8MP / 4K Fixed Lens Camera Shootout - Dahua, Hikvision, TVT, Uniview

By IPVM Team, Published on Dec 17, 2018

8MP / 4K fixed lens models are now common in lower cost lines, with nearly every Chinese brand and their OEMs now offering multiple options.

To see which fixed lens 8MP/4K models performed best and how they compare to new generation 4MP models, we bought and tested five models:

4mp camera shootout

The models are:

In this shootout report, we rank performance overall and across major dimensions including:

Night/IR image quality
IR coverage/evenness
Max IR range
WDR image quality
Daytime image quality
Bandwidth efficiency
VMS integration
Performance compared to 4MP
Street pricing

Performance ********

***** ** *** *****, camera *********** ***** **** three ******:

*** *********:*** ********* **-*********-* ********* best ** ******** **********, with * *********** ** strong **** *****, *** light, **, *** *** imaging.
******* ***********:*****, *******, *** *** Hikvision **-**********-* **** *** weaknesses ** **** ***** and ********* ** ******, less ********** **** *** Hikvision ****.
*****:*******, *** *** *** camera ********* ***** ** multiple **********, ****** ** hands **** *** ***** camera ******.

fixed lens 4k shootout rankings

**** **** ***** ******** do *** **** ***** into *******, ******* **** at *******, *********, *** integration ******. *******, ** is ******** ** *** chart ***** *** **********.

Advantages ******** ** ***

** **** *****, **** *** ******* offered ****** ********* **** 4MP *** ********* **** 1080p ******. *******, ** our *****, *** ****** offered ***** ***** ******* advantages ** **** ****** over **** *** ****** generation *** ****** ******, shown ***** ******** ** the **** *** ***** performing ******* ** **** scene.

** **** *****, ** near ***** (~**' ********), facial ******* *** ****** in *** ******* *** to *** **** *** levels (~** ** ** models, ~** ** ***). Some **** *********** *** present, ***

** * ****** ******** (~60', ~**/** ***), *** details ****** ******** **** 4MP, **** *** **** providing **** ****** ******, not ******* ** *** 4MP *** *** ** cameras, *** **** ****** legibility ** *** **** chart. **** *** ***** performing *** *****, *** TVT *** ******, ******** better ******* ** *** subject *** ******** ***** of ******* ****, *** present ** *** *** camera.

** **** ****** **** IR ** (4K *********** *** ***** notably ****** **** ***, with ******** ****** ****** and **** ******* **** at **** ***** (~**'), at ~** ***/** *** respectively.

** ****** ***** (~**') 4K ********** ******** ******** to ******* ******, **** no ****** ******* ********* in *** ******. *******, in **** *****, ** coverage *** **** ****** than **********, **** **** cameras ******* ** ***** specified ** ***** (***/~**').

4K / *** ** ***** ******* (

***** ******* ** **** scenes **** ********** ** varied *************, **** **** illumination ********* **** ******* at ******** **** ***** range.

** **** ***** (~**'), the ***** ******* ******** the ******** ******* ** the ******* *** **** chart ** ~*.** ***, though ** ** ********** darker **** ***** *******, as ****. *** ********* 2385 *** ******* **** perform *********, **** ******** less ******, ***** *** Hikvision **** ********** *********** the **** ***** *** subject, *** **** ** other ******. *** *** camera ******** **** ******* text *** ******* *******, with **** ******* ***** than ******.

IR ************ *****

*** ******* ** **** test ***** ***/~**' ** range, *** **** **** noticeably **** ** **** ~60'/20m *****.

** **** *****, **** the ********* **** ******** any ******* ** *** subject ** ***, ****** none ******** *** **************. Others ********* * ****** object, ******* ***** *****, but ** ****** *******.

IR ********

********** ** ******** *** uneven ** *** *******, noticeably ****** ** *** edges ** *** ***** of **** **** ** the ******, **** ******* the **** ****** ********** full **** ** **** coverage (**** **** *********).

