Hikvision 4K IR PTZ Tested (DS-2DF8836IV-AELW)

By Ethan Ace, Published Nov 10, 2017, 06:45am EST

The IR PTZ trend continues, now with 4K resolution, with Hikvision releasing its DS-2DF8836IVAEL-W camera [link no longer available], a 4K 1/1.9" PTZ model specifying 200m IR range and 36x zoom.

We bought and tested this model to see how it performs in day and night scenes, testing:

Image quality
IR performance
Focus issues
Bandwidth
VMS integration

And more. See our results inside.

Readers interested in 4K PTZs should also see our test of Dahua's 6AE830VNI 4K IR model, which will also be compared in an upcoming shootout.

*******

** *** *****, *** Hikvision **** ** *** *** three *** *********** ******:

*********** ********* ***** ******: **** ***** ** **** we **** ******, *** 8836 frequently ***** ******* ******* to ***** ** ***** to ***** ** ***** with ** **. **** was ******* ** **** 3-5lx ***
******* **** *****:****** ***** **** ** have ******, ******* ***** tended ** ** ****, focusing ****** *** ******* when ******** ******* ** moving *** ******.
**** ** ********* *******: ** **** **** ******/**** focal *******, *** ********* ** PTZ *********** ******** ~**-**% less ********* *** ******** to *********** (***** ** horizontal ****** ÷ ***** of **** *****). ******* were ******** ** ********** in ***** **** ******/***** AOVs.

******* ** ***** ******, users ****** ** ********** careful **** ********** **** (and *****) ** ** PTZ ******, ** ******* delivered **** ****** *** live ** ** ************.

** *** **** ****, the **** ********** ******* issue ** ********, *****, and *********, **** *** three VMSes **** ** ********* presets *** ***** **** the ***, ** ****. **** that **** ***** ********* cameras,******* ********* *** **** ******* * ********** *******.

*******

*** ********* **-*********-**** ***** for ~$*,***-$*,*** ****** ***** is modestly **** **** *** Dahua ********* ***** ***** for ~$*,***-*,*** *** ******. There *** *** **** other ** ** *** models *** ********* *** comparison.

Size **********

*** ********* ** *** is ******* ****** **** the ***** ***. *** Dahua ****** ******** ***** is ******* **** *** an ** ***. **** of ***** *** **** larger **** ******* ***-** models, *******, **** ** the **** *****-*. *** three *** ***** *****:

Physical ********

** ******** ** *** large ****, **** *******, the **** ** *** 8836 ** **** ****** than ***** **** ** have ******, ********* *** Dahua ** ** ***** shown *****. ** ******* this *** ***** ******** in *** ***** ******

IR ****

*** ** **** ******* changes **** ****. ** the ***** *****, ******** left ** *****, *** camera ** ** *** widest *** **** **** smaller ** **** ***********. The ** **** ********** from ***** * ** 6 ****** ***** **** when ***** ****** ** with ******* ***.

******* ******** ****, ** experienced ******* ************ ****** in *** *****. *** example, **** *** ******* approaching ** ~***', *** camera ******* *********** *** subject ********** *** ****, with ** ******* ** the ******* ********.

Significant ***** ******

*** **** *** *********** focus ****** ** *******, both *** *** *****.

** *****, ********** ** track * *******, *** camera ***** ** ***** throughout *** ***** ** view. *** ** ****** clip ***** ***** *** subject ****** **** ~***' to ~**', **** ***** lost ********** **** ** the **** (*** **** overexposed, ***** *****).

****** *** ***, ***** performance *** ******, *** the ********* ** *** tended ** ***** ****** the *******, ********* ** soft *******. **** *** be ****** *** ********* to ****** **** ****** in ** **** *****, as *** ** **** high (****** *********** *****, see *****), ** ******* are ***** ******.

Image *******

*** ***** ***** ***** daytime, *** *****, *** dark ****** **** *** Hikvision 4K ***. ******* **** solid *** *** ***** (shown ** ~***' ** these ********), **** *** subject ************ ** *** three ***** ******.*******, **** that ***** ****** **** taken ***** *** ******* had ******* ****** *** the ****** *** ***********, due ** *** ***** issues ********* *****.

****: *********** ** *********'* 4K ** *****, *** ***** *********, ** ***** ****** will ** ***** ** an ******** ** *** shootout.

Clearer **** *******

*** ********* **** ********** effective **. ****** *** better **** ***** **** tested, ***** ****** **** quality ****** *** ** long ***** ****** ****** (e.g.***** ** ********** ~**% less ********* ***).

