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?

IPVM Image

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.

****' *******-********* *** "**** ***** quality ********", **** *********** super *** ***** ***********, Axis' **** *** ******** WDR, *** ***********.

*******, *** ***-**********-********* *** ***** ********, too. ** ***** ****** users ******? **** **** them *****?

IPVM Image

** **** ***, ** bought *** ****** *** P3228-LVE **. *** *****-*** to *** *** **** compare, ******* **:

  • *** **** ***** ******* at **** ***** (~*** lux), *** ***** ** color (~* ***), *** dark (~*.** ***) ***** quality *******?
  • *** ****** **** **** camera ********** *** ***** of ****?
  • *** **** ******* ******* to **** ** ***** 4K ******* ********* ** the ******?
  • *** **** **** ******* range *********** *******?

******* ****** **** *** our ********** ** *** 5MP ****** ** **** series:**** *** * ** Q ****** ******** (*****-*** vs *****-***).

**** ** *** ****** in *** ********* ****** of ******* ** ****** testing, **************'* ********* *****,****** ******* *, ************'* *** ***** & Performance ******, **** ********, *****, Vivotek, *** **** ****** soon. ***********?*** ** **** **** other ** ******* ** should ****.

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

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 *********'* * ******.

IPVM Image

Physical ********

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

IPVM Image

***** ****** *** *******, 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.

IPVM Image

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

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

IPVM Image

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

IPVM Image

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

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

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

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

IPVM Image

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

IPVM Image

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

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

IPVM Image

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

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

IPVM Image

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

IPVM Image

*********

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

IPVM Image

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

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

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

IPVM Image

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 **** ** ******:

IPVM Image

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

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 ********?

Login to read this IPVM report.

Related Reports

Video Surveillance Cameras 101 on Feb 25, 2020
Cameras come in many shapes, sizes and specifications. This 101 examines the...
Tiandy Super Starlight Cameras Tested on Apr 30, 2020
Tiandy is taking aim at China competitors Dahua and Hikvision, with a new...
New Axis M30 Cameras Tested on Mar 26, 2020
Axis has released a new generation of, for them, relatively low cost M30...
IronYun AI Analytics Tested on Feb 17, 2020
Taiwan / US startup IronYun has raised tens of millions for its "mission to...
TVT / InVid White Light Camera Tested Vs Hikvision ColorVu on Mar 18, 2020
With mega China manufacturers Dahua and Hikvision facing both bans and human...
Vivotek LPR Camera Tested on Apr 15, 2020
Vivotek has historically sold license plate capture cameras but not LPR. Now,...
FLIR A Series Temperature Screening Cameras Tested on Jun 04, 2020
FLIR is one of the biggest names in thermal and one of the most conservative....
Leica Launches LIDAR / Thermal / IP Camera on Mar 04, 2020
Swiss manufacturer Leica is launching what it calls a "real-time reality...
The Next Hot Fever Detection Trend - $100 Wall-Mounted Units on Jul 06, 2020
The first wave of the booming fever detecting market was $10,000+ cameras,...
Favorite Video Analytic Manufacturers 2020 on Feb 25, 2020
Video analytics is now as hot as ever, driven by the excitement of advancing...
Uniview Deep Learning Camera Tested on Jul 14, 2020
Uniview's intrusion analytics have performed poorly in our shootouts. Now,...
Access Credential Form Factor Tutorial on Feb 10, 2020
Deciding which access control credential to use and distribute, including...
Cisco Acquiring Fluidmesh on Apr 09, 2020
Cisco announced it is acquiring niche wireless manufacturer...
Directory of 202 "Fever" Camera Suppliers on Aug 04, 2020
This directory provides a list of "Fever" scanning thermal camera providers...
Video Analytics 101 on Mar 16, 2020
This guide teaches the fundamentals of video surveillance...

Recent Reports

Genetec CEO Declares "We Don't Negotiate Payment With Patent Trolls" on Aug 11, 2020
Are patent trolls like terrorists? Genetec's CEO is coming out strongly...
Hanwha AI Analytics Camera Tested on Aug 11, 2020
Hanwha has released their Wisenet P AI camera, adding person and vehicle...
Alabama Schools Million Dollar Hikvision Fever Camera Deal on Aug 11, 2020
The Baldwin County, Alabama public schools purchased a $1 million, 144-camera...
Dahua Taunts Australian Government, Continues To Sell Illegal Fever Cameras on Aug 10, 2020
Dahua is effectively taunting the Australian government by continuing to sell...
HID Releases VertX Replacement Aero on Aug 10, 2020
HID is replacing two established and broadly supported types of access...
NDAA Compliant Video Surveillance Whitelist on Aug 10, 2020
This report aggregates video surveillance products that manufacturers have...
Telpo China Temperature Tablets Tested on Aug 10, 2020
The provider for overseas companies ranging from Canon Singapore to US'...
Dangerous Hikvision Fever Camera Showcased by Chilean City on Aug 07, 2020
Deploying a fever camera outdoors, in the rain, with no black body, is...
"Grand Slam" For Pelco's PE Firm, A Risk For Motorola on Aug 07, 2020
The word "Pelco" and "grand slam" have not been said together for many years....
FLIR Stock Falls, Admits 'Decelerating' Demand For Temperature Screening on Aug 07, 2020
Is the boom going to bust for temperature screening? FLIR disappointed...
VSaaS Will Hurt Integrators on Aug 06, 2020
VSaaS will hurt integrators, there is no question about that. How much...
Dogs For Coronavirus Screening Examined on Aug 06, 2020
While thermal temperature screening is the surveillance industry's most...
ADT Slides Back, Disappointing Results, Poor Commercial Performance on Aug 06, 2020
While ADT had an incredible start to the week, driven by the Google...
AHJ / Authority Having Jurisdiction Tutorial on Aug 06, 2020
One of the most powerful yet often underappreciated characters in all...
SIA Coaches Sellers on NDAA 889B Blacklist Workarounds on Aug 05, 2020
Last month SIA demanded that NDAA 899B "must be delayed". Now that they have...