Dahua SD1A404DB-GNY 4MP 4x Starlight IR WizSense Network PTZ Camera

Model: SD1A404DB-GNY

Who This Is For

Property managers specifying compact PTZ coverage for mid-size outdoor areas will find the Dahua SD1A404DB-GNY a capable and practical choice. It suits sites where a single steerable camera needs to cover a wide entry zone, car park row, or loading area without the cost and mounting complexity of a full-size PTZ dome. With 4MP resolution, a 4x optical zoom spanning 2.8 mm to 12 mm, and a 20 m IR range, it handles perimeter corridors, school grounds, retail car parks, and small industrial yards where pan-and-tilt control is useful but a large motorised turret is unnecessary. The WizSense AI engine adds SMD filtering and IVS perimeter rules - tripwire, intrusion, and loitering - reducing false alarm workload on monitoring staff. IP66 and IK08 ratings mean it holds up in exposed wall or pole-mount positions without needing a separate housing.

Download Product Datasheet (PDF)

What This Camera Actually Does

Who Buys This Model

• School and Childcare Facility Managers: Specifying a compact steerable camera for playgrounds, car parks, or gate entries where a single unit needs to cover a wide sweep and return to preset patrol positions after hours.
• Retail Property Operators: Needing one camera to handle a car park row or shopping centre entry where zoom capability and people counting analytics add operational value beyond basic recording.
• Small Industrial Site Owners: Installing on a yard fence or building corner to cover loading areas and perimeter approaches, with IVS tripwire and loitering rules reducing false alarm load on staff.
• Security Integrators on Tight Budgets: Specifying a WizSense PTZ that runs on standard IEEE 802.3af PoE - no PoE+ switch required - keeping installation costs down without sacrificing AI analytics.
• Strata and Body Corporate Managers: Covering shared driveways, basement entries, or common areas where directional control matters and a fixed wide-angle camera cannot cover the full zone from one mounting point.

Honest Assessment

The SD1A404DB-GNY earns its place as a compact PTZ through the combination of WizSense AI, standard PoE compatibility, and a genuine IP66 and IK08-rated housing - three things that are often traded off against each other at this form factor. The Starlight sensor handles low-light transitions well, and the 300-preset, 8-tour patrol system gives real flexibility for unmanned sites. The built-in microphone is a practical addition for entry-point monitoring without needing an external audio device. Where it has limits: the 4x optical zoom and 20 m IR range are suited to short-to-medium approaches. Sites with long perimeter runs - 50 m or more - or applications requiring number plate recognition at distance will need a longer-zoom PTZ or a dedicated ANPR camera. There is also no built-in speaker, so two-way audio is not available from this unit alone. If wide-area tracking across a large open space is the priority, a higher-zoom PTZ model available through Security Australia would be a better fit.

Before You Buy

Quick Fit Check

• Good match if: You need a steerable outdoor camera with AI analytics on a standard PoE budget - the 802.3af compatibility means no specialist switch upgrade, and WizSense SMD and IVS rules are included in the base firmware.
• Good match if: Your site has multiple points of interest reachable from a single mounting position - the 300-preset and 8-tour capability lets one camera cover a gate, a parking bay, and a walkway on a single patrol loop.
• You may need a different model if: Your application involves identifying subjects or vehicles beyond 20 m at night or reading plates at distance - a longer-zoom PTZ or a dedicated ANPR camera from the Security Australia range would be more appropriate.

Key Features & Technical Specifications

Real-World Scenarios

How It Compares

• Choose this if: You need an AI-capable outdoor PTZ that runs on standard 802.3af PoE without a switch upgrade, with genuine IK08 impact resistance and WizSense SMD filtering in a compact body.
• You may need a different model if: Your site requires tracking subjects across distances beyond 20 m at night, long-range plate reading, or auto-tracking of moving targets - a higher-zoom PTZ with a longer IR range and optical zoom would serve those requirements better.
• Pairs well with: A WizSense-compatible NVR with AI filtering enabled at the recorder level, allowing SMD and IVS event searches across multiple channels from a single interface.

Common Questions

1. Does this camera require PoE+ or will a standard PoE switch work?

   A standard IEEE 802.3af PoE switch is sufficient. The SD1A404DB-GNY draws a maximum of 13 W at full load with the IR illuminator active. IEEE 802.3af delivers up to 15.4 W per port, which covers this draw. PoE+ (802.3at) is not required. Confirm your switch's actual per-port delivered wattage rather than its label, as budget switches sometimes under-deliver the full 802.3af budget.

2. What is the pan and tilt range, and does it have a blind spot directly below the mount?

   Pan is 0 to 355 degrees, leaving a 5 degree blind zone at the rear of the mounting base. Tilt is 5 to 90 degrees downward from horizontal. The camera cannot look straight down at nadir (90 degrees from horizontal is its limit), which is typical for a compact PTZ of this form factor. For ceiling-down or pole-top installations, confirm your target angles fall within the tilt range before committing to a mounting position.

3. Will IVS tripwire and intrusion rules stay active when the camera is on a patrol tour?

   Yes, but with an important caveat. IVS rules are applied relative to the current field of view at each preset position. When you assign a rule to a specific preset, that rule is active while the camera is at that preset. As the camera moves between presets on a tour, rules associated with other presets are not active simultaneously. Plan your preset layout so each zone requiring an active IVS rule has its own dedicated preset position within the tour sequence.

4. Does this camera support two-way audio?

   No - not from the camera alone. The SD1A404DB-GNY has a built-in microphone for audio capture and an audio line output and line input port on bare wire terminals, but there is no built-in speaker. Two-way audio would require connecting an external speaker to the audio output. If two-way audio is a core requirement, review whether an integrated speaker model better suits the installation.

5. What are the DORI distances and what can I realistically identify at 20 m?

   At full wide angle (2.8 mm), DORI identification distance is 24 m and recognition is 48 m. At 4x zoom (12 mm), the lens narrows the field to 31.6 degrees horizontally, which concentrates pixels on a smaller zone and improves detail resolution within that frame - though the DORI figures are specified for the lens as a whole. The 20 m IR range aligns with the identification distance at wide angle, meaning a subject at 20 m in darkness will be within the IR illumination zone and within the identification threshold, giving usable facial or feature detail at that range under the right conditions.

6. Does this camera work with third-party NVRs or is it locked to Dahua systems?

   It works with third-party NVRs that support ONVIF Profile S, Profile G, or Profile T. Basic video streaming, motion detection triggers, and snapshot functions will operate via ONVIF on compatible recorders. Full WizSense AI features including SMD filtering, IVS rule management, and people counting reports are best accessed through Dahua-native systems such as DSS Pro or a compatible Dahua NVR. Third-party VMS platforms with Dahua SDK integration can also access extended features - check your VMS vendor's compatibility list. The camera is stocked by Security Australia and is fully supported under standard warranty terms.

7. Will this camera auto-track a moving subject, or does it require manual PTZ control?

   Manual PTZ control or preset-based tours are the primary operation modes on this model. The spec sheet does not confirm an auto-tracking function on the SD1A404DB-GNY. IVS rules such as fast moving and intrusion detection will trigger alerts when a subject is detected within a configured zone, but the camera will not automatically slew to follow a moving target. If automatic subject tracking is a requirement for your site, a PTZ model with confirmed auto-tracking capability should be considered instead.

Product Video Samples

Downloads & Resources

• Product Spec Sheet (PDF)
• Dahua Product Page