Hi @Gabriel1 ,
Your first question does not have a simple answer, because to begin with, the comparison should be made camera VS camera.
The price should give you the first clue. This camera in its day was the best camera that DAHUA had. This is due to several factors, but simplifying, the difference in quality with other IP cameras lies in:
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Megapixels and FPS (the image size and the number of frames per second they can capture). This camera has 12 mp, which translates to a 4000x3000 image with 25 fps. In other words, it is capable of capturing more details and with better definition than other cheaper cameras (most 4k cameras are 8mp (3840x2160) at 15/20 fps). This is because this camera uses a higher quality CMOS sensor, capable of capturing excellent images in very low light.
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The lens and optics are another very important parameter, and more of the same, in this camera they are of higher quality than in other cheaper ones, which directly influences image quality.
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The motherboard and the compression algorithm, being of higher quality, make the understanding of the image faster and no loss of image quality, which allows for better and more fluid IP transmission.
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Electronic motorized varifocal lens, allows you to zoom and focus very quickly and autonomously. Most of the cheaper cameras, varifocal lenses are mechanical and a hell of a lot slower.
-The firmware, DAHUA has many years of experience developing IP cameras, and therefore the firmware of its cameras have many revisions and are very stable.
-The parameters available to improve image quality (White balance, gain, exposure, HDR, brightness, fog, 3D noise, contrast, transmission protocols, video configuration in fps, bitrate etc, etc) are higher than in others cameras and work very smoothly and stable.
To summarize, if you disassemble this camera and a much cheaper one you would notice the difference right away. The components are more complex and the quality levels are very different. It is true that they are also much larger and that is why this camera is difficult to integrate into a BR2. To put it simply, it is quite risky to manipulate it without causing any damage and having everything fit.
The base market price of this camera, if you are lucky enough to find it because it is no longer manufactured, is between €1,000 and €1,500 depending on the online store. But as you can see in the videos above the image quality is very good. Now they have released a new, more modern version, which improves some things but sacrifices the electronic zoom, which in my opinion is a shame.
It is true that there are good cheaper options, it all depends on your needs. I mount another 4k 8mp 20fps camera, which can be installed directly on a BR2, it has a pretty good quality, but obviously it is not the same as this DAHUA. (Attached images)
Answering your question about the connection. Connects via Ethernet cable to a secondary FathomX in parallel with the primary, or to an ethernet switch connected to the primary FathomX, which communicates with the surface FathomX. Then through its IP address (http://… or via rtsp://…), you can view it on the PC.
Regarding the bandwidth, I would recommend a minimum of 50 mps, you could with something less but you would have to reduce the image quality, either in fps or bit rate. But if you move in the order of 60mps up, even better. It all depends on the configuration of your ROV and the extras you have that use bandwidth.
Best regards.
