8MP HD Analog Tested (Dahua / Hikvision)

By IPVM Team, Published Jan 30, 2019, 01:23pm EST

HD analog has promised higher resolution for years, but has lagged substantially behind for years. Now, both Dahua and Hikvision have started shipping low cost 8MP options.

We bought and tested 8MP CVI and TVI cameras and DVRs to see how they compare against low cost 8MP cameras, examining:

  • Are 8MP models plug and play? Is there noticeable delay or issues connecting?
  • How does image quality compare to similar IP models? Low light? WDR?
  • What HD analog and IP cameras does each DVR support? CVI, TVI, AHD? ONVIF?
  • How do camera construction and physical features compare?
  • Do DVRs integrate via ONVIF with VMSes?
  • How do bitrates compare to IP cameras? Are smart codecs supported?

See our detailed results inside.

free image

Cameras/recorders tested:

*******

** *** ******** ****, 8MP *** *** *** models ********** **** ********* to ***** ********** ******, with **** * **** video ********* ** *****, only ***** *** ***** connections. **** ***** *** Hikvision *** ********* ******** competitively *** ******** ******** to ** ******* *** to ******** ***** ***** capability.

*******, ** *** ******** key ****** ** *** tests:

  • ***** *****:**** ***** *** ********* 8MP ***/*** ******* ********* additional ********* *** ********* muddy ** *******. ***** length *** ******* *** minimal ****** ** ***** issues, **** ****** ********* similar ********** ** ***** type, ****** ** ** 500m ** ***.
  • ********* **** ***:*********'* *** *** ******'* WDR *********** *** **** worse **** ** ******, with ******** *** ********** significantly ****** *** ******** to ******.

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

***** ** *** *****, the **** ****** *** for *** ***/*** ****** is ******** ** ******** analog *******, * ******* becoming ************ **** ** 2019. ***** ****** ******* an ******* **** ***** resolution, ****** **** **** clarity **** *********** ** equivalents.

*** ************* *** ****** better ****** ** ** cameras/NVRs, ******* ********** ****** pricing, ***** ***** ********** in ***** *******, ******* set, ****** *********, ***.

*******

*** ***** ******* *** CVI **** ****** (~$*** USD ******) ***** *** about **** *** ***** of *** ** ********** (N84CL54), ***** ***** *** ~$260 ******. *******, ********* 8MP *** ****** ******* is ****** ** ***** to ** ********, ~$*** vs. ~$*** *** *** DS-2CD2383G0-I.

*** **** **** *** ~$400-500 *** * ******** (not ********* **** *****), shown *****.

  • ********* **-********-**/*-*** *-******* *** TVI *** **** * TB ***:~$*** *** ******
  • ***** ******* *-******* *** CVI *** **** * TB ***:~$*** ******

Physical ********

***** *** ********* *** and *** ******* *** very ******* ** ************ to ** ******, **** the **** ********** ***** their ***** *******, *** vs. ***/********. ***** *** two ******* *********** ** construction:

  • ********* ******* *******:*** ********* *** ****** uses ******* *** *** base *** **** ** the ******* ********, *** aluminum *** *** ****** "eyeball" *******. ** ********, Hikvision ** ****** (** well ** *****) ** all ******** ************. **** plastic *******, ****** **** of *************, ** ****** much ****** ** **** apart, ***** **** *** mount, ***.
  • ***** ********** ***/***/***/**:*** ***** ******* *** camera ******** *** ******** on *** ***** **** which *** ** **** to ****** *** ****** from *** (******) ** AHD, ***, *** ** analog, **** * *** resolution ** *** **** using ***/***. **** ** not ***** ** *** Hikvision ******, ***** ** TVI ****.

** ****** ***** *** other *********** ** **** video:

**** *** ***** *** Hikvision **** *** ******* in ************ ** **** models, **** ** ********* visible *******, *** **** layouts **** ******* ** older ****. ***** ****** are ****** ***, **** the ******** **** ** ports: ********, ****/***, */*, etc.

