@aristobrat suggested that I should start a thread on the HFW8630E-Z and post some videos so you guys can see what the Starvis sensor is like on a 6MP camera.
So first up I had some difficulty getting this camera working and tbh I still haven't figured out what the issue is/was. Essentially I was only getting 2fps, max 2500 bit rate most of the time and when I did occasionally get better "bandwidth" the video was breaking up. I was running it from the same CAT6 cables that my 5231's were using so I don't think it was a network issue on my side but I'm not ruling anything out. A ping test only showed 1% dropped packets in 400+ pings. All that said, the camera seems to be stable for me now a couple of weeks. I'm not sure what fixed it but it did seem to right itself at the exact time of a power cut so make of that what you will..... I can't explain it.
As a camera/form factor it looks identical to my HFW5231E-Z5. It's 6MP and unless you have a 4K monitor I think this camera is a waste of time. I've been looking at it for a while and not being able to figure out why (to me) the picture from my HDW5231E-Z was better. Then it dawned that I was viewing a native 1080p camera on a 1080p monitor against a 6MP camera scaled down to fit on a 1080p monitor. Essentially if you don't have the monitor to view the videos in their native resolution then the camera is not of much use over say a 5231. If you are viewing the videos below on a 4K monitor, make sure to go full screen and that 4K quality is selected.
In the videos below I have some external lighting. Two x 30w LED floods on a dusk to dawn sensor. Each light claims to put out 2400lm and they are mounted around 18ft (ish) off the ground, just under the eves of a two story house. (The lights - Solla® 30W LED Flood Lights Outdoor Security Lights, Waterproof IP65, 2400lm, Warm White, Floodlight,Wall Washer Light: Amazon.co.uk: Lighting). As a note, I think might lights are too high. In the videos with no IR (2 & 3) you can see shadows being cast. I think a lower level light would help with that.
Some videos. 6MP, 30fps, 10240 bitrate. I think any slowness or stutter in the videos might be due to the PC struggling a little (only a suspicion). It's an i7 4790.
IR - Manual (near 10, far 33). Brightness 45, contrast 65, saturation 50, sharpness 60, gamma 50. Exposure Shutter Priority 1/30
IR Off. Brightness 45, contrast 65, saturation 50, sharpness 60, gamma 50. Exposure auto
Colour. Brightness 45, contrast 65, saturation 50, sharpness 60, gamma 50. Exposure Shutter Priority 1/30
So first up I had some difficulty getting this camera working and tbh I still haven't figured out what the issue is/was. Essentially I was only getting 2fps, max 2500 bit rate most of the time and when I did occasionally get better "bandwidth" the video was breaking up. I was running it from the same CAT6 cables that my 5231's were using so I don't think it was a network issue on my side but I'm not ruling anything out. A ping test only showed 1% dropped packets in 400+ pings. All that said, the camera seems to be stable for me now a couple of weeks. I'm not sure what fixed it but it did seem to right itself at the exact time of a power cut so make of that what you will..... I can't explain it.
As a camera/form factor it looks identical to my HFW5231E-Z5. It's 6MP and unless you have a 4K monitor I think this camera is a waste of time. I've been looking at it for a while and not being able to figure out why (to me) the picture from my HDW5231E-Z was better. Then it dawned that I was viewing a native 1080p camera on a 1080p monitor against a 6MP camera scaled down to fit on a 1080p monitor. Essentially if you don't have the monitor to view the videos in their native resolution then the camera is not of much use over say a 5231. If you are viewing the videos below on a 4K monitor, make sure to go full screen and that 4K quality is selected.
In the videos below I have some external lighting. Two x 30w LED floods on a dusk to dawn sensor. Each light claims to put out 2400lm and they are mounted around 18ft (ish) off the ground, just under the eves of a two story house. (The lights - Solla® 30W LED Flood Lights Outdoor Security Lights, Waterproof IP65, 2400lm, Warm White, Floodlight,Wall Washer Light: Amazon.co.uk: Lighting). As a note, I think might lights are too high. In the videos with no IR (2 & 3) you can see shadows being cast. I think a lower level light would help with that.
Some videos. 6MP, 30fps, 10240 bitrate. I think any slowness or stutter in the videos might be due to the PC struggling a little (only a suspicion). It's an i7 4790.
IR - Manual (near 10, far 33). Brightness 45, contrast 65, saturation 50, sharpness 60, gamma 50. Exposure Shutter Priority 1/30
IR Off. Brightness 45, contrast 65, saturation 50, sharpness 60, gamma 50. Exposure auto
Colour. Brightness 45, contrast 65, saturation 50, sharpness 60, gamma 50. Exposure Shutter Priority 1/30