$100 True WDR Camera Tested (FLIR CVI)

By: Derek Ward, Published on Jul 31, 2015

True WDR has traditionally been quite expensive.

And HD analog has so far been mostly low-end models.

Now, FLIR has released a ~$100 1080p CVI camera with true WDR and integrated smart IR.

We bought the FLIR C233BD to see how it performs against other CVI models and the Axis Q1615, a leading WDR IP model.

**** *** *** ************* been ***** *********.

*** ** ****** *** so *** **** ****** low-end ******.

***, **** *** ******** a ~$*** ***** *** camera **** **** *** and ********** ***** **.

** ****** ******* ****** ** *** *** ** performs ******* ***** *** models *** *** **** Q1615, * ******* *** IP *****.

**** ********* *** ****** of ** ****** *****, including ********* ***** ** ***** HDCVI, ***** ***** *.* ******, ******* ***, ********* *** **-*** ******, ***** ***** ******* **** VMSes ******, *** ********* ***** ******* ******.

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

Key ********

*** ******** **** *** test *******:

***** *** ***********

** *** ******, *** 1080p **** ******'* *********** is **** **** ** the **** ***** *** better **** *****'* ***** 2.0 ******, *** **** of *** ** ****** camera ** **** ******. 

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

**** ******* *** ***** settings ******** (**** ** Off *** *** *** to ***), ***** ******* was ******** ** ***** cameras ******, **** *** chart *** **** ******* well ***********. ****, ***** IR ****** ******* ** avoid **** *** *************.

*** ******* *** ***** Settings

*******, *** ****** ******** to * ** **** Up (**** *******), ** well ** *** *** low (* *** ** 20). When **** ** ********, the ***** ******* **** with * ****** ****** IR *******.

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

** **** *** ******, ***** quality *** ******* ** other HDCVI *** ** ******* tested, **** ** ******* issues.

************ ***** & ******/**** Streaming

*** ****** ******* **** 1080p ***** (***) *** 960H ** ****** **************. This ** ****** *** aiming/focusing **** ******** ******** displays ** ****** ** public **** ********.

*******

******* *** *********** ***~$** *** ******, ****** ** *** of *** ****** **** true *** ***** ****** available.

** ** ********** **** expensive **** **** ***-*** 1080p ** ****** ******, such ** *** ***** HAC-HFW2220SN ($** ******) ** ***-**********-** (~$** ******).

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

*** **** ****** ** one ** *** ***** true *** ***** ****** readily ********* ** ***** America, ****** ** ****** in ************ ***** ***** have **** *** *******. 

Physical ********

** **** *****, ** review *** ******** ************ of *** **** *** C233BD. ***** ****** **** the ****** ***** ** the **** ** *** camera, ***** ******** *** OSD **** *** ****** settings.

*** **** ****** ** moderately ****** **** ***** ******* bullet *******, **** ** the ***** ***** **** here **** *** *****:

*** **** *** ****:

Image Quality ***********

** ****** *** **** C233BD ** *** ********** room ** **** ***** and ********. ***** ** the *** **** *** testing.

** **** ***** (~*** lux), *** **** ****** performs ********* ** **** the ***** ********* ***** and ***-******* ** *******, with ****** ********* ****** *** subject's ****, *** **** to **** **** ** line ~*-* ** *** test ***** ******* *** cameras.

**** *** ****** ****** off, *** ***** ** ~0.01. *** **** ****** defaults ** **** ** 2x *** *** **** (4 *** ** **). Below ** * ********** with *** ******* ******** vs **** ** ****** off *** *** *** to ***. **** **** up *** *** **** max, *** ***** ******* more **** ***, **** more ** *** *** visible ******* ******* *** our *******.

** *** *****, *** cameras **** **** ******* in *** *******'* **** and **** *****. **** each ****** ***** **** one ** * ****, the ******* ***** ******* washed *** *** ***** camera. *******, *** **** in *** **** ****** is ***** *** ******* down ** **** ~*-*.

*******, ** **** *** HDCVI *** ** ******* in *** ********* ***** at ** **** ****** door. ***** ** *** FOV **** *** *******.

*** **** *****, ** added *** **** ***** as * ******** **** WDR ******. **** *** on *** *** ** max *** **** ** these *******, *** **** and **** ******* *** see *** ******* *** test ***** ** **** the ***** *** **** areas ** *** *****. However, **** ** *** Dahua's **** *** *** chart *** ***** ** the ***** *******.

***********

*** ******* **** ****** using ******* ******** **** the ********* ********** (****** otherwise *****):

  • ******* ***** *** ************ to */*** *******.
  • *** *** ****** ** at ******* ******.

*** ***** **-*********-* ***** encoder *** **** **** firmware ******* *.***, ***** ****-**-** (**.*.*).

*** *** ** ******* used, ******** ******** *** as *******:

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

Comments (8)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

07/31/15 12:18pm

Is True WDR the same as "WDR Pro" ?? (which I assume is hardware/sensor based, unlike "normal/digital" WDR which is software-based; and the reason why it is more expensive)...

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 07/31/15 12:39pm

'Pro' is a marketing term.

When we say 'true' WDR, we mean mutli-exposure rather than digital nor electronic. See: WDR Tutorial

DC Long

07/31/15 09:05pm

IP version on the Horizon? Or is there a little black box that would encode 2-4 of these Heads? Good to see FLIR in the Market. Where's it made? Some nervious about China - US Relations.

Chris Dearing

IPVMU Certified | In reply to DC Long | 07/31/15 09:17pm

Or is there a little black box that would encode 2-4 of these Heads?

1-4 head encoders available, same big black box regardless (in green)

Undisclosed #2

In reply to DC Long | 07/31/15 11:09pm

Where's it made? Some nervious about China - US Relations.

I think it's safe to assume anything with a sub-$200 street price is not made in (or anywhere near) the US.

DC Long

08/01/15 01:27am

Taiwan is a free trade partner. No one challenged White house punitive taffifs on PV Panels from TW. (which is illegal as hell) . Just Syaing. FLIR is an interesting company.

Luke Maslen

IPVMU Certified | 08/01/15 05:41am

Hi Derek, thank you for a very helpful report. I've been keenly awaiting true WDR HD-CVI cameras. The FLIR C233BD looks as though it performs very well. My only disappointment is the appearance of its angular sunshade. The curved one on the Dahua camera looks much nicer although it could be longer.

Do you think there is any technical reason why FLIR would choose to put an angular sunshade on a cylindrical camera? Do you think the camera would really benefit from having the unattractive gills (vents) in the sunshade? I'd rather they weren't there. I hope they release a dome version of this camera too.

Thank you for your insight.

Undisclosed #3

08/01/15 07:59am

Do you think there is any technical reason why FLIR would choose to put an angular sunshade on a cylindrical camera?

Because Dahua doesn't? ;)

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