  • ****** **** *** ***** whip:*** *****-**** *** *** key ******** *********, ** it ** ****** ******** than ***** ****** ****** (nearly **" ****) *** uses * ***** ****, uncommon ** ***** ***** imager ****** (****** **** used ** *********).

****: ** **** ** compare ** ***** ******* multi-imager ****** ** ** upcoming ********.

*******

*** ***** *****-**** ***** has ** ********* ****** price ** ~$*,*** ***. This ******* ** ********** lower **** ******* *****-************ ***-********** ***** ******* (**** ~$1,200 ******), ****** ******** higher **** *********'* *** model,*** **-**********-****, ~$*** ******.

Larger **** *********** ***** *******

*** *****-**** ** ****** in ******** **** **** the **** *****-*** *** Hanwha ***-****** ***** ******* and ****** **** *** Axis *****. *** ***** multi ****** **** ******** a **** *** *** LAN **********, ***** *** others ** ***, ******** ********************* ******** ******* *****.

Physical ********

*** *****-**** ****** **** a ***** ************** ****** for *** ****** *** IR. **** *** ****** is ****** ** ** down, *** ** *********** adjusts ***** **** **, shown *****.

***** ** ** ******** of *** ***** ******** features ** *** *****-**** camera:

Similar **** ***** ***** ******* ** ******* ***** (~*** ***)

** ~**'/~** *** *** Dahua ********* ****** ******* facial *** ***** ******* to *** *********** ***** 1080p ******.

*** **** *** **** at *** ** **** range ** ****, **** both ******* ******** ******* similar ****** *** ***** details ** ~**'/~** ***.

Poor ****/** ***** ******* (~*.** ***)

** *** **** **** IR ** (~*.****), ** ~25'/~50 *** *** *****-**** 4x2MP ****** ***** ****** details **** *** ***** Dahua **** *** ** increased *****, ***** *** chart ******* *** **** softer.

** ~**'/~** *** *** Multi-Flex *** ****** ****** dome **** **** ***** detection ** *** ******* while *** ***** **** still *** * **** of ******* **** ** the *****.

******* ** ~**' **** detection ** *** ******* is ******* ** **** cameras, **** **** ***** of ***** ***/~**' ********* IR *****.

IR ********

** ************ ** ********** weaker ** *** ***** of *** ***** ** view **** ******, ****** the ******* ** ***** properly *******, **** ***** details, ***** ** *** center ** ** ******** overexposed.

**** ************ ** **** noticeable **** *** ******* walks **** ~**' ** the ****** ********, **** him ******** *********** ** ~12-13' ******** *** ******* washed *** ** *-**' and ******.

Only *** **** *** ******

**** *** ***** ****** of *** ********* ** true ***, **** ****** using "*******" ***. ** tested *********** ** **** WDR ******* * ******* door ** ~**** *** with ** ****** *** of ~***.

*** **** *** ****** outperformed ******* *** ** this *****, **** * sharper ***** *** **** facial ******* ******* *********.

Sample ******

** ****** *** *****-**** 4x2MP ** ****** *** outdoor ****** ** **** potential ************* ***** *** motorized **** ****** *** integrated **.

*****, ** ** ****** warehouse ***** *** ****** was *** ** ** cover ***** ** ******** such ** ********, ******* areas, **** *****, *** finally ** ****** *** set ** ******** **** to ***** *** **** of *** *********. *** camera *** **** ** cover **** **** ******* noticeable ***** *****.

****, *** ****** *** set ** ** ********** the **** **** **** its ********** **, **** the **** ** ~*.* lux. *** ** ** specified ** ***** ~**', but *** ******* **** beyond **-**', **** *** subject ****** ********** ** spot ** ** ****** the **** ** ~**' (imager *). ** ****** range ** ***** *******, IR ******** ** *****, with *** ******* **** illuminated.

******* *** ****** *** set ** ******* ** cover *** ***** ****, the ******** ** *** parking ***, *** ******* spots, *** ** ****** was *** ** ******** mode ** ***** *** side ** *** ********.

VMS *********** *** *********

*** ***** *****-**** *** well ********* ** *****, with ****** *** *.*** streaming *** ************* ******* without ***** ** ********, Exacq, *******, *********, *** Network *****. *.*** ******* worked ******** ** *****, Genetec, *** ** *******, but *** ** ********* or ********.

*******, ****** **** ***** recent ***** ****** *******, the *****-**** ******** **** licenses ** *** ***** tested ****** *** ********* XProtect, ***** ******** **** a ****** ******* *** all **** ********.

Bandwidth **********

*** *****-****'* *.*** ******** were **** ******* ** the ****** ****** ******* camera, **** *** *** night, ******** ****** ** both ******. ***** ************ were ***** **** ***** H.265+ ******* *** ******** motion ** *** ***** (subjects ******* ** ***** range).

Intrusion ********* ***********

** *** *******, *** Dahua *********-**** ******* ****** sources ** ***** ****** such ** ******** ******, shadows, ******* ***** *******, and ******* ******* ** the *****. ****** ********** of ****** ******* ******* the ***** **** ******, adding * ******** *** but *** ********** ** alarm.

Dahua-Multi-Flex-Missed-Detection-In-Well-Lit-Scene

Country ** ******

*** *****-**** ** **** in *****:

Test **********

******* **** ****** ***** default ******** **** **** changes:

  • ******** *** *** ** "Customized *****" **** ******** set ** *-**** *** gain *** ** *-*** (defaults ** ******** *** to *-**** *** **** 50)
  • *** *** *** ** on ****** *** ******* only
  • ** ************ *** *** to "*****"
  • ***** *.***/*+ *** *******

** ******* ****** **** was ******** ***** ***** settings.

*** ********* ******** ******** were ****, *** ****** available ** *** **** of *******:

  • ***** ***-*********-****:*.***.*******.**.*, ***** **** ****-**-**
  • ***** *******:*.***.*******.**.*, ***** **** ****-**-**

Comments (4)

Undisclosed End User #1

04/16/19 07:32am

*** **** * ***** buy *****, *** ** excellent test **** ***** *** value **** ****** **.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

04/16/19 10:02am

* **** *** ******** labeling "******** ****" ** "quarter ****".  ***! :)

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
04/17/19 09:25am

**** ****. 

Avatar

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | 06/20/19 11:15am

******:

***** * ******* ********** Dahuas ********* ********* ***********. *** ***** *********-**** ******* common ******* ** ***** alarms **** ** ******** lights, *******, ******* ***** changes, *** ******* ******* in *** *****. ****** detections ** ****** ******* through *** ***** **** common, ****** * ******** box *** *** ********** an *****.

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