$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.

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

IPVMU Certified | 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? ;)

Read this IPVM report for free.

This article is part of IPVM's 6,535 reports, 880 tests and is only available to members. To get a one-time preview of our work, enter your work email to access the full article.

Already a member? Login here | Join now

Related Reports

Hanwha 8K / 33MP Camera Tested on Sep 14, 2020
Hanwha Techwin has released an 8K / 33MP resolution camera, the TNB-9000 with...
Taiwan Lilin NDAA Compliant Cameras Tested on Aug 13, 2020
Taiwan-based manufacturer Lilin is taking direct aim at Dahua and Hikvision...
FLIR A Series Temperature Screening Cameras Tested on Jun 04, 2020
FLIR is one of the biggest names in thermal and one of the most conservative....
TVT / InVid White Light Camera Tested Vs Hikvision ColorVu on Mar 18, 2020
With mega China manufacturers Dahua and Hikvision facing both bans and human...
New Axis M30 Cameras Tested on Mar 26, 2020
Axis has released a new generation of, for them, relatively low cost M30...
WDR Cheat Sheet and Camera Tracking - 30 Manufacturers on Aug 26, 2020
Manufacturers are regularly cryptic about what WDR support they actually...
Tiandy Super Starlight Cameras Tested on Apr 30, 2020
Tiandy is taking aim at China competitors Dahua and Hikvision, with a new...
Uniview Color Low Light Camera Tested Vs Hikvision ColorVu on Jan 07, 2020
Hikvision has been marketing ColorVu aggressively. Now, Hikvision domestic...
Favorite Network Switches 2020 on Aug 31, 2020
Cisco has long been the gorilla of network switches but would an upstart...
Uniview H1 2020 Financials Examined on Sep 08, 2020
While Dahua and Hikvision, helped by fever camera sales, are recovering from...
Dahua Profits Surge Due To Fever Camera Sales on Aug 25, 2020
While Dahua's overall revenue is down, driven by challenges within China, the...
Hikvision Fever Screening Thermal Solutions Examined on Apr 13, 2020
Hikvision is marketing "safer, faster, smarter" with their Fever Screening...
Axis "Best Of The Best" 4K Camera Tested (Q1798-LE) on Nov 21, 2019
Axis has released their "best of the best" Q1798-LE bullet camera, touting...
AVTech ~$70 IP Cameras Tested Vs Dahua and Hikvision on Dec 04, 2019
Taiwanese manufacturer Avtech is taking direct aim at low cost leaders Dahua...
World IEC Fever Screening Standards Explained on May 04, 2020
While 'fever detection' is new to most people, the technology has been...

Recent Reports

OnTech Smart Services Partners With Google and Amazon To Compete With Integrators on Sep 25, 2020
A pain point for many homeowners to use consumer security and surveillance is...
The Future of Metalens For Video Surveillance Cameras - MIT / UMass / Immervision on Sep 25, 2020
Panoramic cameras using 'fisheye' lens have become commonplace in video...
Hikvision Sues Over Brazilian Airport Loss on Sep 24, 2020
Hikvision was excluded from a Brazilian airport project because it is owned...
China General Chamber of Commerce Calls Out US Politics on Sep 24, 2020
While US-China relations at an all-time low, optimism about relations...
Verkada Disruptive Embedded Live Help on Sep 24, 2020
Call up your integrator? Have someone come by the next day? Verkada is...
IP Networking Course Fall 2020 - Last Chance - Register Now on Sep 23, 2020
Today is the last chance to register for the only IP networking course...
Drain Wire For Access Control Reader Tutorial on Sep 23, 2020
An easy-to-miss cabling specification plays a key role in access control, yet...
Norway Council of Ethics Finds Hikvision Human Rights Abuses "Ongoing" on Sep 23, 2020
Hikvision's involvement in "serious human rights abuse" in Xinjiang is...
IPVM Camera Calculator User Manual / Guide on Sep 23, 2020
Learn how to use the IPVM Camera Calculator (updated for Version 3.1). The...
Installation Course Fall 2020 - Save $50 - Last Chance on Sep 22, 2020
This is a unique installation course in a market where little practical...
SimpliSafe Business Security Launched Examined on Sep 22, 2020
SimpliSafe has launched "SimpliSafe Business Security" that the company...
FLIR CEO: Many New Fever Entrants "Making Claims That The Science Just Won't Support" on Sep 22, 2020
FLIR's CEO joins a growing number calling out risks with fever / screening...
China Bems Temperature Measurement Terminal Tested on Sep 22, 2020
Guangzhou Bems (brand Benshi) is the manufacturer behind temperature...
Axis Exports To China Police Criticized By Amnesty International on Sep 21, 2020
Axis Communications and other EU surveillance providers are under fire from...
Milestone XProtect on AWS Tested on Sep 21, 2020
Milestone finally launched multiple cloud solutions in 2020, taking a...