Bandwidth vs Low Light Shootout - Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Geovision, Hanwha, Hikvision, Uniview, Vivotek

By: IPVM Team, Published on Feb 08, 2019

Nighttime bandwidth spikes are a major concern in video surveillance, but do all manufacturers' cameras perform the same? Are some more consistent from day to night than others? And do manufacturer models all similar?

To find out we shot out and compiled results from over 50 cameras from 9 manufacturers - Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Geovision, Hanwha, Hikvision, Uniview, Vivotek - to see how each did, what was average, and who was worst and best and how much performance has improved in the past several years.

********* ********* ****** *** a ***** ******* ** video ************, *** ** all *************' ******* ******* the ****? *** **** more ********** **** *** to ***** **** ******? And ** ************ ****** all *******?

** **** *** ** shot *** *** ******** results **** **** ** cameras **** * ************* -********, ****, *****, *****, Geovision, ******, *********, *******, Vivotek - ** *** how **** ***, **** was *******, *** *** was ***** *** **** and *** **** *********** has ******** ** ******* ******* *****.

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

Manufacturer ***********

**** ** ************ *********** compared ** *** *****:

  • **** *** ***** ****** spikes/most **********:**** *** ***** ********** IR ****** **** ************ produced *** ******** ******* spikes, **** **** ********* close ** **%, ***** 1/3 ** *** ******* average. **** *** *** true ** ***** ***-** models, ***** ****** *********** like ***** ****** (*** below).
  • ******/***** **********, *** ******:******'* ****** ******** ***** 125% ********, ***** **** average *** ****** **** Axis/Bosch. ****** ****** **** generally *** ***** ** average, **** *** ***-***** an *******, ********** **** ~52%. ***** ****** ******** only **** ******** ***** the ****** ******** (***% vs. ***%), **** **** one ***** ******* **** 200%.
  • ********* **** ***********:***** *********'* ******** ** average **** ***** ***%, their ****** ******** *** two ******* ****** ** IR ******* **** ** our *****, **** ***%. There *** ** ***** trend ** *** ********* models *********, **** **** newer ******* ******* ****** than *****, *** **** versa. ***%
  • ******** ****** **** *******:******** ******* ****** **** over *** ******* *******, ~225%, **** *** ***** increasing ***% ** *****.

General ********

** ******** ** *** manufacturer ******** *********** *****, there *** ******* ******* takeaways:

  • ~***% ******* ******** ** Integrated ** *******:****** **+ ******* ******* from ***** ** **, bit **** ********* ** average ** ~***% **** day ** *****. ********* varied **** * *** of ~**% ** **** 400%.
  • ***-** ******* **** ******:***-** ******* ****** ********* in *** ***** **** day ** *****, **** a *** ** ~***% to * **** ** over *,***% (*** *********). However, ***** ****** *** far **** ****** ** surveillance ** ****, **** the **** ******** ** models ********* ********** **, while **** *** *** in *** ******** **** test.
  • ******* ******* ****** ***** past *****:*** ***% ******* **** in **** **** ** roughly **% ***** **** the ***% ******* ** our **** ***** *** to *** ********** ***** of ********** ** ** 2019.
  • *** (*** **** * cap) ***********:** ****** ********* ******, we ********* ***** ******* bit **** ****, ** this ****** *** ***** to **** ** *** as ******** ****** **** complex *****, *** **** bandwidth ** * ********* limit ** ***** ****** network ******* *** *******, with ******* ****** ** video *******.

**** **** ***** **** no ********** ****** ** how ****** ****** ***** on **********, **** **** models ********* *** ********* and ****** ******* ** each ********** ******.

Results ********: ***% ******** *******

**** *** *** ******* sorted ** ************. ****** 30+ ******* ******, *** average (****) ********* ******** from *** ** ***** was ~***%. *** ****** was ***%, ****** ****** increases ****** ***********, **** outliers ** *** ** 17% *** **** **** 400%.

Most ********** *************: **** *** *****

** *** * ************* tested, **** *** ***** integrated ** ****** **** consistently ******* ******* ******, with **** ********* ***** to **%, ***** */* of *** ******* *******. Note **** ***** ****** fewer ** ****** **** Axis, **** **** ** their **** *** ****** lacking *** ******* (*.*. the********* **** *********), ***** **** ****** integrated ** ** *, P, *** * ****** domes *** *******.

