Beware Imager vs Stream Resolution
Author: Ethan Ace, Published on Sep 10, 2015
Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.
Related Reports on Panoramic
Panoramic Fisheye Camera Shootout - Avigilon, Axis, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Oncam And Vivotek
on Jun 27, 2018
IPVM tested Avigilon, Axis, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Oncam And Vivotek 12MP panoramic fisheye cameras head to head, as shown in the test setup...
Dahua 12MP Fisheye Camera Tested (NK8BR4)
on May 16, 2018
Continuing our coverage of 12MP sensor fisheye cameras, we bought and tested the Dahua NK8BR4, examining:
Default vs. Optimized...
Axis 12MP Stereographic Camera Tested (M3058-LVE)
on May 10, 2018
Axis has released the M3058-PLVE, a 12MP sensor, stereographic panoramic camera and Axis' first with integrated IR claiming images "sharp to the...
Vivotek 12MP Fisheye Camera Tested (FE9391-EV)
on May 08, 2018
Next in our 12MP fisheye camera evaluation, we bought and tested Vivotek's latest generation FE9391-EV, a new model claiming improved smart IR...
Avigilon 12MP Fisheye Camera Tested
on May 03, 2018
12MP fisheye cameras have become mainstream, with nearly every major manufacturer offering their take on this segment. To see how these new higher...
Best and Worst ISC West 2018
on Apr 16, 2018
ISC West 2018 had strong attendance, modest overall new products, and a surge in Artificial Intelligence marketing.
First, here are 20+...
Axis Launches First Stereographic Panoramic Camera
on Apr 05, 2018
Fisheye panoramics have not had much innovation in the past few years, with their multi-imager cousins getting most of the advances, e.g.,...
Camera Form Factor Guide
on Mar 16, 2018
When selecting surveillance cameras, users may choose from a number of different form factors, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses,...
Multi-Imager Camera Guide
on Jan 02, 2018
Multi-imager usage continues to grow, with most manufacturers now offering at least one model, making them an attractive option for covering wide...
Resolution Tutorial
on Dec 28, 2017
Understanding video surveillance resolution can be surprisingly difficult and complex. While the word 'resolution' seems self-explanatory, its use...
Most Recent Industry Reports
Directory of Video Surveillance Startups
on Jul 18, 2018
This directory provides a list of video surveillance startups to help you see and research what companies are new or not yet broadly known entity...
Ladder Lockdown and Ladder Levelizer Tested
on Jul 18, 2018
Ladders are a daily necessity for surveillance and security installers, but working on an unstable surface can be extremely dangerous. In addition...
FST Fails
on Jul 17, 2018
FST was one of the hottest startups of the decade, selected as the best new product at ISC West 2011 and backed with tens of millions in...
Axis ~$100 Camera Tested
on Jul 17, 2018
Axis has released their lowest cost camera ever, the Companion Eye Mini L, setting their sights on a market dominated by Hikvision and Dahua. Can...
Amazon Ring Alarm System Tested
on Jul 16, 2018
Amazon Ring is going to hurt traditional dealers, and especially ADT, new IPVM test results of Ring's Alarm system underscore.
IPVM found that...
Hikvision Wins Chinese Government Forced Facial Recognition Project Across 967 Mosques
on Jul 16, 2018
Hikvision has won a Chinese government tender which requires that facial recognition cameras be set up at the entrance of every single mosque...
Installing Dome Cameras Indoors Guide
on Jul 16, 2018
IPVM is producing the definitive series on installing surveillance cameras. This entry covers one of the most common scenarios - installing dome...
Security Sales Course Summer 2018
on Jul 13, 2018
Based on member's interest, IPVM is offering a security sales course this summer.
Register Now - IPVM Security Sales Course Summer 2018
This...
US Tariffs Hit China Video Surveillance
on Jul 13, 2018
Chinese video surveillance products avoided tariffs for the first two rounds. Now, in the third round, many video surveillance products will be...
Last Chance - July 2018 IP Networking Course
on Jul 12, 2018
Registration ends today, Thursday. Register now.
This is the only networking course designed specifically for video surveillance...
The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.
Comments (10)
Alexander Ryltsov
Thank you Ethan for pointing this topic!
Question: are there panoramic cameras with, for example, 5MP sensor (quite typicall now), but with only 2MP stream (panoramic or de-warped soft PTZ)?
Create New Topic
Mike Weymer
I have a mix of the geovision FE and Vivotek FE cameras, and have verified the above statement. I battled this on install but gave up on it...so I have to wonder if these 5mp FE cams are only putting out 3mp, if you buy the 3mp fe, will the image be scaled again or will it be 3mp.
Heres a snapshot of Geovision software stating the actual size of 1920*1920, the camera is a vivotek being ran on the geovision platform.
Create New Topic
Undisclosed #1
1920x1920 = 3.7MP
And even that number is deceiving, the effective pixels are actually more like 2.9MP.
Create New Topic
Undisclosed #1
Ethan, do any of these new panoramics have lens options that might change the image circle, and therefore the amount of wasted pixels? I think I have a Mobotix that does, but it's old.
Off-topic, but I have to ask, what is all the debris and downed signage in the middle of the street? Was there an accident or a wind storm?
Create New Topic
Ethan Ace
The intersection where we were shooting is pretty infamous here. The road to the right leads to what was supposed to be a shopping center but it was never built. There are parking lots and much of the site is paved, but no buildings. The debris is the road closed sign which was already on the ground when we got there, and broken sandbags which were holding it. Fun fact: this was the only site I was ever asked to leave by the police. The site is private property but we were on the sidewalk which is public. He asked me to go anyway.
Create New Topic
Undisclosed #1
I think this may be one of the worst offenders, the Dahua "12MP" fisheye.
Not only is it marketed as 12MP, the spec sheet lists the resolution as 4000x3000. Effective pixels.
The other ones don't seem to actually state a bogus stream resolution as well.
I don't know how many it does use, but it's not possible to have a fisheye with a resolution as high as the sensor unless the sensor is round, or you are including dark pixels, right?
Create New Topic