Axis 12MP Stereographic Camera Tested (M3058-LVE)

By Ethan Ace, Published May 10, 2018, 11:06am EDT

Axis has released the M3058-PLVE, a 12MP sensor, stereographic panoramic camera and Axis' first with integrated IR claiming images "sharp to the edges", "automatically adaptable" OptimizedIR, and more.

To see how these claims perform in the real world, we bought and tested the M3058-PLVE. Inside, we examine:

  • Edge of FOV details
  • Day, night, and low light performance
  • IR coverage
  • IR overexposure
  • Streaming modes
  • Dewarped streams
  • Client side dewarping
  • VMS integration
  • Smart codec support
  • Bandwidth consumption

Readers should also see our recent tests of the Vivotek FE9391-EV and Avigilon H4 Fisheye and look for our upcoming shootout.

*******

*** **** ***** *** several *** *********:

  • ****** **** ******* **** typical ******* ******:**** *******, ** **** claims, *** *****'* ************* lens ********* ******* ** the **** ** *** field ** **** ******** to ***** **** ****** fisheye ****** ** **** tested, **** **** **********. 
  • ***** ** ***********:********** ** ******** *** even, **** ** *** or **** ***** ** the ***** ** **** and ** ************ ** subjects ** **** ******.
  • ******** ******** *******:*** ***** ******** ** camera **** ******** ******* in ******** ** *** fisheye ********, ****** ** more ******** **** ***** models **** ******-**** ********* is *** ********* ** desired.
  • **** *** ********* ********:*******, ******** ** ***** scenes **** ********* ******* (dynamic ***/*** **) **** as *** ** ~** Kb/s *** *** **** 9 ********* ********, **** lower **** *******.

*******, ***** *** *** drawbacks ** ********:

  • ******* ****** *******:******* ** *** ****** of *** *** *** reduced ******** ** ******* fisheye ****** ** ****** appear ******* *** ******. However, ***** ******* *** offset ** *** ****** PPF ** ***** ****** (generally ~**-**'/~*-** *** ******).
  • ******* ******-**** *********:******-**** ********* *** *** M3058 ** **** ********** supported ** **** ****** Station *** ********* ******** using *** **** ********* plugin, **** ******* **** ImmerVision ** ******* ******* which *** ********* ** many *****.

*******

*** **** *****-**** ***** for~$*** *** ******, ******* ** *********** such ** *** ******** 12MP ** *******, *** moderately ***** **** ****** such ** *** ****** PNF-9010RV ** ***** ******, both ~$***-*,*** ******.

Physical ********

***** *** ***** ******* physical ******** ******** ** the *****:

  • ********** ******:****** **** ******* ******, *** imager ** *** ***** may ** ******* ** change ***** ***********, ** adjust ***** ********* ** "up" ** *** ******** image ** ** ***** the ****** **** **** mounted. **** ****** ***** for ******* ********** *** their ******** ***** ****.
  • ********** *** ********:**** ***** **** *****, the ***** **** * separate ******** ***** ***** may ** ******* ** various ********** ***** (****** and ****** ****, *" square, *******). 
  • **** ******:*** ***** ******** * mini **** ****** ***** may ** **** ** display * ******** **** on * ****** **** monitor ** ***** *******, not ***** ** ***** fisheye ****** ** **** tested.

** ****** ***** ******** and **** ** **** video:

*** ****** ** ******* in **** *** ****** to ***** ********* ****** *** IR ************ ****** * dark *****:

Better ****** ** ***** **** ******** *******

** *** *****, *** M3058 ******** **** ******* at *** ***** ** the ***** ** **** than **** ******* ******* we **** ******, **** better *********** *** **** distortion.

*** *******, ** ~**' distance, ******* *** *** edge ** *** ***** of ****, *** ***** better ********* ****** *********** of *******, ***** **** other ******* ******* ****** distort ******* *** ****** details, ***** ** *** right *****.

*******, ***** ******* ******** at *** ***** ** the ***, ******** **** the ****** ** *** FOV ******** ********** **** in *** *****. *** example, ** ~** *** in *** ***** *****, the *******'* **** ******* slightly ******* *** *** edges ** ******* ****** fuzzy. *******, ******* *** still ************ *** ** the ****** *** ****** at ***** ****** (~**' and ******).

**** **** ** **** provide **** ******* ** these ******* ** **** ranges *** ****** ***** cameras ** *** ******** 12MP ** ******* ********. 

Solid ** ************

** *** *****, *** M3058's ** ************ *** even *** ****** *********** the ****** **** (~**'***') without ******** ** **** spots.

