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

Great test!

One comment using the 0.95 F lens with other cameras, as discussed here:

In this test, we used Hikvision's recommended lens, the HV0733D-6MP "DarkEye" model. Compared to the stock F1.5 3.8-16mm model, it provided noticeable improvement in low light, with a brighter image and moderately less noise. In the Axis Q1615 (below right), the test chart becomes legible and the subject visible using the F0.95 lens where it was not when using the stock F1.3 model.

Warning to anyone considering using this lens to increase low-light:

If you use this 0.95 lens with a standard 1/3" sensor, your light gains will be considerably less than when used with a 1/2" sensor. This is because the lens creates a 1/1.8 images circle, which is much larger than the sensor area. This is how a traditional sensor is dwarfed by the image circle of the Hik lens.

The Axis 1635 also has a 1/2" sensor, and not surprisingly benefits here. I would show a 1/2" sensor, but I am unsure of the exact x/y geometry, of either the Axis or the Hik, only of the area.

John Honovich

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

The test above is with the Q1615.

Perhaps the Axis Q1635 would benefit even more with a Hikvision lens thought that would be ironic.

Undisclosed #1

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

Right. Thanks.

The 1615 is 1/2.8, so better than 1/3 but still not 'catching' all the light, so I would expect the 1635 would benefit even more.

Do you have any other box cameras with 1/2" sensors in the lab?

edit - strikeouts

John Honovich

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

Yes, the Uniview.

We do not plan to buy the Q1635. Presumably, it will be moderately better and partially close the huge gap between the Hikvision Darkfighter and the Axis Q1615 but at a price $500 more, it sill would not be cost competitive with Hikvision.

Undisclosed #1

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

Any chance there a similar panel done with the Uniview camera and the Hik lens?

It would be interesting to swap lenses between the two 1/2" imagers to really nail down how much of this performance can be attributed to the optics.

Just noticed that the 1635 ships with a F1.5 lens. Naively perhaps, but that seems wrong to me.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

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

Uniview with the F0.95. It's a moderate improvement but I don't think it's any more impressive than the Q1615 stock vs. F0.95 improvement.

Undisclosed #1

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

I agree. It's a fractionally better stock lens 1.2 vs 1.3, but I don't see that as accounting for much. I'm out of theories.

Thanks!

Thumbnail mecontrolxxlusertile

Brandon Knutson

08/31/15 09:24pm

We've been using the Hikvision DS-2DF8223I-AEL "2MP Ultra-low Light Smart PTZ Camera" which has been incredible in low light. I was shocked to see that it stays in color / day mode with very poor lighting in a dark parking lot that borders a dark airport runway. When we zoom into a very dark area it will then switch from color to B/W using its built-in IR. This camera replaced a 10 year old high-end Pelco Esprit turret style analog camera with a Bosch Uniflood IR illuminator. I want one of these at my house.

John Honovich

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

Brandon, Thanks for the feedback. One fascinating thing about the Hikvision Darkfighter PTZ is its very larger imager (1/1.9"). Almost all PTZs today use 1/2.8" or smaller imagers. That's a big, rare, jump in imager size.

Michael Miller

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

Yea the that PTZ is nice and works very well in low light. Only issue is that camera is HUGE.

Thumbnail img 1014

David Johnson

09/01/15 07:31pm

Ethan,

How does the depth of field fare with this very large aperture lens when wide open at night?

Michael Miller

09/01/15 07:34pm

Suprised you didn't do any low light tests with this camera forced into color mode.

John Honovich

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

Why are you surprised? Our standard procedure is to test low light in black & white mode.

Michael Miller

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

Surprised was the wrong choice of words. You should really try to test these low light cameras in color mode only in different situations. You might be surpized on how well they perform in color only mode.

Also do you have a link to 5.4.3 firmware for the Darkfighter?

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

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

Hikvision sent us a private link to the 5.4.3 firmware. Last I saw it still wasn't public. I'll check in with them as far as availability.

Undisclosed #2

09/02/15 12:53pm
Why is Panasonic not included in this test?

John Honovich

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

Dear Panasonic rep, we did not include Bosch, Panasonic or Sony, all of which have similar higher quality low-light cameras. We have of course tested all of their low light entrants individually (e.g.Bosch Starlight Tested vs Axis, Panasonic Series 6 IP Cameras TestedTesting Sony's 6th Gen IP Cameras). They would fare similarly to how Axis and Samsung did in this report, significantly worse than the new Hikvision Darkfighter.

Robert Wegner

10/02/15 01:29pm

John, Samsung has a SNB-6005 1/2" camera wich should be used for this test as it is a test for lowlight cameras, othervise you comparing apples and oranges. Also for true comparisons, all cameras should use the same lens, othwise again apples and oranges.

