Avigilon HD Multisensor Camera Tested

By: Ethan Ace, Published on Dec 14, 2015

Avigilon has released 9MP and 12MP HD Multisensor cameras, adding reposition-able sensors with remote focus and zoom, features not before seen in the expanding multi-imager market.

However, with Arecont no longer the only game in town, and Axis (33MP) and Pelco (Optera) releasing their own multi imager models, the question is whether these novel features are enough to set the HD Multisensor apart.

We tested the camera against Arecont's SurroundVideo Omni 12MP, Axis Q3709-PVE 33MP, and Pelco Optera 12MP to see how it stacks up, in day and night scenes, WDR, installation, and more.

Here are the 4 entrants mounted side by side:

******** *** ******** *** and **** ** *********** *******, ****** **********-**** ******* **** remote ***** *** ****, features not ****** **** ** the ********* *****-****** ******.

*******, **** ******* ** longer *** **** **** in ****, *** **** (****) *** ***** (******) ********* ***** *** multi ****** ******, *** question ** ******* ***** novel ******** *** ****** to *** *** ** Multisensor *****.

** ****** *** ****** against *******'* ************* **** 12MP, **** *****-*** ****, and ***** ****** **** to *** *** ** stacks **, ** *** and ***** ******, ***, installation, *** ****.

**** *** *** * entrants ******* **** ** side:

[***************]

Competitive *******

***** *** *** *** advantages *** ************* ** *** Avigilon ** *********** ****** competitive ***** ****** ******:

**********

********'* *********** ****** *********** in ************* ******* ******* to *** ******* ****, allowing ** ** ***** fields ** **** ***** from ******* *** *** 360 ***** (***** *** still *********), **** ** 270° **** ****** *******, or ******** * ** X ********.

************, *** ** *** integrated ********* ********* ******, users *** ****** ***** views **** *** ******'* web ********* ******* ** changing *** ********** *** lenses ** ** *** Arecont ****, ***** *** be ****** *** ********* to ******** *****.

******* **** ****** **** an *********** *-**** ******, Avigilon **** *** ****** from *** ****** ******/****** FOV of *** **** ***** when *** ** * 180° ****, ***** ********** imagers *** ** ******* ** remove **** *****. **** is *** ******** **** *** Q3709-PVE.

*******, ******** ***** * separate ****** *** **** imager, ****** *** ***** Optera, ***** ******** ******* in *** ******, ********* warped "******" ****** ****** without * ******* ******, but **** **** **** one ** *******, ****** the **** *****-***, ***** requires ***** (*** *** imager).

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

***** *** *********** ** how ******* *** ** repositioned, *** ** *** size ** ***** ********* zoom *********, ****** ** less ******** **** *** smaller ******* **** ** the ******* ****, ***** may ** ****** ****** together.

******* ** ***** ***********, only ***** ******* *** be **** **** ********** for a ***°, ****** ***** resolution * ** ******* of ** ** ***** in ******* *** *****. Note **** ********'* ***° models *** ****.

*******, *** ** *** maximum ***** ***** *** ****** in *** ** ***********, with ** ****** *********** available, **** ** *** 20 ** **** ****** from ******* ** ****' 33MP *****.

Key ********

**** *** *** *** findings **** *** ****:

*******/*********

*** ***** *********** ********** ***** than ***** **** ******, similar ** **** *****-***, and ****** **** ******* SurroundVideo ****.

**** ****** *** *********** than ******* *** ****, though ********** **** ******** to ***** ******, ********** in ****** ***** ** the *****.

***** ******** ***** **** other ***° ***** ****** cameras ** *** ******.

****** ********/**** ***********

******* *** ******* ************ ***** a ********** ** ****** tilt *** ***** ** adjust ***, ******* *** unscrewing/screwing ******** ** *** Arecont ****. ***** ** view ** ****** ******** *** the *** *********.

***** ** ** ******/********* way ** *** ** the * ****** *********** in * ***° ***** of ****, *** **** common *** **** *** multi-imager ******.

