This compact 2MP PTZ camera from Dahua’s Lite Series offers precise 12x zoom, crisp night colour performance, and wide-angle to telephoto flexibility. With smooth PTZ control, IVS analytics, and support for PoE+, it’s ideal for active monitoring in public spaces, commercial sites, and high-traffic areas. IK10 housing adds vandal resistance for tougher deployments.
Key Features
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12x Optical Zoom – Capture detail at distance without loss of quality; ideal for wide-area or entrance monitoring.
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Starlight Low-Light Performance – Delivers full-colour images down to 0.005Lux—great for early evening or dusk scenes.
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IVS Analytics Onboard – Built-in Tripwire, Intrusion, and Object Detection enable smart alerts without external processing.
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Wide Dynamic Range (120dB) – Handles bright/dark contrasts in challenging lighting, such as entrances or glass-fronted spaces.
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PoE+ Simplified Installation – Power and data over one cable; supports longer runs and cleaner installs.
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Triple Stream Encoding – Stream high-res to recorders, while mobile and remote streams remain bandwidth-friendly.
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Vandal-Resistant IK10 Casing – Durable design for exposed, public, or outdoor placements.
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Edge Recording Support – Onboard microSD slot (256GB max) for direct-to-camera backup or standalone setups.
Perfect For:
- Commercial property entrances and exits
- Car parks and open retail lots
- School and campus surveillance
- Indoor warehouse or loading zones
- Council and municipal building security
- Small stadiums or arenas
Install Tips
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Mount at 3–5 m height to balance wide-view and zoom-in functionality for faces or license plates.
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Use PoE+ for simpler cabling in modern NVR setups; use DC24V only if legacy systems demand it.
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Enable Idle Motion so the camera returns to a key preset when inactive for consistent scene coverage.
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Use Patterns and Tours to automate monitoring of large or complex areas with minimal manual control.
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Deploy in vandal-prone areas—IK10 resistance ensures the dome holds up against tampering or strikes.
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Add a microSD card as local backup in case of network dropouts—256GB gives ample redundancy.
Downloads
Quick-Read Specs Card
| Feature |
Details |
| Resolution |
2MP (1920 × 1080) |
| Lens / Zoom |
5.3–64 mm / 12× Optical Zoom |
| Night Performance |
Starlight (0.005Lux Color, 0.0005Lux B/W) |
| IVS / Analytics |
Tripwire, Intrusion, Object Removal |
| Frame Rate |
Max 30fps @ 1080P |
| Audio |
Mic In / Speaker Out (1/1) |
| Onboard Storage |
microSD up to 256GB |
| Power |
PoE+ (802.3at) or 24VDC |
| Housing / Vandal Rating |
IK10 Metal Casing |
| Operating Temp |
–30 °C to +60 °C |
| Web & App Support |
Smart PSS, DMSS (iOS/Android) |
Extra Info
Starlight Performance
Equipped with a STARVIS CMOS sensor, this system is optimized for superior low-light performance. It can capture true-to-life color images even in conditions as dark as 0.005 lux, where the human eye can barely perceive anything. This makes it ideal for:
- Car parks
- School yards
- Alleys
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Building perimeters
In these environments, ambient lighting is often minimal, but critical details such as vehicle color, clothing, or facial features still need to be visible—making this feature invaluable for night-time surveillance.
PFA Focus Technology
Dahua’s Predictive Focus Algorithm (PFA) delivers precise and rapid focusing, particularly during zoom operations. Unlike traditional autofocus systems, PFA continuously analyzes subject distance to maintain clarity throughout the zoom range. This is particularly effective when:
- Tracking moving vehicles
- Following individuals across large areas
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Capturing critical details during high-speed events
It ensures the image stays sharp, minimizing the chance of losing vital footage during transitions.
Flexible PTZ Modes
The camera supports a variety of Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) automation features that make surveillance more efficient and hands-off. You can configure:
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Preset positions for quick repositioning
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Tours that sweep across multiple areas
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Pattern scanning to replicate complex viewing paths
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Idle-time actions that trigger automatic movement when the camera has been inactive
When combined with Intelligent Video Surveillance (IVS), these modes can also trigger alerts—for instance, if a person crosses a virtual tripwire or enters a restricted zone.
Smart Compression (H.265+)
Using H.265+ smart compression technology, the system achieves significant file size reduction—up to 70% more efficient than standard H.264. This reduces:
- Bandwidth consumption
- Storage requirements
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Operational costs
Importantly, it does this without sacrificing video quality, even in complex scenes with lots of motion. This is ideal for deployments with:
- Large camera networks
- Extended video retention needs
- Limited bandwidth environments
Triple Stream Support
This system supports three simultaneous video streams, allowing you to:
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View live footage on mobile devices at lower resolutions for faster access
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Maintain full-resolution recordings on a local NVR or server
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Stream medium-resolution feeds to remote sites for real-time monitoring
This multi-streaming capability provides flexibility and efficiency, especially in setups where bandwidth and storage are critical constraints, such as in corporate campuses, remote facilities, or multi-tenant buildings.
While the SD42C212T-HN(-S2) does not feature built-in AcuPick, it supports AcuPick search functions when connected to an AI-capable Dahua NVR. The camera sends AI metadata (e.g., face detection, people counting, perimeter classifications) that the NVR uses for smart filtering and playback search.
Benefits via AI NVR Integration:
- Search by human or vehicle presence
- Filter playback using traits like mask, gender, or clothing
- Skip irrelevant footage and jump to key events instantly
- Use AI-driven logs and smart snapshots from camera metadata
Q&A
Q: Can this record in full colour at night?
A: Yes—the Starlight sensor delivers vivid colour down to 0.005 lux in low-light scenes.
Q: Does this camera include infrared?
A: No IR LEDs are built-in. It relies on ambient light and Starlight performance for low-light clarity.
Q: Is this camera vandal resistant?
A: Yes, the IK10 metal dome housing is designed to resist impact and tampering.
Q: Can I control it remotely with a phone app?
A: Yes—full PTZ control, notifications, and playback are supported via Dahua’s DMSS mobile app.
Q: How much zoom does it offer?
A: It has 12× optical zoom, ranging from 5.3 mm to 64 mm, plus 16× digital zoom.
Q: Will it work with my non-Dahua NVR?
A: Yes—it’s ONVIF compliant and should work with most third-party ONVIF NVRs.
Q: Does it support auto-tracking?
A: No, auto-tracking is not supported on this model.
Q: Can it trigger alarms on motion?
A: Yes—IVS rules like Tripwire and Intrusion can trigger alarm outputs or alerts.