******* ****** ** ~**' range, *** ******* *** background *** ******* ***********. However, ******* ******* *** unavailable *** **** * single **** ** **** is ********* *******, *** to *** *** *** at **** ***** (~**). Note **** **** ******* models ****** *** *** reach **** *****, **** illumination **** ** **-**' distance.

Streaming ***** 

*** ***** *** *** streaming *****, ********* ** how ******* ****** ** camera **** ********* ** needed:

  • ****** **** ******** *****, 12 ******** *******:** **** ****, *** camera ***** *** **** the ****** ******** ******, but ** ********* ******** dewarped *******, **** ** panoramas, **** ****, ******* PTZ *******, ***. ** discuss ***** ***** ** more ****** *****.
  • ****** ******** ****, ** FPS: ** ******** **** ****, the ****** ***** **** a ****** ********* ******, up ** * **** 30 ***. **** **** is  **** **** ***** client **** ********* ****, since ******** ******* *** unavailable.

Camera **** *********

*** ***** ******** ** different ******* ********* ** how *** ****** **** be ****, **** **** than **** ***** ****** on *** ****** (********* about * *******). ***** streams *******:

  • ****** ********:* ********* ******** ******* image **** ** ********* available.
  • **** **** *****:**** ***** *** ** repositioned ***** *** ******** from ***** ***** *****, zoomed ** *** *** and ***** ********** *** full ***.
  • *********:*** ***** ******** ******** panorama *****, ********* ****** and **** *********, "******" views, ******** *****, *** more. 

** ******** ******* ** ***** ***** in **** *****:

Corridor *** ****** *****

*** ***** **** ******** two ******** ****** ****** we **** *** **** on ***** *******.

  • ********: **** ****** ******** ******** ***** of *** ***** ** * hallway **** ** **** when ******* ** *** center, ******* ********** * fixed ****** ***** ** each ***. 

  • ****** ********: **** **** is ******** *** *** on ******** ******* ** L ****** *************, ********* a ***° ***** ** view. *******, ****** *** corridor ****, *** **** beneath *** ****** ** not *******, **** *** subject **** *** * few ******* ** ** moves *******.

**** ***** ***** ******* a **** ******** ** the **** **** *** intended ** *** ******* much ************* ** **** setup. *******, ***** *** be ****** ****** ** using ******** **** ***** to ***** ******** ***** of ******** ***** ***** ***** may ** ****** ******** to *** ******. 

Camera Dewarped ** ***********

****** *** *****, ** were **** ** ****** the ****** ***** *** ImmerVision *** ** *****, Genetec, *** ********* **** no ******. *******, ******* ImmerVision *** **** ***** that *** ****** ** part ** *** *********** Enables *******, ** **** dewarping *** *** ** accurate ** *** ****' geometry.

Milestone ****** 

**** ******** * ********* ******, available ***** [**** ** longer *********] ** ** part ** ******* ********* *** ********* XProtect, ***** ****** ***** to ****** *** ****** cameras ** *** ****** instead ** ***** ****** side ******* (** ***********). Note **** ******* **** Axis *** ********* ***** Canon *********, **** ****** requires ****** ******** *** installation *** ** *** simply ********* ** *******.

*** ****** ****** **** in *** *****, **** very ****** *** ********* dewarping, ** **** ** a ******** **** ******** mode ***** *** **** positioning ****** *** **** users.

** ****** ****** ***** and *** **** *** cons ** **** *****:

Other *** *******

*** ***** **** ** Avigilon ******* ***** ***** the **** ******, **** all **********. *******, ***** are *** *** *********** when **** **** ***:

  • ** ****** **** *********:*** *****'* ****** ******** stream ****** ** ******** in ******** ******* ******, unlike ***** ****** *****, which ***** ********* ***** the *********** ***.
  • ** *** ******* ** camera **** *****:****** **** ******** **** areas ****** ** ************ from *** *** ***** PTZ ********. ***** **** change ******** ** *** web ********* ** **** the ****.

*******, ** ******* *****' NxWitness, **** *** **** warped ******** ** *********, with ****** **** ********* using *********' ********* ********* driver. ** ********** ** camera **** ****** ***** are *********.

Overview **. ********* *********

***** ********* ****** ************* between *** **** ****** and ********** *** ** their ******* *********** *** fields ** ****. ************, Zipstream ******** *** ************ configurable *** **** ******, not ****** ******* *** streams.

** ** **** ***** of****' ********* *, ******** **** ******* GOP *** *** ******* were ********* *** ** still ******, **** ** Kb/s ** ***** ****** in ******* *** ****** scenes. **** **** ***** bitrates *** ********* *** due ** ****' ******* FPS, ***** ********* ********* to * ***** *** second **** *** ***** is *****.

