Dahua Security Cameras

Is Dahua a Good Brand?

Dahua is one of the most popular IP camera brands in the world, second only to Hikvision in terms of global market share. They are known for making prosumer grade security products at an affordable price. They make CCTV cameras, network video recorders, access control products, video intercoms and more.

They have a wide range of products for almost any situation, which can be a little confusing due to too much choice. Security Installers make the choice simpler by carrying only a handful of security camera models that offer a good balance of price and features appropriate for the residential or business market.

Dahua tends to be one of the main brands that security installers who service the residential market will install. You will find many Dahua CCTV cameras on new house builds. For commercial installs, Dahua is common but Hikvision tends to be more popular with security installers.

They also have a consumer-grade security camera brand called IMOU, a step down in quality to get the price into the consumer range.

Dahua Product Series

Dahua offers three different product series that sit at different price points and include different feature sets.

Lite Series

The Lite Series is Dahua’s entry-level product range and is commonly used in lower-cost residential and small business installations. Despite its affordability, it offers a variety of camera types (turret/eyeball, bullet, dome) with resolutions from 2MP to 8MP and includes features like Full-Colour, Starlight, and Intelligent Video Analysis.

Pro Series

The Pro Series is a step up from the Lite Series, including all its features plus advanced AI capabilities like Wizsense and Wizmind (facial recognition, perimeter protection, smart motion detection, metadata, people counting). Starlight technology is standard, enhancing low-light performance. This series is commonly used in medium-sized commercial environments where AI features are present.

Ultra Series

The Ultra Series is Dahua’s higher-end product range and is typically used in larger commercial installations with higher resolution and AI capabilities like heat mapping, people counting, and smart detection.

What is Dahua Starlight?

"Starlight" is Dahua's night colour technology. It uses a combination of optical, sensor, and image processing technologies to give them excellent low light performance. However, there are some trade-offs, which we cover in our security camera night vision article.

What is Dahua WizSense?

Dahua cameras have a product line called "WizSense", which features advanced motion detection techniques to identify humans or vehicles in an image. This means that their cameras can accurately filter out irrelevant things like trees swaying, car headlights, animals moving through your property etc.

Manufacturer specifications state detection distances of up to around 25 metres (on a 2.8mm lens) under certain conditions.

WizSense allows two-way talk and customisable audio alerts when a person or car is detected as well as "Active Deterrence" where it flashes red and blue lights as you would see on a Police car. These flashing light cameras are known as "Dahua TiOC".

If the WizSense camera is a Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ), it can also move the camera to preset positions at certain times. For example, looking at the entrance gate of a factory in the morning and the exit gate at night.

If a camera has the WizSense branding, it does not mean that it has all of the features mentioned above. It just means it is part of the "smart" series, and individual models offer different features at different price points.

What is Dahua TiOC?

What is Dahua IVS?

IVS stands for "Intelligent Video Surveillance" which is part of their AI system. The IVS features include:

Is Dahua or Hikvision Better?

Both Hikvision and Dahua have their inexpensive basic models and well-featured expensive models. It is difficult to compare the two because they have very similar product lines.

However, if you are comparing the Dahua and Hikvision brands as a whole, Dahua tends to have a lower price point. The Dahua vs Hikvision comparison covers this in more depth. There is also a comparison with one of Hikvision's sub-brands in the HiLook vs Dahua article.

Is Dahua Better than Swann?

Swann is a consumer-level brand, whereas Dahua is a prosumer (professional consumer) level brand. The Dahua vs Swann article covers this comparison in more depth.

Is Dahua ONVIF Compliant?

ONVIF is a corporate forum designed to standardize communication between surveillance devices. What this means is that surveillance manufacturers who are members of the ONVIF forum agree to have their devices "speak a common language", so Hikvision cameras could work on a Dahua NVR for example.

Dahua was expelled from ONVIF in 2019 which means they no longer have access to the member resources. While they may not be "officially" ONVIF conformant, the ONVIF specifications are public and Dahua could just continue following them.

After checking some Dahua cameras manufactured well after the expulsion, Dahua still says they are ONVIF compliant.

Who are Dahua?

Dahua Technology ("Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co., Ltd.") is a Chinese security manufacturer founded in 2001. They are headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, and have offices worldwide, including in Australia.

Who Makes Dahua Cameras?

Dahua Technology is an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). While there are hundreds of security camera brands, only a handful of corporations manufacture cameras, known as an OEM. Dahua is one such manufactuer.

They also manufacture for other brands we see in Australia, including:

• IMOU (Dahua owns IMOU and is Dahuas consumer-level brand)
• Amcrest
• Anyday Security
• Lorex (Dahua owns Lorex)
• Speco

Is Dahua a Chinese Company?

Dahua is a Chinese company and is majority-owned and controlled by Fu Liquan and his wife, Chen Ailing.

Dahua is partially owned by the Chinese Government (2.87%), though a series of investment companies who report to the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China.

Is Dahua NDAA Compliant?

No, Dahua is not NDAA compliant. Dahua, Hikvision, Hytera, Huawei, ZTE, and brands that private-label them are not NDAA compliant, and organisations with NDAA requirements typically exclude these manufacturers.