*** ******* **** ****** the ****** ***** ** the ***** ** ****, with ****** ********* ** the *****, *** *** less **** ***** *******.

uniview most eveb illumination

** ********, ** ** extremely ********* ** ****** in *** *** ******, which ** *********** ******** in *** ****** ** the ***** ** ****.

tvt strong center hotspot

*** ********** ***** ******** details **** *** ****** and **** ** *** field ** **** ** each ******, **** ******* notably ******** **** ******, while *** ********* **** and ***** ***** ******** only ********* ** *** edge ** *** ***** of ****. *** ******** no ******* ** ***.

Full ***** ***********

******* *********** ****** **** less ******** **** ********* at ***** *****, *** significant *********** ** ****** ranges, **** ***** *** the ********* **** ********** best.

** ***** *****, ******* are ******* ******* *** cameras *** ** *** high *** ***** (~** PPF). ******** ** ********** less **** ** *** Uniview ****, *** ******* are ******* *******.

near range well lit performance similar in all cameras

** ****** ***** (~**'/~** PPF), *** ********* **** displays ********** ****** ******* of *** *******'* ********, as **** ** **** legible ****. ******* **** rougher ** ***** *******, especially *** ********* **** and *** *****.

long range well lit performance similar in all cameras

Wide ******* *****

*** ****** ****** ************ ************** ****** *** ***. Performance ***** **** *** cameras ****** **********, **** Hikvision's ****** ********** **** in *** *****.

*** ********* **** *** 2385 ********* *********, **** providing ****** ******* ******* backlight *** ** ****** areas ** *** *****. Both *** ***** *** Uniview ****** **** *** the ******* ********** ******* strong *********, *** ***** provide ****** *********** *******. The *** ****** ******** worst ** ***, ******* out *** ******* ****** totally ******* ********* *** with ******* ******* ******* in *** **** ***** of *** *****.

FPS **********: **** ****** *****/**, *** **** **

**** ******* ** **** test ****** ** ********** true ** *******, ***** the ******** ******** ** FPS ********* *** **** vary ******* ** *** 20 ***, ***** *****. Of *** ******* ** this ********, **** *** is *********** * **** 4K ******, ******** ** FPS (********* ** *** tests).

** *** *****, *** cameras ******** ***** ******* framerate ***** ******* ******** frames, ********* *** ***, which **** * **** 30 *** ******, ****** others (***** ***** ** Exacq).

Bandwidth **********

*** ******* ****** ******* both *.*** *** ***** codecs, ****** ********* ****** drastically, **** ~***-*** **/* to **** * **/* at *****.

*** ******* ******** ** cameras ****** **** *** both *** (~*.* **/*) and ***** (~*.* **/*), with ******* ******* ***** of *** ****** *** day (~*.* **/*). ** contrast, **** ********* ****** averages ~*** **/* ** night, **** *** ****'* daytime ******** ******* ***** than *** **** (*** Kb/s **. ***).

bandwidth comparison

VMS ***********

*** *********** ******** ****** among *******, **** *.*** streaming ******* ** *** cameras, *** *.*** *** camera **** *** ******* much **** ********. ** review ***** ****** ** detail *****.

Basic ***********: *.*** *********

** *** *****, *** cameras ****** **** **** to ******* ** *** VMSes ***** *.***. **** that ********* ****** **** supported ** ******* ***** the ***** ******, *** not *** ****** ********* driver *** ** ************ ************. *** ******* *****, streamed, *** ******* ***** codec ************* **** *** VMS.

h264 streaming support

***** **. *********** ****** use ******** ********* ** the ****** *** ***, with **** ***** ***** a ****** ****** *** Dahua *** *********, ***** TVT *** ******* **** ONVIF.

H.265 ******* ******

*****, *********, *** ******* H.265 ******* **** ****** supported, *********** *** ********* properly ** *****, *******, Milestone, *** ******* *****. However, ***'* *.*** ****** was ********* **** ** Exacq *** *********.

