Review IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED (Full Color, Starlight+)

[aristobrat]

Dahua OEM IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED from EMPIRETECANDY
4MP WDR Turret AI Network Camera

Review unit courtesy of Andy (@EMPIRETECANDY) in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Andy's ipcamtalk vendor forum: link
Andy's AliExpress store: link
Andy's Amazon store: link
Andy's Email: kingsecurity2014 (at) 163 (dot) com

Price Approximately US $150
Link to camera on Andy's AliExpress store: link
(price and link valid 05/27/19)

Things that caught my eye:
The IPC-T model number is an OEM model number specific to EMPIRETECANDY.
Starlight+ rating. Min color lux (1/30s): 0.015 Lux. 3x lower than 5231 models.
This is a Full Color model, so no built-in IR or IRC. This model cannot "see" light from IR lights.
This model will switch to B/W in low light (if left on auto).
This model has two LED lights to optionally brighten the scene.
AI features include human and vehicle classification (in IVS intrusion zones).
This model includes people counting features usually found in Ultra models.

IPC-T5442TM-AS-LED SPECIFICATIONS

https://www.dahuasecurity.com/products/productDetail/33367

Camera
Image Sensor: 1/1.8” 4Megapixel progressive scan CMOS
Effective Pixels: 2688(H) x 1520(V)
RAM/ROM: 512MB/128MB
Scanning System: Progressive
Electronic Shutter Speed: Auto/Manual, 1/3~1/100000s
Minimum Illumination:
0.0016Lux/F1.6 ( Color,1/3s,30IRE)
0.015Lux/F1.6 ( Color,1/30s,30IRE)
LED Distance: Distance up to 17m (56ft)
LED On/Off Control: Auto/ Manual
LEDs: 2

Lens
Lens Type: Fixed
Mount Type: Board-in
Focal Length: 2.8mm,3.6mm,6.0mm
Max. Aperture: F1.6
Angle of View: H: 113°, V:60°/H: 89°, V:48°/H: 56°, V:31°
Optical Zoom: N/A
Aperture Type: Fixed
Close Focus Distance: 1.3m(4.27ft)/1.9m(6.23ft)/3.8m(12.47ft)
DORI Distance (see original spec link)

Pan/Tilt/Rotation
Pan/Tilt/Rotation Range: Pan:0˚~360˚; Tilt:0˚~78˚; Rotation:0˚~360˚

Artificial Intelligence
Perimeter Protection: Tripwire, Intrusion(Human & Vehicle classification)
People Counting: Line crossing people counting, Region people counting

General Intelligence
Event Trigger: Motion detection, Video tampering , Scene changing, Network disconnection , IP address conflict, Illegal Access,Storage anomaly
General Intelligence: Object Abandoned/Missing

Video
Compression: H.265+/H.265/H.264+/H.264/H.264B/H.264H/
MJPEG(sub stream)
Streaming Capability: 3 Streams
Resolution: 2688×1520/2304×1296/1080P(1920×1080)/1.3M(1280×960)/720P(1280×720)/D1(704×576/704×480)/VGA(640×480)/CIF(352×288/352×240)

Frame Rate
Main Stream: 2688×1520(1~25/30fps)
Sub Stream: D1(1~25/30fps)
Third Stream: 1080P(1~11fps)
Bit Rate Control: CBR/VBR
Bit Rate:
H.264: 32~ 8192Kbps
H.265: 19~ 8192Kbps
Day/Night
Day/Night: Electronic
Auto/ Color / B/W
BLC Mode: BLC / HLC / WDR(120dB)
White Balance: Auto/Natural/Street Lamp/Outdoor/Manual
Gain Control: Auto/Manual
Noise Reduction: 3D DNR
Motion Detection: Off / On (4 Zone, Rectangle)
Region of Interest: Off / On (4 Zone)
Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS): N/A
Smart IR: Support
Defog: Support
Digital Zoom: N/A
Flip: 0°/90°/180°/270°
Mirror: Off / On
Privacy Masking: Off / On (4 Area, Rectangle)

Audio
Compression: G.711a/G.711Mu/G.726/AAC/G.723

Network
Ethernet: RJ-45 (10/100Base-T)
Protocol:
HTTP; TCP; ARP; RTSP; RTP; UDP; RTCP;SMTP;
FTP; DHCP; DNS; DDNS; PPPoE; IPv4/v6; SNMP;QoS;
UPnP;NTP
Interoperability: ONVIF(Profile S/Profile G), CGI,Milstone,Genetec,P2P
Streaming Method: Unicast / Multicast
Max. User Access: 20 Users
Edge Storage:
NAS
FTP
Micro SD card 256GB
Web Viewer:
IE(versions newer than IE8), Chrome,
Firefox, Safari(versions newer than Safari 12)
Management Software: Smart PSS, DSS, P2P
Smart Phone: iOS, Android

