Honeywell 30 Series Cameras Tested Vs Dahua and Hikvision

By: Derek Ward, Published on Dec 11, 2019

Honeywell has infamously OEMed Dahua and Hikvision for years, but now they have introduced an NDAA-compliant line, the 30 Series, claiming "lower cost of ownership and reduced risk for end users."

To see how this new series compares to low cost competitors Dahua and Hikvision, we bought and tested two Honeywell 30 Series models, the 1080p fixed lens HC30WE2R3 and the 5MP zoom lens HC30WE5R2

  • Who is the OEM of this new line?
  • How well does image quality compare in full light (~300 lux), low light (~2 lux), and dark (~0.02 lux) scenes?
  • How does it perform in WDR scenes?
  • How quickly does it adjust to IR overexposure?
  • How well does it integrate to common VMSes?

********* *** ********** ************************* *****, *** *** they **** ********** ** NDAA-compliant ****, ***** ******, ******** "***** **** of ********* *** ******* risk *** *** *****."

** *** *** **** new ****** ******** ** low **** *********** ***** and *********, ** ****** and ****** *** ********* 30 ****** ******, *** 1080p ***** **************** *** *** **** lens*********

  • *** ** *** *** of **** *** ****?
  • *** **** **** ***** quality ******* ** **** light (~*** ***), *** light (~* ***), *** dark (~*.** ***) ******?
  • *** **** ** ******* in *** ******?
  • *** ******* **** ** adjust ** ** ************?
  • *** **** **** ** integrate ** ****** *****?

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

Vivotek ***

*** ** ****** ** manufactured ** *******, *********** obvious **** ******* *** camera's *** *********, ** the ******, ********, *** most *********** *** ********* to *******'* *** *******.

*******, ****** **** ****, these ********* ** ****** models **** *** *** to ***** ***** ******* drivers, ****** ******* ** connect. ************, **** *** a ********* *** (**-**-**), they *** *** ********** by *******'* ********* *****:

*******

*** ****-********* ********* ** series *** *** ********* to ** ** *********** to ****** ********, **** the *** ****** ************ strong ** ******* (~*** lux), *** ***** (~* lux) *** *****-***** (~**') dark (~*.** ***) ******. Additionally, ** ******** ** close ******** ** ******** quickly ** **** *** 1080p *** *** ********* 30's.

*******, *** ********* **'* are ****** ** *** scenes **** *********** ****** from *** ********* *********** and ***** *** ******, with ****** ****** *** backlighting (** **** **** the ***** ********* **) or **** ******** ****** (5MP ********* **).

Key ********

***** ** *** *****, the ********* ** ****** IP ******* *** **** positives:

  • **** ********** ** ** scenes: *** ********* ** Series ******* ******** ** IR ************ ******* **** subjects ~**' **** **** the ******* *** ******. This ** *** ** part ** **** "****-************" and "***** **" ***** enabled ** ******* ** both ********* ** *******.
  • *********** *** ***** ***********: In *** *****, *** Honeywell ** ****** ** competitive ** ********* *********** and ***** *** ****** cameras, ********* ******* ******* on *** ******* *** test ***** **** ****** noise ** ***********.

*******, ***** **** ******* disadvantages:

  • **** *** ***********: *** Honeywell ** ****** ******* were **** *** ********** when ******** ** *********** models. *** ***** ***** washes ****** *** **** strong ************, *** *** 5MP ****** ******** ****** imaging ** ****** ***** of * *****.
  • **** ** ************ *****: While ** *********** ** strong **** ***** ******** ~20' ****, ** ~**', IR ************ ******* *** details ****** ****** ** discern.
  • **** *** *** **** times: ** *******, *********'* self-signed ************ **** *** browsers ****** ** ** security ******, *** **** the **** ***** ** the *** *** ********** long, ********* ** ****** of ~** *******.

*******

*** ***** **** ***** Honeywell ********* *** ** estimated ****** ***** ****** $200 ***, ****** **** Hikvision *********** (**-***********-*, ~$*** online) ** ***** **** Series ******* (******* (~$*** online).

