Axis Chinese Competitor Companion Dome V Tested

Author: Ethan Ace, Published on Jun 29, 2016

A $169 1080p dome from Axis?

The Companion Dome V is, by far, Axis' lowest cost 1080p dome, a full $100 less than even their new M3045-V.

Every manufacturer has been hit by rapid Chinese expansion over the last few years. Axis is clearly trying to do something about it. 

We bought and tested the Companion Dome V against Axis' revamped M30 cameras as well as Hikvision's low cost IR dome to see how it stacks up in image quality, VMS integration, bandwidth, and more. 

* $*** ***** **** **** ****?

************ **** ***, ** ***, ****' ****** **** ***** ****, * **** $100 **** **** **** ******** *****-*.

***** ************ *** **** *** ** ***** ******* ********* **** the **** *** *****. **** ** ******* ****** ** ** something ***** **. 

** ****** *** ****** *** ********* **** * ******* ****'******** *** ********* **** ** *********'* *** **** ** **** ** *** how ** ****** ** ** ***** *******, *** ***********, *********, and ****. 

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

*******

*** **** ********* **** * ********* ********* ** *** $*** MSRP **** ********* *****-* ** *** *****, ** *** ***** and *** ******, **** ******* ******** (********* *********) *** ******** ************. However, ** *** *** *** *********** ******** ** ***** **** *******:

  • *** ********* **** ***** ***** *****:*** ********* **** ** ********** ********** **** **** **** ********* software. ***** ***** ***** *** ******* ** ** *** **** drivers ** *****.
  • ** **** ************:*** ********* **** **** *** ******* **** ************ ******** **** typical **** *******. **** ***** **** *** ** *********, ***, people ********, ***., *** *** ** ****.

** ***** * ******* **** ******, *** ** ** ******* documented *** *********, **** ****, ** **********, ******** ** ****** **** configuration *** ****** **** ***.

Third ***** ******** *******

*** ********* **** * *** ********** ** ******** ***** ** tested (********, *****, *******, *********), *** **** ***** ******* *** ****** directly.

RTSP *********

*******, ** ********** ** **** ****** *** ***** ********** ******** **** third ***** *****:

****://*******/****-*****/*****.***?****-****-**=****

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

*******, **** **** **** ****** ******* *** ******* ** ********* CODEC ******** (***, **********, ***.) **** *** ***, *** **** not ******* *** ******'* ***. 

************, **** **** **** ****** ** *********** *** *** ** removed ** *** ****.

Outward ************ *** **** ** *** *****-*

*** ************ ** *** ********* **** *** *** *** ******* is ****** *********, **** *** **** *****, ** ****, ** port *********. *** **** ************** ******** *** ***** ** *** back ** *** ****, ***** *** **** ****** *** ************* marks *** *******.

****: ***** ********* ***** ** ******** ******* (*.*., ********* ****** or ******* / ***), ****** *** *** *********** ****** *** not ******** ***** ********* ** ******** ******** ********** **** ****.

What *** **** ****?

**** *******, ** ***** **** **** **** *** *****-*, ******** some ********, ********* ** *** *** *** **** ** $***. We ***** ** ********* *** ***** **** ***** **** ** well, ********** ***** **** **** ** *** **** ********** **** well ***** **** ** **** ***** ** ******* * '*****' / ******** ******* *****-*.

Potential vs. *********/*****

*** **** ********* **** ** ****** ** **** ******* ****** on **** *********** ****** *** **** ******* ********* *** *****. While **** ** * *** *** ***** *** **** (*** a ********** **** ********** ******), **** ***** *** ********* ***** similarly ********* ******* ** ***** ******, **** ** ***** ******* ********** IR, *** *********** *** ** ***** ******* ***** *******. 

** *** ******** ****, ***** ******* **** **** *** *** image *******, ********* ******* *** ******** ************ ** * ****** that ********* ***** $*** **** **** ** **** ***** ** buy **** *******.

Impact ** *** ****

*** ********* ****'* *********** ******** ** *** ******* **** ****' low *** ** ** *** ********.

  • ***** *** **** ************ **** *** *** ****** *** ** frustrated that * $*** ***** **** ****** ****** **** ******* *********** (true ***, *********, ***.), ****** *** *****-* * ******* ****.
  • ***** ******* *** *** **** ****** **** ****** *** **** the ********* **** *********, *** *********** ** ***** ***** *** and ****** ************ (**** ** ********* ********** *** *.*) *** **** *** **** ********.