Others **** ******

***** ************* ****** **** more ******. *** *******, some *** ********* ****** increased ** ***** ***** to **** *** *****, below ***%, ***** ****** produced *** ******* ****** of ** ******* ******. Additionally, ******* ******* ******** the **** ****** ********** increase (**%) ** ***** 4MP *****, *** *** of *** ******* ** the ** ******.

Much ******* ****** **** **** *****

** ******** ** *** 145% ******** **** ** current *****, ******* ** our **** **** ******** 498% ****** ********* ** night, **** *** ****** spiking ****** *,***% ******.

Integrated ** ******* ****** / ***-** ******* ***** *********

*** **** ********* ****** in ****** ********* ****** is ******* *** ****** includes ********** ** ** not. *** **** ********* single ****** ** ****** performance ******* *** ******** test ** **** *** models ****** ** **** is *** ********* ** integrated ** ** ****** every ****** ******. ** 2019, **** ************* ******* integrated ** ** **** models, **** **** *** cameras *** * ******** of **** ******* ******* it. *******, ***** *** some, **** ** *****, whose ******* ********** ****** (such ** ************ **** ***** *****) ** *** ******* IR, ****** ***** *** the ********.

***** ***-** ****** ***** much **** ************* **** non-IR ******, **** **, 10x, ***, ** ****** increases ********.

non-ir cameras spike drastically

***** ****** *********** *** improved, **** **** ********* encoders, ****** *** **** sensitive *******, *** ****** processing, *** ******** ** infrared ***** ** ********* surveillance ******* *** *** biggest ******** ****** ** bitrate.

Fisheye *********** ****** ***********

*** ******** ** ***** the ******** ***** ***** down ** ******* *******. In *** *****, ******* models ****** **** *********** than ******, **** **** the ******* ****** ******************** *****. **** ** generally *** ** **** low ***** ***********, **** night **** ****** **** darker, *** **** **** detailed **** *******, *** this ** *** *********** true, ** *** **** M3058-PLVE *** *** ** the **** *** ***** performers ** ************ ******* ****** ********.

Root ***** ** ********* ******: ******** *****

*** ****** ** ***** spikes ** *** ******* moving *****, *** ****, static, *******, ** **** that ** ********* *********** **** *******.

****** *** *** ***** to **** * ***** or ***** **** ***** was *** ****** ****** is ******** **** **** noise, ***** ***** **** this:

** ** *******, **** noise, **** *** **** contrast (***** *** ***** near **** *****) *** rapid ********* (******* ******), make ** ****** ** encode. ******,********* ******* *** ****** / ***** **** *** similar *** **********. ***** undermines **** ** *****.

Recommendation: *** *** **** * ***

*** *** ** ***** massive ********* ****** *** be ******* ** ******* *** **** * cap, **** ***** ** MBR(******* *** ****). **** method ****** ******** ** fluctuate ** ********* ** fit *** *****, *** only ** ** * specified *****, ** ***** point *** ****** ********* compression ** ****** ** drop ****** ** **** within *** *** (********* the ****** ** *********).

** *** *****, **** when **** ******************** ********* **** ** average ** ~** ** 35, ***** ******* *********** were *******, **** ****** bandwidth ***** ** **** 80%

bandwidth cap minimal impact on details

Constant *** **** *** ***********

******** *** **** *** also ** **** ** prevent ******, ***** ** locks *** ***** ** one ********* ***** ********** of ******** ** *** scene. *******, ****** *** day, **** ****** *** less *******, *** *** waste *********/******* ** *** camera ***** **** *********** encode *** ***** **** set ** ***. ******* of ****, *** ** not *********** ****** ** the **** ****** ***** does *** ******* ***.

Digital ***** ********* ******

******* ****** ********* ***** is **** ** ****** spikes *** ** ********* noise ** ******* ***** reduction (***), ***** ******** to ******* ***** ****** by ********* ** ****. There *** *** *** methods, ******* (***** ********** in * ****** *****) and ******** (***** ********* by *********** ******** ******), which *** ********* ******** in ******. ***** ***, spikes *** ** *********** cut, **** **-**% ********** in *** **** ******** *** *****.