*** ********* ********* ***** for ~$***, ******* ** Hikvision's *********** ****** ********* model (**-***********-***, ~$***).

Strong ** ************

*** ********* ** ****** cameras ********* ******** ** close-range ** ****** **** even ************ ****** *** full ***** ** ****, with **** ****** ******* at *** **** ** the *****.

****-************ *** *****-**

*** ********* ** ****** cameras ******* "****-************" *** "Smart-IR" ** *******. *** anti-overexposure ******* ****** ******* speed, ****, *** ******** to ********** *** ****** subjects *** *******. *** smart-IR ******* ******* ** illumination ********, ********** *** decreasing ** ******.

**** ******** ~**' **** the *******, ** ************ is *********** ******* *** Honeywell ** ****** *** Hikvision *********** ******. ******* on *** **** ******* and ***** *** ****** without ************, *** **** to ******* **** ****** noise ** ****.

*******, ** ******* ********* from ~**' *** *******, IR ************ ** ******, and ******* *** ****** to *******.

Competitive *** ***** ***** *******

** *** ***** (~* lux), *** ********* *** produced ***** ******* ** our **** ***** *** subject **** ~**', **** less ********** ***** **** what ** **** ****** our ******* ** *** Dahua *** ****** ******.

Solid **** ***** ***** *******

** **** ***** (~*** lux), *** ********* ** Series ******* *** ***** and ****** ************ *** evenly *******.

Weak *** *********** ******** ** ***********

** ****** *** ********* 30 ****** *** *********** using * ******* ******* of ***** *,*** *** with ** ****** *** of ~** ***, * variance ** ~****. *** FoV ***** ** **** the *** *********, ** the ***** ********* ** the ******* ** *** cameras ****** ** ***.

******* ****** *********, *** subject *** **** ***** are ******* ****** *** in *** ***** ********* 30 (*********). ** *** darker **** **** ** the ****, ******* *** clear ** **** ** the ******* *** **** chart. *** *** ********* is ******* ** ***** tested ** **** *****, as *** ******* ** dimmer **** ****** *** Hikvision ** ***** *******.

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

*** ********* ** ****** cameras **** **** ** connect *** *.*** ** most ***** ****** ******* Genetec, ***** ***** *** integrate ** ******* ** the ******* ** ***. H.265 ****** *** ***** server ** ******* *** service, ********** ** ********. Finally, ****** **** ****** detection *** **** ********** with *********** *** *********.

*********

*** ********* ** ****** cameras ******* ***** ******, which *** **** ** compare *** *********** ** bitrates ******* *.*** *** H.265 ***********. *********** ** bit **** **** *********** between *.*** *** *.***, with ******* ******* **%-**% when ***** *.***.

Web *** **** **** *****

** *******, ********* **** HTTPS **** ****-****** ************. This ** ** ****** you **** *** *** Certificate *** ****-******** *** the ******* **** ***** the **** ** ********. Users *** ******** ******* the ******* **** *** continue ** ****** *****. However, **** ****** *** web *** ** **** at * ********** **** speed, ** **** ***** in *** ******* ** switch **** ******* **** "IR *******" ** "***** Settings":

** ********* *********, *** this *** ***** *********** of *** **** **** times:

"*** ***** ** * non-certificate ******* ** ****** as * ****** ** the ******** ***** ********** checks. ** ******* *** try ****** *** *********** to *** ** **** helps ** ***** ** the **** *******."

** ******** *** ************ provided ** *** "****** CA ***********" ** *** Honeywell ** ****** **** manual, *** ** *********** and ******** ********** *** certificate ** * ******* root *********** *********, **** times ********* ** ~**%, to ~* *******.

Size **********

*** ********* ** ****** cameras *** ******* ** size *** **** ****** to *********** **** ** the ********* *********** ****** DS-2CD2325FHWD-I *** *** ***** Pro ****** *******. *******, IR ************ ** *** Honeywell's *** ******* ******* the ****** **** *** not ** *** **** as **** ** *** Dahua *** ********* *******.

