Axis M3106-LVE Mk 4MP Camera Tested

By John Scanlan, Published Nov 06, 2017, 08:59am EST

Axis has released the latest in their low(er) cost M series outdoor cameras, the M3105-LVE Mk II, a 4MP turret model specifying 15m IR, their latest WDR technology, Zipstream 2 and H.265, new to Axis.

We bought and tested this new model against low-cost competitors Dahua and Hikvision to see how it stacks up.

*******

***** ** *** *****, the *****-*** ** ** offered ****** ********** **** competitive ***** *** ********* 4MP ****** ** ******* and *** ******, *** lagged ****** ********* ** low ***** ****** *** to *** **** *** uneven ** ************. ******** **** H.264/Zipstream **** ******* ** smart ***** ******** ** these ***********, ** ****.

********** *** ****** *** form ****** *** ********** back *** ** *** M3106, *********** ******* ******** to **** ******* ***** include **** ***** *****.

*******, *** **** *****-*** has * ***** ***** disadvantage ******** ** *********** 4MP ******, ******* *** more **** ****** ***** and *********

Mk ** **. ** * ***********

**** **** ***** *** *** differences ******* *** *****-*** Mk ** *** *** original *******, **** *** two ****** *** **** imager ****, ****, ******* illumination, *********, **********, ***. *** **** notable *********** *** ******** imager, *** ******** ** H.265 *** * ****** reduction ** ***** ***********. 

*******

*** **** *****-*** ** II***** *** ~$*** *** online, **** ****** **** Dahua *** ********* *** turrets, ***** **** **** for ~$*** ******. **** pricing ** **** ** line **** *********/***** ********* zoom ****** **** ******* low **** ***** **** cameras.

Integrated ***** *******/** ****

****** **** ***** ****** type *******, *** *** includes ** ******** ******* ******* which ***** ** ****** and ********* ******** ** the ******, ****** **** turrets ***** *** ** attached ***** ****. ********** ******** ***** are ********* *** ***** and ********* *******, *** must ** ********* **********.

*** **** ***** ** ******** smaller **** ***** ****** cameras, **** ** *** Hikvision **** ****** ****** here. The ***** **** *** include */*, *****, ** other *********** (*** ** Dahua/Hikvision ***********), **** ******** and ******* *******. ** review ***** ******** ** this *****:

Weak ******* ** ** ***** ****

*** ***** *********** *** subject ******* ** *** 15m/~50' ** ***** ****, with ********* ****. *******, details **** ****, **** no *********** ***********, **** general ********/*****, *** ** its *** *** ** this ***** (~**.*). 

**** **** **** ***** cameras ****** **** ****** IR ***** (***/~***'), *** **** the ********* **** ******* this *****.

** **** **** ** motion, *** ******* ** shown *********** *** *****-*** Mk ** **** ~***' ** this ****:

Close ***** (

** **** *****, *** subject *** ****** ******* overexposed ** *** ******'* IR ***********, ***** *****.

Weak ** ** *****

*** *****'* ** ************ was **** **** ** edges ** *** ***** of ****, **** ******* reduced ******* ** **** (right ****) *** ********* detection ** ***** (****), shown *****:

**** **** **** ** uncharacteristic ** **** **** models ** **** ******, such ** ********,*****, *** ******, ***** generally ***** **** ** across *** ***** ** view.

Low ***** ***** *******

** ****** *** *****-*** against ***** *** ********* in * **** ***** with ** ******** ******** (~0.11lx), ******** ** ~**' from *** *******. **** that *** ** *** wide ***° ***** ** view, ** **** **** relatively ***** ********, *** was **** ~**. 

** **** *****, *** M3106 ******** ****** ****** than ***** *******, **** clearer ******* ** *** subject *** **** ******* lines ** *** **** chart.

******* **** *** *******, around *** *****'* *** IR *****, *** ********* performs ****** **** *** M3106, **** ******** ******, though ** ****** ******** details ** *** ******* or *****.

Daytime ***********

** *** **** ***** on * **** *** day, *** ******* ******* similarly ** ****** *****, with **** ****** **** legibility ********* ** ****.