***** *** ******* * roughly ~***° ***** ** moving *** ***** ******* as ***** ** ****** as ********, ****** *** is ******* ******** ** others *** ** *** wider ***, ** **** as *** *** ** three ******* ******* ** four.

***° **** ********** ** useful ** ********* **** areas **** ******** *******, not ********* **** ***** other ***** ****** ****** (with *** ********* ** Pelco ******).

*******

********* ****** ***** ** the ** ****** ****** from ***** $*,*** *** (three ****** ******) ** about $*,*** (**** ****** outdoor).

**** ******* ** ******* to ********** ****** **** Arecont *** ***** **** models, **** ~$****-****. ** is ***** **** *** Axis *****-***, ***** ***** for ~$*,*** ******.

Physical ********

*** ****** ***** ** the ******** ***** ****** *** ****** than ***** ***** ****** options, **** ** *** Arecont ************* ****, *** to *** ********* ** motorized zoom ****** ******* ** fixed ****** ***** ** others.

******* *** ** ******** from ********** ** ****** vertical. ********** ***** ** movement ** **** *******, as ******* *** ****** to * "*****" ***** only ****** ~** ******* movement. *** ****** **** of *** ******* **** prevents **** **** ***** angled *** ******* ** they ********** **** **** each *****.

**** ***** ****** *** physical ************ ** *** camera:

Configuration/Web *********

*** *** ********* ** the ******** *********** ** similar ** ***** ******** cameras, ****** **** ***** tabs ** **** ***** *** individual ************* ** **** sensor. ********/***** *******/***. *** also ** *** ********.

** ****** ************* ** this *****:

Imager *********** ***********

*** ***** ** *** Avigilon ***** ****** *** ** repositioned, ******* ** ********** ************* ****, ** ***** ***** outside ** ******* *** and *** ******.

*** *******, *** * imager ***** ****** ***** in * ***° *************. This ****** * ****** camera ** *** ****** of * ******** ** cover ******** ****** ***** typically ******* ******** *******. This ** *** ******** with **** *****-****** ******* (aside **** *****'* *** Optera ******).

*** ***** ***** ************ this ****:

******* *** **** ** respositioned ** ***** * or * ******* *************, elevator *******, ***. ******** provides ******* ******** ** these ************, **** ************* sensor ******* ***** *********** ****** demo.

** ****** ***° ****

*******, ****** ***** ******* which **** ** * fixed ***° *************, ***** is ** ****** *** to ********* *** ****** in * ***° ****** FOV.

*** ******* ** * 3-head ****** *** ** configured ***** ** ** 180° ***** ** **** ** centering *** ****** ******, and ****** *** ***** sensors ** ***** ** it ** ********. ******* ******* halfway ** ** **** sensor, **** **** ****** and ***** ***********, ****** angle ** **** ** about ***-*** *******.

** **** **** ******* in **** *****:

Test ***** ** ***° ********

** **** ****, *** competitive ***** ******* ******* focuses ** ***** * 180° ***** ** ****, as **** ** *** most ******/**** ********* *********** for ***** ****** *******.

******* ** ********'* ****** size *** *********** ************* ******** to ***** ******, **** three ******* *** **** in **** *****, ******** ***** resolution ** * ** compared ** ** ** in ******* *** *****, reducing *** ****** *** FOV.

**** **** **** ***** 360° *****, **** ********** is *** *******, ** the **** ******/**** ***** may ** ****, **** the **** ****** *** as ******. ************, ***** may ****** ** ****** the *** ** ******** PPF ** **** ** on "*******" ***** ** the ***** ** * full ***° ** *** needed.

Image *******

** ***** *****, *** image ******* *********** ***** were ********* ***** * 3 ****** ******** *********** using * ~***° ***** of ****. **** **** there *** **** *********** in *** *** ** how *** ****** **** be ********** *******, ***** between *******, ***., *** all *** ******* ******* ***°.