View **** ****** *****: ******** ****** ***

****: **** ***** *** factory ******** (*.**.*), ** **** unable ** "****" **** area ******* ** **** zoomed **, ****** ******* the ***** ** *** FOV **********. 

**** *** **** ***** in *.**.*.*, *** *** camera ****** ** ** factory ********* ***** ********* to ***** **** ***/**** to *** ***** ** the ***.

Versions ****

*** ********* ******** **** used ** *** *****:

  • **** *****-****: *.**.*.*

 

 

Comments (35)

Michael Miller

05/10/18 04:06pm

Are there any plans to document the client CPU/GPU usage between the different fisheye cameras your testing? 

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Michael Miller | 05/10/18 06:33pm

I hadn't planned it but we can add it to the shootout. We'll need to figure out how to best measure that, what VMSes to use, warped vs. dewarped, etc.

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Paresh Desai

05/10/18 04:39pm

This model only supports H.264.  Do you know if Axis plans to support H.265 on this model?

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Paresh Desai | 05/10/18 06:32pm

I do not think they plan H.265 support on this model or other existing models, but I'll check. They do have several models coming with H.265 supported in various form factors.

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Undisclosed #3

In reply to Paresh Desai | 05/12/18 11:35am

Would H.265 be a significant improvement in bandwidth/latency/etc over Zipstream?

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 05/12/18 07:46am

Given how low bandwidth already is, I don't think H.265 will be all that meaningful. However, from a marketing perspective, it is increasingly important as H.265 is perceived as better while understanding of smart codecs is quite limited.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

In reply to John Honovich | 05/15/18 04:08pm

John, Have you all tested the video clarity between H.265 and H.264 at the same bitrate? H.265 marketing often misses the point that H.265 offers superior clarity than H.264, all else equal. I've done my own tests and notice quite a difference in reduction of smearing and pixelation especially when digitally zooming in with 4K resolution. Like you said, when you can add intelligent codecs and change i-frame and FPS settings dynamically, H.265 may not be needed to lower bandwidth but may be important in offering better evidence.  

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #4 | 05/15/18 12:17pm

Have you all tested the video clarity between H.265 and H.264 at the same bitrate? H.265 marketing often misses the point that H.265 offers superior clarity than H.264, all else equal. I've done my own tests and notice quite a difference in reduction of smearing and pixelation especially when digitally zooming in with 4K resolution.

Can you share your tests (images, settings, etc.)?

At the same bitrate and same resolution/fps/etc., H.265 is typically using lower compression levels than H.265. To that end, there might be some visual benefits but it would depend on what quantization levels were being used, at what bit rates, etc. One of the things we have found over the years of testing is that there is a diminishing marginal benefit with lower compression levels in terms of improved image quality but this depends if you are starting with a quantization level of 10 or 30 or 40, etc. If you can share your test details, we can review what you have done and provide feedback.

 

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Jean Van Puyvelde

In reply to Paresh Desai | 01/09/19 07:42pm

Hi Paresh

I have question about Axis

Can you contact me, here or by a big VMS manufacturer forum in Canada?

Thanks

/j

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Guilherme Barandas

05/10/18 06:26pm

Make a comparison between the 3 tested models of 12 mp.

Axis, Vivotek and Avigilon.

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Guilherme Barandas | 05/10/18 06:31pm

That's coming in a couple of weeks. We have some models still on order, but this series will end with an 8+ camera shootout, with more image quality testing in more varied scenes.

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Guilherme Barandas

In reply to Ethan Ace | 05/10/18 06:59pm

Excellent Ethan, and I was pleased to see that you guys are testing Vivotek again.
I think it's fundamental to give more importance to Vivotek, Avigilon, Hanwka than to focus on Hikvison and Dahua.

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Undisclosed #1

05/10/18 10:39pm

Do you think this is OEMed from Brickstream (Flir)? http://www.brickstream.com/ 

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 05/10/18 06:44pm

#1, does it even look like anything from Brickstream?

Outside of Brickstream offering stereo vision cameras, what connection do you see between the two?

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Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Honovich | 05/10/18 10:46pm

Owned by FLIR - which Axis probably OEMed for their thermal cameras.

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Alberto Alonso

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 05/15/18 05:08pm

What makes you think that Axis OEM cameras from Flir?

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Kestutis Nagys

05/11/18 06:54am

Hi,

What Milestone VMS and Smart Client versions was used in this test with Axis dewarping plugin?

 

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Kestutis Nagys | 05/11/18 06:50pm

We used the latest version of Milestone, 2018 R1 (12.1a). 

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Undisclosed Integrator #2

05/11/18 06:45pm

Is the chart supposed to be in Mb/s or Kb/s?  3,200 Mbs?  Just to nitpick....

