Dahua Starlight 1/2" Camera Tested

Author: Ethan Ace, Published on Oct 16, 2015

In super low light, an area that the West has long dominated, can the Chinese manufacturers beat their Western rivals?

Dahua has a new 'Starlight' offering, featuring a 1/2" imager, priced ~$300 online. 

We bought one, the Dahua Starlight IPC-HF8281EN and put it to the test against Hikvision's 1/2" Darkfighter as well as top low light performers from Axis, Bosch and Samsung.

Here is a preview of the low light results:

** ***** *** *****, ** **** **** *** **** *** long *********, *** *** ******* ************* **** ***** ******* ******?

***** *** * *** '*********' ********, ********* * */*" ******, ****** ~$300 ******. 

** ****** ***, *** ***** ********* ***-******** *** *** ** ** *** **** ****************'* */*" ************* **** ** *** *** ***** ********** **** ****, ***** and *******.

**** ** * ******* ** *** *** ***** *******:

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

Key ********

*** ***** */*" ********* ******'* *** ***** *********** *** ******** behind Hikvision's */*" *********** **** **** ***** * ******** **.* ****, but ************ *** ***** ***** *** ***** ******* ******, ** well ** *** ***** *** ********* *****.

***** *** ********* ***** *** ***** **.** ****, *** ***** starlight ***** ******** ******** ****** **** **** ***** *** ******* F1.2 ****, ** **** ** *** ********* ***********, **** ******** chart **********, ****** ******* ****** ******* ****** ************* *** ** digital *****.

*** *********** *** ******** ***** **** *********** ***** *** ****** against ****** ********* **** ****** ************, *** ******* ** ** better **** ****** ** **** ***** ** *** *****.

******** ** *** ***** (~*.** ***) **** ********** ***** **** Hikvision's *********** *****, **** **** *********'* *.***+ ***** ***** **. 

*** ****** ********** **** *****, *******, ********* *** ******** *****.

*******/************

*** ***-******* ***** ***~$*** *** ******, *** ********* ****, ** ********** ~$***. **** **** ** do *** ********* *****'* ********* ****** *** ** ********** **** F ***** (*****).

** ***** $*** *** *** ****** *** ****, *****'* ********* 1/2" ***** ** *** ** *** ****** **** ***** *** light ****** *********, ********** ** ***** ** ***** ********** */*" imager ****** **** *** ******* ***-****.

******** ** ***** */*" ******, ** ** ************* **** *********, less **** **** *** ***** ** **** *** ****'* ***** low ***** ****** (*/*" *** */*", *** ***** ~$*** **** than *** */*" ******* ***-****, *** **** ****** **** ********** tested.

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

*** ***** */*" ********* ******* ** * ******** ****** *** low ***** ******* ******* ********** **. ** **** *** ***** of ***********' ***** *** ***** *******, *** *********** ******* ** *** Hikvision *********** **** *** ****** **** ***** ****** ***********, ** is **** ***** *********** ** *** ***** *********.

Physical ********

*** ***** ******* ** ******* ** **** *** ********** ** most *** *******. ** *** ***** ***** ** ****** *** physical ************ ** *** ****** *** ******* ** *** ********* 6026 *********** *****. *******, *** ******** ********* **** ** **** larger **** ****, ****** *** ******* *** ****** *** **** size.

******

***** ********** *** ****** *** *** *******:

*******, **** **** ********** **** * *****, **.* *** **.*, compared ** **.* ** *.* ***** ** **** *** ***** lenses. ******* ** ****, ** **** * **************** ********** */*.*" *** **.* *****, *********** ** **** *************. ****** **** using ******* ****** ****** ** */*" ****** *******, *******, ** vignetting *** ***** ** ***** ***** *******.

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

*** ***-******* ********* ********* ******** ***** ** *** ***** ******** ** the ********* *********** **** **** ***** *** **.* ****, **** increased ******* ***** *** ****** ******. *******, ** ********* **** better **** *** **** *****, ******* ***-****, *** ***** *** starlight, **** ** ***** ******** ****** ****** ** *** *******.

***** *** ********* **.** ******* ****, ****** *** ******** **** even *** ********* *********** ** *** **** ***** *****, **** 3-4 **** ******* ***** ** *** **** *****. *******, *** subject's **** ******* ******** ** *****.

***

** ****** *** ******* *** ******* **** ******** **** *****:

*** ******* ********* ***** ** ******* ****** ******* *** ****** backlight ** *** **** ******** ****, **** ****** ************ ** our *******, ****** *** ******* *** ***** *****. ** *** dark **** ****** *** ****, ** *** *** ********* *********, with ***** ****** ** **** ******* *** *****.

