Hanwha 9MP Fisheye Camera Tested (PNF-9010R)

Published May 09, 2017 12:08 PM

12MP sensor fisheye panoramic cameras are becoming increasingly common.

We have tested Hikvision's DS-2CD63C2F as well as Panasonic's SFV481 4K panoramic.

Now, we bought and tested the Hanwha / Samsung PNF-9010R fisheye camera against those two cameras, covering:

  • Image quality in full light and low light scenes
  • Integrated IR range
  • Wide dynamic performance
  • VMS integration
  • Dewarping/distortion issues

And more. See our results inside.

Summary

In our tests, the PNF-9010 performed well overall, strong detail in full light, low light, and WDR scenes, with the best VMS integration of client side and camera side dewarping of cameras tested. 

However, the Hikvision delivered the most accurate dewarping / least distortion while the Hanwha made subjects appear squatter and the Panasonic made subjects appeared stretched out (multiple comparison images inside).

Moreover, Hikvision's low light bit rates with H.264+ were significantly lower than Hanwha and Panasonic, however the Hanwha had moderately longer IR range in low light.

Key Findings

Here are our key findings from specific test scenes:

  • Built in IR performance: The PNF-9010 provided longer IR range than the Hikvision 63C2 camera tested, but range fell short of its specified 15m (~49') range, illuminating to about 10-12m/35-40'.
  • Imaging: The PNF-9010 provided more details at nearly all ranges, day and night, than both Hikvision and Panasonic.
  • Fisheye distortion: The Hanwha fisheye suffered from slight to moderate distortion of subjects in fisheye images, with subjects appearing squatter than reality. However, issues were more severe in the Panasonic SFV481, with subjects stretched very tall. The Hikvision 63C2 presented subjects roughly proportionately to reality.
  • Client side dewarping: Client side fisheye dewarping was supported in Exacq, Digital Watchdog/Network Optix, Genetec, and Milestone (using the ImmerVision SDK). Only Avigilon did not dewarp the fisheye stream. 
  • Dewarped stream integration: Of VMSes tested, only ExacqVision was able to make use of camera side dewarped streams (panorama and quad view). Others were able to access the fisheye stream only.

Pricing

The PNF-9010R sells for ~$900, which significantly less expensive than other 9MP panoramic models, such as the Panasonic WV-SFV481 (~$1,600 online), and not surprisingly more expensive than the Hikvision DS-2CD63C2F-IV which sells for ~$700 USD online.

Physical Overview

In the video below we provide a physical overview of the camera.


12MP vs. 9MP Mode

Hanwha markets the PNF-9010R as a 9MP camera, though it uses a 12MP sensor and has a 12MP streaming mode. However, this mode only differs from the default 9MP mode in that it does not remove wasted black space from the sides of the fisheye image, filling a full 16:9 frame instead of the cropped, square 9MP mode. 12MP mode does not increase effective resolution.

Imager Vs. Stream Resolution

Note that all the cameras in this test use 12MP sensors, though they are effectively 9MP cameras, since the circular fisheye does not fill the entire frame (illustrated above). Both Hanwha and Hikvision include the 12MP mode option shown above. This imager/stream resolution discrepancy is common in fisheye cameras. For more information, see our report Beware Imager vs Stream Resolution.

Streaming Modes

The Hanwha PNF-9010R provides three streams by default:

  • Fisheye: The full 360° field of view
  • Panorama: A dewarped dual or single panorama (depending on ceiling or wall mount)
  • Quad View: 2x2 split screen virtual PTZ window

These modes are shown here:

VMS Support

Note that not all of these streams are supported by all VMSes, however. Users should check VMS support for Hanwha's multiple streams carefully. In our tests we found the following support:

  • Avigilon Control Center: Fisheye stream only. No dewarping.
  • ExacqVision: Fisheye plus camera side dewarp streams supported (panorama and quad view), but client PTZ controls move only top-left quad view window. Client side dewarping is supported via ImmerVision SDK.
  • DW Spectrum/Network Optix: Fisheye stream only, no secondary streams. Client side dewarping supported (generic dewarping).
  • Genetec Security Center: Fisheye stream only. Client side dewarping via ImmerVision SDK.
  • Milestone XProtect: Fisheye stream only. Client side dewarping via Immervision SDK.

Hanwha's use of the ImmerVision SDK gives it an integration advantage over many other fisheye cameras, such as the Hikvision and Panasonic models tested here, which use a proprietary SDK which has not been implemented by most VMSes for client side dewarping. In our tests, only DW Spectrum/Network Optix dewarped these two cameras client side, due to their use of a generic dewarping plugin.