Not **** ** / *** ** *** **********

***** ***** ******* *** DVRs *** ********** ******** as "**", **** *********** cannot ** ********** **** since** ********* ******* ** FPS ** ******, ********* ** ***** standard ** ****. **** Dahua *** ********* ******* 15 *** *******. *******, this **** *** **** Hikvision **** ****** ******* the ******'* ********* ******.

hikvision tvi camera not true 4k but marked on box

8MP **** * **** / ******* ** *****/****

**** ***** ********** ***/*** models, *** ****** ****** simply ******** ***** *** BNC ***** ***********, **** video **** ****** * few ******* ** **********. There *** ** ********** delay ** *********** ******** by ****** ********** ******.

******* **** ***** * seconds ** ********* *** begin *********, ***** *****:

Image ******* ******** ** **

** *** *** ***** test ******, **** ***** and ********* *** ****** models **** ********** **** clear **** *** ** versions, **** **** ********* and *****/******* ******.

*** *******, ** **** range (~**'/~** ***), ***** the *** *** *** models ******* ***** ****** of *** *******'* ****, IP ****** ******* *** clearer. **** ***** **** is **** **** ******* in *** ** *******, down ** **** */* instead ** */* ** the ** ****** ******.

** ****** ********, ***** issues ****** **** **** distinct (~**'/~** ***), **** the ******* ************** ** the *** *** *** models, *** ***** ****** details ***** ***** ** IP *******.

** ***** (~*.* ***), performance ******* ** ****** and ** *** **** similar, **** *********** *** IR ************ **** *********** issues.

******* *** ** ***** (20m/~68'), **** ***** ****** poorly ********** *** *******. However, *********** *********** ******* the ********* *** *** IP *** *****, **** the ******* ******* ** the *** ** *****, and ********* ******* ** the *** ******.

Hikvision **** ***

*******, ** ****** **** dynamic ***** ********** ******* an **** *** ****. All ****** ****** ***** true *** **********, ****** it *** ****** *** by ******* ** *** CVI *** *** ******* and ******* *** *** menus.

*********** ******* *** ***** cameras *** *******, ****** slightly ****** ** *** IP *****. *******, *** Hikvision *** *** ****** performed ***** ** **** scene, ************ *** ******* and **********, ***** *** DS-2CD2383G0-I ********* **** (** in ****** ********).

DVR ****** *******

**** ***** *** ********* DVRs ******** ***** ** analog ********, ********* *** and ***, ** ** a *** ********** ** 5MP. **** ******* **** their *** ******** (*** for *****, *** *** Hikvision) ** *** **********, and **** ******* ***** IP *******.

*** ***** ***** ************ a *** ****** ********* to *** ***** *** DVR:

 

VMS ***********

** ** **** ***** of ** ****** ****, *** ***** *** Hikvision *** ****** ******* ONVIF ******, ****** *** not ****** ** **********. However, *********** ** *** two ****** ****** ****** widely, **** ** *** supporting ****, *** ********* not ********** ******. **** that ** *** ***** either *** ** *********, though ***** ****** *** officially ********* **

vms integration comparison

Versions ****

*** ********* ******** ******** were **** ** **** test:

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

Comments (26)

Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | 01/30/19 09:21pm

Both Dahua and Hikvision support 15 FPS maximum.

Sounds like the HD Analog protocol has hit the wall.  I give them credit for getting to 8MP at all.

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 01/30/19 11:31pm

I wonder how much of a wall it is, versus how scattered both companies have become. They do AI, they do access control, they do robots, electric cars, concentration camps, etc. 

At some point, it's jake of all, master of none.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

In reply to John Honovich | 01/31/19 12:40am

OMG... now that was funny. 

:)

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Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 01/31/19 01:32am

I wonder how much of a wall it is...

Doesn’t have to be a wall, could be a steel slatted fence with see-thru visibility...

