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

Michael Miller

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

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

Thumbnail img 1014

David Johnson

09/01/15 07:31pm

*****,

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

Michael Miller

09/01/15 07:34pm

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

John Honovich

IPVM | 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 | 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

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

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

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

Dahua 4K IR PTZ Tested on Aug 21, 2017
4K has made its way to IR PTZs. In this report, we examine the Dahua 6AE830VNI, a 4K PTZ with 30x optical zoom, 200m (~650') integrated IR, and...
Top Used License Plate Capture Cameras on Aug 21, 2017
Capturing license plates is a common video surveillance application. But what cameras do integrators mostly commonly used? Special purpose LPC...
Sony Next Gen HD Dome Camera Tested (SNC-EM642R) on Aug 18, 2017
Sony has released their latest generation, claiming improved WDR and low light, increased IR range, and more. We tested the SNC-EM642R outdoor IR...
Axis Laser Focus PTZ Tested on Aug 14, 2017
Axis has been touting its new Q6155-E laser focus PTZ as 'always in focus' and 'always in color'. Does it really deliver? We bought and tested...
IP Camera Specification / RFP Guide 2017 on Aug 14, 2017
RFPs are hard. Do them 'right' and it takes a lot of knowledge and time. Do them 'wrong' and you can be (a) unwittingly locked into a specific...
ADI 'In The Dark' About Low Light on Aug 07, 2017
ADI's recent post on 'How To See Better In the Dark' makes basic mistakes, promoting outdated technical claims. Missing: Super Low...
Dome Versus Turret Camera Usage Statistics 2017 on Aug 07, 2017
Turret cameras are a growing segment within video surveillance. Indeed, many integrators argued strongly for turrets in an IPVM...
Dahua 4K Turret Tested Vs Hikvision (N84BG44 ) on Aug 02, 2017
Dahua has released their latest low cost 4K model, the N84BG44, claiming Smart H.265+ and 50m IR range. We bought and tested this new model against...
Super Low Light Surveillance Guide on Aug 01, 2017
At the beginning of this decade, low light performance of megapixel cameras was generally terrible. This was the era of super slow shutter where...
IR Surveillance Guide on Jul 31, 2017
Infrared (IR) has become an increasing core component to video surveillance systems. In particular, the expansion of integrated IR cameras that...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Dahua 4K IR PTZ Tested on Aug 21, 2017
4K has made its way to IR PTZs. In this report, we examine the Dahua 6AE830VNI, a 4K PTZ with 30x optical zoom, 200m (~650') integrated IR, and...
Top Used License Plate Capture Cameras on Aug 21, 2017
Capturing license plates is a common video surveillance application. But what cameras do integrators mostly commonly used? Special purpose LPC...
VLAN For Video Surveillance Usage Statistics on Aug 21, 2017
VLANs (see our tutorial) are an option for networks using video surveillance, but how often are they actually used? 125+ integrators told us how...
Avigilon CEO Attacks Asian Companies Cyber Insecurity on Aug 18, 2017
Avigilon CEO is taking aim at their Asian competitors. And he is going directly after these company's cyber security issues. In this note, we...
Sony Next Gen HD Dome Camera Tested (SNC-EM642R) on Aug 18, 2017
Sony has released their latest generation, claiming improved WDR and low light, increased IR range, and more. We tested the SNC-EM642R outdoor IR...
IP Networking Course September 2017 on Aug 17, 2017
This is the only networking course designed specifically for video surveillance professionals plus it includes live training, personal help and...
Knightscope Raises $10 Million With $3,320 Average Per Investor on Aug 17, 2017
Congrats to Knightscope. And condolences to their legion of little investors. Knightscope has disclosed they have raised $10+ million from their...
Axis and Arecont Legal Conflict Over Multi-Imager Cameras on Aug 17, 2017
Arecont threatened Axis. Axis has responded by moving to invalidate an Arecont patent. It is an important contest. Multi-imagers are Arecont's...
Directory Of Consumer Security Cameras on Aug 16, 2017
The consumer camera segment continues to grow, with new startups and models from existing players released seemingly every month. In this report we...
Cat 5e vs Cat 6 vs Cat 6a Network Cable Usage Statistics on Aug 16, 2017
Cat 5e? Cat 6? Cat 6a? What do integrators use in practice, today? 140+ integrators told IPVM. Here are the results: For those who want to...

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