*******, *** *** **** introduce ******** *******, ** well, **** **** ****** of ******** ***** ********* causing **** ** ***** (shown *****), ********* ******* to *** ******* ** slow *******. ******* ** this, ***** ****** ** careful ** *** ******** DNR ** ******* ******.

*** **** ******* *** testing, *** ********* *** (******* ***** Reduction) ******** ****.

Test *******

** ****** **** ** cameras **** **** ************* day (~*** ***) *** night (~*.* ***) ******** motion ****** ** ** FPS.

*** ******* *********** ****** were************ ***-** ****** ******* smart ****** **. ***** codecs **** ******* ** their ********* ****** ***** on *** *****. ***** codec ******** ****:

  • ****:****************, ****, ******* *** 300, ******* *** ***
  • *****:***** *.***+ **
  • ******:***************, ******* *** ***, Dynamic *** ***
  • *********:*.***+ **
  • *******:*-**** **, *****
  • *******:*********** **/***, ******* *****-***** period *******

*.*** *** **** *** consistency, ** **** ******* did *** ******* *.*** streaming.

Comments (21)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

02/09/19 04:18pm

* ***** **** ****** ****, *** **** *********** *** *** test **** **, *.*** ** *.***? *'* ** ********** ** know ** *.*** ** *** **** ****** ***** ***** *** percentage ********. *** ******* ******* ***** **** ****** ** *****. What ***** *********** ****** **, *********, **********, *.***+, ***.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 02/11/19 02:26am

*** ****'* **** **, * ****** ** *** ** **! These ************ *** *** *.***, **** ***** ****** **. *'** double ***** **** ****** ** ***** ** *** ****** ** the ****** ** ***** ******** *** **** **** ********.

Avatar

Guilherme Barandas

In reply to Ethan Ace | 02/14/19 06:16am

*****, ** *** *** *** ***** ** ****, ***** *** show **.

Avatar

Ariel Levy

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 02/12/19 02:38pm

*.*** ** ****.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Ariel Levy | 02/12/19 09:25am

**** **** *.***+!

Avatar

Jörg Steuerwald

02/11/19 01:00pm

*** *** ******** **** *** ******** ** *** ******* , like *****-****, *** ***** ******* ********. ** **** ***** *** 4MP ******* **** ********* ** * **** ********** **** *** same ******.

Jason Crist

02/11/19 01:05pm

**** *********** **** **** ****'* ******, *** ***** *** ***** gen *** ***** ******* *** *** ******* ***** ** *** industry.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Jason Crist | 02/11/19 01:13pm

**, **** *** *** *** ******* ***** ** *** ********. Indeed, ***** ************ ****** ** **** **** ************ * *** ** ***+ *********** **** ********* ****'* *** light *********.

**** ****, ** ********** *** ***** ****.

Jason Crist

In reply to John Honovich | 02/11/19 03:09pm

*'* *** **** ** *'* ******** *** *****. *** ******* of *********** ******* *** *** ***** ****** ** *** ** the ********* ****, *** **** *** **** **** *** *** most *** (************ *** **'* * ***** *********). * ******** a ******** ******* ***** *********** ***** ****** ******, ***** ********* many ******** ** **** *** *** *** ******* *** ******* not. *** * ****'* ***** ** **, *** ********** ** in **** *******.

**** ****'* **** * ***** *** ** ******* ***** ******** in ***** ******* ********* ********, **** ****'* ***** ** *** any ********** ********, *** *** ***** *** ******** **** ********* in **'* ***** **** ** *** ******. *** *** ***** has **** *** ****** ** **** **** **** ******* ** in *** **** ****** ** ***** *** **'* ************* *** to *** **** ********. *** **** ***** ****'** **** ***** for * *****, *** *** ******** *********** ** ***** ******** from ***** ******* *** *********** *** ****** **** ********* *********.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Jason Crist | 02/11/19 03:26pm

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

***** ** ** -**** **** ***** *** ***** ****** ********* ** **** ******* ** **** ***** **** ******** (***** ** ***-*****)

*** ******* ********** *** *********** / ********** ***** ** **** what * **** ******* ** *********** *** *****.

****'* *** ***** *********** ** **** **** - *** **'* very *********. **'* **** ** **** **** $*,*** ******* **** pretty **** *** ***** ******* *** ****** ********* ***** $*,***. There *** ************ ***** *** *****'* ***** ******* ** ********* but, ******* ** *** *********** ***** *****, **'* * *****.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Jason Crist | 02/11/19 05:01pm

...*** ***** *** ***** *** *** ***** ******* *** *** hottest ***** ** *** ********.