*** $***/******, **** ***** *** ******* ** *** *** ********* line **** ***** ***** ********* ***** ****, ******** ***** ****** somewhat, *** **** ********* ***** ****** **** ***.

*******

*** ********* **** * *** ** **** ** $*** ***, $100 **** **** *** ***** *****-*. **** ******* ** ******** ****** than low **** **** ****** **** ** *** ********* **-******** (~$***), ****** ******* ****** ** ***** ****** **** ******** **** models.

****** ******* *** *** ********* **** * ****** ******, **** ~$160-$190, **** *** ****. **** *** ** ********, ** **** cameras ********* **** *** **** **** ***** **** ******. ** do *** **** *** ***** *** **** *** ******* * separate ****** ******* *** ********* **** **** ******** **** ******* need ** ***** *** **********.

New **** *** *********

*** ********* **** ******** ****' ***** ********** *** *********, **** three ******* ************:

  • ** ****** *.***: *** *** *** ********* **** **** * to ******* *.*** *****, ********* ** ******* ** ***** ******* plugins ****** ** *** **** **** *** ********* ** **** as ******. **** ****** ***** ** ** ******** ***** ** Chrome, *******, ******, *** ***** ******** ***** ** *** ******* ActiveX.
  • ********** ******: *** ****** ** *** *** ********* ** **********, allowing ** ** ****** ** *** ******* ***********, ********* ******* and ***** ******. **** **** *.*** ***** **** *** **** in *** *** ** ** ***********, *** ***** ***** ********* normally.
  • **** ***** ****** *************: ***** *** **** **** ********* (*** many ******) *** *** ******* **** ***** ***** ************* ******* were ****, ** ** ****** *********** ********* ** *** *** interface. **** ***** ** ******/******* ** *** ******* ** ******, image *******, ********, ***., ** **** *** ****, ******* ***** a ****** ******.

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


Image *******

*** ********* **** * ******** ***** ******* ******* ** *** M3045-V ** *** ****** ****** **** *****. *** *********** ***** show *********** ******** ** ****' *** *** ****** (*****-* *** M3044-V), ***** ******** ****** **** *******, ** **** ** * low **** ***** ******* ** **** (** *** **** ***** range). 

*****, ~*****

** **** *****, *** ********* **** * ******** ********** **** detail ** *** ******* **** *** *****-*, **** **** ************ of *** **** *****. 

*** *****, ~***

** *** *****, *********** ******* *** ********* **** *** *****-* is **** *******, **** ****** *********** ** ******* ***** ******, but ******* *******. *** ********** ** **** ******** *** **** details ** *** ******* ** **** *****.

**** ******* *****

***** ** ** ***** ** *** ***** ** **** **** in *** *** ****.

** ***, *** ********* **** ***** ******** ********* ** *** M3045-V, ** *** ******** ******, **** **** **** ******** ** bright *** **** *****.

**** **** *** ********* **** ** ******** ** "***", *** *** web ********* ** *** ****** ***** ******** **** *** "******* Capture",* **** **** *** ************ **** *** ******* ***.

Bandwidth **********

*** ********* **** * ******** *********, **** ******* *********** (*** surprisingly) **** ******* ** *** *****-*:

 

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

**** *** *** **** ***** ******* ** ***** **** ****** Companion *** **** *** ******* ** ***** *** *******, **** notably ********** *** **** ****** ** "*********" *** ****** ******* for **** *** ****** ****. 

*** ***** ***** ***** * ***** ******** ** *** **** interface ** *********, **** *** **** **********:

**** ***** ****** ** ***** ******** ** ****, **** *** Companion ******* ** **** ** **** ******, *** ** *** key ******** ** ***** *.* *******:

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

Test **********

*** ******* **** ****** ***** ******* ******** ****** ********* *********, with *** ********* ******* ** *** *******:

  • *.***, ** ***, ~** ************ *** ****
  • */*** ******* ******* *****

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

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

Comments (20)

Thumbnail usa shield

Luis Carmona

IPVMU Certified | 06/29/16 12:53pm

"*** *** *** ********* **** **** * ** ******* *.*** video, ********* ** ******* ** ***** ******* ******* ****** ** the **** **** *** ********* ** **** ** ******. "

**** ** ****** ****** ** ****. **'* *** **** *** to *** *** ** ****** * ********.

Thumbnail untitled

Tony Darland

IPVMU Certified | 06/29/16 01:00pm

**** *** *** ********* ** ********* **** **** *** ******* off *** ****? ** **** ** ** ********* *** * firmware *******?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Tony Darland | 06/29/16 01:03pm