Certifications
Certifications
CE-LVD:EN60950-1
CE-EMC:Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30/EU
FCC:47 CFR FCC Part 15, Subpart B
UL/CUL:
UL60950-1
CAN/CSA C22.2 No.60950-1-07

Interface
Video Interface: N/A
Audio Interface: Built-in MIC
RS485: N/A
Alarm: N/A

Electrical
Power Supply: DC12V(±30%), PoE(802.3af)(Class 0)
Power Consumption:
DC12V:2.1W 6.2W(LED on)
PoE:2.6W 7.2W(LED on)

Environmental
Operating Conditions: -30° C ~ +60° C (-22° F ~ +140° F) / 10%RH~95% RH
Storage Conditions: +5° C ~ +40° C (+41° F ~ +104° F) (daily temperature difference within 15° C/59° F ) / 10%RH~95% RH
Ingress Protection: IP67

Construction
Casing: Metal
Dimensions: Φ106mm×99.2mm (4.17”×3.91”)
Net Weight: 0.55Kg (1.21lb)
Gross Weight: 0.71Kg (1.57lb)

Unboxing Pics

 

[aristobrat]

My plan is to compare this side-by-side with a 2MP Starlight 5231 varifocal turret. In the process of uninstalling one of my 5231s from the soffit, I managed to pull apart the Ethernet end of the pigtail, so I'm going to have to MacGyver my 5231 back together...

My awesomely screwed up 5231 end:


Anyhow, if your'e familiar with the 5231/2231 models, hopefully this gives you a rough feel for how much smaller the 5442 model is. In think the last pic probably illustrates it the best.

5442 (left) next to original 5231 (right):




5442 base on top of 5231 base; left sides even:





5442 base (dark grey ring) centered on top of 5231 base.

 

[aristobrat]

Until I get my 5321 fixed, I've got the 5442 on my porch. Unfortunately, I found this website after I had the Ethernet to my porch run, so I know this camera is *not* located in a best practice location. I'll get that fixed someday, but until then, here's what my porch looks like and what a still picture from the 5442 looks like.

Heres the porch. Camera is located in the circle and pointed towards the front door.




There is a street light across the street from the front of the house:




Here is a pic from the camera. The camera is running stock image settings. Note that even with a street light across the street, there isn't enough ambient light for it to stay in Full Color mode unless I let the camera turn on its built-in LED lights, which I personally do not want running all night long.

Camera without built-in LED lights on:




Here is the shot with the camera's LED lights enabled. They really light up the porch, which caused the camera to switch back to color.




Here's what my porch looks like with the camera LEDs on, set to "Auto"... they're pretty bright, and they can be manually set to even brighter. FWIW, the LED controls in the firmware are labeled "IR".

 

[aristobrat]

Here are some night videos taken from the driveway. All of the videos have the little garage light on (60W). Some of the videos have the garage light + the soffit lights (two @ ~100W) on. Except where noted in the one video, the camera LEDs are off.

I have not figured out how to get the videos to play back from YouTube in 2K/4MP. They were uploaded to YouTube in their native 2688 x 1520 resolution, but 1080P is the highest playback rate that I see. Any suggestions for that would be appreciated.

This is what the driveway looks like. Camera is on the board to the right of the garage door. I’m about 40 feet away from the camera when I start walking in these videos.




5442-LED in bright night scene

In this video, the garage + soffit lights are on, so the scene is pretty bright. The camera is in Auto mode and chose Color.




5442-LED BW

In this video, only the 60W garage light is on. The camera is in Auto mode and chose B/W.




5442-LED w/ LEDs on

In this video, only the 60w garage light is on, so the camera starts in B/W mode. I turn on the cameras LED lights and then the camera switches to color.




5442-LED Forced Color

In this video, only the 60w garage light is on. The camera would normally chose B/W for this, but I forced it to Color.




This pic shows what the two LEDs on the cameras look like from 40 feet away. They’re bright!





Here is an evening video:

5442-LED Evening

 

[Arizona23]

Sub

 

[reeves1985]

Looking forward to this review
I've been waiting for it haha

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

Thanks @aristobrat Looking forward to watch videos day and night

 

[Dramus]

I can't tell for sure, @aristobrat, but it looks like, from the 5442 base centered on the 5231 base, that perhaps the hole patterns are the same on each?

