Axis 'Best' Q3517-LVE 5MP Camera Tested

By Ethan Ace, Published Feb 05, 2018, 07:54am EST

Axis boasts of its Q3517-LVE:

Simply put, AXIS Q3517-LVE delivers the best video quality possible.

But is it really the 'best'?

We bought and tested the Q3517 to see how well it performed.

The Axis Q3517-LVE, their latest generation 5MP model including Lightfinder super low light, true WDR, and features including image stabilization, leveling assistance, and shock detection (below):

Inside, we cover:

  • Physical features
  • Installation issues
  • IR coverage
  • IR range
  • Low light image quality
  • Full light image quality
  • WDR performance
  • Bandwidth
  • Advanced features

Readers should also see our test of the Dahua 5MP starlight dome. Tests of the Hanwha XNV-8080R and Hikvision DS-2CD4565-IZH are upcoming. 

*******

*** **** ***** ******** excellent *** ***** ****** both ** ***** **** and **** ** **, as **** ** ****** WDR ***********, ********* ** clear ********** **** ******** 1080p ***********/*** ******, ** well ** *** ******** due ** ********* *** high *** ******** **** as ***** *********, *******/******* leveling **********, *** ***** stabilization.

*******, ***** ********** **** at * *********** *****, as *** ***** ***** for ******* ******* ******* more **** *********** ***/*** models, making *** **** ****** fit ****-*** ******* ***** image ******* ** **** ********* than ******.

Higher ****** **** *********** ******

*** **** ***** ***** for ~$*,*** *** ******, significantly ****** **** **** models, ********* *** ****** 5MP (~$***) *** ********* 6MP (~$***) ****** ** this ****.

Integrated *** ********

*** ***** ******** ** integrated *** ******* ***** on *** ****** ** the *******, **** **** patterns *** ****** *** double ****, ** **** as ******* *** *" square *****. **** ********** installation, ** ****/**** *********** options ******* * ******** part *** *** ********, an ********** **** *** easily ********* **** ********.

Cable ******* ******

************, *** ********* ** the ***** ******* ******** two ***** ***** ** retain ***** *******. ***** bring ***** ******* *** conduit ******* ** **** of *** *********, **** it, *** ****** ** with ***** ***** ****** entering *** ******. **** helps ** ****** ***** slack ** *** ******* may ** **** ****** removed **** *** *********, instead ** * **** short ****** ** ***** entering *** ******* ********, or ****** **** **** the ****/******* ***** ** may ******.

Snap-In ****** ******

*******, *** ***** **** a **** ** ****** module, ***** ****** ***** into *** ******* *** two ****** *****. ******* of ****, *** ******* may ** **** ****** mounted *** ***-****** ***** to ********, **** ********** only ******* ** **** in *** ****** *** attach *** **** **********.

Physical ********

** ****** *** ******* *****, as **** ** ***** physical ******** ** **** video:

Size **********

*** ***** ** ******** larger **** ******* ******* domes, **** ** *** Hikvision **** *** ****** XNV-8080R ** **** ****. Compared ** ****** **** as *** ***** ******* shown *****, ** ** significantly ******.

IR **** ********

******* ***** **** *** small ****, *** ***** exceeds *** ********* *** IR *****. *** **** below ***** *** ******* moving **** ~***' ***** to *** ******, **** illumination ******* ******* ** about ***'/~***, ****** *** specified *****. 

Near ***** ************

*******, ** **** **** ranges (in *** **** *****, the ***** *********** *** subject, ******* *** ****** and ******** ********. ***** should ****** ** **** issue ** ******* **** be ******* *****/****** ** subjects.

 

Even ** ************ 

** ******** ** **** range, *** *****'* ** illumination *** **** ****** its ***** ** ****, even ** *** ****** angle (**°), **** **** a ****** **** *** in ******* **** *** subject ** *** **** of *** ***** ** view, ***** ** *** comparison *****.

Excellent ** ***** *******

*** *****'* **** ** and ********* ********** ******* drastically ****** ****** ** the ******* *** **** chart **** *** ***** Lightfinder *****, ***** *****. The ******* ** ************, with *-* **** ******* lines ** *** **** chart.

** ******* ********, ********** are ********, *** *** Q35 ***** ******** ****** detection ** *** *******, who ** **** ********* to ******* ** *** P32.

Solid *** ***** ***** 

****** **** ***** **** in * ******** *****, the *** ***** ******** better ******* ** *** subject *** ********** *** test ***** ***** ******* overexposed ** *** ***. Color *********** ** ********** better ** ****, **** the ***** *** *******'* clothing **** **** ** life.

Full *****

*******, ** * ****-*** scene, ******** ** ** overcast ***, *** ********** details ******** ** *** Q35 *** *****, **** the *******'* **** *** facial ******** **** ****** to ******* **** *** P32.

** *** ** ********** or ******** ** *** edges ** *** ******'* lens ** **** *****, with ******* ******* ** the ****** ** *** lens *******.

Wide ******* *****

** * *** *****, the ***** ******** **** even ****** ** *** subject *** *****, ********** in ****** ***** ** the *****. **** **** cameras ******* **** *****/***** around *** ******* (****** chromatic **********), *** ****** and ******** ******* *** still ****** ************. 

 

Zipstream ********

*** *****'* ******** **** low ** *** ****** with ********* ****** ** (low, *******), **** ******* in ******* ******. ********* ******** with ** ** **** lower **** ***** ****, as ** ***** ******, due ** *** ***'* even ** ********.

Other ******** ********

*** ***** ******** * number ** ***** ******** features *** ** *** on-board **** ******, **** found ** ***** * series ******* (*** *** test ******' ********** ******** ***** ********, as ****), *********:

  • ***** *********
  • ********** ***** *************
  • ******** ******

Shock *********

*** ***** ******** ***** detection ** ******** ** other ****** ********* *********, which ******* ******* ** the ****** **** ********** sensitivity. ** *****, *** ****** *** display * **** *******, send ******, *** ****** strings, ** ***** ********* supported ** ****' ****** settings. **** **** ***** alerts *** *** ********** to **** *****, *** are ********* ** ******* and *********.

Electronic ***** *************

*** *****'* ***** ************* was ********** ** ******* video ******* **** ******* to ********** ** ******** shaking/swaying, ***** *****. 

Leveling *********

** ******* *** ******** button ** *** ****** for ** *******, *** camera ****** * *******/******* indication ** **** *** camera ** *****. **** level, *** **** ***** beeping *** ******* ******, and **** ****** ****** turn *****, ***** ** this ****:

Versions ****

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

  • **** *****-***: *.**.*.*
  • **** *****-*** ** **: 7.40.1

Comments (12)

Avatar

Brandon Knutson

IPVMU Certified | 02/05/18 05:44pm

Nice images. Under what circumstances would the Leveling Assistant be useful? (Wouldn't the tech have a live image from the camera during aiming?) 

vincent hoffmans

02/05/18 06:13pm

interesting test, thank you.

I am curious...how does this camera perform compared to for instance Hanwa XNV-6085R, Axis Q1659, Axis Q1635, Axis Q1765. But maybe i am asking to much.

Geoffrey King

02/05/18 08:14pm

This is great stuff.  Thanks guys.

Whenever we spec the Q35, it often gets VE'ed to the P32, so this comparison is extremely helpful.

Avatar

Brian Selltiz

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Geoffrey King | 03/18/19 10:27pm

Agreed, can we see some comparison shots between this model and the 5MP P3227-LVE?

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Brian Selltiz | 04/02/19 03:04pm

We just released a shootout of the P3227 vs. the Q3517, see results here.

John Richardson

02/06/18 11:03am

Thanks! We are really seeing some fantastic high res cameras at the moment.

Cant wait for the 5MP WDR shootout!

Darrell Green

02/06/18 02:50pm

How is no one discussing the fact that the "IR Spec Exceeded" test completely blurred the face at close range?  The video of the subject walking across the field and onto the lot is rather useless except to say it happened.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Darrell Green | 02/06/18 04:08pm

Good question, thanks. I'm going to add another snapshot to the report calling out the near range overexposure. 

It is an issue, for sure, but keep in mind that at the distance where he is washed out the subject is closer than he would realistically be in many installations. The parking lot lines are only ~10' long and the cameras are only mounted about 8' high for testing, lower than they would normally be in the field.

vincent hoffmans

02/06/18 04:02pm

Hello Darrell

 

I noticed that too. Axis claims it uses smart IR.

It seems to me this cam could or should have been tested against (at least) some other high end Axis cams.

Daniel Kilgore

02/06/18 04:33pm

Aside from the criteria of the test itself. What other manufacturers cameras was this camera compared against. teh shootout appears to be only this unit against the Axis P3225 LVE

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Daniel Kilgore | 02/06/18 04:37pm

There is a shootout against 5/6MP models from Dahua (released), Hanwha, and Hikvision upcoming. We shot out each 5 or 6MP model against the manufacturer's 1080p low light/WDR equivalent for reference.

Daniel Kilgore

02/06/18 04:37pm

Sorry, I jumped the gun. I appears that it may have been compared against the Dahua 5MP Starlight. Still seems a little short on the sample of comparison to justify the title of the piece.

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