WDR vs SSA

[bigredfish]

So I dont typically like to use any kind of Backlight if I can avoid it. Tends to wash things out and introduces some blur esp in low light.

But I was playing with my carport fixed 3.6mm 5442 turret and finally found a use for SSA . Running 0-4 (1/250) exposure
Had to dial back Saturation a lot (25) as it was cartoonish at 50

No backlight

WDR 10 (gets worse the higher I set it)

SSA

 

[Robertomcat]

What is the SSA mode? On my PTZ I can't find that mode anywhere, only WDR, BLC and HLC. The third image with SSA mode looks very good.

 

[bigredfish]

Its a backlight choice on newer firmware, not on all models.... I dont know for sure which

It also isnt so great on all cameras. I have it on a high end PTZ and didnt like it at all.

 

[CanCuba]

I've played with SSA at night but always go back to no backlighting. Going to give this a shot during the day and see if it helps with the high-contrast of sunlit and shaded areas.

 

[wittaj]

We know someone will ask, so I will LOL. What is it like on motion? Mine was acceptable most of the day.

And in my experience another option not to run at night.

 

[bigredfish]

Oh I wont run any backlight at night, agreed. Day only on this ..

Pretty overcast so not the best conditions but here's a clip

View attachment Home_ch3_20230524101504_20230524101531.mp4

 

[CanCuba]

Here's 3 screenshot from my Color4K/X:

No backlight compensation:



WDR @ 10:



SSA:



Not seeing a whole lot of difference between OFF and SSA. The garage areas at the bottom and the alleyway at the bottom right look too dark. WDR image seems to have some white balance issues but that can be corrected.

As the sun moves from left to right, the shade moves across the scene and it can make it hard to get decent footage of people, particularly those with darker complexions.

I think I'll stay with WDR and work on correcting the white balance.

It was worth a shot.

 

[CanCuba]

Oh I wont run any backlight at night, agreed. Day only on this ..

Pretty overcast so not the best conditions but here's a clip

View attachment 163946

Imagine looks good overall. Something going on with the kid's hair as it contrasts against the sun.

But if you're doing face detection, the faces looks good. I'd keep it on.

 

[Ri22o]

I have started using SSA on the North side of my house because the shadow gets super dark as it creeps out into the lawn.

No backlight:


SSA:


Motion:

 

[bigredfish]

Yeah for some reason it doesnt seem to do well on my 4K-X either but ok on the fixed 5442

 

[bigredfish]

I have started using SSA on the North side of my house because the shadow gets super dark as it creeps out into the lawn.

No backlight:
View attachment 163950View attachment 163951

SSA:
View attachment 163952

Motion:

Looks like mine before I dialed back Saturation...

 

[CanCuba]

Yeah for some reason it doesnt seem to do well on my 4K-X either but ok on the fixed 5442

Interesting. One would think it's the same algorithm on the two cameras. I wonder if it's because of the different sensors.

 

[Ri22o]

Looks like mine before I dialed back Saturation...

Yea, it hadn't occurred to me to turn saturation down. I made some adjustments for the still shot, but the video is still at 50.

 

[Ri22o]

Is this normal behavior? I have noticed this happening out of the corner of my eye while I have the monitor on and working, but never really paid attention and looked into it. It is almost as if it shut the SSA off. I tried refreshing the settings in the UI and a reboot of the camera, but it persisted. The only thing that got it back to normal was switching from the Day profile to Night and back, and 5 minutes later it did the same thing and is now back to acting as if SSA is off.

 

[CanCuba]

That looks like the camera trying to decide if SSA is needed or not. Kind of like when I set my cameras to auto day/night mode and they spend 5 minutes at dusk and dawn going back and forth between day and night settings.

Like we're always told to never leave the exposure settings on auto, maybe SSA is better avoided as well. According to Murphy's Law, the camera will start vacillate between settings at the critical moment.

 

[Flintstone61]

SSA=
Super Secret Algorithm?

 

[Ri22o]

Secret Squirrel Agent

 

[biggen]

I'll try mine again on my 5442 varifocal. When I messed with it last week using SSA in the afternoon with long shadows made it look very cartoony. I'll knock saturation down and give it another try.

 

[zexoni70]

What is the SSA mode? On my PTZ I can't find that mode anywhere, only WDR, BLC and HLC. The third image with SSA mode looks very good.

 

[Ri22o]

Interesting. So it just appears that SSA is Auto-WDR. So in SSA you could be anywhere on the WDR scale, just like running your exposure in Auto. It would be nice if they could give a manual SSA where you could set the range for how much WDR to apply.