**** **** *.*** *** not ****** **** ******** as **** ********* ******* H.265 **** ** ******** models.

Camera **** ***

***** *** ********* ****** side ****** **** ********* in *** ****** *****. However, ******* *** *** supported ** ********, *****, or *******, ***** *** was *** ********* ** Exacq *** *******, ******* that ****** ****** **** VMD ** ********** ********* must ** ****.

camera side vmd support

Pricing **********

******* ** ***** ******* ranged **** ~$***-*** ******/********* street ***** ** ***** America. **** **** ***** all ** ***** ************* OEM *** ****** *** may ** ******* ***** online *** ************ ***** such ***************, ***** *** ****** be **** ** **** these ****** *** ****. However, **** *** ****** or ********* ******** ** tech *******, *******,*********, ************* **** ************ ************ policies.

4mp fixed lens camera price comparison

Test ***** *****

******* *** ****** ****** use ***** ******, ******* were ********* ** ******** from *** ****** ** achieve *** **** *** in **** *****. **** results ** ****** *********** in ***** ** ********* at ***** ***** *** background ***** ** **** seen ** *******.

************, ***** *** ******* were ****** **************, *** better ********** ** **** details ** **** ******** fewer ******* **** ** side ** **** *********** to ********* *** **** notable/interesting ********.

Firmware ******** ****

*** ********* ******** ******** were **** ** **** test:

***** *******: *.***.*******.**.*, ***** Date: ****-**-**
********* **-*********-*: **.*.** ***** 180718
********* **-**********-*: **.*.** ***** 180718
********* **-**********-*: **.*.** ***** 180718
*** **-******: *.*.*.*(*****)
******* **********-******: *********-*************

Country ** ****** - *** *****

*** *** ******* ** this **** **** **** in *****.

Comments (31)

Ethan Ace

IPVM | 12/17/18 04:10pm

**** ** *******: **** test ******** *** ********* models, *** *** ******, because *** **-*********-* *** recommended ** ******** ******* as ***** **** ********** 8MP *****. *******, ** is *** ********* ** North *******. *** ****** generation *** ***** ********* shipping ** ***** ******* is *** **-**********-*. **'** included **** ** *** test *** ************.

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
In reply to Ethan Ace | 12/20/18 12:56pm

**** ** ******* **** they ***’* ***** *** 2383 ** *** ** market, ******* **** ** offer ** ** *** 2363 (***) *******, *** stop *****.

Ben Molloy

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ethan Ace | 03/18/19 05:49pm

****** ******** - **** is *** ***** **** you **** *** ** the ******* ******* **? I'm ******* *** ********* similar.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Ben Molloy | 03/18/19 06:07pm

**'* * ** ******** tripod. * ***'* **** you ******* **** ***** because ****'** ******** ************ the ***** * *********. I ***'* **** * new ******** ***. *** last **** * ******* were**** *****, *** *'* *** sold ** **** ***.

*** **** ************ ** make ** ** ***** additional ***** ** *** cross ***. ** **** has **** ******** ****** from *** *******. ** usually *** *-* ****. There ** * ********** somewhere ***** * ****** some ** *** ***** stuff ** ***, *** I ***'* **** ** at *** ******. *'** post **** **** ** if * **** **.

**** *******: *** ** ****-***** **** Cameras

Decoux Guilhem

In reply to Ben Molloy | 03/19/19 08:38am

**,

** *** **** ***, pretty ****** *** ****** support ****** ** ******, even *** :******* **** ** ******

Undisclosed Distributor #1

12/18/18 03:20pm

**** ** ****** **********, TVT ***'* *** ** reliable ** * ****** condom.

Undisclosed Integrator #5

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #1 | 12/21/18 07:11pm

***** *** ** ** a *****. ****** *****.

Decoux Guilhem

12/18/18 07:43pm

**,

*'* ***** ********* ** bandwidth ** ********* ******* to ******, **** **** using *** **** ** limit **** ** ****** ? **** *** ******* is ****** **** ********* cameras ?

****, ********** *** *** lux ******, *** ******* was *** **** ********** DNR *** **** ******* ? ** ******* ***** settings *** ******* *** quality ** ***** *****, but *** ***** *** so *** **** ***** is ****** (****** ** IPC3618 **** *******).