***

** ********, *** ******** multisensor ******** ******** ******* details ******** ** *** ***** Optera, *** ** *** wider ********** ****** ***, though ********** ****** **** the ******* **** ****. The **** ***** ******** clearer ******* ** *** subject *** ***** *** to *** ****** ***.

****** ******* **** *** cameras, *** *****, **** the ***** ****** ********** better ******* ** *** subject **** ********.

*** *****

** *** *****, *** Avigilon *********** ******** ********* to *** **** *****-***, with ******* ******* ** the ******* *** *****. The ***** ****** ******** slightly **** ****** ** the **** ***** **** Avigilon *** ****.

** * ***** ***, none ** *** ******* produce ****** ******* ** the *******, *** *** test *****.

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

** ****** *** ******* in * ********* ***** with **** ******** **** to **** *** ***********, seen ****:

*** ******** *********** ******** **** against ****** ********* ** this *****, *** ** weaker next ** *** **** overhead **** ******** ** the ***** ******, ***** clearly ****** *** ******* in **** *****.

Bandwidth ***********

*** ******** *********** *** the ****** ******** ** all *** ******* ** this **** ** * solid ******, **** *** and *****.

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

*** ************, *** ******** multisensor *** **** ********** with ******** ******* ******, with **** *** *** license **** *** **** access ** ****** ************* through *** ***.

*** ****** **** **** one ******* ** ********* XProtect, ** ****, **** added *** *****, *** to *********'**** ******* *** ** policy. ****** **** *** was **** ********* ** XProtect.

*** ****** ***** ************ to ***** *** ******* *** ONVIF, ** ****, ****** both ******** ***** ******** and *** *** ******* camera ***.

Test **********

*** ********* ******** **** applied ** *** *******:

*.***, ** ***, ~** quantization *** **** (****** Arecont, *** * *** 6 *** *********)
*/*** ******* ******* *****

***** ******** **** **** at ******** ****** ********* noted.

Comments (12)

Scot MacTaggart

12/14/15 05:19pm

I really expected the Pelco to yield better results than it did.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Scot MacTaggart | 12/14/15 05:25pm

The problem with Pelco is their decision to implement this "panomersive" view, which requires dewarping and a VMS plugin. Right now, that's really only supported in Milestone, so images are distorted in the bowtie shape for most others. If they had sent a stream for each imager like others, they'd be better off, as they have imaging advantages over others in low light and WDR.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Scot MacTaggart | 12/14/15 05:37pm

Why?

Pelco really hasn't done anything noteworthy in a long time. Why would you expect a newer product to be more than average?

Scot MacTaggart

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 12/14/15 05:46pm

While I agree with you, take a look at those images and tell me you thought they'd put their name on something that far behind their competition.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Scot MacTaggart | 12/14/15 09:33pm

Scot, where do you see Pelco Optera being that far behind competitors in those test images?

I don't see it. To me, the Pelco is average or above average in most comparisons.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

12/15/15 03:14am

Arecont AV12186DN is a shit and giving a lot of problem of focus shift issue. Best part a senior guy from Sales claim that it is not camera issue, it is site problem.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

12/16/15 07:08am

How dare you not rank the Aviligon ten times better than all the others? In fact, how dare you even compare it to anything else? Your anti-Avigilon bias is showing again, John!

Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 12/16/15 07:09am

PS I just ran into the posting bug on this, at first I thought I wasn't logged in or something, but then I remembered your post about the updates :o)

Undisclosed Integrator #4

12/16/15 07:18pm

I've done a similar "bake off" between three of these model cameras (including the Avigilon multi-sensor). I wouldn't normally gravitate to Avigilon in general, but when the settings were dialed in, the performance of the Avigilon camera SMOKED the others. I was quite surprised. It performed exceedingly better in every condition and all areas of the test. What's more, the Avigilon camera and components within just feel much more sturdy and better made in general, compared to the others. This camera made an Avigilon believer out of me!

Seeing the results and opinion published in this article, I'd be curious to see the exact settings that were used during this test. Spend a little time to dial them ALL in, and it wouldn't even be close. I've fought it time and time again, but I cannot deny that Avigilon makes a superior camera. Period.

