Dahua security camera review

This is a comparison for a recent project we recently did. This comparison is to show that cameras are not equal. The higher the energy consumption the bigger the solar system required to power them.

There is no point getting the best camera, if it will not record all night due to the lack of battery power available

The SD1A203T-GN and HDBW2431RZS were existing Dahua cameras on their site. I have included these to show what better alternatives are available.

CAMERA

SD1A203T-GN

HDBW2431RZS

HFW8232E-Z

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

Camera

SD1A203T-GN

HDBW2431RZS

HFW8232E-Z

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

View area with IR on

SD1A203T-GN

HDBW2431RZS

HFW8232E-Z

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

IR reach

SD1A203T-GN

15m

HDBW2431RZS

30m

HFW8232E-Z

50m

HFW8232E-Z

50m

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

50m

Blind spot @ 3m height

SD1A203T-GN

HDBW2431RZS

HFW8232E-Z

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

Sensor size

SD1A203T-GN

1/2.8”

HDBW2431RZS

1/3”

HFW8232E-Z

1/1.9”

HFW8232E-Z

1/2.8”

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

1/2.8”

Minimum illumination

SD1A203T-GN

0.005 lux @ f1.8

HDBW2431RZS

0.03 lux / f1.4

HFW8232E-Z

0.002 lux / f1.53

HFW8232E-Z

0.006 lux / f1.4

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

0.002 Lux@F1.6

Motorised lens

SD1A203T-GN

Varifocal

HDBW2431RZS

Varifocal

HFW8232E-Z

Varifocal

HFW8232E-Z

Varifocal

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

Fixed-focal

Optical zoom

SD1A203T-GN

HDBW2431RZS

N/A

HFW8232E-Z

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

N/A

Image stabilisation

SD1A203T-GN

HDBW2431RZS

HFW8232E-Z

Yes

HFW8232E-Z

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

Microphone

SD1A203T-GN

Mic in

HDBW2431RZS

N/A

HFW8232E-Z

Audio IN / OUT

HFW8232E-Z

Built in Mic

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

Built in Mic

Power

SD1A203T-GN

< 10.5w

HDBW2431RZS

< 9w

HFW8232E-Z

< 13w

HFW8232E-Z

< 8.5w

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

< 5.9w

Angle of view

SD1A203T-GN

105.6° ~ 35.2°

HDBW2431RZS

H:104°~28°

HFW8232E-Z

80°~32°

HFW8232E-Z

101°- 31°

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

Horizontal 107° × Vertical 56° × Diagonal 127°

4G support

SD1A203T-GN

HDBW2431RZS

HFW8232E-Z

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

Yes

Price

SD1A203T-GN

$240

HDBW2431RZS

$230

HFW8232E-Z

$702

HFW8232E-Z

$270

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

$600

Why we prefer the HDW5231R-ZE camera

At 8.5W consumption, it is the most energy efficient of all cameras. As a result it will have less stress on the batteries. Furthermore, we tested this camera in our lab and it consumes 5.5W with 100% IR setting.
Has the widest view area of all the cameras when combined with the IR distance of 50m.
Has the greatest optical zoom at 5 x
Has the longest IR distance of 50m.
Has the shortest blind spot distance at 1 meter when mounted at 3 meters. The higher a camera is located the greater of a bind spot it would create.
Has no plastic outer covering as the dome cameras do, resulting in no IR glare.
Is the only camera with a built in microphone, which may capture useful audio.
Excellent night image.
Cost effective at $270 a camera

If money were not an issue, we would choose HFW8232E-Z

Benefits

Biggest image sensor of all the cameras.
Superior picture quality & low light performance 0.002 lux.
Support for image stabilization during high winds and pole movement.
Stronger visual appearance compared to a dome or turret camera

Disadvantages

Most expensive camera from all proposed at $702, it is more than double to cost of the alternative cameras.
Higher energy usage, resulting in higher capacity and more expensive batteries.

Review of SD1A203T-GN

Benefits

PTZ motion easier to target specific area.
Can connect an external microphone.

Disadvantages

Lowest IR distance at 15 meters vs 50 meters of HDW5231R-ZE.
Is subjected to IR glare due to IR LED within the plastic dome.

Review of HDBW2431RZS

Benefits

Cheapest at $230

Disadvantages

No optical zoom.
Smallest sensor of 1/3”.
Highest lux level at 0.03 lux (smaller lux the better).
No audio connection.
Average IR distance of 30M.
Is prone to IR glare due to IR LED within the plastic dome.

Summary of results

CAMERA

SD1A203T-GN

HDBW2431RZS

HFW8232E-Z

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

Camera

SD1A203T-GN

HDBW2431RZS

HFW8232E-Z

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

Price

SD1A203T-GN

⭐⭐⭐

HDBW2431RZS

⭐⭐⭐

HFW8232E-Z

⭐

HFW8232E-Z

⭐⭐⭐

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

⭐⭐

Performance

SD1A203T-GN

⭐⭐⭐

HDBW2431RZS

⭐⭐

HFW8232E-Z

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

HFW8232E-Z

⭐⭐⭐⭐

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Power consumption

SD1A203T-GN

⭐⭐⭐

HDBW2431RZS

⭐⭐⭐⭐

HFW8232E-Z

⭐⭐

HFW8232E-Z

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best Value

SD1A203T-GN

⭐⭐⭐

HDBW2431RZS

⭐⭐

HFW8232E-Z

⭐⭐⭐

HFW8232E-Z

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

HFW3241DF-AS-4G

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐*

HDW5231R-ZE is the best value camera. The higher the power consumption the bigger the solar panel and battery. Good quality panels and batteries can become very expensive.

In saying that we can reduce the power consumption considerably by turning off the LED and using an external solar street light for additional illumination.

The bigger the power consumption, the bigger the solar system needed to power the camera