As to the ImmerVision Dewarping.  ExacQ supports a lot of fisheyes with this plug in, but it never works as well as the native.  We had a lot of problems with the dewarping of the Axis M3047 with ExacQ and the ImmerVision codec.  Once they updated the software version to support it, it worked leaps and bounds better.

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 05/11/18 06:49pm

Thanks for pointing that out! Not a nitpick, good eye. I had copied the chart from another template that used Mb/s. 

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Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
05/15/18 12:58pm

Ethan, did you by chance open a ticket with Nx about the lack of a sub stream? Is it not possible to setup a sub stream of the warped view, say around VGA resolution, in the camera web interface?

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 05/15/18 03:07pm

We didn't open a ticket, but I'll ask them about it now. It's a limitation of the camera, I believe: the substreams are all used for dewarped views and can't be reconfigured to other types. I'll confirm that it can't be done in the 30 FPS mode, as well, which would be more applicable to Nx, since they do their own client side dewarping. 

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Your Installer

05/15/18 03:04pm

Would like to see vs Panasonic WV-X4171, please compare.

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Your Installer | 05/15/18 03:05pm

We actually have the X4171 on order. It should be here soon, and we'll first do an individual test, then a shootout against others.

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Roger Yarrow

05/18/18 01:13pm

How high is this camera (and all comparable fisheyes) mounted for testing?

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Roger Yarrow | 05/18/18 01:14pm

~9-10' inside. We will have outside shots in the upcoming shootout mounted higher.

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Roger Yarrow

05/18/18 01:28pm

Thanks... I'm think of these cams being used in an environment where they are ceiling hung at about 20'.  The Axis camera calculator doesn't even have this camera yet.  How do I determine the viewable square footage it would cover?

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Alberto Alonso

In reply to Roger Yarrow | 05/18/18 01:35pm

To calculate camera coverage you simply draw a circle around the camera. It will cover from wall to wall since it's 181ºx181º  viewing angle. Once you have the actual coverage, measure the square footage and divide pixel by that, you'll get your pixel density (more or less, since it has more pixels on the edges than in the center due to the panomorph lens)

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Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
In reply to Roger Yarrow | 05/18/18 10:17am

It will see everything below the cameras mounting height, out to infinity. Now, as you get further from the camera, the lower the pixel density will be. Most fisheye type cameras will cover about a 20’ diameter with reasonable quality. Once you get beyond 10’ away, quality drops very fast. So, mounting it 20’ above your subjects would be a bad idea. You will need to use a pole drop about 10’, if that is possible. 

If you aren’t able to drop it 10’ and mounting at 20’ is your only option, I would recommend a non-fisheye camera instead. 

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Michael Glasser

01/17/19 03:59pm

Hi all,

As noted above, the sensor is a 12MP sensor but the maximum resolution is 8.9MP.  This is based on a rectangular chip but essential a square (circle inside) image.  Are all 12MP sensors rectangular and therefore all 360 cameras marketed as 12MP about 8.9MP usable resolution?  Are any 12MP sensors a square chip, allowing use of all the pixels?  

 

 Thanks,

  Mike 

 

 

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Roger Yarrow

In reply to Michael Glasser | 01/17/19 04:19pm

The Bosch DINION IP ultra 8000 MP is 12MP and lets you get every pixel in a full 4000x3000 image.  (Note, this is a box camera, not panoramic)

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Undisclosed #5

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Michael Glasser | 01/17/19 04:41pm

Are any 12MP sensors a square chip, allowing use of all the pixels?

In a 180/360 degeee camera? No.

Even if the sensor was perfectly square, the best a single round lens could cover while maintaining 180 degree coverage would be 78.5% of the square area.

The Axis utilizes 74%, which is not bad considering.

The Bosch that Roger references above does utilize 100%, however it a box camera with a rectangular FOV.

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Glasser | 01/17/19 08:57pm

Michael, I'll let Ethan comment on details here but see Beware Imager vs Stream Resolution where we talk about the common issue with fisheye panoramic cameras that the imager resolution is marketed but the actual stream resolution is significantly less.

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Michael Glasser

In reply to John Honovich | 01/18/19 02:03am

That's the article I needed! Perfect. Thanks John! 

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Michael Glasser

01/17/19 11:26am

Hi Roger,

I'm sorry that I wasn't more clear.  I'm specifically speaking about 360 degree cameras which use a round fisheye lens.  For a traditional lens, I don't see an issue.  This question is meant specifically for 360 cameras.  If I recall correctly a small group of 360 cameras use an oblong lens (I think Sony) but most use a round lens. 

Thanks for the response! 

square circle

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