Axis Shipping 4MP Camera That Is Not 4MP

By: John Honovich, Published on Jun 15, 2016

Axis is shipping a new 4MP camera that is not 4MP.

By contrast, Dahua and Hikvision have been shipping 4MP cameras that are 4MP for nearly a year.

In this note, we examine the issue and debate what responsibility manufacturers should have.

**** ** ******** * new *** ****** **** is *** ***.

** ********, ***** *** Hikvision **** **** ******** 4MP ******* **** *** 4MP *** ****** * year.

** **** ****, ** examine *** ***** *** debate **** ************** ************* should ****.

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

4MP *** ***

*** *********-*** ******** ** * 4MP / **** * **** (*.****) but the ******** ****** ******** ~10% **** **** **** at *.**** / **** * ****.

***** *** ********* ****** the **** *** ********** (2668 * ****) *** deliver **.

Fixed **** ****?

**** ********* **** **** models ** *** ******* full ********** ********* *** **** says **** *** ******** should ** "********* ********* ****** * week".

********

******* *** ******, *** web ********* *** *** documentation ********* **** **** is ******* ** ******* its ******** *** **********.

Axis ******* ******

**** ****** ***** ***** quality ***, ** **********, that *** *** **** for **** ******** *** get ****** *******. **** avoid specifically ********** ***** *** Hikvision *** *** *********** is *******.

*** ***** **** **** is *** **** ********* than ***** *********** ******* rivals, **** ***** ** need ** ******* *** higher *******.

*** ******** ******* **** fails ** ******* *** resolution ********* ********** ****.

** ******, ****** ** worse, ******* **** *** being **+ *** ***** of *** ********** ***** or *********, *** ***** does *** ******* ********** IR *** *** *** light *********** ** ************** terrible, ** ***** **** this ******* ** *** upcoming **** ******:

**** ** ******* *********** 'quality' ***** ********** ** Axis ********** ******* ***** the ********** ** ********* of ********* ********** **.

****

Update *** ******** *********

**** **, ****: **** is *** ******** *** firmware (*.**.* ******** **** ****) **** **** *** full *** **********.

Comments (29)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

06/15/16 01:34pm

I selected "ship now, buyer beware" but would have selected "ship now, inform buyer in advance" if available.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

06/15/16 02:28pm

I don't understand why they're so adverse to IR. Is it a bloom issue?

Undisclosed #3

06/15/16 02:31pm

I have seen this type of resolution problem before and normally it can be easily fixed with firmware updates.

I think this is an innocent mistake by one of Axis engineers. he has used standard resolution which is closest to 4MP but Dahua and HIK have used a non standard resolution to achieve the 4MP image.

The low light performance is horrible however I would say by the look of the specs it is targeted at indoor areas which have reasonable lighting levels.

The HDMI output for connection to nearby monitors is awesome and the virtual PTZ would be very handy in certain situations.

I think comparing this camera to the above HIK and Dahua models is doing this great little Axis camera an injustice. There are not any truly comparable Dahua or Hik models that i am aware of.

Undisclosed #4

In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 06/15/16 03:08pm

Maybe this is an innovation:

As the camera gets older it gains resolution...

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 06/16/16 12:18am

I think this is an innocent mistake by one of Axis engineers

Axis is a large organization. It employs managers to ensure such mistakes (if this was a single engineers fault) do not fall through to production.

Dahua and HIK have used a non standard resolution to achieve the 4MP image.

Axis listed the same 'non standard' resolution on the 3046's spec sheet, so obviously that was the intent of the product.

The low light performance is horrible however I would say by the look of the specs it is targeted at indoor areas which have reasonable lighting levels.

So the fact that the Axis model is indoor only but the Dahua and Hikvision models are not only less than half the price but include outdoor IP66 ratings is a negative for Dahua and Hikvison?

I think comparing this camera to the above HIK and Dahua models is doing this great little Axis camera an injustice.

Have you tested the M3046 to know it is 'great'? And in what way outside of the HDMI output is the 3046 'great'?

Undisclosed #4

06/15/16 02:48pm

Axis is shipping a new 4MP camera that is not 4MP.

A lot of manufacturers are shipping 4K cameras that are 3840 pixels wide, not 4096, or even (using disk drive math), 4000.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

In reply to Undisclosed #4 | 06/15/16 03:14pm

You should always trust what a manufacturer puts in the sales literature! That's why LUX and Lumens are so important to document and use. There is an exact science to how these are presented!

