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% ****, *** ***%.

Thumbnail logo only 80x80

Michael Miller

The Wire Guys LLC | 10/17/15 02:57pm

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

Undisclosed #1

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

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

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

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

Thumbnail logo only 80x80

Michael Miller

The Wire Guys LLC | 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

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

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

Axis Door Station Tested (A8105-E) on Jul 19, 2017
Axis continues their push into niche markets, especially audio, with network speakers, an IP horn, and video door stations. We bought and tested...
Axis P3225 Mk II Tested Vs. Original on Jun 20, 2017
Axis has released a number of 'Mk II' versions of their cameras, which are the same fundamental camera but with specific improvements. We tested...
VMS UI - Light vs Dark Preferences on Jun 16, 2017
Several VMS manufacturers have the ability to choose a user interface with either a light or dark color theme. 150+ integrators told us which they...
Axis 20MP Q1659 Camera Tested on Jun 13, 2017
Axis has joined the super high resolution camera trend with their Q1659, a 20MP model equipped with Canon's APS-C sensor. We tested the Q1659...
Avigilon Announces New Lowest Cost Camera (Mini Domes) on Jun 06, 2017
Avigilon's first Micro Dome (see IPVM's test) is now 4 years old. Since that time, low-cost fixed focal Chinese manufacturer dome usage has...
Samsung SmartCam A1 Totally Wireless System on Jun 06, 2017
Hanwha is keeping the Samsung brand alive in consumer cameras with the SmartCam A1, a new offering combining an autotracking 1080p camera with base...
IP Camera - 15 Year Shootout on May 22, 2017
How far have IP cameras come? We bought and tested 4 cameras across the past 15 years to understand how much and where performance has...
Technician Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guide on May 12, 2017
Technicians encounter multiple hazards when running wires and installing security devices. Wearing personal protective equipment, or PPE, helps...
48MP 180 Camera (Digital Watchdog) Test on May 10, 2017
Camera resolution continues to advance, with Digital Watchdog offering the MegaPIX PANO 48MP 180° camera, the highest resolution mainstream camera...
Hanwha 9MP Fisheye Camera Tested (PNF-9010R) on May 09, 2017
12MP sensor fisheye panoramic cameras are becoming increasingly common. We have tested Hikvision's DS-2CD63C2F as well as Panasonic's SFV481 4K...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Security Robots Are Just Entertainment on Jul 21, 2017
Great entertainment, no real security value.  That is the happy (or sad) state of security robots in 2017. Knightscope robot's drowning, the...
Wireless Burglar Alarm Sensors Guide on Jul 21, 2017
Wireless sensors for burglar alarm sensors are an increasingly common option for the historical labor intensive wired alarm systems. However,...
Competing Against ADT on Jul 20, 2017
ADT is one of the biggest players in the security industry, with ~$4 billion revenue. In 2017, they were acquired / merged with Protection...
Hikvision Launching Deep Learning Recorders on Jul 20, 2017
Hikvision has become a common choice for super low cost NVRs. Now, Hikvision is aiming to move up market, with deep learning NVRs that claim far...
PR Campaign Exploiting Manufacturer Cybersecurity on Jul 20, 2017
Manufacturers increasingly have a bulls-eye on their back. As cyber security solutions providers grow, they realize a great way to get publicity...
Axis Door Station Tested (A8105-E) on Jul 19, 2017
Axis continues their push into niche markets, especially audio, with network speakers, an IP horn, and video door stations. We bought and tested...
Manufacturer Favorability Guide on Jul 19, 2017
This 120 page PDF guide may be downloaded inside by all IPVM members. It includes our 20 manufacturer favorability rankings and 20 manufacturer...
$8 Billion Utility Georgia Power Enters Surveillance Business Offering Avigilon And Genetec on Jul 19, 2017
Utilities are typically considered major customers of surveillance integrators but one utility, Georgia Power, with $8+ billion in annual revenue...
Knightscope Laughs off Robot Drowning on Jul 18, 2017
A day after a Knightscope robot drowned, Knightscope has issued an 'official statement' making fun of the issue: The implied message is that...
Microsoft Video AI Cloud Services Examined on Jul 18, 2017
Microsoft has released one of the most amazing video analytics marketing videos ever. In it, they detect oil spills, track individual people giving...

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