Axis 4K vs. 5MP Camera Shootout (Q3518-LVE + Q3517-LVE)

Author: Ethan Ace, Published on Oct 04, 2018

Axis has released the 4K counterpart to their 5MP Q3517-LVE (see our test).

Axis claims of both these cameras:

Simply put, AXIS Q3518(17)-LVE delivers the best video quality possible.

But which one is truly best?

We bought and tested the 4K Q3518-LVE to see how it compares to its lower resolution counterpart, testing in multiple real world scenes, examining:

  • <1 Lux image details with IR on
  • Low light (2-3 lux) image details in color mode
  • Outdoor full light daytime images
  • WDR performance
  • Integrated IR coverage evenness
  • Integrated IR range
  • Bandwidth performance
  • Physical features comparison
  • Installation issues
  • Advanced hardware/software features
  • Pricing comparison

Note: This is the first in a series of updated 4K camera tests, leading to a shootout in the coming months. We also plan to test new models from Dahua, Hikvision, Vivotek, and others. Let us know what we should test in our discussion: What 4K Cameras Should We Include In A Shootout?

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

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

****** ***, **** *****(**)-*** ******** *** **** ***** ******* ********.

*** ***** *** ** ***** ****?

** ****** *** ****** *** ** *****-*** ** *** *** it ******** ** *** ***** ********** ***********, ******* ** ******** real ***** ******, *********:

  • *** ***** (*-* ***) ***** ******* ** ***** ****
  • ******* **** ***** ******* ******
  • *** ***********
  • ********** ** ******** ********
  • ********** ** *****
  • ********* ***********
  • ******** ******** **********
  • ************ ******
  • ******** ********/******** ********
  • ******* **********

****: **** ** *** ***** ** * ****** ** ******* 4K ****** *****, ******* ** * ******** ** *** ****** months. ** **** **** ** **** *** ****** **** *****, Hikvision, *******, *** ******. *** ** **** **** ** ****** test ** *** **********:**** ** ******* ****** ** ******* ** * ********?

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

Summary: ** ********** ******/********* **** ********

******* *** ** *****-*** ********* **% ******* ***** *******, ***** quality *********** ** *** ***** **** ****** *******.

*** ** ***** ******** ****** ** ******** ***** ** ******* compared ** *** *** *****, **** ******* ** ***** ***** at scenes, **** **** ****** ************* ** *** ***** (*-* ***) color *******.

************, *** *********** *** ******* ******* ******* ** **** *****, changing ****** **** *******/******* ***** ** **** ** ****** ****** with **** ******** ********.

*******, *** ** ******'* ********* *** ************* ****** **** *** 5MP ***** ** *** ****** ******, **** ********* ** (****) and ******** ****** ** *** *****, **** **** ************ *** megapixel. ******* ** ****, *******-********* ***** *** **** *** *****'* slight ********** ** *** ******** *** ********* *********.

Pricing **********: ~$*** ******* **** *** *****

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

***** ******* ** ******* ** **** ** ***********, **** ** the********* **-*********-****(~$*,***), *** ******* ****** **********'* ***-*****(~$*** ******).

Physically **** *******

*** ***** ** ******** **** ******* ** *** *****, ***** the **** ******* *** ******, **** *** **** ***, *****, power, *** */* *****, *** ********* ** **** *****, ***** below.

******* ** ***** ************, ***** ******** **** ***** *** ******* will **** *** *********** ** *** ******** ******** ** *** Q3518. ** ****** **** ******* ** *** ***'* ************ ** the *** ** **** ******.

Both ******* ****/****** ** **** *****

** *** *****, **** *** ***** *** ***** *** ***** specified ***/~***' ** *****, **** ************ ******* ** **** ********. However, ************ *** ********** ****, **** **** ********* ********, *** details *********** *** ** *** *** (~** *** ** ***** widest ***, ~** *** ** **** *********). ******* *** ***** in *********** *****.

Q3518 ****** ************ ** **** ****

*******, *** *****'* ************ *** ******* **** **** **** *** Q3517 ** **** ****** ** ****, **** *** ***** ** the ***** ** **** ************* ****** **** *** ******.