John Honovich

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

Thank you Samsung employee.

Why would we test Samsung's camera with Hikvision's special super low light lens? Or should we handicap Hikvision and not let it use its superior lens?

As for the SNB-6005, we would test that. When did it start shipping? I looked it up at a few major outlets and not clear on its availability.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

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

The SNB-6005 is in stock as of today. I just checked with one of our distributors and they had them.

Undisclosed #1

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

...you are comparing apples and oranges

Untrue. Some were lemons.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Genetec Privacy Protector Tested on Nov 12, 2018
Genetec has built Kiwi Security's Privacy Protector into Security Center, an analytic which anonymizes individuals in cameras' fields of view...
Dahua Dual Imager Dome Camera Tested (HDBW4231FN-E2-M) on Nov 07, 2018
Dahua has introduced a dual-imager dome model, the HDBW4231FN-E2-M, with two independently positionable sensors including integrated IR, not found...
Axxon Face Search Tested on Oct 26, 2018
AxxonSoft has brought facial recognition to their Axxon Next VMS for free with the simply named Face Search, claiming to allow users to find...
Hanwha Dual Imager Dome Camera Tested (PNM-7000VD) on Oct 18, 2018
Hanwha has introduced their first dual-imager model, the PNM-7000VD, a twin 1080p model featuring independently positionable sensors and a snap-in...
Dahua Face Recognition Camera Tested on Oct 15, 2018
Dahua has been one of the industry's most vocal proponents of the value that AI creates: As part of this, Dahua has released a facial...
Last Chance - October 2018 Camera Course on Oct 04, 2018
Today is the last day to register for the October 2018 Camera Course, register now. This is the only independent surveillance camera course,...
Axis 4K vs. 5MP Camera Shootout (Q3518-LVE + Q3517-LVE) on Oct 04, 2018
Axis has released the 4K counterpart to their 5MP Q3517-LVE (see our test). Axis claims of both these cameras: Simply put, AXIS Q3518(17)-LVE...
Hikvision 4MP Camera Tested (DS-2CD2345FWD-I) on Sep 27, 2018
Hikvision's latest Performance Series / EasyIP 3.0 4MP model, the DS-2CD2345FWD-I, was the top performer in our 4MP shootout, besting rivals from...
4MP Camera Shootout - Axis, Dahua, DW, Hanwha, Hikvision, Uniview, Vivotek on Sep 24, 2018
4MP usage continues to climb, especially for low cost fixed lens models. To see who was best, we bought and tested seven 4MP models from Axis,...
Axis Vs. Hikvision IR PTZ Shootout on Sep 20, 2018
Hikvision has their high-end dual-sensor DarkfighterX. Axis has their high-end concealed IR Q6125-LE. Which is better? We bought both and tested...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Milestone Disrupts Milestone With Arcules on Nov 19, 2018
Milestone is now competing against... Milestone's own spinout Arcules New IPVM testing shows that Arcules has incorporated a substantial amount of...
Pressure Mounts Against Dahua and Hikvision Xinjiang Business on Nov 19, 2018
Pressure is mounting against Hikvision, Dahua, and other companies operating in Xinjiang as an international outcry brews against the Chinese...
Arcules Cloud VMS Tested on Nov 19, 2018
Arcules is a big bet, or as they describe themselves a 'bold company', spun out and backed by Milestone and Canon.  But how good is Arcules cloud...
'Sticker' Surveillance Camera Developed (CSEM Witness) on Nov 16, 2018
The Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) has announced what it calls the: world’s first fully autonomous camera that can be...
ISC East 2018 Mini-Show Final Report on Nov 16, 2018
This is our second (updated) and final show report from ISC East. ISC East, by its own admission, is not a national or international show, billed...
Facial Detection Tested on Nov 16, 2018
Facial detection and recognition are increasingly offered by video surveillance manufacturers. Facial detection detects faces in an image/video...
Throughtek P2P/Cloud Solution Profile on Nov 15, 2018
Many IoT manufacturers either do not have the capabilities or the interest to develop their own cloud management software for their devices....
ASIS Offering Custom Research For Manufacturers on Nov 15, 2018
Manufacturers often want to know what industry people think about trends and, in particular, the segments and product they offer.  ASIS and its...
Hikvision Silent on "Bad Architectural Practices" Cybersecurity Report on Nov 14, 2018
A 'significant vulnerability was found in Hikvision cameras' by VDOO, a startup cybersecurity specialist. Hikvision has fixed the specific...
French Government Threatens School with $1.7M Fine For “Excessive Video Surveillance” on Nov 14, 2018
The French government has notified a high-profile Paris coding academy that it risks a fine of up to 1.5 million euros (about $1.7m) if it...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact