Hikvision DS-2CD2T86G2-ISU/SL motion blur and ghosting

[WelshPaul]

Can anyone help? I’m experiencing motion blur and ghosting on two Hikvision DS-2CD2T86G2-ISU/SL (1x 2.8mm / 1x 4.0mm) cameras. These are both generation 5 models, both running Firmware Version: V5.7.13 build 230706 and to rule out V5.7.13 build 230706 as the possible cause I downgraded the 4mm camera located on the rear of the property to versions V5.7.11_220913 and V5.7.10_220830 but this didn’t help at all. So, I have upgraded the 4mm cameras firmware and both are running V5.7.13 build 230706 again.

I have spent the past week researching the issue and so far, I haven't been able to come up with a solution. I have tried 15FPS, 20FPS, 25 FPS, matching the I Frame Interval with the FPS value as well as leaving it at it's default value of 50, H.264, H.265, different resolutions, high bitrate values, low bitrate values and even lowered the gain and DNR values... I'm ready to bin them!!!

Here are the current Video settings on the Hikvision DS-2CD2T86G2-ISU/SL (2.8mm):

• Stream Type: Main Stream(Normal)
• Video Type: Video&Audio
• Resolution: 2688*1520
• Bitrate Type: Variable
• Video Quality: Medium
• Frame Rate: 25
• Max. Bitrate 12288
• Video Encoding: H.265
• H.265+: OFF
• Profile: Main Profile
• I Frame Interval: 50
• SVC: OFF
• Smoothing: 50

Image settings:

• Brightness: 50
• Contrast: 50
• Saturation: 50
• Sharpness: 50
• Iris Mode: Fixed
• Anti-Banding: OFF
• Exposure Time: 1/50
• Day/Night Switch: Auto
• Sensitivity: 2
• Filtering Time: 5
• Smart Supplement Light: OFF
• Supplement Light Mode: IR Supplement Light
• Light Brightness Control: Manual
• IR Light: 64
• BLC Area: OFF
• WDR: OFF
• HLC: OFF
• White Balance: AWB1
• Digital Noise Reduction: Normal
• Noise Reduction Level: 50
• Defog Mode: OFF
• Gray Scale: [0-255]
• Mirror: OFF
• Video Standard: PAL (50HZ)

Below is a screenshot from a video recorded using the cameras web GUI and Chrome:


Below is a recording from Blue Iris:
View attachment timeline_1.mp4















Please help!!!

 

[Ssayer]

1/50 is a killer. Boost that baby up!

 

[WelshPaul]

Yea, I have tried lots of exposure settings but still get motion blur/ghosting.

Here is a video at 1/200:
View attachment timeline_2.mp4

 

[wittaj]

Make bitrate constant.

Turn down noise reduction.

Hikvision hides gain or makes it only visible with certain settings, but that is probably running too high of gain as well.

 

[WelshPaul]

I have tried all of the above...

With the settings as per my original post but with exposure set at 1/500:
View attachment timeline_3.mp4















It just gets worse! :/

Here is another only this time with the following settings:

• Bitrate Type: Constant
• Exposure Time: 1/125
• Gain: 50
• Day/Night Switch: Night
• Light Brightness Control: Auto
• IR Light: 100
• Digital Noise Reduction: 35

View attachment timeline_4.mp4

 

[wittaj]

You notice how the static image isn't appreciably darker between 1/200 and 1/500 - that says the camera is manipulating the image to favor a bright image - usually via gain.

The last one at 1/125 with gain at 50 is the best one, but it is blurry?

How far away are you at the gate? Maybe you are beyond the reasonable distance for this camera?

 

[WelshPaul]

Strange isn't it! The camera is about 8 meters (give a meter or two) away. I can post a picture of it's location tomorrow when I have daylight.

Here is another video but this time with the following settings changed:

• Bitrate Type: Constant
• Exposure Time: 1/100
• Gain: 50
• Day/Night Switch: Night
• Smart Supplement Light: ON
• Light Brightness Control: Manual
• IR Light: 80
• Digital Noise Reduction: 40

View attachment timeline_5.mp4

 

[microseven]

To address the issue of ghosting in your video, try adjusting the camera's video bandwidth. Additionally, consider reviewing the I-frame settings. These steps should help resolve the problem effectively.

 

[WelshPaul]

I have tried leaving the I-Frame setting at its default value of 50 as well as matching the FPS value but it makes no difference. I have also tried maxing out the bitrate and reducing it slowly and again it doesn’t help.

These cameras work well in daylight but at night they are very unusable. I’m going to try again tonight but this time with an FPS of 10. If I can’t get rid of the issue I’m going to rip them out and bin them.

 

[bigredfish]

FPS shouldnt have any effect on blur

It seems the biggest culprit is a 1/1.8" sensor on a 4K cam, we've seen similar Dahua cams with that config.

What bitrate are you running? Can you manually set it to Constant and say 16,000?
(You are sure thats the main stream and not a substream right?)

 

[WelshPaul]

It seems the biggest culprit is a 1/1.8" sensor on a 4K cam, we've seen similar Dahua cams with that config.

I think this is the issue!

What bitrate are you running? Can you manually set it to Constant and say 16,000?

Tried 16384 at Constant and Variable with Highest, Higher and Medium Video Quality selected and it made no difference and it's definitely the main stream.

I'm now running with the following Video settings:

• Resolution: 3840x2160
• FPS: 10
• Bitrate Type: 3072 (As per Hikvision's Bitrate Chart)
• Video Encoding: H.265
• I Frame Interval: 20

Image Settings:

• Brightness: 50
• Contrast: 50
• Saturation: 50
• Sharpness: 50
• Iris Mode: Fixed
• Anti-Banding: OFF
• Exposure Time: 1/1000
• Gain: 40
• Day/Night Switch: Day
• Smart Supplement Light: OFF
• Supplement Light Mode: IR Supplement Light
• Light Brightness Control: Manual
• IR Light: 64
• BLC Area: OFF
• WDR: ON
• Wide Dynamic Level: 44
• White Balance: AWB1
• Digital Noise Reduction: Normal
• Noise Reduction Level: 25
• Defog Mode: OFF
• Gray Scale: [0-255]
• Mirror: OFF
• Video Standard: PAL (50HZ)

Video:
View attachment timeline_2.mp4

















I'm now running with the following night time Video settings:

• Resolution: 3840x2160
• FPS: 10
• Bitrate Type: 3072 (As per Hikvision's Bitrate Chart)
• Video Encoding: H.265
• I Frame Interval: 20

Image Settings:

• Brightness: 50
• Contrast: 50
• Saturation: 50
• Sharpness: 50
• Iris Mode: Fixed
• Anti-Banding: OFF
• Exposure Time: 1/100
• Gain: 50
• Day/Night Switch: Night
• Smart Supplement Light: OFF
• Supplement Light Mode: IR Supplement Light
• Light Brightness Control: Manual
• IR Light: 64
• BLC Area: OFF
• WDR: OFF
• HLC: OFF
• White Balance: AWB1
• Digital Noise Reduction: Normal
• Noise Reduction Level: 25
• Defog Mode: OFF
• Gray Scale: [0-255]
• Mirror: OFF
• Video Standard: PAL (50HZ)

Video:
View attachment timeline_1.mp4

















All looks ok during the day, right?

 

[bigredfish]

Honestly I wouldnt be happy with that image no.
I dont know HiK cameras as well as Dahua so cant be sure of some of the settings, but here's a few examples of what I consider good. Not excellent but good.

Generally H.264, CBR, 10,240 bitrate,

4MP 1/1.8" sensor on a Dahua bullet
Dreary, rainy overcast day like you may have more often
30ft from camera to edge of street. 40ft to middle of street
View attachment Home_ch2_20230830152307_20230830152337.mp4


















View attachment Home_ch2_20231028211058_20231028211109.mp4


















View attachment Home_ch2_20230930035828_20230930035936.mp4

 

[wittaj]

Yeah, the Hikvision is on a less than ideal MP/sensor ratio (it is 8MP on the 1/1.8" sensor) so I think it simply needs more infrared or visible light. It is struggling without enough light.

 

[WelshPaul]

A warning to anyone thinking of purchasing these camera… DON’T!!!

I purchased these as replacements for five year old DS-2CD2T55FW’s. The DS-2CD2T86G2’s work fine in daylight, but at night you will get severe motion blur and ghosting. While you can reduce it slightly by altering settings you cannot get rid of it completely. Either way the result is an. Blurry mess that would have your local police force putting out an APB for Casper the ghost!

 

[wittaj]

It is why we mention frequently to purchase cameras on the ideal MP/sensor ratio if night performance is a criteria. Shoving too many MP on a sensor designed for a lower MP results in poor nighttime performance.

 

[Spirch]

• Stream Type: Main Stream(Normal)
• Video Type: Video&Audio
• Resolution: 2688*1520
• Bitrate Type: Variable ---> CONSTANT
• Video Quality: Medium ---> HIGHEST
• Frame Rate: 25
• Max. Bitrate 12288
• Video Encoding: H.265
• H.265+: OFF
• Profile: Main Profile
• I Frame Interval: 50 ---> ONE to ONE with FPS, so 25
• SVC: OFF
• Smoothing: 50

Image settings:

• Brightness: 50
• Contrast: 50
• Saturation: 50
• Sharpness: 50
• Iris Mode: Fixed
• Anti-Banding: OFF
• Exposure Time: 1/50 ---> INCREASE
• Day/Night Switch: Auto
• Sensitivity: 2
• Filtering Time: 5
• Smart Supplement Light: OFF
• Supplement Light Mode: IR Supplement Light
• Light Brightness Control: Manual
• IR Light: 64
• BLC Area: OFF
• WDR: OFF
• HLC: OFF
• White Balance: AWB1
• Digital Noise Reduction: Normal
• Noise Reduction Level: 50
• Defog Mode: OFF
• Gray Scale: [0-255]
• Mirror: OFF
• Video Standard: PAL (50HZ)

see BOLD text in the quote

also to compare, keep in mind that to cut the video i did post processing and youtube did it own post processing, it's not the original video

there is two layer of video quality downgrade

first half is PCI-T18F6S
second half is DS-2CD3688G2T-LIZS


and settings as attached files

 

[Spirch]

h265 and i frame is important, 1:1 or i frame lower than fps, lower i frame will use more space and might cause more cpu usage

in your original video

25 fps
50 iframe

1 original frame every 50 frame, 49 will just be partial image with difference and more images create more artifact and ugly stuff


(correct me if im wrong please)

 

[WelshPaul]

I had already tried everything you highlighted in bold @Spirch.

FYI - I spent a week researching and even used Python and TFTP to downgrade the firmware in a last ditch attempt to try and resolve the blur/ghosting, but that didn’t help either.

Ghosting only happens with people, moving or still. Motion blur happens on anything that moves. Tried setting the I frame to match the FPS, tried setting the I frame to a higher value than FPS, tried H.264, tried H.265, tried lowering the gain, tried lowering the DNR (can only go so low before grain makes it unusable anyway), tried various exposures (1/25, 1/50, 1/75 and 1/100), tried low, medium and high bitrates, tried setting video quality to medium, higher and highest, tried variable and constant bitrates and even different resolutions. Nothing fully resolves the issues with these cams. I can get rid of the ghosting but the motion blur persists.

I posted here just in case someone spotted something I had missed or found out something about these cams that I hadn’t read. These cams are rubbish for night use and the very fact that Hikvision have “Powered by DarkFighter” on the box is a joke.

Edited multiple times because the format keeps changing on submission. Ahh

Edit 2: I haven’t tried switching the cam to NTSC, I’m using PAL. Maybe the issue I am seeing is only present when using PAL? Worth a try!

 

[paul@austins.tv]

WelshPaul. Another Paul from Sussex UK.
I think if you take on other forum members sound advise ie: constant bitrate/correct codec/shutter/gain adjustments aswell as a possible separate IR illuminator. You should be good to utilise those cameras your so disappointed with.

 

[WelshPaul]

I do not want or need an IR illuminator. The camera used in the video(s) above is less than 8-10 meters away from the gate! I need to replace these cameras as they are not fit for the job. My fault, I should have done my research before swapping out the old DS-2CD2T55FW’s. As @wittaj points out in a post above, these 8MP cameras and their 1/1.8 sensors are simply not up to the job of night surveillance. I can't even get a usable image when using the camera's default settings and a non-moving subject.