*** *******, ** ~*** PPF, ***** *****, *** image ** *** ******* from *** ********* *** is ******* ** * 100 *** ****** ***** from * ***** ********* camera.

**** ****** *** **** at **** *** ****** (~150+ ***), *** ******* were ***** ****** *** to *** ******* ***.

*********

*** **** **** *** include *.*** ** *.***+ codecs, *** ****** ** most ***** *** ********* models, ********* **** **** higher ******** **** *********'* other ** ******, ********* lower **** * **/* day *** *****. ************, note **** ******** **** measured ***** *** *** was ******** ** ****** from ****** ** ******, not ** * ***** position, ** ******* ************ closer ** ****-***** ***.

****: ********* *********** *******'* ****** ** ** PTZ, ***** ******** *.*** and *** ***** ******, will ** ******** ** an ******** ******** ******.

*******/*****

*** **** ** ******* ** 300 *******, ** **** as * ****** ***** and * ******** ("******" of *** ********* ******** by ** ********), *** more **** **** ********* utilize, *** ******* ** the ***** ******.

************, ******* **** ********** and ***** ** *******/****** via ********, *****, *******, and ********* (***** ***** in ***** ** ** example)

Sample *****

*** ** ****** ****** video ***** ***** ******* subject ********, ***** **** focus ******, ***** ***** in *** ******. ******* with ** ******** *** double ***** *** **** resolution *****.

***** *** **** ******** clips **** **** ****, including ******* *** ********* tracking ** ****.*** **** (~*** **).

Firmware ******* ****

*** ********* ********* **** used *** ****:

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

Comments (9)

Undisclosed #1

11/10/17 03:33pm

The optical IR on the Hanwha PTZs works pretty well. Still some hunting for focus though.

Dennis Ruban

11/10/17 05:31pm

why didn't you test DS-2DF8836I5V-AEL? It has "laser IR", I have several those cameras installed and I haven't noticed the described focus issues.

PS W in AEL(W) adds a wiper for about $200 extra

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Dennis Ruban | 11/10/17 05:45pm

We looked at testing the laser model, but decided against it at the time due to price. It's nearly $5000 online, almost twice the price of the model tested here, making it more of a niche item. We'll consider testing laser models if interest is high, though.

Undisclosed Distributor #2

11/10/17 06:13pm

There is darkfighter version of this model now also with the h.265+

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #2 | 11/11/17 04:17am

There is a pattern of Hikvision products being available later, sometimes much later in North America, than in Europe, e.g., from the Hikvision NA website for that model:

That noted we'd like to buy from European sources and have it shipped to the US. If anyone is willing and able, please email me john@ipvm.com

Rumen Palmov

11/10/17 06:23pm

Good review Ethan, we've had this model installed on the roof of our building for 6-7 months and we've had similar results using it.

Note that this model is actually quite old, it was one of the first 4K IR PTZs on the market, now it is being replaced by the new model DS-2DF8836IX-AEL (http://www.hikvision.com/en/Products_accessries.aspx?c_kind=&c_kind2=1&c_kind3=5&c_kind4=468&c_kind5=687&id=5890).

This is part of the new DS-2DFxxxxIX-AEL generation of Hik PTZs which add some very nice features as:

- H.265+

- Low light of up to 0.0005 Lux

- Rapid focus

I'm not sure about the US market, but this range is available in Europe already, we've been testing the 2Mpx model (DS-2DF8236IX-AEL) and the results were quite surprising, especially at night. Price of the new IX model range is similar to the outgoing previous PTZ lineup. So I would suggest to also test this new range at some point.

Attila Szucs

11/13/17 06:01am

It's quiet surprising to me. This camera with the current FW is really terrible at work.

They should spent some more time to fine tune. I don't know what is the real reason behind, but many manufacturer fails due to the rush what market needs they caused to themselves. I know many huge manufacturers with full of bugs on VMS or camera side, and it is hard to understand (at least for me) why they are risking the reputation loss...

Undisclosed Integrator #3

11/15/17 03:13am

I've installed this for customer with great success. They seem to love it. But I did notice the focus issue while zooming in. Been almost year. They want another. Any alternative options would be appreciated.

Sam Hightower

12/20/17 09:49pm

I have used both the 7230 and the 8836 and the 4k camera is no where near worth the increase in cost.

Read this IPVM report for free.

This article is part of IPVM's 6,728 reports, 907 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.