** ******** ****** ** ****, ************ *** **** ** **** cameras, *** ********** ******** ** *** **** ** *** *****.

[effects output image]

Better *****/** ******* ** ***** ***** (~*.** ***)

** ***** ** * ~*.** *** *****, *** ** ***** produced ******** ****** ****** ** *** ******* **** *** *****, with ****** ****** ****** *** *-* ********** ******* ***** ** text.

q3518 slightly better ir details at close range

No ********* ********** ** ***/**** ***** (*****, ~*.** ***)

** ****** ******, *** ***** ******** ******** ****** ******* ** the ******* *** **** *****, *** **** *** ******* *** additional ****** ******* ******** ** *** *****.

similar performance at mid range

*******, ** *** *******' *** ** *****, ~***'/***, ******* *** again *******, **** *** ** ***** ******** ****** **** *** Q3517.

similar performance at long range

4K ***** ****** ******* **** *** ** ***** ****, ~* ***

** ~* *** ** ***** ****, *** ***** ******* **** higher ****** ** ******* ***** *** *********, ********* ******** **** clarity ** *** *******'* **** **** *** *** *****. *******, 2 ********** **** ***** *** ******* ** *** ***** ******** to *** *****, ***** ******* ***********.

4k worse details in color mode 30

** ~**' *** ******, ******* *** *********** ******* ** *** two *******, **** ** ****** ******* ** *** ******* *** no ******* ******* ****.

4k worse details in color mode 60

Slight ******** ** ******* *******

** ***** *****, ~**' ******** ** * **** ***** ** view (~**°), *** ** ***** ******** ******** ******* ******* ** fine ******* ******** **** ** **** *** ****, ** **** as *** ********** **** *****.

4k slightly better daytime details at close range

*** **** ** **** ** ****** ********, ~**', **** *** subject *** **** **** *********** ** *** *****, ****** **** rough ******* *********.

4k slightly better daytime details at long range

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

** ****** *** ** *** *********, ***** * *** **** opening/closing **** *** ******* ******** ** ***** *** *** ****** blur *** *** *** ****** ******* ** ******* ** *****. In **** *****, **** ******* ********* **** *********, **** ***** adjustment ** *** ******* **** *** ***** ******* ** *** subject ********** ** ** ******.

axis-q3518

******, ** ******* *********** ** * ****** ********* ***** **** open ******** ****, **** ******** ******* **** ~**,*** *** ******* to ~** ******, **** * **** **********.

wdr test field of view

** **** *****, *********** ** *** *** ******* ** *******, but ******** ****** ** *** *** *****, ***** ******** ****** images ** *** ****** **** ****** *** ****.

wdr comparison

Bitrate **********

*****-*** ** ******** **** *********** ****** **** *** *****-*** *** both *** *** *****, **** ********* ********* **** ****** **** of *** *****.

axis q35 bitrate comparison

*******, **** ********** ** ******* *** *********, ******* ******** *** Kb/s *** ****** *** **** ** **** ******. *** ***** delta ******* ***** ******** *******, *******.

bitrate per megapixel

Integrated *** ******** / ***** *******

*** ***** ******** ** ********** *** ******* ***** ** *** bottom ** *** *******, **** **** ******** *** ****** *** double ****, ** **** ** ******* *** *" ****** *****. This ********** ************, ** ****/**** *********** ******* ******* * ******** part *** *** ********, ** ********** **** *** ****** ********* when ********.

************, *** ********* ** *** ***** ******* ******** *** ***** to ****** ***** *******. **** ***** ** ****** ***** ***** so *** ******* *** ** **** ****** ******* **** *** backplate, ******* ** * **** ***** ****** ** ***** ******** the ******* ********, ** ****** **** **** *** ****/******* ***** it *** ******.

backplate

Snap-In ****** ******

*******, **** *** *****, *** ** ****** **** * **** in ****** ******, ***** ****** ***** **** *** ******* *** two ****** *****. ***** ****, *** ******* *** ** **** easily ******* *** ***-****** ****** ************ ******* **** ** *** camera ** ****, **** ********** **** ******* ** **** ** the ****** *** ****** *** **** **********.

Physical ********

** ****** *** ******* *****, ** **** ** ***** ******** features ** **** *****, ***** **** *** **** ** *** Q3517:

Other ******** ********

**** *** *****, *** ***** **** ******** * ****** ** advanced ******** *** ** *** **-***** **** ******, **** ***** on ***** * ****** *******, *********:

  • ***** *********:*** ***** ** ******* ** ********* ******* ** *** ******, shown *****, **** ********** ***********.** *****, *** ****** *** ******* * **** *******, **** emails, *** ****** *******, ** ***** ********* ********* ** ****' events ********.

  • ********** ***** *************:*** ***'* ***** ************* *** ********** ** ******* ***** ******* when ******* ** ********** ** ******** *******/*******, ***** *****.

  • ******** ******:** ******* *** ******** ****** ** *** ****** *** ** seconds, *** ****** ****** * *******/******* ********** ** **** *** camera ** *****. **** *****, *** **** ***** ******* *** remains ******, *** **** ****** ****** **** *****, ***** ** this ****:

Shock *********

*** ***** ******** ***** ********* ** ******** ** ***** ****** tampering *********, ***** ******* ******* ** *** ****** **** ********** sensitivity. ** *****, *** ****** *** ******* * **** *******, send ******, *** ****** *******, ** ***** ********* ********* ** Axis' ****** ********. **** **** ***** ****** *** *** ********** to **** *****, *** *** ********* ** ******* *** *********.

