Avigilon H4 HD Cameras Released

By John Honovich, Published Feb 01, 2016, 12:00am EST

Avigilon has announced a new generation of cameras, the H4.

In this note, based on speaking with Avigilon, we examine what is new, what has changed and how this impacts Avigilon's competitive positioning.

Existing ******** ***** *******

** ********** *** *** H4 ****, ****** *** existing * ****** ** Avigilon ***** *******:

  • ** *********- ***** **** ******, lower **** ********
  • ** *** *** - mid ***** ****** **** options **** *** ******* analytics (*.*., '*')
  • ** ***- **** *** ****** with *********** **** ** to ** (****)

 *** ** ** *** successor *** ** / H3A, ***** *** ***** two ****** ****** ** is.

H4 *** ************

**** *** **** ******* improvements *** *** ** series **** *** ** / ***:

  • ******** *** ***** ** 1MP ** *** ****** ("LightCatcher"), ******** *** ** 1MP ** *** ******
  • ********* ******** ** *** cameras, *********** *** ** vs *** ********
  • ******** ** * ** (non-Pro) ****** **** **** use * ******* ****** than *** *** ***** *** offer ********** **** *** outdoor ******* *** ***** cost *** ******* *****
  • ***** ****** ** ****; previously ** ****** **** did *** **** ********** IR
  • **** *.* *** *** and ** ****** **** ONVIF *** *** ****** (like **)

******** ** **** ******** some **** ** ************ improvements, *********:

  • ***** **** ** *** HD ****** ****** ******** box
  • ******-****** ************ *** **-******* dome ******
  • ******** *** ******* ****** included **** ******/******* ******* mount *****
  • ********* **** ****** ******* (seen ** *********** ** *********** ******, ** ****)

******* ****** ** ****** these ******** *********, ** are *** **** *** much ** ** *********** they ***** ***.

**** ***** ****

*** ** ******* **** support ********* ******* ******* an '**** ***** ****'. When ****** ** *** detected, **** **** ****** reducing *** ********* ***/** increasing *** *********** *****. Depending ** *** ****** level ** * *****, this ***** ******* *********** bandwidth *******. **** ** somewhat ** * '***** codec' ****** ** *** a *** *********** ******** to**** *********:

  • ** ******* **** ***** is ****** ****** **** Zipstream ***** *** ***** provide ******* **** ******** compression *** ***** **** are ****** ****** ******
  • *** ********* ***** **** Avigilon **** ***** **** whereas ********* ***** ********* the **** **** ********* / ********** *** * frame ********

Pricing *** ************

******** **** **** ******* will ** ******* ******* to ** ******* ****** differences **** ***** ********* on *** *****.

** ******* ****** **** ~$500 *** **** *** 1.0 ********* ****** *****, to ***** $*,*** *** outdoor *** ******.

*** ******* ********** ** H4 ******* ** *** inclusion ** *********, ***** previously ***** ***** $***-*** to *** ******'* ****.

******** **** ** **** be ********* ** ******** 2016.

H4 ***-*******

***** *** * *** important ***** **** ****** the ****:

  • ** ********* *** ** the **** **** / quality ** ***
  • ***** ******* **** ** similar, **** **** *** close *** ***** *** with ***** **** ******* providers
  • *******, *** ** ********* remains ********'* ****** **** cameras, ***** **, ******** to ******* *********, *** that ***

Overall ***********

*******, ** ***** ***** are ******** ********** ************ that **** **** **** pace **** ***** ******* manufacturers *** **** *** significantly ******* ***** ******** competitive ***********.

 

Comments (18)

Kyle Morden

02/01/16 05:08pm

Don't forget about the Wi-Fi Camera set-up tool

Kyle Morden

In reply to Kyle Morden | 02/01/16 05:09pm

All 30 fps capable up to 8 MP

Steve Nauman

In reply to Kyle Morden | 02/02/16 06:56pm

The Wi-Fi setup dongle and the new mobile-friendly web UI for the cameras are going to be very, very nice.

Undisclosed #1

02/01/16 06:05pm

"Overall, we think these are moderate structural improvements that will help keep pace with other Western manufacturers but does not significantly improve their existing competitive positioning."

Who are we?

just curious:)

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 02/02/16 07:05am

JEB

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 02/01/16 07:33pm

I'm confused, hasn't Avigilon had H4 cameras for a couple of years already?

