Axis New Lowest Cost Dome M3044-V Tested

By: IPVM Team, Published on Jun 10, 2016

It has been 4 long years since Axis launched new low cost domes.

In that time, the industry has changed massively, with massive price drops driven by Chinese manufacturers.

Now, Axis' new dome release claims better low light, true WDR, and Zipstream, addressing key weaknesses of the previous generation.

In this test, we bought the 720p M3044-V comparing to its predecessor, the M3004-V, along with super low light and low cost integrated IR cameras (from Hikvision and Hikvision), to see how much improved this new line really is.

Note: This is the first of our tests of the new M30s. We also plan to release tests of the 1080p M3045 and 4MP M3046 soon.

** *** ***** **** ***** ***** Axis******** *** *** **** domes.

** **** ****, *** industry *** ******* *********, with******* ***** ***** ****** ** ******* *************.

***, ****' *** **** release ****** ****** *** *****, true ***, ************, ********** *** ********** ** the ******** **********.

** **** ****, ** bought *** **** *****-* comparing ** *** ***********, the *****-*, ***** **** super *** ***** *** low **** ********** ** cameras (**** ********* *** Hikvision), ** *** *** much ******** **** *** line ****** **.

****: **** ** *** first ** *** ***** of *** *** ****. We **** **** ** release ***** ** *** 1080p ***** *** *** M3046 ****.

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

*******

*** **** *****-* ******* huge improvements ** *** *****, WDR, *** ********* *********** over *** *****-* ** our *****, ** **** as ************ ************ (**** freely ******* ****** ***** ***** ****), *** ** * lower ***** **** *** previous *****. 

*** ***** *** *** performance **** **** **** of more ********* ***** *** *****/*** models **** ** *** Samsung ***-****. *******, *** cost ********** ** ****** (such ** *********'* **** tested ****) ***** ***** superior *** ***** ****** (at ~* *** *** below).

China **********

** *** **** ****, this ** * **** good ****** ******** ** what ** ********* ** 2016 ** *** ***** $200 ***** *****, **** strong *** ***** *** a ***-** ******, ***** WDR, *** **** *** bandwidth.

** *** ******** ****, Chinese ************* *** *** selling*** *******, **** ********** IR, ** *** **** price ***** ** **** new **** ****.

*** ***** *** **** to ***** **** * premium ******* *****, **** new **** **********'* ************* improved *********** **** ********** be ********** *** ****** further **********. *******, *** relative ***** ******* ** still ***** *****, ** most *** **** ******* switched ** ******* ************* will ****** *** ** motivated ** ****** ****.

*******

*** *****-* ***** *** ~$*** *** ******, ******* ** ** slightly ***** **** *** previous **** *****, ********-*(~$*** ******).

*******, **** ** ************* more ********* **** **** low **** ** *******, such ** ************ **-*******-********* *********(**** ~$*** ******). ************, non-IR ****** *****, **** as *** ********* **-******** ********* ***-********* *** ****, **** ~$100 ******.

Physical ********

***** *** *** *** ******** changes ** *** *****-* compared ** ***** *** models:

** ***** **** 

**** *******, *** ***** whip ***** ** *** M3004/3005 *** **** ******** with ** ******** ****. Our ******* ***** * * ** * ********** for ** *****.

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

**** ***** *** ***** models **** ******* ** 54° ****, ********* **** they ** **** ******* in **** *****, ** the ****** ***** ****** not **** "**" *** enough ** ******* **** hallways ** ***** ***** (******* ** *** ******** M30 ********). *** *** *****/**/** do *** **** **** limitation, **** *** ****** able ** **** ** further, **** **********.

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

** **** ** ***** and ***** ******** ******** of *** *** *** vs. *** ** **** video:

Huge *** ***** *********** ********

*** ***** *********** ** the ***** ** ******* improved **** *** **** generation *****, ***** *****. The ***** ******** ** usable ***** ** *** scene, *********** **** *****. The ***** ******** ******* of *** ******* *** his ************.

******** ** ****** ** this *****, *** *****'* performance *** **** **** of **** ********* ***** low ***** *******, **** as *** ******* ***-****. However, *** *** **** integrated ** ********* **** produces ****** ******* ** the ******* *** *****.

Better *** *********** 

** ****** *** *********** against ** **** ********* door *** *** **** area ****** **, **** here:

 

*** ***** *** *** of *** **** ********** ** this *****, *** **** improved ******** ** *** M3004, **** ******* ******* of *** *******, *****, and **********. **** **** *** Hikvision ****-* (*** * true *** ******) *** better ** *** **** areas ****** *** ****, but ****** *** *** subject *** ****** ****** in *** ****** ***** of *** *****.

