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 *** *** ******* *******-**.

*** *.***+ ******** (******* ************ *** *** ***********) ******* ******** in **** **** ***** *** **** ****** *************.

*******

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

*** *********** **** (**** *.*-**** **** ******, ~$***) ** ****** well ***** **** */*" ***** *** ***** ******, **** ** the **** ***** *** **** *****, **** ~$*,*** ******, ** well ** **** ~*/*" *********** **** ***** *************, *** *****/*****, ($900-1000 ******).

$*** ** ****** ** ***** ** ****** **** ** *** 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 **.** "*******" ****

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

** ****** **** **** **** ***** *******, ** ****, ** 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 ******* ********* **** **** ******, **** ** *** **** Q1615 *** ******* ***-****, ***** **** **** *********** *** ***** and ******* ******* ****** ** *** *******'* ****.

Full *****

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

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

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

**** **** ***** ************ *** ***** ***** *.***, ** ***, with ******* ** ************.

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

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

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

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

******* **** ****** ***** ******* ********, **** *** ********* ******** applied ** *** *******:

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

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

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

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

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

Michael Miller

In reply to Brandon Knutson | 08/31/15 10:20pm

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

David Johnson

| 09/01/15 07:31pm

*****,

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

Michael Miller

| 09/01/15 07:34pm

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

John Honovich

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

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

Michael Miller

In reply to John Honovich | 09/02/15 01:07pm

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

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

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

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

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

Undisclosed 2

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

John Honovich

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

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

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

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

Undisclosed 3 Integrator

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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