Am i expecting too much

[Rich.]

Hi all,

Just starting my venture into IP CCTV at home and am unsure if im expecting too much or if i've missed a setting?

Camera is a HIK Colorvu DS-2CD2347G1-LU 2.8mm
Connected to a Synology DS418 NAS with 8TB seagate skyhawk HHD's
Camera is just poking out of a window at the moment and im getting the images i've attached. Unable to read a registration plate at 20-30 meters.

I have tried numerous settings but the ones in the photos are also attached. Full resolution, highest quality, high bitrate. Live view on the HIK web interface is considerably worse again. I'd appreciate some comments to see if this seems about right or have i missed something?

Thanks
Rich

 

[Phil]

2.8mm lens is wrong for that challenge.
Imagine the scene width and height if your window was not limiting it.
The number plate is tiny in the scene.

Also, I see "screenshot".
Use the camera icon at the bottom of the browser view to capture a full resolution 4MP still.

And, for any of us viewing the resultant image in our browser at this forum, our browser will be showing us 1920 x 1080 - we'd need to download and view it with an image viewer to see the real full-size image and resolution (all of the pixels / probably more than your monitor has).

 

[Rich.]

Thanks for the reply Phil. Its not that im trying to capture a number plate, its more i was surprised by how poor the image quality was that i wasnt able to. Not expecting miracles, but its a long way off what i would have classed as 1080p on my TV, never mind 4MP.

Maybe i will have to reconsider my remaining camera choices.

Thanks again

 

[Phil]

Do you understand that you are very likely viewing a 2MP rendition of your 4MP camera in your PC browser?

 

[Rich.]

Do you understand that you are very likely viewing a 2MP rendition of your 4MP camera in your PC browser?

Its the Synology desktop app that im viewing the images in?

 

[Phil]

Unless you are using a 4K monitor AND software that will render in 4K, then the source image from a 4MP camera has more pixels than your monitor/browser will render.

 

[Rich.]

Its a Macbook Retina that im using so yes 4K, results are also the same downloading the file in MP4 from my Synology and viewing with VLC player and the results are the same too. I think i may just be expecting too much.

 

[Phil]

Grab a still from the camera and check the image size of that still - it's resolution in pixels.
You should have an image whose resolution equates to the largest the camera can produce.
e.g. a couple of large 8MP/4K stills here - Milesight 4K Camera Snapshot Test
Over 7MB 3840 x 2160 pixels

 

[rompik]

I think you are expecting too much. I have a bit higher resolution than you (5Mpixel but the camera actually records in 6MP) and the rwg plate is barely recognisable.
Attached is a picture of BMW 20 meters away. Admittedly this is with 2.8mm lens so as Phil mentioned it may not be the best for that scenario.

 

[rompik]

I would actually be interested in what kind of pictures you get at night.
For me still objects are ok. But moving objects (people walking by my drive) are pretty much impossible to see faces.

I added 2xIR arrays and then added light diffuser but faces are still over-exposed. Without those IR lights the camera increases sensitivity (and noise) so images are even more difficult to work with.

Attached is me walking approx. 5m-1.5m from the camera.

 

[Rich.]

Thanks all, sounds like im just being a bit ambitious then! I’ll uplod some photos tonight of the night performance, which is hopefully where it should excel!

Rich

 

[Carphone]

Hi Rich,

I just purchased the exact same camera but the 4mm version (also not put it up yet).

I am replacing my 4K Reolink with it as I want better night quality .

I was also a bit surprised at how the number plates are not captured so sharply (my 4K Reolink does much better with plates in the day - twice as many pixels maybe..).

However the Hikvision camera is awesome at night and destroys the Reolink ! Maybe Hikvision will release an 8mp version in the future for us to blow some more cash lol.

Some pics attached from my test today of both my Reolink and Hikvision (prob not in the right order but sure you can figure out what’s taken from what ).

Can’t wait to put it up at the weekend

 

[Rich.]

Looks very similar, seems im not alone. Have used some Axis 4MP cameras before previously and seemed to remember them being better but i assumed it was just in my head and couldnt do a direct comparison. However now its got dark, even poking through a window, they are impressive!