I finally got my IPC-HFW5241E-Z12E temporarily installed to read license plates. I can get it higher up and/or closer to the street, though I prefer the current position to reduce vandalism. The problem I am having is that during night time the license plate becomes so bright that you can't see the numbers/letters. If you have a link to share how to configure the cam that would be highly appreciated.
Settings for IPC-HFW5241E-Z12E
- Thread starter rfj
- Start date
bigredfish
Known around here
Have you read many of the posts in this LPR forum concerning settings for LPR?
LPR requires tuning the camera settings for this very specific purpose and generally can take a bit of effort. Start by reading posts in the forum on LPR and educating yourself.
Tip:
First priority is setting exposure. Typically 1/1000 or 1/2000 which will reduce the whiteout you describe.
When properly dialed in, the image will be very dark as all you are going to see is the reflection of the plate
LPR requires tuning the camera settings for this very specific purpose and generally can take a bit of effort. Start by reading posts in the forum on LPR and educating yourself.
Tip:
First priority is setting exposure. Typically 1/1000 or 1/2000 which will reduce the whiteout you describe.
When properly dialed in, the image will be very dark as all you are going to see is the reflection of the plate
Yep that is too bright indicating too slow a shutter.
Take a look at the LPR forum for settings...
At night, we have to run a very fast shutter speed (1/2,000) and in B/W with IR and the image will be black. All you will see are head/tail lights and the plate. Some people can get away with color if they have enough street lights, but most of us cannot. Here is a representative sample of plates I get at night of vehicles traveling about 45MPH at 175 feet from my 2MP 5241-Z12E camera:
Take a look at the LPR forum for settings...
At night, we have to run a very fast shutter speed (1/2,000) and in B/W with IR and the image will be black. All you will see are head/tail lights and the plate. Some people can get away with color if they have enough street lights, but most of us cannot. Here is a representative sample of plates I get at night of vehicles traveling about 45MPH at 175 feet from my 2MP 5241-Z12E camera:
There are several threads on here with almost the same title. Well, below are my night settings for one of my cams. Use them to start and go from there. See the images from last night also.
@samplenhold Thanks a lot for those screenshots. I did see a really good thread about setting up this cam and left it open in an IE window. But Windows decided to reboot and it didn't reopen the window... I did set up the cam as you suggested and go from there. Next I need to figure out how to switch between day and night time profile.
I am sorry about my ignorance but I did go through a bunch of threads and all the menus in the camera setting but I can't see how to switch between the night and day mode. For day mode the default settings seem just fine to read license plates. For night I am trying the suggested settings but even during day time the day settings seem to kick in which makes the images unusable. I guess I will also have to do some tweaking when to switch from day to night.
You need to either set up a schedule in the camera for Day and night times and then change it periodically as sunrise/sunset changes or use the utility created if you run a PC 24/7:
ipcamtalk.com
Dahua day/night switch utility - DahuaSunriseSunset
I wanted to use stronger noise reduction at night and weaker during the day, but Dahua seems to have made a mess of the profile management. On most cameras, there doesn't seem to be a way to have the camera switch automatically between Day and Night profiles when the camera changes between...
bigredfish
Known around here
Or if you don’t use the utility, choose “schedule” on the profile page shown above and set day/night hours. I use this method. Yes you have to change it 3 times per year to adjust for longer/shorter days, but with a home system it’s just a few minutes of work
Thanks. I finally found the menu for the schedule. I also downloaded the utility from GitHub - bp2008/DahuaSunriseSunset: A Windows Service which changes the profile of dahua cameras between Night and Day at each sunset and sunrise. The tool is a little bit confusing because there is not save button. It seems it just stores whatever changes and additions you make. So basically I have the program to fine tune the switch between day/night but if the program/service isn't running then I still have the camera with the schedule as a backup. At least that is the idea. We will see if that works.
Flintstone61
Known around here
I'm currently at 1/10,000 shutter with 2 camera's IR lighting the scene,
Flintstone61
Known around here
bigredfish
Known around here
So replaced an old 5231-Z12 that got waterlogged from our recent "almost tornado" with a new 5241-Z12
After just two evenings of tweeking, I'm relatively pleased with the results..... BUT... what is with the ghosting? I notice you have it also @samplenhold, settings very similar to yours. I cant seem to get rid of it? My best guess is its lack of IR light. I may add an IR blaster in the coming weeks, but have a bit more testing to do first.
Capture is approx 100ft and 30 degree angle.
After just two evenings of tweeking, I'm relatively pleased with the results..... BUT... what is with the ghosting? I notice you have it also @samplenhold, settings very similar to yours. I cant seem to get rid of it? My best guess is its lack of IR light. I may add an IR blaster in the coming weeks, but have a bit more testing to do first.
Capture is approx 100ft and 30 degree angle.
That is the biggest difference I notice between the 5231 and 5241 - I have tried everything to get rid of it on the 5241 and it doesn't happen. I even ran the two side by side and with an IR blaster. Even Wildcat review of the 5241 showed this ghosting.
I am not seeing it. Could you be more specific? All of those plate shots seem fine to me.
It is the ghost trail of the head/tail lights. Doesn't usually impact the plate, but it is annoying LOL.
bigredfish
Known around here
Never noticed it. All I really care about is getting good night caps of the plates.
Well after getting nice crisp black images like this for 3 years:
And then you get this fish gill look in red and comet trail in yellow, it is clear the chip/sensor isn't as good the previous model.
And then you get this fish gill look in red and comet trail in yellow, it is clear the chip/sensor isn't as good the previous model.