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Steve Beck

01/30/19 10:02pm

Did IPVM consider testing 5MP TVI/CVI cameras along side these 8MP cameras? That seems to be the next step up from the 2MP/TVI cameras HIK/Dauha and the distributors are pushing. 

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Steve Beck | 01/30/19 10:07pm

We have 5MP Hikvision models which we'll be testing along with Hikvision power over coax. That's actually the report I'm working on next.

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Steve Beck

In reply to Ethan Ace | 01/30/19 10:11pm

Awesome! I am curious to see how the 5MP TVI cameras turn out. I haven't pulled the trigger on anything above 2MP for analog so far. 

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Bas Poiesz

In reply to Steve Beck | 01/31/19 11:58am

Good thing of the 5MP models is switchable output

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Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | 01/30/19 11:30pm

...models tested simply required power and BNC video connections...

Whatever became of PoC?

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Bas Poiesz

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 01/31/19 11:58am

Goes up to 5MP currently

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Adam Devereaux

01/31/19 08:42pm

A relevant comparison / review would be of Dahua's ePoE solution that can drive IP cameras over coax. I am assuming the majority of the market for these HD Analog cameras is re-use of existing wiring, which ePoE can solve as well.

I personally have utilized Dahua's HD-CVI cameras with a Dahua Tri-brid X58A3S (or is it penta?) NVR. For that install the N84CL52, A22AH9Z, A42AR2 and HAC-PFW3601-A180 were used. I was impressed with the N84CL52 and A22AH9Z, less so with the other models. We also had issues with the N84CL52 ("4K") actually showing up with the NVR, we had to connect via our tester or set it to AHD and use the OSD to move to a lower resolution. Still haven't resolved this, as I don't show a newer firmware for the X58A3S available. Though the customer is happy with the picture quality at the lower resolution anyway, 4K wasn't a requirement. Another thing I was not prepared for was the sheer massive size of the PFW3601-A180. This thing is just not viable for internal use based on it standing out like a sore thumb.

In retrospect I would not have gone down this road, I would have recommended the client pay for new wiring or perhaps test ePoE IP cameras. Something people need to be aware of is the input voltage requirements for the HD-CVI cameras within Dahua's line can vary. The existing power supplies were 24V AC, however the A42AR2 cameras run of from 12V DC only.

We also ended up having to use some Dahua Baluns for some of the A22AH9Z cameras, which require 24V DC input to then output 12V DC. So needless to say this caused some confusion and hassle with multiple power types present in the system now (24V AC, 24V DC and 12V DC depending on the camera and wiring).

So I'd love to see IPVM test the ePoE line of equipment from Dahua!

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Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | 02/01/19 12:48am

Ethan, does the IP camera show more detail in the background section or is the cross hatching pure artifact?

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 02/01/19 12:50am

It does, yes. That's a chain link fence with decorative slats inserted, about 40' behind Rob.

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Andrew Del Biondo

02/04/19 09:59pm

Freedom VMS client supports both the Dahua and Hikvision recorders via the manufacturers private protocol. Certain Dahua Pentabrid recorders are are also supported as encoders for recording of SD analogue, HD-CVI (up to 4K), HD-TVI and AHD cameras on Freedom VMS server.

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Ryan O'Daniel

IPVMU Certified | 02/05/19 03:41pm

Maybe I'm missing something but it seems your Hikvision DVR model is listed as the wrong model number. 

The model you have listed, DS-7208HUI-K2, supports only up to 5MP TVI cameras.  However, the link at the top of the article links to the DS-7208HUHI-K2 which supports TVI cameras up to 8MP as well as CVI, AHD, and Analog cameras.

The real question is which DVR were these tests done on?  If you have the model number of the DVR correct I'm guessing it scaled down the cameras from 8MP to 5MP which would make this comparison invalid.