Fisheye Distortion: Moderate Hanwha/Extreme Panasonic

In image comparisons below, readers will note the varying aspect ratios of all three cameras, with Hanwha appearing slightly squat, Panasonic appearing tall, and Hikvision approximately accurate.

These effects are due to distortion in the fisheye image, especially as objects approach the edges of the field of view. 

When dewarped camera side, effects are lessened in the Panasonic model, shown below. However, this stream is not compatible with all VMSes (see above).

IR Range

The clip below shows IR range in a full, warped, fisheye image, to best illustrate the camera's IR coverage. The subject enters, lower left, becoming visible (though without details) at ~12m/~40', with illumination improving as he nears the camera and enters the building to the right.

Users may also download this clip, as well as the same scenario in other cameras in this ~28MB .zip file.

Solid Low Light Image Quality

We tested image quality at night, with outdoor lights off, to see how cameras' integrated IR (or lack thereof) performed. Note that in the comparisons below, cameras were dewarped using DW Spectrum's universal dewarping in order to provide the most similar images possible and eliminate variations in individual manufacturers' dewarping.

At ~5' from the cameras, the Hanwha camera provides the recognition level details of the subject and test chart, though some distortion is present, showing the subject as squatter than reality. The Hikvision 63C2F provides rough details of the subject and similar test chart legibility, while the Panasonic SFV481 shows neither.

At 15', only the Hanwha camera provides detection of the subject, though no details.

Finally, at ~50', approximately the maximum IR range of Hanwha and Hikvision, no detection or details are provided by any camera.

Next, we tested cameras indoors, in a 20x30 room to see how IR performed in this smaller area. In this scene, the Hanwha camera again provides the best images of the subject and test chart, though with some slight overexposure. Due to its lack of integrated IR, the Panasonic 481 performed worst in this scene.

With the lights off and IR on we tested the cameras low light performance. In the comparison below the Hanwha and Hikvision cameras perform similarly with Hanwha providing less noise.  The Panasonic, lacking IR, is barley able to show the subject.

 

At ~15' distance, the Hanwha camera suffers from overexposure, with no subject details. Only the Hikvision camera provides more than one line of the test chart in this scene.

Outdoor Full Sun Comparison

We tested cameras outdoors at ranges up to 50' to see how they performed in bright sunlight. Note that these images were taken in early afternoon, with the sun high overhead, though the subject shows as heavily exposed only on one side of his face in some scenes, most notably Panasonic.

At ~5' distance, the Hanwha and Hikvision cameras provide similar details of the subject and test chart. However, the Panasonic SFV481 shows must less even exposure of the subject compared to the others, reducing details. Note that distortion can also be seen at this range, with Hanwha appearing squat and Panasonic beginning to stretch vertically.

At 15', distortion is much more pronounced, with Hanwha appearing squatter and Panasonic more stretched. Because of this, the Hikvision 63C2 provides the best details of the subject and chart in this scene.

Finally, at ~50', distortion is extreme as the subject approaches the edges of the FOV, with no details of the subject or chart available in any camera.

Indoor Even Lighting

In a more evenly lit scene, at near range (~5'), all three cameras provide identifying details, though Hanwha appears more evenly exposed, increasing details of the subject's face.

As the subject moves further away and PPF decreases the delta in details between the Hanwha and the other camera increases, shown both in the chart and the subject. At 42PPF and 15 feet from the camera the Hanwha continues to perform best, continuing to show the crispest details in the chart as well as the subject.

Wide Dynamic Range

The Hanwha PNF-9010 was the best WDR performer in our test, shown below. Other cameras are washed out totally or partially as the subject opens the door. 

Bandwidth Comparison

The Hanwha's bitrates were lower than Panasonic in both scenes, using H.264 and H.265. However, Hikvision's H.264+ bitrates were lower than Hanwha's H.264/Wisestream bitrates day and night.

Note that all cameras in this test include smart codecs, enabled for these measurements.

Test Parameters

All cameras were tested using default settings unless otherwise specified, with the following applied to all cameras:

  • H.264, 10 FPS, ~28 quantization was used
  • 1/30s maximum shutter speed

The following firmware versions were used for this test:

  • Hanwha Techwin PNF-9010R: 1.00_160831
  • Hikvision DS-2CD63C2F-IV: 5.4.14
  • Panasonic WV-SFV480: 2.53
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