Undisclosed #5

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 12/16/15 08:11pm

This camera made an Avigilon believer out of me!

Seeing is believing, post pics...

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 12/16/15 08:14pm

What settings exactly do you dial in to make it superior to the others? And which others ones did you test against?

Undisclosed Manufacturer #6

12/17/15 07:50pm

I really enjoy seeing product comparisons on IPVM, so thank you - great post. I've been a little curious about processing demand across the different cameras brands, especially in the Pelco, with image stitching. Can you comment on whether or not you noticed any considerable difference between the different models regarding this type of demand?

Read this IPVM report for free.

This article is part of IPVM's 6,367 reports, 855 tests and is only available to members. To get a one-time preview of our work, enter your work email to access the full article.

Related Reports

Vivotek 4K S-Series Camera Tested on Sep 30, 2019

Vivotek's highest-end S-series camera claims "Supreme Night Visibility", "Smart IR II", "Smart Stream II", "WDR Pro for unparalleled visibility in...

Hanwha Announces 32MP Camera + AI Line on Sep 10, 2019

In the first rise in maximum megapixel resolution in 5 years, Hanwha has announced a 32MP / 8K camera directly competing with Avigilon's H4 30MP /...

Repositionable Multi-Imager Camera Shootout - Avigilon, Axis, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Panasonic, Vivotek on Jun 19, 2019

Repositionable multi-imager cameras are one of the fastest growing segments in video surveillance, with a slew of new offerings being recently...

Avigilon 32MP and 12MP H4 Multisensor Cameras Tested on Jun 11, 2019

Avigilon has released their H4 Multi-Sensor line of cameras claiming "broad scene coverage and high image detail" We bought and tested the...

Hanwha Dual Imager Dome Camera Tested (PNM-7000VD) on Oct 18, 2018

Hanwha has introduced their first dual-imager model, the PNM-7000VD, a twin 1080p model featuring independently positionable sensors and a snap-in...

Panasonic 9MP Panoramic Fisheye Tested (WV-X4571L) on Aug 02, 2018

Panasonic has released their latest fisheye camera, the WV-X4571L, with 12MP sensor and 9MP resolution, claiming "extreme image quality" under...

Dahua 12MP Fisheye Camera Tested (NK8BR4) on May 16, 2018

Continuing our coverage of 12MP sensor fisheye cameras, we bought and tested the Dahua NK8BR4, examining: Default vs. Optimized...

Vivotek 12MP Fisheye Camera Tested (FE9391-EV) on May 08, 2018

Next in our 12MP fisheye camera evaluation, we bought and tested Vivotek's latest generation FE9391-EV, a new model claiming improved smart IR...

Avigilon 12MP Fisheye Camera Tested on May 03, 2018

12MP fisheye cameras have become mainstream, with nearly every major manufacturer offering their take on this segment. To see how these new higher...

Hanwha 20MP Multi-Imager Tested (PNM-9081VQ) on Oct 09, 2017

Hanwhwa has introduced the latest in their multi-imager camera line, the PNM-9081VQ, a Wisenet 5 20MP model with four repositionable 5MP camera...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Verkada: "IPVM Should Never Be Your Source of News" on Jul 02, 2020

Verkada was unhappy with IPVM's recent coverage declaring that reading IPVM is 'not a good look' and that 'IPVM should never be your source of...

Vintra Presents FulcrumAI Face Recognition on Jul 02, 2020

Vintra presented its FulcrumAI face recognition and mask detection offering at the May 2020 IPVM Startups show. Inside this report: A...

Uniview Wrist Temperature Reader Tested on Jul 02, 2020

Uniview is promoting measuring wrist temperatures whereas most others are just offering forehead or inner canthus measurements. But how well does...

Dahua USA Admits Thermal Solutions "Qualify As Medical Devices" on Jul 02, 2020

Dahua USA has issued a press release admitting a controversial point in the industry but an obvious one to the US FDA, that the thermal temperature...