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 ***** ******, *********:

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

****: **** ** *** ***** ** * ****** ** ******* 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 (7)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

10/05/18 08:05am

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

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

Avatar

Ethan Ace

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

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

Undisclosed End User #2

In reply to Ethan Ace | 11/03/18 08:03pm

** *** **** *** **** ** **** *** ********* **-*********-****?

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed End User #2 | 11/05/18 05:34pm

***, **'* ******** ******* ** ** **** ***** ***. *** sure ** **** ******, ******* *** ** *** ****** ** ******, *** **'* ** *** ****.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to Ethan Ace | 12/12/18 04:20pm

*** ******* ********* **** **** ** **-*********-****?

Paresh Desai

10/05/18 10:44pm

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

Avatar

Brian Anderson

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

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

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