Electronic ***** *************

*** *****'* ***** ************* *** ********** ** ******* ***** ******* when ******* ** ********** ** ******** *******/*******, ***** *****.

Versions ****

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

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

Comments (4)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

10/05/18 06:05am

***** ******** **** *****.

***** ***** ** ** * ********* ***** **** ***** ***** "Uneven ************ ** **** ****", * ******* *** ***** *** should ** **** *****.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 10/05/18 07:47pm

**, ****** *** ******** **** ***! ******* * *** *** same ***** ** ***** *****.

Paresh Desai

10/05/18 10:44pm

***** *** ***** **** ****** ** ******* **** ** ***** entrance? ***/*****. **** ********. ****** ***** ** ********* ** ******** booth.

Thumbnail linkedin

Brian Anderson

IPVMU Certified | 10/06/18 04:06am

**** ***** ***********. ****** ****.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

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...
Video Quality / Compression Tutorial on Oct 17, 2018
While CODECs, like H.264, H.265, and MJPEG, get a lot of attention, a camera's 'quality' or compression setting has a big impact on overall...
Dahua Face Recognition Camera Tested on Oct 15, 2018
Dahua has been one of the industry's most vocal proponents of the value that AI creates: As part of this, Dahua has released a facial...
Last Chance - October 2018 Camera Course on Oct 04, 2018
Today is the last day to register for the October 2018 Camera Course, register now. This is the only independent surveillance camera course,...
Hikvision 4MP Camera Tested (DS-2CD2345FWD-I) on Sep 27, 2018
Hikvision's latest Performance Series / EasyIP 3.0 4MP model, the DS-2CD2345FWD-I, was the top performer in our 4MP shootout, besting rivals from...
4MP Camera Shootout - Axis, Dahua, DW, Hanwha, Hikvision, Uniview, Vivotek on Sep 24, 2018
4MP usage continues to climb, especially for low cost fixed lens models. To see who was best, we bought and tested seven 4MP models from Axis,...
Axis Vs. Hikvision IR PTZ Shootout on Sep 20, 2018
Hikvision has their high-end dual-sensor DarkfighterX. Axis has their high-end concealed IR Q6125-LE. Which is better? We bought both and tested...
Amazon Ring Spotlight Cam Tested on Sep 17, 2018
Amazon's Ring has released their latest camera entry, the Spotlight Cam, which we bought and tested in our Consumer IP Camera Analytics...
Vivotek 4MP Camera Tested (FD8379-HV) on Sep 13, 2018
Next in our series of updated 4MP testing, we bought and tested Vivotek's FD8379-HV, and entry level 4MP model claiming "top-notch quality video in...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Hikvision Growth Declines Q3 2018 on Oct 22, 2018
Hikvision's growth continues to decline in 2018 going from: Q1 - 33% Q2 - 22% Q3 - 14.6% In this note, we examine Hikvision's newest Q3...
Geutebruck Company Profile on Oct 22, 2018
Geutebrück has been in business for nearly 50 years, but they are not well known within the US surveillance market. In this report, we profile...
Chinese Government Blocks IPVM on Oct 22, 2018
IPVM has been blocked by the Chinese government without any notice or explanation. This means IPVM.com is no longer officially accessible anywhere...
Startup SafePass Profile on Oct 19, 2018
A major problem with visitor management is that the systems mostly require adhesive printed paper labels and paper logs, creating waste and an...
China Is Not A Security Megatrend, Says SIA on Oct 19, 2018
The US Security Industry Association has released its 10 "Security Megatrends" for 2019. SIA declares that these megatrends, such as "Advanced...
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...
Camera Height / Blind Spot Added to IPVM Camera Calculator on Oct 18, 2018
IPVM has added camera height and blind spot estimation to the Camera Calculator. This is especially helpful for those who need to mount cameras up...
Axis Strong US Growth, Flat EMEA - Q3 2018 Financials on Oct 18, 2018
This spring, Axis had its best financials in many years (see Axis Strong Q2 2018 Results). However, over the summer, Axis had many products sold...
Best Alternatives to Banned Dahua and Hikvision on Oct 17, 2018
With the US government ban and a growing number of users banning Dahua and Hikvision, one key question is what to use for low cost? While Dahua and...
Video Quality / Compression Tutorial on Oct 17, 2018
While CODECs, like H.264, H.265, and MJPEG, get a lot of attention, a camera's 'quality' or compression setting has a big impact on overall...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact