Hikvision Darkfighter 1/2" Imager Camera Tested

Author: Ethan Ace, Published on Aug 31, 2015

Can Hikvision beat Axis and Samsung in pure low light?

The Chinese mega-manufacturer has made a name for itself as a low-cost leader, popularizing $100 HD cameras with integrated IR.

However, most do not consider Hikvision to be in the same league for high-end cameras such as Axis and Samsung. In particular, Axis started the 'super low light' trend a few years ago with their 'Lightfinder' offerings.

Hikvision's new offering, 'Darkfighter' targets that market. The big two differences Hikvision is offering:

  • F/0.95 HD lens (instead of the F/1.2, F/1.3 or higher common with HD)
  • 1/2" imager standard for 1080p HD

To see how they compare, we bought their 1080p box DarkFighter model, the DS-2CD6026FHWD-A, and put it up against leading low light models from Axis, Samsung, and Uniview, as well as their own 4132 integrated IR camera.

We performed testing in multiple low light scenes like the nighttime dark field with a subject 100' away, excerpted here:

*** ********* **** **** *** ******* ** **** *** *****?

*** ******* ****-************ *** **** * **** *** ****** ** a ***-**** ******, ************ $*** ** ******* **** ********** **.

*******, **** ** *** ******** ********* ** ** ** *** same ****** *** ****-*** ******* **** ** **** *** *******. In **********, **** ******* *** '***** *** *****' ***** * few ***** *** **** ***** '***********' *********.

*********'* *** ********, '***********' ******* **** ******. *** *** *** differences ********* ** ********:

  • */*.** ** **** (******* ** *** */*.*, */*.* ** ****** common **** **)
  • */*" ****** ******** *** ***** **

** *** *** **** *******, ** ****** ***** ***** *** DarkFighter *****, *****-***********-*, *** *** ** ** ******* ******* *** ***** ****** from****,*******, **********, ** **** ** ***** ******* ********** ** ******.

** ********* ******* ** ******** *** ***** ****** **** *** nighttime **** ***** **** * ******* ***' ****, ********* ****:

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

Key ********

** *** *****, *** ********* **** ***********'* *** ***** *********** was *** **** ** *** '***** *** *****' ******* ****** by * ******** ******. **** ** ** ******* **** **** the ********** (***** **** *****, ***' **** / ***' **** FoV):

********** ** ***** ******** ********** ****** ******, ********** ** **** low ***** ****** (~*.** *** *****) *** ** ******* *****. However, ** **** ****** ** ****** ****** (~***' ********/***' ****), the *********** ***** ****** ************ *** ********** ** ******, ***** illumination ******** *** **** ** **** *****.

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

*********** *** ********** ****** ***** *********'* **.** **** ******** ** the ***** **.* ***** ******** **** *** ******. *******, *** 6026 ************ ***** ******* ******, **** **** *** ****** * number ****.

*** *********** ** ***** * ****** ****, ****** ****** *** image ********** ******** *** *** ******* ***********.

***

*** *********** *** ****** **** *** **** ***** *** ******* SNB-6004 ******* ****** *********, *** **** ** *** ***** ** dark ***** ** *** *****.

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

******* *** ***** ******** ** ******* ****** ***** ******* ******** (~28Q, ** *** *.***), **** **** ****** *** **** ***** and *** *** ******* *******-**.

*** *.***+ ******** (******* ************ *** *** ***********) ******* ******** ** both **** ***** *** **** ****** *************.

*******

*** **-***********-* ***** *** ~$*** *** ******, ********* ** **.* 3.8-16mm ****. *** ******** **.** **** ***** *** ** ********** ~$300 ******. ***** ** ** ******** *** ********** *** ****** and **.** ****, **** *.*-**** *** **-**** *******.

*** *********** **** (**** *.*-**** **** ******, ~$***) ** ****** **** below **** */*" ***** *** ***** ******, **** ** *** Axis ***** *** **** *****, **** ~$*,*** ******, ** **** as **** ~*/*" *********** **** ***** *************, *** *****/*****, ($***-**** online).

$*** ** ****** ** ***** ** ****** **** ** *** Samsung ***-**** (*/*.*") ** ******* ****** (*/*").