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
In reply to Decoux Guilhem | 12/20/18 01:00pm

*** *** *** ******** are ****** *** ** when ***** ********* ********. Axis *** ********* *** the ****** ** *** most ******** **** *** both *** **** ********* conservative.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

12/19/18 02:21am

***** *** *** **** test ** ***** **** products.

Jiang Chengyuan

12/19/18 08:51am

** **** ****,
****** *** **** ********* work ** **** ******** testing.
** ****** ** **** 9-10, ******* ****'* ** Evenness *********** ** ****, 'notably ******** **** ******',***** ** *** '****** VS. **** ************ **********' at **** **, *******’* camera *** ****** *** out ** * *******.
******* ***** *** ****** in *** *******, ** found **** **** ** a ***** ******* ***** in *** ********** *****, we ******* **** ** are ****** **** *** ranking ** ******* ******* IR *********** ***** ** used ** **** ********** table.
*****, ****** *** **** valuable ******* *** **'** put ******* ** ********* our ******** ** ******.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Jiang Chengyuan | 12/19/18 03:21pm

****** *** ******** **** out, *** *** *** totally *****. **** *** a ******* ****** *** graphic ****** ******* *** it's **** ********* ** the ****** ***:

Sean Nelson

Nelly's Security
12/19/18 04:23pm

* ***** ******* ** start ***** ****** ***** night **** ***** *** the ** ***** *** real ***** *** ********. I ** **** *** tests **** *** *** charts *** * ***** you ****** *** ** additional ****** **** ******* rarely **** ******** ***** still ** *** **** world. **** ** ***** that **** ** **** on *** ***** ***** rez ***** ******** ******'* perform ** **** ** some ** *** ****** than ****** ***** ** we *** * ****** test.

**** *** *** ******* speed ** *** **** for * ***** *****, the ***** ***** *****, but **** ******* *****, the ***** ** ******* and ****** *******.

Vincent Tong

In reply to Sean Nelson | 12/19/18 08:30pm

*** ** *** **** ? * ******* * can ********* **** ***** with **** ***, **** gain *** ***** ** the ***.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Sean Nelson | 12/20/18 12:45am

** *** *******, **** of *** ******* **** slow *******. **** ** them ********* ** **. 1/30s *** *** ******* shutter *******. ** ***** where **** ******* ** allowed, ** ***** *********** it ** */*** *** make * **** ** it.

** ** ***** ***** as **'** ******* *** motion **** *** **** it *** ***** ** see **. ** ******* it *** ******** ** some ***** *** *****, *** *******. ** typically ***** **** **** levels ** ******* ***** reduction ***** ****, ** most ************* **** ******** that ********* **** ****** smart ****** ** **** slow ******* ** * bad ***** ** **** point, *** ********** ** has ******* *** **** for **, ******.

**** ** ****** *****, I **-******** ******* ** make **** ** *****'* missing *** **** ****** and ******* *** ********* similarly ****. ** *** post **** ****** ***** tomorrow.

Vincent Tong

In reply to Ethan Ace | 12/20/18 05:02am

* *** **** ****** to ** ********* *** funny ** *** ***** votes, * ***** * failed ** ****. ******* speco.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Vincent Tong | 12/20/18 06:04am

***** *** **** ***** too...intense.

Sergey Bystrov

NetworkOptix
In reply to Ethan Ace | 12/21/18 10:19pm

** **-****** ***********, ** understanding ** **** ****** blur *** ** ****** not **** ** *** shutter. ****** **** ***** be * ****** ** noise ************(**** *******), ** I ** ******* *** should **** *** **:

*) ****** ***** *******

*) ****** ****

*) *********

*** *** ** *** same ****(!)

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Sergey Bystrov | 12/22/18 02:07am

***, **** ** ********** true *** **'** **** it ** *** *****, as ****. **** *** levels **** ****** **** common ********* **** ******** ** some *****. ** ** ********, though, ** **** ****, we ****'* *** ***** effects.