Full *****

*****'* */*" ********* ***** ********* ********* ** ***** ****** ** **** light, **** ** ******* ******.

*******

*****'* */*" ********* *****'* ********* *********** *** ********** ****** **** competitors ** **** ***** (***** ****** ***), ** ***** ~*.* Mb/s (******** ** ~*.*-*.* **/* ** ***********). ******* ********* ** in *** **** ***** *** *.***+ ** ** *** ********* 6026, ***** ******** **** ** **** * ******** ** *****.

*******, ** *** *****, *** ******* ** ***** **** *******, as **** ** **** *** ********* **** ***** ***** ***** settings *** (********* *** *.***+). ******* ***** **, *** **** Q1615's ******* ***** ***** *** *******, *** ********* *********** ******* higher.

***** **** *** ******* ***** ****** ** *** ** ***** cameras.

Test **********

******* **** ****** ***** ******* ********, **** *** ********* ******** ******* to *** *******:

  • ******* ***** *** *** ** * ******* ** */***
  • *.*** **** *******, ** ***, ~** ************ *** ****

*** ********* ********/******** ******** **** ****:

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

Comments (26)

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | 10/16/15 01:56pm

******* ******* ********* **** ***** *** ** **** *** ******* SNB-6004 (*/*") ******* ** ******-****(*/*.*") ** **** **** *** ******.

** *** ***** ** **** *****, *** ** ** *** time **** **** *** *********, ** *** *** ********* *** we *** ***** ****** ************ ********* ***. **'** ***** *** soon *** *** ** ** *****.

Undisclosed #1

10/16/15 02:27pm

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

*'* ****** **** ******** ** ********* ****** **** *** ******** that *.** **** ******** ** *** **** ** *** ***********.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

10/17/15 03:53am

**** ** ********** **** ***'** ******* ********* **** ** *** best, *** *** ***** ***** *********. ******* **** *** ***** support, *********, *********, ****, *** ***** *******. *******, **** ***** have ** ******** ** ** * ***** ******* ***** *** with * ********** **** ** **** *** **** ******** *********. I'm ******* *** *** **** ***** *** **** ***-***** ***** have ****? **'* **** ** **** ******/******** * ******** *** getting **** ** * *******. **** ** ****, **** ** your ****. ***...

Sebastian Kratzke

10/17/15 01:16pm

************* **** *** ******* **** ***** *** ****** ****** **** tested ******* **** ***** **** */*" ****.

* **** *** ***** *** ***'* **** ** *** ** Axis ***** *** ** ** ******* *** *********** **** ******* would **** **** **** **** **** *** *********** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Sebastian Kratzke | 10/17/15 01:22pm

************* *** ****, **** ****** ****** ** **** ***** ** charging *** *** **** */*" ****** ***** ** ******. ***'* say ************* *** **** ***** **** ***** ** ******** ***** and ********* (*** *********** *********** *** ****** ***** **** *** 1/3" ***** ***), ** ***** ***** ** $*** - $*** more *** *** **** ***** *******.

************* ***, ***** ** ***** ** **** **** ** **** test ******* **** ******* ******, ***** ***** ******* ********** *** far ***** *** ********* **** ************* ****** ** *** **** Axis.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to John Honovich | 10/17/15 01:44pm

**** ****, ** ** ***** * **** ***** **** *** more ************* **** */*" ******* ***.

* **** ****** ***.

*******, ****** *** **** ***** **** ************ ****** ** *** light **** ***** *** *********, ** **** *** **** **** for ****.

Sebastian Kratzke

In reply to John Honovich | 10/17/15 10:17pm

****'* * ***** ****, ****!

* *** **** **** ** ******** ***** ** **** **'* hard ** **** ********* ** *****.

*** **** * ********* ***** ** **** * ***** **'* most *********** ** *** * ********** **** ***** ****** ******* (1/2" ****).

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

10/17/15 02:37pm

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

**** **** ***** ******* *** *** ********** *** ** ********* resoluton. *** ****** *** *** ****** ** **** @***** (*** the ****** ********** *** *** ****** ******* ****). **** *** will ****** *********** *** ******** ***. **** *** *** ***** if *** **** ***** ****** ** ***** **** *** ****** set ***** ********* *******" *** ** *** **** ** *** you ****** *** "***" ******* *** *** *** ***** ****.

***

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 10/18/15 12:25am

** ****** *** *** ********* ** ***** **** ****** **** and *** *** *** * ********** **********.

******, ****** ********* *** *******, *** ***** ********* ******* *** multiple ****** ** *** ******* ********. ** * ******** *********, it **** ******* ***** ** */**** ****** ***, *** ********* DNR ** ****** ******, ***** ********** ******* *****, *** ********** blur.