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

*** *** **** *** ***** *********** ***** ** ****** ** used ** ****** *** *****, *** ********* *********** **** ** a ***** ******. *******, ********** ** ****** *** ***** ****** in **** ************, **** ** ******* ** ******* ***** ******** scenes.

Positioning ******

****** **** *** **** **** **** ********* *** ******* ** performance *** **********, *** **** ** *** *****, ** **** are ************ ***** ***. **** ***** ****-*** ****** ******** ** exceeding ******-******** ***********, ** **************** ************ ******** ** ***** ** ****, ** ** *** *** the **** *-* *****.

** *** **** ****, *** **********, **** ****** **** **** cannot ******** ** ***** ******** *********** ** ** ****** *** higher *****. 

DarkFighter ****

*** **** ** **** *** ***** ***********'* *********** ****. ***** *** ****** ** ******, ****, *** ********* **** factors, *** ** ***** *** */*" ** ****** *******, ***** from *** */*" ********* *****. ** ********, ***** *********** **** as **** *** **** **** **** * ****** ***** ***** larger **** */*" *******. 

Physical ********

*** **** ** ********** ******* ** ***** *** ******, ********* and *********. **** ******* ** *** **** ** *** **.** lens ******** ** **** *** ****** **** ******* *.*-**** ***** model. 

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

************* ** *** **** ** ******* ** ***** ********* ******, though ** ******** *** ***** ****** **** ******* ** *.*.* (***** ***** *** ****** *******).

**** **** *** **** ******** * ****** ** ***** ** analytics ** ******** ** ******* ****** *** ********* ******. ** plan ** ***** ***** ** ** ******** ****.

Hikvision **.** "*******" ****

** **** ****, ** **** *********'* *********** ****, *** *******-*** "*******" model. ******** ** *** ***** **.* *.*-**** *****, ** ******** ********** improvement ** *** *****, **** * ******** ***** *** ********** less *****. ** *** **** ***** (***** *****), *** **** chart ******* ******* *** *** ******* ******* ***** *** **.** **** where ** *** *** **** ***** *** ***** **.* *****.

 

** ****** **** **** **** ***** *******, ** ****, ** our ***** *** ***** ** **** ****** ******.

Low ***** ***********

** *** *****, ~*.** ***, *** **** ****** *********** *** other ***-** ****** ******, **** *** **** ******* ******* *** a ******** ******** ** ***** **********. *** ** ******** ********* 4132 ******** ******** ******* ****** ** ****, ****** ** * small ******.

*** ********** ***** ***** ******** *********** ** *** *********** ****** using *** ***** **.* *.*-**** ****. 

******* ******** *** ****** ** ~*.** *** ** ***** (*** lowest *** ***** *** *******), *** **** ******** ********* ** the ******* *** **** *****, *** ** ****** ************ ** the ********** ** ****.

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

** **** ****** *** *******' *********** ** ***** ** ** open ***** ***** * *****, ~*** ****/~***' ** ******.

** **** *****, *** ****'* ** ** ****** ** ******* much ************ (~*** ** ***** *********), ****** *** ******* ****** to ****** **** ** *** ****, ***** ******* ***** *** contrasted ******* *** ******* **********. 

***** *** ******** ***** **** **** ***** ** *.*** ******* (~*** **).

*** ***** ***** ***** *** ******* *********** *** *********** **** from ~***' ** *** ***** ***** *****, ************* *.** ***:

**** **** ***** ***** ****** ****** ***** ** ******, *** these ********* *** * ******** ***** ** **** **** *** ~90 ******* **** ****. ************, ******** ** *** ******* ******* details, *** ******* ** ***** ***** ****.

WDR ***********

*** **** *** *** ** *** *** ********** *** ******* in *** *****, **** **** ** *** ********* *****, ******* showing ******* ** **** *** ******** ******* ***** *** **** area ****** *** ****.

******** ** ******, *** **** ******** **** ** *** **** images ** *** ******* *** ** **** ***** ** *** scene, ***** **** *** ******* *******. *******, ** ** ******** worse ******* ********* **** **** ******, **** ** *** **** ***** and ******* ***-****, ***** **** **** *********** *** ***** *** overall ******* ****** ** *** *******'* ****.

