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

By: 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?

**** *** ******** *** 4K *********** ** ***** *** *****-*** (*** *** test).

**** ****** ** **** these *******:

****** ***, **** *****(**)-*** delivers *** **** ***** quality ********.

*** ***** *** ** truly ****?

** ****** *** ****** the ** *****-*** ** see *** ** ******** to *** ***** ********** counterpart, ******* ** ******** real ***** ******, *********:

  • with ** **
  • *** ***** (*-* ***) image ******* ** ***** mode
  • ******* **** ***** ******* images
  • *** ***********
  • ********** ** ******** ********
  • ********** ** *****
  • ********* ***********
  • ******** ******** **********
  • ************ ******
  • ******** ********/******** ********
  • ******* **********

****: **** ** *** first ** * ****** of ******* ** ****** tests, ******* ** * shootout ** *** ****** months. ** **** **** to **** *** ****** from *****, *********, *******, and ******. *** ** know **** ** ****** test ** *** **********:**** ** ******* ****** We ******* ** * Shootout?

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

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

******* *** ** *****-*** producing **% ******* ***** density, ***** ******* *********** in *** ***** **** fairly *******.

*** ** ***** ******** slight ** ******** ***** in ******* ******** ** the *** *****, **** notably ** ***** ***** at IR ** *** ******* well *** ******, **** only ****** ************* ** low ***** (*-* ***) color *******.

************, *** *********** *** similar ******* ******* ** both *****, ******** ****** with *******/******* ***** ** well ** ****** ****** with **** ******** ********.

*******, *** ** ******'* bandwidth *** ************* ****** than *** *** ***** in *** ****** ******, with ********* ** (****) and ******** ****** ** the *****, **** **** standardized *** *********. ******* of ****, *******-********* ***** may **** *** *****'* slight ********** ** *** outweigh *** ********* *********.

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

*** *****-*** ***** *** $1,250 *** ******, ***** $100 **** **** *** 5MP *****-*** (~$*,*** ******).

***** ******* ** ******* to **** ** ***********, such ** *** ********* **-*********-****(~$*,***), *** ******* ****** than******'* ***-*****(~$*** ******).

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

*** ***** ** ******** very ******* ** *** Q3517, ***** *** **** housing *** ******, **** the **** ***, *****, power, *** */* *****, and ********* ** **** apart, ***** *****.

******* ** ***** ************, those ******** **** ***** Q35 ******* **** **** few *********** ** *** hardware ******** ** *** Q3518. ** ****** **** details ** *** ***'* construction ** *** *** of **** ******.

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

** *** *****, **** the ***** *** ***** met ***** ********* ***/~***' IR *****, **** ************ visible ** **** ********. However, ************ *** ********** weak, **** **** ********* possible, *** ******* *********** due ** *** *** (~10 *** ** ***** widest ***, ~** *** at **** *********). ******* are ***** ** *********** below.

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

*******, *** *****'* ************ was ******* **** **** than *** ***** ** wide ****** ** ****, with *** ***** ** the ***** ** **** significantly ****** **** *** center.

** ******** ****** ** view, ************ *** **** in **** *******, *** noticeably ******** ** *** edge ** *** *****.

[effects output image]

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

** ***** ** * ~0.02 *** *****, *** 4K ***** ******** ******** better ****** ** *** subject **** *** *****, with ****** ****** ****** and *-* ********** ******* lines ** ****.

q3518 slightly better ir details at close range

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

** ****** ******, *** Q3518 ******** ******** ****** clarity ** *** ******* and **** *****, *** does *** ******* *** additional ****** ******* ******** to *** *****.

similar performance at mid range

*******, ** *** *******' max ** *****, ~***'/***, details *** ***** *******, with *** ** ***** slightly ****** **** *** Q3517.

similar performance at long range

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

** ~* *** ** color ****, *** ***** suffers **** ****** ****** of ******* ***** *** artifacts, ********* ******** **** clarity ** *** *******'* face **** *** *** model. *******, * ********** text ***** *** ******* in *** ***** ******** to *** *****, ***** appears ***********.

4k worse details in color mode 30

** ~**' *** ******, details *** *********** ******* in *** *** *******, with ** ****** ******* of *** ******* *** no ******* ******* ****.

4k worse details in color mode 60

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

** ***** *****, ~**' distance ** * **** field ** **** (~**°), the ** ***** ******** slightly ******* ******* ** fine ******* ******** **** as **** *** ****, as **** ** *** additional **** *****.