Specs for the DVR you have listed as being used in the test:DS-7208HUI-K2

Specs for the actual 4K HD-TVI recorder: DS-7208HUHI-K2

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Ryan O'Daniel | 02/05/19 04:02pm

You're not missing something, the model number was listed wrong. It is the 8MP HUHI version. I actually linked to the HUHI with the very first link in the intro, but somehow missed the H when editing text. I've fixed it in the report. Thanks for calling that out.

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Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ryan O'Daniel | 02/05/19 04:11pm

The real question is which DVR were these tests done on? If you have the model number of the DVR correct I'm guessing it scaled down the cameras from 8MP to 5MP which would make this comparison invalid.

I’m guessing a 8MP TVI camera doesn’t work at all on a 5MP DVR.  What do you think Ethan?

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Ryan O'Daniel

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 02/05/19 04:16pm

Depending on the firmware of the DVR, newer versions will automatically scale down the 8MP TVI camera to an available resolution which is usually 5MP or 4MP.

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Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ryan O'Daniel | 02/05/19 04:26pm

Good to know, thanks, Ryan and Ethan.  Is the scaled down stream still at 15fps?

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 02/05/19 04:16pm

It does. It connects at 5MP or sometimes 4MP. I've seen both happen.

The weird thing is, and I will check this today: I think that the HUI (not the HUHI) DVR actually allows you to select 8MP as an input resolution, but the specs say max 5MP input. I want to confirm what it's doing there with tech support.

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Ethan Ace | 02/05/19 05:42pm

I connected an 8MP camera to the HUI DVR and it does work at 8MP, but only 8FPS.

Here's confirmation in the local interface:

Here's the camera stream in Exacq:

I'll run this by tech support to see what their take is.

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Ryan O'Daniel

IPVMU Certified | 02/05/19 04:06pm

What about the lack of support for CVI and AHD section of this article?  That's no longer true with the corrected model.

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Ryan O'Daniel | 02/05/19 04:10pm

Yes, fixing that as well. We have been doing multiple CVI/TVI tests lately (see Hikvision HDTVI Power Over Coax Tested just released) and model numbers and graphics got crossed.

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saleh alsabih

www.alaola.com
02/12/19 06:03am

1. How is it really true the resolution 8Mp or even 4Mp. i mean is there a mean to verify what is claimed in a datasheet of a camera?

2. With an IP cam and Cat cables it is logical to be able to transmit higher resolution as the medium is digital (0s & 1s) so correct me if am wrong how is it possible to do the same over Coax (tvi cvi ..etc) which is Voltage based and bandwidth is limited not to mention interference and disruption chances are high?

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Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | In reply to saleh alsabih | 02/12/19 06:26am

From The Real Inventor Of HD-CVI And HD-TVI...

...the idea was, NTSC/PAL can be transmitted long distances with maybe a little receiver high frequency compensation. There was no HD equivalent to this, the only analogue HD was YPbPr needing 3 cables. So it was obvious to create a HD version of NTSC. Sony already had this idea with 960H - we just took it further. As security is a closed system we did not have the problem of making a universal standard.

However NTSC had a couple of problems, crosstalk because the subcarrier was within the luma bandwidth (because of legacy reasons), and the receiver high frequency compensation (usually an analogue network). So for aCVi we separated the luma and chroma (moving the chroma subcarrier above the luma bandwidth) and applying transmitter pre-emphasis (similar to the J17 curve for radio transmission of NTSC). Nothing new, just a new application for old ideas.

I believe the first implementation for Dahua still used receiver high frequency peaking. Instead, for aCVi, we used transmitter pre-emphasis that was controlled by a low frequency bi-directional data link in the VBI of the video (similar to closed caption but bidirectional). The receiver measured the high frequency loss and sent data to transmitter to control the pre-emphasis. The pre-emphasis curve was matched to cable type so at the receiver we only needed to apply flat gain, no analogue frequency networks.

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Dennis Ruban

03/18/19 04:59pm

From my experience, the biggest advantage of the analog cameras is a real-time live picture. Sometimes, 1-2 sec delay that IP cameras have is not acceptable, so we go with analog

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