*** *****, ** ******* range, *** ********* **** provides * ******** *********** in ******* **** **** and *****.

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

** ****** **** ******* range ** * ********* scene **** **** ******** door, **** ***** ****** varying **** ~** *** inside ** **** **,*** lux *******:

** **** *****, *** M3106 ******** ********** ****** WDR *********** **** ***** and ********* (**** **** WDR *******), **** ******* details ******* **** ****** backlight *** ********** ** the ****** **** ** the ***** ****** *** door, ***** *****:

Bitrate **********

******* *.*** ******** ** all ***** ******* **** similar, **** * ****** advantage ** *** **** M3106. *******, *** ***** was ******* ****** **** the **** (~**%), *** significantly ***** **** *** Dahua ***. **** **** measurements **** ***** **** smart ****** ******* (**** *********,***** ***** *.***+, ************ *.***+).

H.265 *******

**** **** *** *****-*** Mk ** ** *** of ****' ***** ******* to******* *.***, *** *** *********** and ***** **** *.*** VMS ******* ***********, ** have ******** **** *.*** above. **** **** *** Dahua *** ********* ****** tested **** *** *** support *.*** (****** *** Dahua/Hikvision *** ****** **).

** *** **** ** testing, ** ***** ***** VMS ********* *** *****'* H.265 ****** *** ****** drivers ** *****, *** Axis says **** ****** ** complete ** ******** ****** **** releases. **** ********* ****** without ****** ** *** tests, *** **** ********** camera **** ***, ****** configuration, *** ***** ********** of ******/***** ***********.

****, ** **** ** include **** ******* ** Axis *.***/********* ******* ** a ******** ******** ******.

Firmware ********

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

  • **** *****-*** ** **: 7.30.1
  • ***** ***-********: *.***.****
  • ********* **-**********-*: *.*.*

Comments (11)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

11/06/17 08:00pm

 How long until the first "why didn't you test against X product" comment?

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 11/06/17 08:15pm

Not counting yours? :)

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 11/07/17 02:02am

How long until the first 'why are you biased against Hikvision' comment?

In all seriousness, the Hikvision loyalists get so angry about Hikvision criticism but are silent when posts like this are published.

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Kyle Folger

IPVMU Certified | 11/07/17 03:41pm

I would just say most of the time I like the look of Axis cameras. In this case, I'm not sure why less expensive needs to equal ugly. It is comparable to the form factor of the Hikvision that it was tested against. If the Axis could look like the Hikvision but still not have the cable whip, I would like it more. It could be worse though. They do seem to offer a lot of accessories for this camera. 

Do you know if AXIS T94B01P takes the place of the included base or it goes on the bottom of the included base. If it's the latter, it seems it would be getting pretty tall.

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Kyle Folger | 11/07/17 03:58pm

Before I actually had hands on this camera, I thought the form factor was ugly, as well. But I don't mind it. It's a cleaner look than some of the other turrets, more "minimalist" maybe? It's grown on me.

The T94B01P definitely mounts on the bottom of the M31 base, so yes, it does add some height.

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Kyle Folger

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ethan Ace | 11/07/17 04:04pm

We have typically used a turret where a bullet isn't desired, mounting height is low, or where a bubble dome with a wall bracket isn't desired. You can get away with wall mounting these when compared to wall mounting a bubble dome. The only time we have really wall mounted a dome is indoors.

I would agree that it's cleaner. A Hikvision turret on a Hikvision CBM is not the cleanest look. Dahua does a much better job with their turret and their newer style of junction boxes. 

 

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Undisclosed Integrator #2

11/08/17 05:56pm

It's definitely not bad as far as aesthetics go, I think I prefer the appearance over Hik's turrets. However the lack of performance is disappointing, especially at the price point.

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Undisclosed Integrator #3

11/09/17 02:31am

Does the turret model M2026-LE MkII use exactly the same internals as this M3106-LVE MkII?  Trying to determine if they would have the same performance. 

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 11/09/17 03:42pm

I can't say with 100% certainty, but most of the imaging specs, IR range, and codec settings are the same between the two models. The M2026 is IK08 vs. IK10 in the M3106, though.

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John Honovich

IPVM | 11/16/17 08:36am

Update: Since our test, Axis says (1) they have improved WDR performance in firmware release 7.30.2 that is available now and (2) they are fixing a bug impacting bitrate in the upcoming 7.40 firmware release scheduled for later this month. We will update the report with a short test of the 7.40 firmware for both when released.

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Undisclosed #4

IPVMU Certified | 11/16/17 10:20am

I’m really hoping that the term “klux” is an IPVM invention, and not a typo.

Because I’ve already said it to two people. They seemed impressed :)

 

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