Dahua Cameras in Australia

Dahua is widely available in Australia through security equipment wholesalers and licensed security installers. It is not sold in consumer electronics retailers like JB Hi-Fi or Bunnings.

The main Australian distribution channel is through security trade wholesalers, who supply licensed installers. This reflects the product tier Dahua sits in: it is designed to be installed professionally rather than self-installed from a retail box.

For Australian buyers, the practical route to a Dahua system is through a licensed security installer who carries the brand. Most installers servicing the residential market stock Dahua as a standard offering, alongside Hikvision. The installer selects the specific model based on the application and quotes it as part of the system.

Dahua's Australian website is at dahuasecurity.com/au/ and lists local contact and support details. Support for installed systems is typically handled through the installer rather than directly with Dahua.

Dahua Cameras in Australia

Dahua is widely available in Australia through security equipment wholesalers and licensed security installers. It is not sold in consumer electronics retailers like JB Hi-Fi or Bunnings.

The main Australian distribution channel is through security trade wholesalers, who supply licensed installers. This reflects the product tier Dahua sits in: it is designed to be installed professionally rather than self-installed from a retail box.

For Australian buyers, the practical route to a Dahua system is through a licensed security installer who carries the brand. Most installers servicing the residential market stock Dahua as a standard offering, alongside Hikvision. The installer selects the specific model based on the application and quotes it as part of the system.

Dahua's Australian website is at dahuasecurity.com/au/ and lists local contact and support details. Support for installed systems is typically handled through the installer rather than directly with Dahua.

Dahua Camera Prices in Australia

Dahua camera prices vary significantly depending on the product series, resolution, features, and whether the system is quoted through a wholesaler or an installer.

As a general guide:

Lite Series cameras typically sit in the $80 to $200 range per camera at trade prices, depending on resolution and features. Entry-level 4-camera Lite Series NVR kits installed by a licensed professional commonly fall in the $1,500 to $2,500 range for a residential property, depending on cabling requirements.

Pro Series cameras, which include WizSense AI detection, are priced higher per unit. A 4-camera Pro Series system installed professionally typically starts around $2,500 and can extend significantly for larger properties or higher-resolution setups.

Ultra Series pricing is typically quoted per-project for commercial applications.

Consumer retail prices for Dahua (where available online through security specialist stores) sit above trade prices. The cost guide on this site covers installed pricing in more detail across camera tiers.

These figures are indicative. Actual quotes depend on the installer, the property, and the specific models selected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dahua a good brand?
Yes, Dahua is a well-regarded prosumer security camera brand. It is second only to Hikvision in global market share and is one of the most commonly installed brands by licensed security professionals in Australia. The product range covers entry-level residential through to commercial-grade systems, and the AI detection capabilities in the WizSense line are strong for the price point.

Are Dahua cameras good for home use?
Dahua's Lite Series cameras are commonly installed in residential properties in Australia. They offer better image quality and detection capability than consumer-grade brands like Reolink or Swann, and most licensed installers are familiar with the range. The trade-off is that Dahua systems are more complex to configure than consumer kits and are typically installed professionally rather than as a DIY project.

Where can I buy Dahua cameras in Australia?
Dahua is sold through security equipment wholesalers and licensed security installers in Australia. It is not available in major consumer electronics retailers. The practical way to access Dahua hardware is through a licensed installer who carries the brand and includes it in a system quote.

What is the difference between Dahua Lite, Pro, and Ultra series?
The Lite Series is the entry-level range, covering basic residential and small business installations. The Pro Series adds WizSense AI detection and is suited to applications where intelligent motion filtering and alert accuracy matter. The Ultra Series is the high-end commercial range with advanced analytics and higher resolution options.

Does Dahua work with other brands' cameras?
Dahua supports ONVIF, which allows cameras from other ONVIF-compliant manufacturers to work with Dahua NVRs and vice versa, though AI features like SMD detection typically only work with Dahua's own cameras. Dahua was expelled from the ONVIF organisation in 2019 but continues to implement the public ONVIF specifications in its products.

What is Dahua's sub-brand?
Dahua owns IMOU, a consumer-grade IoT camera brand positioned below Dahua in price and feature depth. Dahua also owns Lorex, a security camera brand sold primarily in North America. For the Australian market, Dahua and IMOU are the main relevant brands. HiLook is not a Dahua sub-brand. It is Hikvision's entry-level sub-brand.

Is Dahua suitable for commercial installations in Australia?
Yes. Dahua's Pro and Ultra Series cameras are used in commercial installations across Australia. For larger commercial applications, Hikvision tends to be more prevalent among professional installers, but Dahua is a common choice for medium commercial and mixed residential-commercial properties. A licensed installer with commercial experience can advise on which tier is appropriate.

Is Alhua the Same as Dahua?

No, "Alhua" is not the same as Dahua. The confusion arises because "Alhua" is a common misspelling of Dahua. This happens because the design of the Dahua logo features a "D" that curves around the "A," making it look like the "A" is the first letter in the name. The correct name is Dahua. If you're searching for information or products related to "Alhua," you should instead look for Dahua.

Looking for a licensed Dahua installer in Australia?

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