I'm hoping they come out with an IR version. I wouldn't want those LED lights on all night, either. Besides the light pollution, the thing would end-up covered in moth detritus and spider webs in no time, in the summertime, around here. The carriage house lights on our porch and flanking our garage door have a dusk-to-dawn half power option. I left them in that mode for one summer. Learned not to do that again!

Alternatively: I wonder how the thing would work in conjunction with our motion-sensing lights?

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

I can't tell for sure, @aristobrat, but it looks like, from the 5442 base centered on the 5231 base, that perhaps the hole patterns are the same on each?

I'm hoping they come out with an IR version. I wouldn't want those LED lights on all night, either. Besides the light pollution, the thing would end-up covered in moth detritus and spider webs in no time, in the summertime, around here. The carriage house lights on our porch and flanking our garage door have a dusk-to-dawn half power option. I left them in that mode for one summer. Learned not to do that again!

Alternatively: I wonder how the thing would work in conjunction with our motion-sensing lights?

It has IR model, IPC-T5442TM-AS, this camera will be tested by @looney2ns , he will post here soon when he finish the testing, you can turn off the LED light. This camera can work great for very low light place. Some guys may need the LED light

 

[MakeItRain]

Wow, that is pretty cool to have an integrated LED like that. Is there any way to have it set so that the LEDs turn on for a few seconds when it detects motion?

 

[fenderman]

Wow, that is pretty cool to have an integrated LED like that. Is there any way to have it set so that the LEDs turn on for a few seconds when it detects motion?

Not on this model. That function is available on dahua active deterrence cams. None are available with this sensor yet.

 

[mat200]

hmmm... 4 screws on the base, so it will not fit the junction boxes and wall mounts that we've been using on the other starlight turrets.

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

hmmm... 4 screws on the base, so it will not fit the junction boxes and wall mounts that we've been using on the other starlight turrets.

PFa130-e Junction box
PFB204W wall mount

 

[Mike A.]

Wow, that is pretty cool to have an integrated LED like that. Is there any way to have it set so that the LEDs turn on for a few seconds when it detects motion?

That would be nice. Really needs some other sensor on the cam to do that well though like the PIR, as Fenderman notes, the Dahua/Lechange active deterrence cams have. I suppose that you could do it if it detected motion but if it's real dark and with no IR, it's not going to be able to see much to trigger. "Dumb" motion-activated lights are so cheap and reliable though most probably are better off just doing that with whatever cam.

 

[reeves1985]

I agree with the above regarding the led lights.
Although I suppose some people would have a use case for the led version.

I have a specific location 1 would be handy as I have a very dimly lit dark hole down the side of my house which the local drug users decided to call home for heroin usage. That would work well there m. Obviously it would require more maintenance to keep the lenses clean.

You could always use an independent pit sensor wired up to trigger the leds to come on but obviously that's not plug and play or ideal.

 

[Dramus]

hmmm... 4 screws on the base, so it will not fit the junction boxes and wall mounts that we've been using on the other starlight turrets.

*ack* Yeah, four holes, not three. Disregard my prior question.

 

[aristobrat]

You could always use an independent pit sensor wired up to trigger the leds to come on but obviously that's not plug and play or ideal.

Looks like Dahua has Active Deterrence versions of these new models:

https://www.dahuasecurity.com/products/allProducts/1/7107?tab=7167

If the alarm features work anything like the current 1831C-PIR Active Deterrence model, you should be able to have the LEDs come on temporarily as part of the alarm (as well as play an audio clip, if you want).

 

[aristobrat]

*ack* Yeah, four holes, not three. Disregard my prior question.

No worries. On my porch, I have it mounted where I've had a few different models before and the screw holes didn't match any of the previous patterns.

 

[Dramus]

No worries. On my porch, I have it mounted where I've had a few different models before and the screw holes didn't match any of the previous patterns.

*nod* I was really hoping any 4MP upgrades from the 5231 would actually have the exact same base as the 5231.

I not only have my bases screwed directly into the soffits, but I have any gaps sealed with silicon sealant. Otherwise I know, as sure as the day is long, they'll end up ingress for wasps, and under those bases are big ol' holes for the camera connectors--which lead straight into the attic crawl space.

In fact...

...sealed the bases and the gap.

I'm not taking any chances. The little bastages had gotten into our attic crawl space three years ago. We hadn't noticed the activity because it was so far off the ground. The roofing crew here to put a new roof on sure found out quickly. Took them three days to get rid of them. When we had the ceiling repainted in a room near that corner a couple weeks ago the painter noticed irregularities in the surface. He knew what it was right away. I poked at it and about an eight inch square section of ceiling just crumbled and fell to the floor.

 

[VisionxOrb]

Been waiting for this, Can you try setting it to color night instead of auto so it wont switch?