Axis 4K Camera Shootout 2019

By Derek Ward, Published on Aug 14, 2019

Axis' 4K Q3518-LVE claims the "best video quality possible", with Lightfinder super low light performance, Axis' high end Forensic WDR, and OptimizedIR.

However, the mid-range P3228-LVE claims all these features, too. So which should users choose? What sets them apart?

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To find out, we bought and tested the P3228-LVE vs. the Q3518-LVE to see how they compare, looking at:

  • How does image quality at full light (~200 lux), low light in color (~2 lux), and dark (~0.02 lux) image quality compare?
  • How evenly does each camera illuminate the field of view?
  • How does pricing compare to that of other 4K cameras currently on the market?
  • How does wide dynamic range performance compare?

Readers should also see our comparison of the 5MP models in this series: Axis 5MP P Vs Q Camera Shootout (P3227-LVE vs Q3517-LVE).

This is the latest in our continued series of updated 4K camera testing, following Bosch's Starlight 8000i, Hanwha Wisenet P, and Hikvision's new Smart & Performance series, with Avigilon, Dahua, Vivotek, and more coming soon. Suggestions? Let us know what other 4K cameras we should test.

Summary: ** *-****** **. *-******

****** *** *****, ******* delivered ** *** *****-*** and *****-*** ** ******* were ****** ** **** lit (~***+ ***) *** low ***** ****** (~* lux), ** **** ** WDR, **** ******* ****** backlight *** ** ****** areas ** *** *****.

*******, *** *** ******* noticeably ******** ** *******, with ****** ****** ** longer ***** **** *** P32 ** ******, ***** appeared ****** *** **** more ******* ******* *****.

************, *** *.*** ********* bitrates **** ********** ***** in *** ***** *** dark ****** ******** ** the *****. **** **** neither ****** ******** *.***, unlike **** *********** ** 2019.

*******, *** *** ****** offers ******** ******** **** as ****-********, ***** *********, and ********** ***** ************* not ***** ** *** P32, ***** *** ** of ******** ** ******** users.

*******

*** *****-*** ***** ***~$*,*** *** ******, ***** ~$*** **** than ********-*** ****** (~$*,***).

******** ** *********** ** cameras, **** ** ******** higher, **** ************'* **-*********-******* ~$*** ******,******'* ***-***** (~$*** *** ******), ** *******'* ******-****,***** ***** ***~$*** ******.

Size **********

*** *** **** ** domes **** ********** ** size, **** *** *** larger, ******* ** **** to *** ********* * series, ***** *** *** is **** *******, ****** in **** ** ****** such ** ******* (*****) and *********'* * ******.

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Physical ********

**** **** ****** ******* integrated *** ******* ****** on *** ******* ** their ********, **** ****** mounting ***** *** ******-****, double-gang, *** ******* *****, shown *****:

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***** ****** *** *******, though *** ***'* ** larger, **** ********** ***** management.

***** **** **** **********, the *** **** **** snap ** ********, ***** may ** ****** ** install ** **** *****, as **** ** ******* camera ***** ****** ***** its ***** ** *********. We **** ** ***** features ** **** *****:

*** *****-*** ** **** typical *** ******* ** domes, ***** * ******* 3-axis ****** ** *** Q35 *** ******* ********, though ******* *** ******** focus ****** ********. ** review *** ***'* ******** in **** *****:

Even ** ************ ****** ***

** *** *****, **** the *** *** *** cameras ******** **** ** illumination ****** *** ***** of ****, **** **** slight ****** **** ** the *****, ***** ** the ***** ** **** below.

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Q35 ****** ** *******

**** *** ******* *** chart ** ~**' ******** (PPF ~***) ** *** dark ***** (~*.** ***), details ******** ** *** Q3518-LVE *** ******** **** the *****-***, **** ******* facial ****** *** ******* text **** ** **** 7, ******* *** ***** appears ****** *** ****** line *. *** *****-*** appeared ******* ******* *** softer, *** *** ********* prior ** *******.

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** ~**', (~** *** ), *** ***** ******* less *****, ***** *** Q35 ******** ******** ****** features ** *** **** subject *** ********** ********** to **** * ** our **** *****.