Made ** ******

*** ********* ** ****** cameras **** **** ** Taiwan. *** ******* ** origin *** ********** ****** info **** ** ***** number *** *** ******* is ***** ** *** camera *****, *** *** on *** ******'* "*******" or ***** ****.

Firmware *******

*** ********* ******** *** used *** *******:

  • *********: *.*.**.********
  • *********: *.*.**.********
  • ***** *******: *.***.*******.* ***** Date ****-**-**
  • ********* **-***********-***: **.*.* ***********

Test **********

******* **** ****** ***** default ***** ********, **** some ************* ******* ** standardize ** **** ** possible:

  • ******* *** *** ** a *** ** */*** to ********* ********* **** on ****** *******.
  • *.***, ***** *** ****.
  • *********** *** ************ ** ~28-30 ************.
  • *** *** **** ******* during *** *******.

Comments (15)

Undisclosed #1

12/11/19 04:35pm

*** ** ****** ** manufactured ** *******, *********** obvious **** ******* *** camera's *** *********, ** the ******, ********, *** most *********** *** ********* to *******'* *** *******.

** ********* ***** ********** like **** ** **** significant ******* ** *** firmware ** ***** *******, or **** **** ****** given ** ** **** tactic ***?

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 12/11/19 05:24pm

** ********* ***** ********** like **** ** **** significant ******* ** *** firmware ** ***** *******

******* ******* **** **** to *** *** ;)

Avatar

Derek Ward

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 12/11/19 07:19pm

**'** ******* *** ** Honeywell *** * ********, and ***** ******** ***:

** ******* ** **** time ** ******* ** any ******* ** ****** partnerships.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Derek Ward | 12/11/19 07:25pm

** *** *** ****, I *** ********** **** Honeywell's ********* **** ****. Acknowledging **** ****** *** awkward, ** ****. *** I **** **** ****** for **** **********.

** *** ***** ****, it's ********* *** ****** true. ** *****, ** best, ** ******* ******* on ** ******* ******. The ******** ***** ** trying ** **** ********** products...

Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Honovich | 12/11/19 08:26pm

* *****. ** ***** the ******* **** **** can't **** ** *** value ** ***** ***** and ******* ***** *** have ** *** *** make ***** (** *****) claims ***** **** ************** the *******. *** *** just *** "** ***** it **** **** ********* to *** ******** ** this **** ** **** our ******** **** ****** to * ***** ********* under * ****** ***** and ******* ********** *********"? Or, ********* ***** ***** lines.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 12/11/19 08:51pm

"** ***** ** **** cost ********* ** *** products ** **** **** to **** *** ******** easy ****** ** * broad ********* ***** * single ***** *** ******* management *********"?

*** ***** ******* ****** a ***** ** ************ makes ****** *******?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 12/11/19 08:55pm

* ***** ** ***** that ** *** ******* for **** ** *** it **** ** ******** develop ** **********.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 12/11/19 08:56pm

***** *** ********** ********* where ********* ** *****, and ******** ***/*** **** support ******** *** *** you * *********** ******** relative ** * *******/**** product **** ***** *** manufacturers *** *****. **** at ********* **** ******* public **********, *** *** will *** **** **** to ***** * *** on "***** *** *********" expenses, *** **** ** having * ***** ****, marketing, ***., **** ** quickly. ******************* *** ****** ***** and ******* ********* ** find ** ***/*** ******* that **** *** ***** to *** ****** ****-************* (even **** *** ***** overhead *** *****). **** would ** ****** ******* them ** ******** **** to "****", **. *** "farming" **** **** *** really **.

Larry Tracy

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 12/12/19 12:05pm

********* *****, ***** *** sigma , ***’* ** to *** ******** ******* filling *** ***** ** paper, **** **** *** timely **** **** ** the ****** ** **********

**** *** *** **** time *** *** *** new ******** ********** **** them, ** ***** ** now **** * ******** keypad **** **** ** a ******* ***** *****!

Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to Derek Ward | 12/12/19 06:22pm

** *** *** ****, I *** ********** **** Honeywell's ********* **** ****. Acknowledging **** ****** *** awkward, ** ****. *** I **** **** ****** for **** **********.