Full *****

** **** *****, ~*** ***, ****** *** ******* ** ***** models, ****** ******* ****** **** ****, **** ******* *** **** Q1615.

Bandwidth ***********

*** ********* *********** ****'* ******** **** ********** ***** **** ***** cameras (***** **** *** ********* ****) ** **** *** ******. However, ** *** *****, *** ****** ****** ** **** ***** 16 **/*, *** ***** *** *** *** *** ***, **** higher **** *** ***** ******* ****** ****** *** ******* ***-****.

**** **** ***** ************ *** ***** ***** *.***, ** ***, **** average ** ************.

********* *.***+

********* ********** *.***+ ** ***** ****** *********, **** ******* *********** and *** *********** ******* ** **** *********. ******* *.***+ **, ******** ******* ** **-**% ** *** Hikvision ******, ******** *** *********** ******'* ******* ** ~*.* **/* in *** ****, **** **** *********** **** ***** *******.

** **** ** **** *.***+ ** **** ****** **** **** cameras ** * ******** ******** ******.

Test ***********

******* **** ****** ***** ******* ********, **** *** ********* ******** ******* to *** *******:

  • ******* ***** *** *** ** * ******* ** */***
  • *.*** **** *******, ** ***, ** ************ *** ****

*** ********* ********/******** ******** **** ****:

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

Comments (21)

Undisclosed #1

08/31/15 08:10pm

***** ****!

*** ******* ***** *** *.** * **** **** ***** *******, as ********* ****:

** **** ****, ** **** *********'* *********** ****, *** *******-*** "DarkEye" *****. ******** ** *** ***** **.* *.*-**** *****, ** provided ********** *********** ** *** *****, **** * ******** ***** and ********** **** *****. ** *** **** ***** (***** *****), the **** ***** ******* ******* *** *** ******* ******* ***** the **.** **** ***** ** *** *** **** ***** *** stock **.* *****.

******* ** ****** *********** ***** **** **** ** ******** ***-*****:

** *** *** **** *.** **** **** * ******** */*" sensor, **** ***** ***** **** ** ************ **** **** **** used **** * */*" ******. **** ** ******* *** **** creates * */*.* ****** ******, ***** ** **** ****** **** the ****** ****. **** ** *** * *********** ****** ** dwarfed ** *** ***** ****** ** *** *** ****.

*** **** **** **** *** * */*" ******,*** *** ************ ******** ****. * ***** **** * */*" ******, *** * ** unsure ** *** ***** */* ********, ** ****** *** **** or *** ***, **** ** *** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 08/31/15 08:13pm

*** **** ***** ** **** *** *****.

******* *** **** ***** ***** ******* **** **** **** * Hikvision **** ******* **** ***** ** ******.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Honovich | 08/31/15 08:27pm

*****. ******.

*** **** ** */*.*, ** ****** **** */* *** ***** not '********' *** *** *****, ** * ***** ****** *** 1635 ***** ******* **** ****.

** *** **** *** ***** *** ******* **** */*" ******* in *** ***?

**** - **********

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 08/31/15 08:30pm

***, *** *******.

** ** *** **** ** *** *** *****. **********, ** will ** ********** ****** *** ********* ***** *** **** *** between *** ********* *********** *** *** **** ***** *** ** a ***** $*** ****, ** **** ***** *** ** **** competitive **** *********.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Honovich | 08/31/15 09:06pm

*** ****** ***** * ******* ***** **** **** *** ******* camera *** *** *** ****?

** ***** ** *********** ** **** ****** ******* *** *** 1/2" ******* ** ****** **** **** *** **** ** **** performance *** ** ********** ** *** ******.

**** ******* **** *** **** ***** **** * **.* ****. Naively *******, *** **** ***** ***** ** **.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 08/31/15 11:40pm

******* **** *** **.**. **'* * ******** *********** *** * don't ***** **'* *** **** ********** **** *** ***** ***** vs. **.** ***********.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Ethan Ace | 08/31/15 11:51pm

* *****. **'* * ************ ****** ***** **** *.* ** 1.3, *** * ***'* *** **** ** ********** *** ****. I'm *** ** ********.