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Near ***** ** ************

**** ******* *********** *** subject ** **** **** range, ~**' **** *** camera *** ******, **** the ****** ****** ** adjust ******** ****** ** leaves *** ***** ** normal ******* ****. **** example *** ***** **** the *****-***, *** ******* issues **** **** ** the *****, ** ****.

Similar *** ***** ***** ******* (~* ***)

******* ** *** ****/** performance, *** *****-*** ********* more ******* ***** ** low *****, (~* ***) but ****** ******* *** similar ** *** *****-***. At ~**' ******** (~*** PPF), ** *** ****** make *** *** *****, facial **********, *** **** 7 ** *** **** chart ** **** *******..

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** ~**' (~** ***) in *** **** *****, noise ** **** ********** with *** *****, *** the ********** ** ******* detail ** ******, **** both ******* ********* **** rough ******* *******. **** cameras ******* ******* **** to **** */* ** the **** *****.

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Similar **** ***** ***** ******* (~*** ***)

** **** ***** (~*** lux), *** ******* ********* similarly, **** **** ******* able ** ****** ******* facial ******** ** *** subject, *** ********** **** to **** * ** our *****, ***** **** at **** ***** (~**').

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Similar *** ***********

** ****** *** ******'* WDR *********** ***** * backlit ******* ** ***** 2,000 *** **** ** indoor *** ** ~**, a ******** ** ~****, shown ****:

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*** *********** *** ******* in **** *******, **** the ******* *** **** chart **** ******** ******* the ****** *********, ** well ** ** *** darker **** ****** *** open ****.

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*********

**** **** ****** ******* H.264 ************, *** ** *** support *.*** *********. *** Q3518-LVE's ******** **** ********** lower ** *** ***** and **** ****** **** the *****-***, ***** *** P3228-LVE *** ******** ***** in ******* *****.

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**** **** ***** ************ were ***** **** ******** motion ** *** *****, with ******** ******* **** the ******.

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

**** **** ** ******' H.264 ******* *** ****** side ****** ********* ********** with ********, ***********, *******, Milestone, *** ******* ***** VMSes. ****** **** ********* (e.g.***** *****,********* ********) **** ********* ** all ***** ****** ****** Avigilon, ***** ********* **** VMD.

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Q3518-LVE ******** ********

**** ***** *** ******, the ***** ******** * number ** ******** ******** due ** *** **-***** gyro ******, *********:

  • ***** *********:*** ***** ** ******* of ********* ******* ** the ******, ***** *****, with ********** ***********.** *****, *** ****** may ******* * **** overlay, **** ******, *** serial *******, ** ***** functions ********* ** ****' events ********.

  • ********** ***** *************:*** ***'* ***** ************* was ********** ** ******* video ******* **** ******* to ********** ** ******** shaking/swaying, ***** *****.

  • ******** ******:** ******* *** ******** button ** *** ****** for ** *******, *** camera ****** * *******/******* indication ** **** *** camera ** *****. **** level, *** **** ***** beeping *** ******* ******, and **** ****** ****** turn *****, ***** ** this ****:

Country ** ******

**** *** *** *** P32 ****** ** ******* were **** ** ******:

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Test **********

******* **** ********* ***** to ******* **** *** adjustments ** *********** ******** as **** ** ********:

  • *** *** ******* ****** WDR ******* ****.
  • ****-******* *.*** *** **** (No *.*** *********).
  • ********* *** ******* (****), Dynamic *** ** (****).

Versions ****

*** ********* ******** ******** were **** *** *******:

  • **** *****-***: *.**.*
  • **** *****-***: *.**.*

Comments (5)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

08/14/19 06:39pm

***** **** ** *** performance ********** **. ***** particular ***/*** ******.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 08/15/19 08:16pm

** **** ** ********* them ** ** ********** ********, ********* ********, ****,*****, *****,******,*********, *********, *** *******.. So *** ** *** at ** ******, ** you **** ***** ***********, let ** **** ** the ******** *****.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 08/16/19 11:01pm

*** ***** **** ******-* SOCs?

Undisclosed #3

04/19/20 06:13pm

*** **** **** *** of **** ** ** poor *********** ********* **** high ********** ******

****** **** ****** ** meaning

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 04/19/20 06:24pm

*** **** **** *** of **** ** ** poor *********** ********* **** high ********** ******

*** ***** *** ******* would **** ****** ***** Axis ********?

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