* **** *** **** Honeywell ******** *** ***** hands **** ******* **** what **** *** ** cannot ******* ** *********** wise. **'* ****** ****** for **** ****** ********** especially ***/*** ** ******** Honeywell ****** * ******* on *** ************ *** or ********* ***** ** pay ****** ****** **** the ***** ********* ***** their ***** *** *******. Honeywell *** ****** **** upfront **** ** ** dealer ******** **** *** fact **** **** ********* a ***** ******* ** their ****** ************* ** other ********* *** ** was ******* **** *** first ********** ** *** 30 ****** ******* **** they **** ********* *******. I **** * ***'* say **'** ** *** point ** ********** *** these **** ** ** a *** ** *** same ******** **** *** over ***** ***** ***/*********/(****** major ************ ****) ******* original *******. *** **** it's ***** *'** *** Avigilon **** **** ** they **** ***** *** NVRs **** **** **** clearly *** **** *****.

*** ******* ** *** surveillance *** ******** ****** has ****** ** ************ no *** ***** ** invest ** ************* *** edge ****** ******* *** everyone ***** ** **** their ****** ** ***** a ************* ***** *** a ****** ****** **** a ***** ****** ****** in ******* ******** ******** and ***'*.

****, ****** **** **** going *** *** *** hanging ***** * ***** enjoy ******* ** ******* about *** ******** ********* of ********* ******* ** North ******* ** ****** and *** **** ** even ******** ** ** competitive ** *** ***** segments ** *** ****** at **** ***** ******* the *** * *** it ******** ** *********** doing *** **** ***** as *********/***/************/***. ***. ** this ***** ***** * few ********* **** *** running ** ******* *** ceiling ** ***** ****** and *** ****** ** make ** *** ** with ** "*** ** end ********."

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 12/12/19 08:49pm

* **** *** **** Honeywell ******** *** ***** hands **** ******* **** what **** *** ** cannot ******* ** *********** wise.

*** ** ****** *** that ******* ** *** legally ***** *********'* *****. This ***** ** **** me ************ ***** ********.

* **** * ***'* say **'** ** *** point ** ********** *** these **** ** ** a *** ** *** same ******** **** *** over ***** ***** ***/*********/(****** major ************ ****) ******* original *******.

**** ** * ******** technical **** - *.*., original ******* **** ** one **** **** *** would **.

Undisclosed #2

12/11/19 05:11pm

*** ****-********* ********* ** series *** *** ********* to ** ** *********** to ****** ********...

********* **** ****** ************ come ***** ****.

****** ***** *** ***** for **** ****** ***** a ********* ***** *********** for *****, *************.

Christopher Halvorson

Uncle Baer | 01/11/20 08:34pm

**'* *** * *** camera, ********. ****, ** isn't ***** *** ***** for **** ****** **** it ***** ** ***** pro, *** ***** ****** are *****; *** *** should ** ******** ** a ******** ** ****** that *** *** ******* something ** ***** **** or ******** **** ***'* Hik. **'* * ***** to *** ** **** Vivotek *** *** ***** hand *** ** *** cookie *** ** ***. I **** ******* **** for *** ***** ****** away **** ***** *** Hik.

Larry Tracy

In reply to Christopher Halvorson | 01/11/20 08:39pm

* ***'* **** *** issues **** ***** ******, better **** ********* *** not *** ******* ** a ****.

Chris Chambers

In reply to Larry Tracy | 01/15/20 08:02am

** ***** *** ** a ***** *** ***** was ************ ***. * assume ********* *** **'* definitely ***** ****, *** just *** ******* ***** that's ******** * **** breaker - ** ***** no ****** ** *** a **** ***** ******* record **** ** *** Dahuas? (*******, ***** ** an "**** ** *** limits" ****** **** **** once * ****** ** vehicle ****** * ****** zone, **** ****** ** vehicle ** ******** *** the ****** **** **** remain ** **** ** the *** ********* ** they ***** *** ****, but ****'* * ********* question.)

**** ******** ****** ** a ******* *** ********** for ****. * ***'* see **** ******* ** various *** ******** ******** in *** *****, *** those ***** ********* ****** decisions.

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