** *** *** *********** ** **** *******. ** ********* ** unless ** *** ******** *******.

*******, ********** ** *** ******'* ************ ** *****, **'* ******** as * *** ******, *** ***** ************ ***** *** ** would ******* ** */*" ***** ****** ***** ** *** * included **. ********* ***** *** ********* *********** ** * ******'* max **********. ****, **'* * $****-**** ****** (******), ***** **** it ** *** **** **** ** ****,********* ** **** *****. **** ** **'* ****** ** *** *********** *** ***** models, **'* ***** *-** *** *****.

Tim Russell

In reply to Ethan Ace | 10/20/15 08:12am

** *** **** * */*" ** */*.*" **** ** * 1/1.8" ****** *** *** ****** *** ***** ** **** ***** on *** ****** ? *** *** ****** *** **** ***** and *** ****** ** *****. *** ****** ******** **** *** test ** ***'** ********** **** ** ********.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Tim Russell | 10/20/15 03:47pm

*** */*" **.* **** ** **** ** *** ***** ********* in **** **** ****** **** ***** ** *** ****** **** 1/2" **.* ******, ********* *** *** **** ***** **** *** Bosch *** *********. * **** ******* * ****** **.

*****,** * **** *****, ** **** ******* *** ***** *** ********* ** ***** mode ** *** **** *** *** ***** **** ** * difference ** *** ***** ***********, ****** ** **** ***** *** have *** ******* ********* ** *** **********. * **** ***** it ***** ** *** **** *** ***** **** **** ** to **** ********, ** ****.

Tim Russell

In reply to Ethan Ace | 10/22/15 06:55am

****, ******. ****** ** ******** *** **********, *** ****** ****** would **** **** ***** ?

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Tim Russell | 10/22/15 08:00am

****** ** ******** *** **********, *** ****** ****** ***** **** more ***** ?

  1. ****** ***'* ****** ****.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 10/22/15 08:13am

*** ****** *** *** ****** ** **** @***** (*** *** stream ********** *** *** ****** ******* ****). **** *** **** double ***********...

*** ***** ************* **** * *** **** ****** *** ******** from **** *.**** (***) **** ** *.***** (*****). ***** *** is * *** ***** *** ********* ** *** ** ******** only ***** ** ****** ** * ***, **** ********* < 20% ****, *** ***%.

Michael Miller

10/17/15 02:57pm

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

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Michael Miller | 10/17/15 10:37pm

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

******* *** **** ****** ***********.

* ********* *** ** **** * **** **********'* ** *** ****, ****** ** ** *** ** **** **** ****** **** there!

Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 10/17/15 10:44pm

***

Tim Russell

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 10/20/15 01:35pm

*****'* ** ******* ** ****** *** ****** ? *** ** ... ** ********* ********* ** ****** **** ***** ***** ?

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Tim Russell | 10/20/15 03:14pm

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

******* ** ***** ****** ****.

Thumbnail 21c8c75

Tony Lagan

10/22/15 12:30am

* ***** **** ********* **** *** *** *** *** ********* darkfighters. *** **-******* *** **** ********** ** *** **-******* ***** uses * ****** */*.*" ******. **** *** ******* ** **** done *** **** *** *** ********* *** ****.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Tony Lagan | 10/22/15 01:09am

***** ****. *** *******.

*** ** ******* ******* ************* *****,****-******* **********.

**** **** ****!

Thumbnail 21c8c75

Tony Lagan

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 10/22/15 02:10am

*****, **** ** ** ******** ** **** *** **** ******* nervous ** * ************ ;*)...

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Tony Lagan | 10/22/15 10:15pm

****, ********* **** "**** **** * * */*.* ******"

Bob Germain

In reply to Tony Lagan | 10/23/15 05:38pm

**********: **** ********* ***

* ***** **** ** **** ******* ****. *** ******** ********** for *** **** ****** */*" ******. *** ****** **** ** 1/1.8" (**** - ** *** ** *** ** */*.*").

*** **** ** * **-******** ******* ** *** **** ** order ** ***** * **** **** ** *********** ******* ** the *-****** **** *** ***** *** *******. ** **** **** a ********* ******** **** *** ******** *** ** ******** *********.

**** *** * **** ****** **** ****** ** **** *** his **** ******* ***** ** ** **** ****** ******* *********** but ******* ****** ** *** ****. **** ***** ** *** to ******* ** ******* ******.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Bob Germain | 10/23/15 05:49pm

*** ****** **** ** */*.*" (**** - ** *** ** you ** */*.*").

***** ********* *****. ;)

Bob Germain

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 10/23/15 05:50pm

* ***** ***** ** ** */*" :)

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