******!

Thumbnail mecontrolxxlusertile

Brandon Knutson

08/31/15 09:24pm

**'** **** ***** *** ********* **-********-*** "*** *****-*** ***** ***** PTZ ******" ***** *** **** ********** ** *** *****. * was ******* ** *** **** ** ***** ** ***** / day **** **** **** **** ******** ** * **** ******* lot **** ******* * **** ******* ******. **** ** **** into * **** **** **** ** **** **** ****** **** color ** */* ***** *** *****-** **. **** ****** ******** a ** **** *** ****-*** ***** ****** ****** ***** ****** camera **** * ***** ******** ** ***********. * **** *** of ***** ** ** *****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Brandon Knutson | 08/31/15 09:54pm

*******, ****** *** *** ********. *** *********** ***** ***** *** Hikvision *********** *** ** *** **** ****** ****** (*/*.*"). ****** all **** ***** *** */*.*" ** ******* *******. ****'* * big, ****, **** ** ****** ****.

Thumbnail logo only 80x80

Michael Miller

The Wire Guys LLC | In reply to Brandon Knutson | 08/31/15 10:20pm

*** *** **** *** ** **** *** ***** **** **** in *** *****. **** ***** ** **** ****** ** ****.

Thumbnail img 1014

David Johnson

09/01/15 07:31pm

*****,

*** **** *** ***** ** ***** **** **** **** **** large ******** **** **** **** **** ** *****?

Thumbnail logo only 80x80

Michael Miller

The Wire Guys LLC | 09/01/15 07:34pm

******** *** ****'* ** *** *** ***** ***** **** **** camera ****** **** ***** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Miller | 09/01/15 07:37pm

*** *** *** *********? *** ******** ********* ** ** **** low ***** ** ***** & ***** ****.

Thumbnail logo only 80x80

Michael Miller

The Wire Guys LLC | In reply to John Honovich | 09/02/15 01:07pm

********* *** *** ***** ****** ** *****. *** ****** ****** try ** **** ***** *** ***** ******* ** ***** **** only ** ********* **********. *** ***** ** ******** ** *** well **** ******* ** ***** **** ****.

**** ** *** **** * **** ** *.*.* ******** *** the ***********?

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Michael Miller | 09/02/15 02:18pm

********* **** ** * ******* **** ** *** *.*.* ********. Last * *** ** ***** ****'* ******. *'** ***** ** with **** ** *** ** ************.

Undisclosed #2

09/02/15 12:53pm
*** ** ********* *** ******** ** **** ****?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 09/02/15 01:04pm

**** ********* ***, ** *** *** ******* *****, ********* ** Sony, *** ** ***** **** ******* ****** ******* ***-***** *******. We **** ** ****** ****** *** ** ***** *** ***** entrants ************ (*.*.***** ********* ****** ** ****,********* ****** * ** ******* ************* ****'* *** *** ** *******). **** ***** **** ********* ** *** **** *** ******* did ** **** ******, ************* ***** **** *** *** ********* Darkfighter.

Robert Wegner

10/02/15 01:29pm

****, ******* *** * ***-**** */*" ****** **** ****** ** used *** **** **** ** ** ** * **** *** lowlight *******, ********* *** ********* ****** *** *******. **** *** true ***********, *** ******* ****** *** *** **** ****, ******* again ****** *** *******.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Robert Wegner | 10/02/15 01:38pm

***** *** ******* ********.

*** ***** ** **** *******'* ****** **** *********'* ******* ***** low ***** ****? ** ****** ** ******** ********* *** *** let ** *** *** ******** ****?

** *** *** ***-****, ** ***** **** ****. **** *** it ***** ********? * ****** ** ** ** * *** major ******* *** *** ***** ** *** ************.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to John Honovich | 10/05/15 08:16pm

*** ***-**** ** ** ***** ** ** *****. * **** checked **** *** ** *** ************ *** **** *** ****.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Robert Wegner | 10/02/15 03:35pm

...*** *** ********* ****** *** *******

******. **** **** ******.

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