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

Thumbnail fullsizerender

Ari Erenthal

Chesapeake & Midlantic | 06/29/16 01:03pm

* ******* *** ****'* ******* ************ ***. **'* * ******* * ******* *** **** * ***** in *** ****** *** **** *******, *** ***** ** *** and ***, *** ** ***** ** ******* ********* ****** *****. It ***** ****** ** ** **** **** ** *** ******* attempt ** **** ** ****** ** *** ***-***-***-**** ******.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Ari Erenthal | 06/29/16 01:15pm

***, ***, ** ******* ** *** ****** ***** ****** *********** was *** **** *******. *** ********* *** ** *** **** recording ******, ****** ***** *** ********* ******** **** ** *** Axis ****** *** ** ****, **** ** **** ** * NAS **** *** ******. ** $***-$***, ** ** ******** **** though ***** * ******* ** ******* *** ************.

Undisclosed #1

06/29/16 03:25pm

*** ** ** * ****** *******, *** *** ** ***% sure **** **** ** * **** **** * ********* **** no ****-***, ** **** *****-** *****?

*** ******* **** ********* ***** ****** ** ****,*** ****** ** *****-** ***** *******.

** ** ****** ** ** **** * ****, **** ******** massive *****, ** ** ** ******** *** *****.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 06/29/16 06:35pm

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

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

** *****'* ********* **** * ****** ******* ****** **** *'* missing, *'* **** ** ****** **** *****.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Ethan Ace | 06/29/16 07:38pm

**** ** ****** ***** ****, ***** ****** * ******, *** html5 **** ***'* ** ******, *** ** ** *******'* **** long *** ******** **** ** ****** ** ***!!!

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 06/29/16 07:47pm

*** ***** **** ***'* ** ******, *** ** ** *******'* take **** *** ******** **** ** ****** ** ***!!!

**** **** ** ******* *** * **** ** *** ****** Swedish *********...

Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Honovich | 06/29/16 08:25pm

***, *** **** * ******** ******.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Ethan Ace | 06/30/16 07:10am

** *****'* ********* **** * ****** ******* ****** **** *'* missing, *'* **** ** ****** **** *****.

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

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 06/30/16 01:07pm

* ***'* **** ** **** **** ****** ** ******. ** that * ******* *****? **'* ******** **** ********* *** ****** be ***** **** ****** ***** ***'* ******* ** *** ****.

*'** *** ******* **** * *** ** ** ***** ********.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Ethan Ace | 06/30/16 03:13pm

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

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Ethan Ace | 06/30/16 03:17pm

****. ** *** *** *** ***** ****** ******** *****?

Thumbnail image

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | 06/30/16 02:46am

* ***** ** ** ******** *** **** **** ***** ** this *****. ******* *** ******** ******* **** ** *** *** compete ** *****. ********, **** ****** ** ***** ***** ***** of ********* *****. * ***** ****** *** **** *********** ** what **** ***** **. ****** ** **** *** *******. ****** that, ** **** **** * *** *** ****** ******* ********* it.

Boris Dyatlov

06/30/16 06:45am

*****, **** **********, ******. **** ****** ********* ****** ** *** use ** **** ****? **-********-** ** **-**********-** (*** ******** **** true *** *****)

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Boris Dyatlov | 06/30/16 01:01pm

*** ******, **-**********-**. *'** *** **** ** *** ******.

Jiang Chengyuan

07/22/16 06:54am

**** ***** *** ********** **** ********* **** *** ****** *** rate ** *** **** *** ***** ** *** ***** ? Did *** **** ** *** ***** *.***+ **?

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Jiang Chengyuan | 07/22/16 12:47pm

*.***+ ** ** ** **** ******. ********* **** **** ** this ***** ******* ******* *** ******* *** *** ***** ***** relatively ****** *** ** ********** **.

*** ******* *** ***'* *** *** **** ******** ******* ** the ****** ** *****, ** ***** ******** **** **** ***** increase *** ******* ****** *** ***. **** ** ****** ****** in ********** ** ******* ** *** *****.

John Honovich

IPVM | 01/02/17 01:36pm

******: ****** ******* ******* ** ** ***** *** **** ** $169, ***** ** ******** *** **** ********.

*******, *** ** ******* ** **% ******** *** '********* ***********' which ** * ******** **** ****** ********, ********* ** *** below:

**** ** *** ******* ****** ***** ** $*** ** $*** for *** ** ********, ** ** ***** * *********** ******* over *** ********** **** ** ******* ************, ********** *********** *** Companion **** ** ********** ****** ** *** ***** *** *******.

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