Full ***** ***** *******

*******, ** ****** **** light ***** ******* ******* others ** **** ******** test *****:

*** ***** ******** ****** detail **** *** *****-* in **** *****, **** more **** ******** *** less ***** ** *** subject's ****. 

Bandwidth **********

*** *****-*'* ******** **** the ****** ** *** cameras ****** ** *** scenes ****** *** *****, where *** ********** ** Hikvision **** *** ******. Note **** **** ** the ***** ******* ** this **** **** ***** CODECs, **** *** *****-*. The ********* **** **** not ******* ***** *.***+ smart *****, ****** *****, higher ********** ****** **. 

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

*** ****** ************* ** nearly identical ** **** *******. However, ***** ******* ******* true *** (****** ***** "wide ******* *****" ** the *** *********) ** well ** *********, *** found ** **** ******.

*** ******** ******* ** a ****** ******** *** on/off, **** *****. ***** camera ******** ******* **** remained *********** *********.

 

*** **** ******* ** Zipstream *************, *** *** **** ********* ****.

Test **********

*** ******* **** ****** using ******* ******** ****** otherwise *********, **** *** following ******* ** *** cameras:

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

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

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

Comments (8)

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | 06/10/16 02:03pm

While I appreciate coverage of new products, you guys do a pretty great job, I wish you had focused on a more realistic resolution model. I get that you wanted to show the most cost effective Axis camera, but I don't know many people installing 720p these days.

On another note, I sometimes wonder why it seems that you guys don't seem to test current products that are more likely to be used head to head. For instance, the Axis new 1080p M3045 vs the Hik DS-2CD2722FWD-IZS. This would be more of a realistic, apples to apples test.

Better yet, the M3046 vs the DS-2CD2742FWD-IZS, both being 4MP. That is the resolution that we have been installing the most.

I know these aren't always exactly the same price, and as an integrator, that's OK. If the more expensive units had much better performance, I would choose the better camera. The hard part is, IPVM seems to test apples vs oranges from my perspective. You are testing Axis' cheapest model vs Hik's cheapest. It would be much more valuable if you did more apples to apples. The depth of your testing matched with the better opponents would be amazing.

Thanks for all you guys do!

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 06/10/16 02:09pm

Jon, at the beginning of the post above:

Note: This is the first of our tests of the new M30s. We also plan to release tests of the 1080p M3045 and 4MP M3046 soon.

The M3045 post is done and will be released Monday will the M3046 to be released next week as well.

We are breaking reports out model by model because doing 3 models in one post makes it hard to read / follow. The same approach we recently did with the Arecont G5 minis.

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | In reply to John Honovich | 06/10/16 02:15pm

Thanks for the additional detail on the other tests. That makes sense why you wouldn't want to lump them all in.

Is there any chance the M3045/6 is tested against a real competitor from Hik? That DS-2CD2012-I isn't really much competition. It's old/discontinued and no where near the abilities of these Axis cams, even when it was new and current.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 06/10/16 02:16pm

You are testing Axis' cheapest model vs Hik's cheapest.

If a Hik dealer and an Axis dealer are competing for the same low-balling customer, isn't that a likely match-up?

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 06/10/16 02:29pm

If a Hik dealer is leading with the DS-2CD2012-I today, then they aren't real competition today anyways. They are selling discontinued, out of date hardware. The apples to apples there might be some used Axis off eBay vs the 2012.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 06/10/16 03:44pm

The DS-2CD2012-I is listed as active on Hikvision USA's website (and in the 2016 quick guide) and ADI shows it as active with hundreds of them in stock. We're open to testing other Hikvision 720p models here, and we'll reach out to Hikvision for their feedback, as well.

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | In reply to Ethan Ace | 06/10/16 03:53pm

I stand corrected. I must have overlooked it. Was using my phone at that moment.

Avatar

Gert Molkens

IPVMU Certified | 06/12/16 05:36pm

"but I don't know many people installing 720p these days"

Well, now you know at least one :-)

I wouldn't know why not, it all depends on the intended use for the camera. If 720p gives enough detail then why bother to throw more pixels, at it? More pixels mean more bandwith, more storage etc etc.

On top of that, in my experience WDR will be much better with 720p models hen higher resolution ones and it will be better in low light conditions.

I'm not saying 720 is better than others, just that it still has its place. Probably not for all camera's in a project but likely for a couple of them anyway

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