IP Camera Mount Shootout - Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Vivotek

IPVM • IPVMU Certified

We chose the manufacturers in this shootout because they are widely used and have a large number of cameras. We planned to include Avigilon, but they did not respond to our emails. There are many other camera manufacturers and third parties that make camera mounts which we are not opposed to including in the future, but needed to set limits on the initial shootout. As an example, we also bought Clinton Electronics and Novattach mounts and plan to add those later.

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Undisclosed Integrator #1

Question for other integrators: Why does nearly everyone sell/install (from what I've seen recently) the gooseneck/L-Bracket mounts vs just installing the camera directly to the wall? Is it for the additional component markup, or do you have an actual reason for it? I've found these brackets often limit my vertical view angle (when looking uphill), and they take additional time to install?

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Michael Miller

Mounting domes flat on the wall will have issues with rain spots. This gets really bad with build-in IR as you get a lot of reflection which makes your night image basically useless. We prefer bullets as they are easier to aim and most of the time don't have the rain spots issues.

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Campbell Chang

In reply to Michael Miller

I prefer turrets over bullets if available as bullets tend to lend themselves more easily to spiders with webs and birds landing on them.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

Mounting directly to a wall allows for more rain, snow, etc. to accumulate on the camera. You also may get more sun glare, and need a sun shield. Mounting them hanging down, you have a wider range of options for the positioning of the view. It also brings the camera away from the wall some to get a better angle. Finally, many manufacturers have a standard gooseneck, etc., allowing you to replace a camera many years later without having to drill new holes in to the wall, etc. Simply replace the camera and cap.

I am sure others will describe additional benefits...

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Undisclosed Integrator #4

Look at a vandal dome camera that is 5 years old and wall mounted, then look at a vandal dome camera that is 5 years old and mounted using the bracket. Case closed ;)

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Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC

There are other reasons than the ones correctly listed above. I've also noticed that wall mounted domes have issues with their PC domes baking in the direct sunlight, which will lead to obstructed images as well as fully cracking and allowing in moisture and debris. Also, dome seals are designed and engineered to work as intended. They will fail otherwise.

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Jason Spielfogel

In reply to Jon Dillabaugh

Jon,

While I can't speak to every dome camera ever made, I can tell you that in all the dome cameras I was ever involved in making or OEM'ing, we required identical HALT and IP testing in both the natural "dome down" position as well as in the surface wall mount position. I don't recall ever hearing that the dome seal was more likely to fail in the surface wall mount position.

But yes to Sunlight, HALT testing always showed indications that the dome life wouldn't be as long for surface wall mounted domes that suffered direct sunlight each day. Thus, I've typically recommended to dealers and end-users to use surface wall mount only for indoor mounted cameras.

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Shannon Davis

IPVMU Certified

Sunlight baking the dome. Some manufacturers suffer more from this than others.

You can't seal the camera and holes properly. Eventually they always seem to leak.

Sometimes hard to get the exact view you are needing.

Personally I think it looks tacky. Others may disagree but to me it makes the installer look lazy by not taking the extra time to mount properly. With that said some of the pendant mounts were extra ugly as well so mounting directly looked better.

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Jon Dillabaugh

In reply to Shannon Davis

Pro Focus LLC

100% agree!

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Shannon Davis

In reply to Jon Dillabaugh

IPVMU Certified

One item that is certain, whether you are an Axis fan or not, their mounts have improved a 1000 fold over 10 years ago.

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Undisclosed #2

Thank you again IPVM, very good article.

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Lynn Harold

Great article, especially the photos showing the cams and mounts side by side gives a better perspective on size and aesthetics. One mounting challenge I am often faced with is using outdoor panoramic cameras mounted flush to walls and showing too much 'horizon'. I'd love if the manufacturers offered a 'wedge' type mount to tilt the camera down about 15-20 degrees. I've found adjustable wedge mounts but they are bulky, and mounting a panoramic on a gooseneck isn't always practical as the camera config may not allow a 'ceiling' mounted scenario to provide a clean single 180-degree view.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to Lynn Harold

Hanwha (Hanwha Employee here) has tilt mounts for various dome cameras and fisheye cameras so that you don't have too much sky in the field of view, as you describe...

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Ethan Ace

We have added three things to the report based on feedback:

First, we added Axis' T91A33 track lighting mount, another example of their specialty mounts which other manufacturers do not provide.

Second, we added a video demonstrating Axis' T94S01L recessed mount, which was slightly to moderately faster to install than other recessed housings, using a toolless design.

Finally, we added a note about Bosch's PDF mount selection guide (requires Acrobat) which works similarly to Axis, with images of each installation scenario as well as all components required.

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Shannon Davis

IPVMU Certified

In reply to Ethan Ace

Axis also has their ceiling tile mount. I haven't used it yet but seems like could be relevant for the right situation. Would allow for minimal tile damage.

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Shannon Davis

IPVMU Certified

We still use the Pelco PP451 parapet mount. I haven't found anyone to make a mount near the quality of this mount.

Image result for pelco parapet mount

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Undisclosed Integrator #5

Believe it or not, mounts play a part in which manufacturer I spec. One of the vendors in this test who I use alot automatically disqualifies themselves and loses potentially 40% in sales on just how ugly or lack of variety on the mounts they offer.

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John Honovich

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5

IPVM

automatically disqualifies themselves and loses potentially 40% in sales on just how ugly or lack of variety on the mounts

I am curious. Who's that?

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Daniel S-T

In reply to John Honovich

I might guess HIK Vision, a lot of their dome mounts are quite ugly, and sometimes lack of variety, or confusing. Sometimes hard to tell which camera fits which mount. The datasheet will reference one mount, which you can't find on their own website. I don't discredit them for it personally, but I could understand why some might.

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Undisclosed Integrator #5