Awhile ago....a large manufacturer went from 470TVL to 550TVL without changing the hardware, just firmware. How...re-scanning and some creative math.

Okay, I was kidding about the literature, but not the firmware update.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Undisclosed #4 | 06/15/16 11:02pm

Sounds like you're confusing 4K UHD-1 television resolution vs 4K DCI cinema resolution.

DCI - 4096 x 2160

UHD-1 - 3840 x 2160

Undisclosed #4

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 06/16/16 12:03am

Sounds like you're confusing 4K UHD-1 television resolution vs 4K DCI cinema resolution.

No, I'm not confused. 4 = 4, K = Kilo = 1000, 4 * 1000 = 4000

What's 'K' mean to you, 960?

Note: Purists will insist that K means 1024, and they're right.

Undisclosed Integrator #5

06/15/16 07:20pm

This has been going on for years everyone that sold a 1MP and 2MP was just under the true 1MP 2MP. Sounds like someone just doesn't like Axis.

Undisclosed End User #6

06/16/16 05:50am

Yes, and again Chinese are the best. In the near future IPVM will have china as a second language. Go ahead like this and you'll have readers only from China.

I had one month free from IPVM and now I'm 100% sure that I can't continue anymore. It is obvious for me that here is only Chinese propaganda.

Yhank you very much IPVM.

Undisclosed #4

In reply to Undisclosed End User #6 | 06/16/16 06:02am

I had one month free from IPVM and now I'm 100% sure that I can't continue anymore.

Don't forget to take your complimentary issue of ChiPVM with you...

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed End User #6 | 06/16/16 08:28am

It is obvious for me that here is only Chinese propaganda.

The Chinese don't feel the same way about IPVM articles like this:

Your short exposure to IPVM has led you to confuse our general critical approach to manufacturers with bias against your preferred manufacturer.

Rich Moore

In reply to John Honovich | 06/17/16 06:29pm

I know that Uniview was very hesitant to meet with IPVM as they were under the assumption that IPVM just dislikes Chinese made products. Personally, I think they are honest assessments. Although I would have liked to have seen the Uniview 4MP cameras in that comparison as they are available in the US.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Rich Moore | 06/17/16 06:35pm

Rich, it is interesting the number of manufacturers who assume I simply dislike them or their country, not factoring in our overall coverage of their competitors which is often just as or more critical.

Rich Moore

In reply to John Honovich | 06/17/16 06:38pm

I think it had more to do with Dahua than anything. I think once they sat down and spoke with you, the bias went out the door and they enjoyed the conversation.

Undisclosed #4

In reply to Undisclosed End User #6 | 06/16/16 08:29am

Thank you also, End User 6, for your altruistic approach to the industry. It's not often that an End User, such as yourself, comes to the aid of those who prefer to keep lines intact and margins high.

It's easy to see why such aid is rarely seen: the "race to the bottom" has many losers, but only one clear winner - You, The End User.

Whether a they be a CSO, or facilities manager, or SMB owner, or your neighbor, no one could deny that the End User's buying power has greatly increased over the last several years, mainly due to tremendous growth of Chinese/Asian manufacturers.

Even if not directly purchasing Chinese goods, End User's benefit enormously from the price pressure put upon the Western manufacturers.

But, you are the exception, putting your own End User gain aside, you stand on principle and integrity.

Jason Brown

06/16/16 01:05pm

I think this is a petty article with a petty complaint.

32" TVs are 31.5" diagonal and have been forever. It's called rounding up, and rounding 3.69 to 4 is not egregious.

Cameras over 2MP are almost always listed in whole numbers. Nobody calls a 3MP camera (2048x1536) a 3.14MP camera. And nobody is mentioning that 12MP fisheye cameras have maybe 6-7MP of actual usable image.

4,000 x 3,000 imager = 12MP

Only uses 3,000 x 3,000 square in the middle = 9MP

and the corners are black = 7MP

and the edges of the image are blurry = 6MP

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Jason Brown | 06/16/16 01:23pm

We actually have called out and criticized the fisheye imager versus sensor resolution issue here.

Luis Carmona

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Jason Brown | 06/16/16 01:25pm

I have to disagree, J. There are times to split hairs and times it's not worth it. I like to know nuances like this, but I agree it doesn't need a Change.org petition or boycott or something like that, either, which I don't think was being called for.

Rogier van der Heide

In reply to Jason Brown | 06/17/16 08:46am

Except for the fact, it isn't a rounding thing here. They specificly state in their datasheet 2688x1520. But they aren't delivering that.