Sergey Bystrov

NetworkOptix
In reply to Ethan Ace | 12/26/18 07:41pm

*****, *** ***** **** your ********* "** ****'* see ***** *******" ** like ****** "** *** not *** ****** **** image *******".

*** ***** ** *****, but **** ***** ****** motion ****** ******** **** static.

Sean Nelson

Nelly's Security
In reply to Ethan Ace | 12/26/18 07:47pm

***, *** * ***** you ****** **** ** tests ***** *** ******** default ******** ***** *** latest ********** ******** **** no ******* ** *** unless ** ** ************ stated ** *** ******** notes ** **** ******** statement ** *** ************ to ** **.

************* *** ******* ***** on **** ******* *** did *** **** */*** is ******** *********** ** most ***** **** ****** install *** ****** *** not **** **** *** settings ** ***. ** the ************ *** * particular ******* ******* **** is *** ******* *** basic ***** **** *******, then **** ** ***** own ***** *** ****** be ****** ***********.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Sean Nelson | 12/27/18 02:41am

* ***** **** ******* with *********** ******** ****** be ******, *** ** normally **. ** **** called *** **** ******* defaults *** **** *** settings ******* **** ** multiple *****. *******, ** this **** ** *** not *** ****** ***** in *** **** ******.

* *** **** ***** that **** ***** **** not **** **** *** settings ** ***, *** leaving ****** ********* ******** a ****** ** ********** for ** ** *******. It's **** ****** *** manufacturers, ***********, ************, ***., of ******* ******** ** come **** ** ** and *** "** *** just ****** *, **** Y **** *******, ****** setting." ** **** **** it's ****** *** ****** to *********** *** **** out ***** ******** *** questionable ** ***********.

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
In reply to Sean Nelson | 12/20/18 01:08pm

* ***** **** *** that * ***** **** to *** *****, ***-** shots ***** ** *** tests. ** **** **** so **** ****** ******* to ** **** ** avoid ** ** ********. Too **** ****, ***********, etc **** ** *** try ** **** ***** low ***** (***********, ***********) cameras *** ****** ***** low ***** **** ** a ******. **** ** especially **** *** ******* cameras. ** **** ********* turn *** ******* ** Day, ***-** **** *** test *** ***** *******. I ***’* ***** ** one ****** **** ****’* perform ****** ** ***** in ****** ********.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

12/20/18 06:19pm

******* *** *.***, *** 3.6mm, ***** *.* ********* not *********.

***** * **** ***** the **** **** ***** different *******?

Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 12/21/18 06:44pm

* ***'* *** *** it ******'* ****** *** results, *** ***** ***** are ** *** ***** of **** ** ********* and *******. ******** **** all *** *** **** mount, **** ***** **-**** with * ****** ****.

Undisclosed #6

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #4 | 12/21/18 08:14pm

******** ** *-****

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 12/21/18 07:28pm

******** ***** ***** ******* are *** *******. *** cameras ****** **** *.*** or *.***, *** ****** only ** ***** *° (79-87° ****** ** ****). Cameras **** ********* ** two ******* ****** *******, accordingly, ** ** ***** in *** ******.

*** ******* ******** ** see ** ******* ** in **** **********, ***** is **** **** ** an ***** **** ******* at *.*** **. *** or ***, ** *** wider **** ******** ****. The ********** ******* *.*** and *** ** *****. I ** *** ***** results *****'** **** *********** different ** ***** *** 3.6mm ** ***.

****, ** ******** ** the ******* *****:

***** ***** *** ** the ***** ** **** is *********

**** ** ********** ****. It *** ******** ****** annoying *** ****** **** time ** *** *** cameras ** *** *** in ******* **** ****** were *** ***** *****.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

12/21/18 07:31pm

"**********-******" - ** *** 2.8mm *******

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 12/21/18 07:37pm

******, *'** ***** **** in *** ******. *** model ****** ** *** DPF40M.

Shirley Lee

04/09/19 08:57am

****** ********：****'* *** *** meaning?

Undisclosed #7

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Shirley Lee | 04/09/19 09:16am

************* (************).

*** *** / *** Video ************ *****

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