Axis Lowest Cost Outdoor IR Camera M2025-LE Tested

Published Apr 24, 2017 11:04 AM

Axis has lagged offering low cost IR cameras while their Asian competitors have made IR standard even in their most entry level cameras.

Recently, Axis has added the M2025-LVE, a 1080p outdoor, integrated IR camera that sells online for $300 or less. We bought and tested this camera.

 

In our tests, we matched up the M2025-LE bullet low cost IR model to the Hikvision DS-2CD2022WD-I and Hanwha Wisenet Q.

Areas we tested / compared:

  • Full light video quality performance
  • WDR video quality performance (outdoor opening / direct sunlight)
  • Low light video quality performance
  • Dark video quality performance
  • IR coverage width quality
  • IR distance delivered (close vs mid vs far image quality)
  • Bandwidth consumed

Summary 

In our tests, the Axis M2025 offered two three advantages over competitive cameras:

  • Superior WDR: The M2025 includes Axis' Forensic Capture, the same WDR technology included in their top end cameras such as the Q1615, providing better details than competitors in our tests, against both strong backlight and darker areas of the scene.
  • Low bitrates: Compared to others, the M2025's bitrates were low, especially in low light scenes where Axis bitrates were 60-70% lower than others. Note that all cameras included smart codecs.
  • Even, adapting IR coverage: While Hanwha and Hikvision models were specified for greater IR range (respectively 20m and 30m vs Axis' 15m), Axis had the evenest IR coverage, the best near field adaption and roughly comparable longer range details given how noisy and low pixel density all cameras were beyond 15m.

However, the Axis M2025 is still more expensive than Hanwha or Hikvision by ~$80-100, a notable difference given the current race to the bottom. Users looking for less expensive but not rock bottom pricing may still find the M2025 preferable given its performance advantages.

Pricing

The M2025 is Axis' lowest price outdoor camera, priced online at ~$280 USD, significantly more expensive than typical compact IR bullet cameras, such as the Hikvision 2022 (~$180) or Hanwha QNO-6010 (~$200). 

Physical Overview

The M2025's form factor is unusual, with a enlarged mount/backbox where most bullet cameras simply screw to the wall/ceiling. Axis claims this feature eases installation, as installers can simply run cable into this backbox and make their connection, instead of finding room for cable whips typical in other bullet cameras.

We review other features of the camera in this video:


IR Illuminator Performance

To check the M2025's IR range performance, we tested outside in an open field/parking lot, ~0.1lx.

In our tests, the camera slightly exceeded its specified 15m IR range, reach 17-18m shown below. However, PPF is low at this distance, with only detection possible, no identifying details. Note that the other cameras tested had longer specified (and actual) ranges, 20m specified/actual in Hanwha and 30m specified/~40m actual in Hikvision, but the M20 was the most even and free of issues, discussed below.

The M2025-LE had the most even coverage pattern of cameras tested, with a moderate center hot spot and slightly dark edges, shown here:

However, as shown in the comparison below, the M2025 had the most even coverage of cameras in this test. The Hanwha 6010 had a much brighter center hotspot, while the Hikvision bullet suffered from reflectance which washed out the image and darker edges.

 

Users wishing to compare these three cameras may download the above scenes from each in this .zip file (~107MB).

Low Light Performance

In this scene, at ~5m/17.5', the M2025 produces the best details of the subject, with some rough facial detail, while he is washed out and/or pixelated in the other cameras.

Testing low light performance at the Axis M2025's maximum IR range (15m/~47'), cameras perform similarly, providing no details of the subject. The M2025 is slightly darker than the other two cameras at this range, but provides similar detection capability.

Both the Hanwha 6010 and Hikvision 2022 are specified for longer IR ranges, 20m and 30m, respectively, compared to 15m in the Axis model. However, testing at ~25m (between these two cameras' max ranges and longer than Axis'), we can see that while the subject and scene are more brightly illuminated in the Hanwha and Hikvision cameras, he is still difficult to detect at this range, due to the very low PPF levels, digital noise, etc. These cameras still provide slight detection advantages, but the subject may be difficult to spot on a monitor, especially when viewing multiple cameras at once.

 

Finally, testing IR indoors, there is some overexposure of the subject and chart, obscuring the lower lines of the test chart, though facial details are still visible.

 

Wide Dynamic Range

We tested WDR against a single exit/entry door, facing south, with strong outdoor sunlight:

The M2025 produced the best details of the subject and background in this test, requiring little adjustment to compensate for the very strong backlight while the subject was partially or totally washed out in other cameras, with fewer background details.


Full Light Performance

We tested full light indoor performance in this scene:


In full light, the M2025-LE produced solid details of the subject and the most even exposure of the test chart, where other cameras washed out lower lines.

Bandwidth

The M2025's bitrates were lower than both Hanwha and Hikvision in low light, and moderately higher than Hanwha/lower than Hikvision in daytime scenes. 

Note that all three cameras in this test include smart codecs (Zipstream, Wisestream, H.264+). The M2025 does not support the increased dynamic compression levels and dynamic FPS found in Zipstream 2, but supports the original version.

Test Parameter

Cameras were tested at default settings unless otherwise specified.

Smart codec settings used:

  • Axis M2025-LE: Zipstream Dynamic Compression High / Dynamic GOP On 1023
  • Hanwha QND-6010R: Wisestream Medium / Dynamic GOP 160
  • Hikvision DS-2CD2022WD-I: H.264+ On

The following firmware versions were used:

  • Axis M2025-LE: 6.15.2.1
  • Hanwha QND-6010R: 1.02_170221
  • Hikvision DS-2CD2022WD-I: 5.4.5 build 170124

ExacqVision 8.4.2.111542 was used for recording.

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