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 02/01/16 08:07pm

So the H4 platform was announced June 2014.

These are technically H4 HD cameras.

And technically, they're all HD cameras so why didn't they just go H5?

Saving it for the future H.265 launch?

Avatar

Brian Karas

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 02/01/16 08:24pm

You're thinking of the H4 HD-PRO cameras, these.

This is the H4 HD (ie: NOT PRO) lineup.

The PRO cameras have generally been the higher-resolution cameras (for the H4-PRO series, they start at 8MP and go up to 30MP, or 4K-7K). The PRO series have also only come in one form-factor, a "body" camera that accepts a Canon EF or EF-S lens (depending on model/generation).

The HD cameras range from 1MP to now 8MP, and come in a variety of form-factors (indoor bullet, dome, outdoor bullet, PTZ, etc.)

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Brian Karas | 02/01/16 09:03pm

You're thinking of the H4 HD-PRO cameras.

The article said "Avigilon has introduced a new generation of cameras, the H4."

The HD-Pro cameras are H4 cameras, right?

The article didn't mention H4 HD and says the HD-Pro is part of the H3 line.

I stand by my confusion. ;)

Avatar

Brian Karas

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 02/01/16 09:16pm

Avigilon announced the first cameras in the H4 series, the HD Pro, back in January 2014 here: Avigilon H4 Pro Announcement

The most recent camera line update, the topic of this thread, is the H4 ("non-Pro") camera lineup.

Both of these are part of the overall H4 product lineup.

For the last several years (maybe longer, I don't know off the top of my head) Avigilon's camera lineup has included "Standard" and "Pro" product lines. Until recently the PRO line was on a newer generation platform (H4) than the "Standard" line (which is not really called "Standard"), which was the H3.

Now the majority of products (excluding microdome, PTZ, HD Multisensor) are on the H4 platform/technology.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Brian Karas | 02/01/16 09:36pm

I added 'HD' after 'H4' in the title.

Net/net, leaving aside the naming issues, from 1 to 8.3MP, these cameras are new.

Andrew Thomas

02/03/16 03:57pm

Who are the other western manufacturers?

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Andrew Thomas | 02/04/16 08:33pm

Geographically speaking from Avigilon's point of view and longitude (~123), all other manufacturers are Eastern. ;)

Avatar

Kevin Bennett

02/08/16 04:35pm

I was provided a hands-on introduction to the H4 products last week. (bullet, dome, box)

The bullet has been reshaped slightly, and is a bit "fatter" than the older version. I liked the lower profile of the old bullets better than the larger H4 model. The domes have gone from rounded to square(ish) with rounded corners. I think the new domes look better from an aesthetic perspective.

The new swing hook on the bullet is a nice added feature. The dome base has a wire hanger attached to it.

In the box camera, they offer a 4.7-84.6 mm lens option (web site shows 1 and 2 MP models, but the rep told me the 3 MP as well, I believe). Wish this was available in the 5 MP model . . .

I did not have time to connect and test video functionality and new firmware. I did, however, order one of the new 8MP bullets. (only available with 3-9mm lens). I would love to see the 4.7-84.6 lens on the bullet line as well (including the 5 and 8 MP models).

I was told the micro dome camera models are unchanged and do not have the built-in analytics that the new H4 models have.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Kevin Bennett | 02/08/16 04:52pm

The domes have gone from rounded to square(ish) with rounded corners.

Call me old school but, Boxes should be square, Bullets shouldn't be, and Domes can't be. ;)

Avatar

Kevin Bennett

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 02/08/16 04:55pm
Well, technically speaking, the dome itself is hemispherical (rounded) as any self-respecting dome should be. ;-) The base is what has been changed in shape.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Kevin Bennett | 02/08/16 04:57pm

Ah, the proverbial round peg...

Avatar

Paul Grefenstette

04/01/16 06:43pm

Here is the h3 bullet compared to the h4 bullet (physically) on my instagram:

I thought I would hate the hooks but they work out well - I'll still complain about the mounting holes on the jbox are too small for the size tapcons we use so we still need to make the holes larger with a bit

Overall picture quality is better as they have upgraded the glass they use for the lens, the camera also feels about 2x as heavy as the h3.

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