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 **.

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

Integrated IR Camera Usage Statistics 2019 on Oct 21, 2019
Virtually every IP camera now comes with integrated IR but how many actually make use of IR or choose 'super' low light cameras without IR? In...
Camect "Worlds Smartest Camera Hub" Tested on Oct 18, 2019
Camect is a Silicon Valley startup that claims the "Smartest AI Object Detection On The Market", detecting not only people and vehicles, but...
Pelco Sarix Pro3 Camera Tested on Oct 16, 2019
Pelco has released their Sarix Professional Series 3 cameras, claiming "more security detail in challenging scenes with excellent low light and...
IPVM Camera Calculator User Manual / Guide on Oct 16, 2019
Learn how to use the IPVM Camera Calculator (updated for Version 3.1). The guide below includes instructions, images, gifs, and videos...
Camera Focusing Tutorial on Oct 14, 2019
Camera focus is fundamental to quality imaging. Mistakes can significantly reduce details, making cameras less effective. In this guide, we...
Last Chance - Register Now - October 2019 IP Networking Course on Oct 10, 2019
Last Chance - Register Now - Fall 2019 IP Networking Course. The course starts next week. This is the only networking course designed...
Avigilon H5A Analytic Cameras Tested on Oct 07, 2019
Avigilon has released its H5A analytic cameras, claiming to "detect more objects with greater accuracy even in crowded scenes." We tested the...
Hikvision ColorVu is Smart Marketing on Oct 03, 2019
Hikvision ColorVu (see IPVM test results) is smart marketing, a lesson to be learned by competitors and a rising trend. Inside this note, we...
'Bunker Busting' Wireless Access Startup: Sure-Fi Profile on Oct 03, 2019
An access startup is claiming its 'bunker busting' wireless Wiegand radios can punch through 'any obstruction'. We examine their offering,...
Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) Guide on Oct 01, 2019
Understanding wide dynamic range (WDR) is critical to capturing high quality images in demanding conditions. However, with no real standards, any...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Access Control Door Controllers Guide on Oct 22, 2019
Door controllers are at the center of physical access control systems connecting software, readers, and locks. Despite being buried inside...
Alarm.com Acquires OpenEye on Oct 21, 2019
Alarm.com is targeting commercial expansion and now they have a commercial cloud VMS with the acquisition of OpenEye. In this note, based on...
Government-Owned Hikvision Wants To Keep Politics Out Of Security on Oct 21, 2019
'Politics' made Hikvision the goliath it is today. It was PRC China 'politics' that created Hikvision, funded it, and blocked its foreign...
Integrated IR Camera Usage Statistics 2019 on Oct 21, 2019
Virtually every IP camera now comes with integrated IR but how many actually make use of IR or choose 'super' low light cameras without IR? In...
Alarm Veteran "Demands A Criminal Investigation" Of UL on Oct 18, 2019
The Interceptor's Project pressure against UL continues to rise. Following Keith Jentoft's allegation that "UL Has Blood On Their Hands", Jentoft...
Camect "Worlds Smartest Camera Hub" Tested on Oct 18, 2019
Camect is a Silicon Valley startup that claims the "Smartest AI Object Detection On The Market", detecting not only people and vehicles, but...
Hikvision Global News Reports Directory on Oct 17, 2019
Hikvision has received the most global news reporting of any video surveillance company, ever, ranging from the WSJ, the Financial Times, Reuters,...
Camera Calculator V3.1 Release Improves User Experience on Oct 17, 2019
IPVM has released a new version of our Camera Calculator, V3.1, with significant user experience improvements, a new development plan, and an...
Securing Access Control Installations Tutorial on Oct 17, 2019
The physical security of access control components is critical to ensuring that a facility is truly secure. Otherwise, the entire system can be...
Access Control Course Fall 2019 - Last Chance on Oct 17, 2019
Register Now - Fall 2019 Access Control Course. Thursday, October 17th is the last day to register. IPVM offers the most comprehensive access...

What IPVM Is

The world's leading authority on video surveillance, with 200,000+ visits monthly.

  • Articles on cameras, video analytics, VMS, and trends
  • Tests showing actual performance and problems
  • Courses in surveillance, access control, etc
  • Camera Calculator for designing systems

Dedicated To Independence

We're dedicated to staying independent and objective. We're the only industry source to refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship, and consulting from manufacturers. Why?