John Honovich

IPVM | 06/16/16 01:21pm

The point is that Axis marketed one thing and delivered something inferior unlike their direct competitors that marketed the same thing but actually delivered the full resolution.

David Lieberman

IPVMU Certified | 06/16/16 09:57pm

They released the product before it was ready. Revenue was more important to them than quality. They should be held accountable.

John Honovich

IPVM | 06/17/16 11:02am

With 140 votes submitted, very interesting distinction between manufacturer and integrator perspective.

~80% of integrators say don't ship until full resolution is ready.
~50% of manufacturers say don't ship until full resolution is ready.

Manufacturers, listen to your integrators. Shipping like this imposes costs and headaches on your customers.

John Honovich

IPVM | 06/27/16 04:43pm

Axis is now shipping new firmware (6.15.4 download here 62MB) that adds the full 4MP resolution.

David Lieberman

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 06/27/16 04:45pm

This is when they should have begun shipping the camera. The product wasn't ready when they released it.

David Lieberman

IPVMU Certified | In reply to David Lieberman | 06/27/16 09:27pm

It's interesting that someone disagreed with my comment and they are probably not alone. I certainly respect their opinion, but I'm curious as to their (or anybody's) rationale for it.

My perspective is that when Axis shipped the camera, it wasn't ready. It didn't deliver what was promised. Now there is a firmware upgrade to do so. The issue, though, is that the end user (like me) now has to go back in upgrade the firmware on their camera or pay for a service call to do so. If it is covered by warranty (I would assume it is), it still requires scheduling the service call, "supervising" the technician, etc.

It seems to me that the only reason to release the product when they did was to hit their internal deadlines and financial target at the expense (inconvenience) of their customer.

That's my rationale, but I'm very interested in other perspectives.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to David Lieberman | 06/27/16 10:13pm

The issue, though, is that the end user (like me) now has to go back in upgrade the firmware on their camera or pay for a service call to do so. If it is covered by warranty (I would assume it is), it still requires scheduling the service call, "supervising" the technician, etc.

Yes, and the integrator still has to eat the cost if its under warranty. Not like Axis will pay for that.

And there are likely many more M3046s that shipped already and are in inventory at various distributors. Do the distributors eat the cost of upgrading them or do they ship them as is?

Undisclosed #4

In reply to John Honovich | 06/27/16 04:54pm

"Axis is now shipping new firmware (6.15.4 download here 62MB) that adds unlocks the full 4MP resolution." ;)

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

Cheap Camera Problems at Night on Feb 19, 2020

Cheap cameras generally have problems at night, despite the common perception that integrated IR makes cameras mostly the same, according to new...

2020 Video Surveillance Cameras State Of The Market on Jan 03, 2020

Each year, IPVM explains the main advances and changes for video surveillance cameras, based on our industry-leading testing and reporting. This...

IPVM Opens 12,000 Sqft Testing Facility on Dec 16, 2019

IPVM is proud to announce the opening of the world's first video surveillance testing facility that will allow us to significantly expand our...

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...

How To See If Your Camera Uses Huawei Hisilicon Chips on Aug 30, 2019

Rarely do manufacturers disclose what SoCs (System on a Chip) they use, even though it is the core of IoT devices. Interest in this has increased...

3 Weeks Later, Honeywell Still Cannot Say Whether They Are Vulnerable To Dahua Wiretapping [Now Admits] on Aug 27, 2019

The Dahua wiretapping vulnerability and Dahua's decision to delay disclosing it until IPVM inquired underscored problems with cybersecurity and...

Manufacturer Favorability Guide 2019 on Jun 12, 2019

The 259 page PDF guide may be downloaded inside by all IPVM members. It includes our manufacturer favorability rankings and individual...

The Embarrassing Story of ISC West's Best New IP Camera on Apr 24, 2019

A sad but simple situation: Only 2 companies paid SIA the thousands of dollars required to compete for the best new 'cameras IP' The judges...

Axis ARTPEC-7 Chip Release Examined on Apr 08, 2019

For years, Axis essentially de-promoted their own chips. Now, they are reversing course. Axis has announced ARTPEC-7, their latest chip, which...

Startup Spectral Edge RGB+IR Claims "Unique Low Light Performance Tech" on Apr 03, 2019

This UK startup, born out of university research, is boldly proclaiming that they deliver "Unique low light performance tech for video surveillance...