4K Slightly Better Daytime Details At Close Range

*** **** ** **** at ****** ********, ~**', with *** ******* *** text **** *********** ** the *****, ****** **** rough ******* *********.

4K Slightly Better Daytime Details At Long Range

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

** ****** *** ** two *********, ***** * man **** *******/******* **** the ******* ******** ** check *** *** ****** blur *** *** *** camera ******* ** ******* in *****. ** **** scene, **** ******* ********* very *********, **** ***** adjustment ** *** ******* door *** ***** ******* of *** ******* ********** as ** ******.

axis-q3518

******, ** ******* *********** in * ****** ********* scene **** **** ******** door, **** ******** ******* from ~**,*** *** ******* to ~** ******, **** a **** **********.

wdr test field of view

** **** *****, *********** of *** *** ******* is *******, *** ******** better ** *** *** Q3517, ***** ******** ****** images ** *** ****** area ****** *** ****.

wdr comparison

Bitrate **********

*****-*** ** ******** **** drastically ****** **** *** Q3517-LVE *** **** *** and *****, **** ********* bandwidth **** ****** **** of *** *****.

axis q35 bitrate comparison

*******, **** ********** ** bitrate *** *********, ******* bitrates *** **/* *** nearly *** **** ** both ******. *** ***** delta ******* ***** ******** remains, *******.

bitrate per megapixel

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

*** ***** ******** ** integrated *** ******* ***** on *** ****** ** the *******, **** **** patterns *** ****** *** double ****, ** **** as ******* *** *" square *****. **** ********** installation, ** ****/**** *********** options ******* * ******** part *** *** ********, an ********** **** *** easily ********* **** ********.

************, *** ********* ** the ***** ******* ******** two ***** ** ****** slack *******. **** ***** to ****** ***** ***** so *** ******* *** be **** ****** ******* from *** *********, ******* of * **** ***** length ** ***** ******** the ******* ********, ** pushed **** **** *** wall/ceiling ***** ** *** tangle.

backplate

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

*******, **** *** *****, the ** ****** **** a **** ** ****** module, ***** ****** ***** into *** ******* *** two ****** *****. ***** this, *** ******* *** be **** ****** ******* and ***-****** ****** ************ without **** ** *** camera ** ****, **** installers **** ******* ** snap ** *** ****** and ****** *** **** afterwards.

Physical ********

** ****** *** ******* above, ** **** ** other ******** ******** ** this *****, ***** **** our **** ** *** Q3517:

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

**** *** *****, *** Q3518 **** ******** * number ** ******** ******** due ** *** **-***** gyro ******, **** ***** on ***** * ****** cameras, *********:

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

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

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

Shock *********

*** ***** ******** ***** detection ** ******** ** other ****** ********* *********, which ******* ******* ** the ****** **** ********** sensitivity. ** *****, *** camera *** ******* * text *******, **** ******, TCP ****** *******, ** other ********* ********* ** Axis' ****** ********. **** that ***** ****** *** not ********** ** **** VMSes, *** *** ********* in ******* *** *********.

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

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

Versions ****

*** ********* ******** ******** were **** ** **** test:

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

Comments (8)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

10/05/18 06:05am

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

***** ***** ** ** a ********* ***** **** Q3518 ***** "****** ************ In **** ****", * believe *** ***** *** should ** **** *****.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

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

**, ****** *** ******** that ***! ******* * got *** **** ***** in ***** *****.

Undisclosed End User #2

In reply to Ethan Ace | 11/04/18 03:03am

** *** **** *** plan ** **** *** Hikvision **-*********-****?

Avatar

Ethan Ace

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

***, **'* ******** ******* on ** **** ***** now. *** **** ** test ******, ******* *** ** *** middle ** ******, *** **'* ** the ****.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

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

*** ******* ********* **** date ** **-*********-****?

Paresh Desai

10/05/18 10:44pm

***** *** ***** **** better ** ******* **** at ***** ********? ***/*****.  Some ********. ****** ***** be ********* ** ******** booth.

Avatar

Brian Anderson, CPP®

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

**** ***** ***********. ****** IPVM.

Chris Chambers

03/23/19 04:07am

** *** * ******* details ********, *** ***** level ** *********** ****** as "~*.** ***".  ******* a *********** **** *** low ***** ***** ***** higher **.

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