**** ****'* **** * ***** *** ** ******* ***** ******** in ***** ******* ********* ********, **** ****'* ***** ** *** any ********** ********...

...*** *** ******** *********** ** ***** ******** **** ***** ******* and *********** *** ****** **** ********* *********.

”****’** ********** **** *** *****!”

Jason Crist

02/11/19 05:12pm

*****, ****'* ***** *** *** ******* **** *** ***** *** the ****** ******** ******* **** ******** *** ***** ************ **** the ****** **** *** * ******** ** *** **** ** the *****.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Jason Crist | 02/11/19 05:35pm

...**** *** ****** **** *** * ******** ** *** **** of *** *****.

* ***** **** **’* * **** ***** ********, ***** **’* 1/16th ** ***-***** ********* ** *** *****.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Jason Crist | 02/11/19 06:13pm

** ** *****, *** ****** ** ****** *** * ** integrated ** ******.** ****** **. *** ** **** * **** ******* ****** **** *** VB770 *** *** *********** ** ******* **** **** ******. **** our *****:

****, **** * ******* **** *** * $*,***+ ****** (****** price), ***** ***** ** * ***** ******* **** **** ******* are ***** $*,***, ********* *** ***** $*,***. ** **** ** it's * ******** ** *** **** ** *** *****, ** is ***** ****** **** ***** ******* *** ** ** ****** in ****.

************, ** ** *** * **** ********** ** ******* ****** the ****** ** ***** ** **** ****, ** **** ** not ******* * **** *** ************** (**** ** *** *** compression *** **** ******* ** ** *******). **'** ********* ** in *** ***** ** ***** ******** *******, ** **** ****** ******. ** ******* **** ******* **** *** ******* ***** **** bitrate **** ****** (**** ****** *** *****) ***** ** **********. If ****'** ***** **** ** ********, **'* ** ********** ** take * ****, *** **** ** *******, ** *** ***** true.

Jason Crist

02/11/19 05:54pm

*****'** **** **** ** **** ****** ** ******* *** ****** ;)

Undisclosed #3

02/12/19 04:54am

**** **** ** ***** ***** ** *** ***? *** *** add * ****** ** **** ******* ** **** * ** 2 ********* *** ****** **** ** *** ****** *****? * trust **** *** *** *** ** ***** ** **** ** see *** ******* **** * *** *********** ******* *** * baseline. ****** ** *******.

Avatar

Edouard Sonnenschein

In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 03/13/19 02:14pm

* ***** **** ** ********** ** *** ***** ***** *** are *****.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Edouard Sonnenschein | 03/13/19 03:08pm

** *** ******** *****. **'* *** ** *** *** **'** ***** **** ******** down ** *.** ***. **** ****** *** *** **** *** low ***** ************. **** ****** *** ******** *** ** **** 0.1 ********, *** *** *** ******* ** *** ********* ***** that *****.

Avatar

Edouard Sonnenschein

In reply to Ethan Ace | 03/13/19 07:47pm

* *** *** ****** *****. **** ** *.****/*.****. *** ****** LT300 ***** **** *.****/***. ** * *** *** **** ** it ******** **** **** ** .** ***.

***** *** *** *** ***********.

Alfredo Santiago

ALFREDO'S TELEPHONE SERVICE | 02/19/19 08:46am

**** **** *** ** **** *** ***** ******* ** *** need ** *** *** ** ****. *** **** *****.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Alfredo Santiago | 02/19/19 12:38pm

* ***** ***** **** **** ********* ** *******, **** **** to ******* **** ***** *****'* **** ** **** ******* *****. Most ** *** ******* ** **** **** **** ********** **, so ***** *** ***-******* ***** ** *** *****.

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