Hikvision DarkfighterX Vs Darkfighter PTZ Tested

Author: Ethan Ace, Published on Apr 26, 2018

Hikvision has focused on improving low-light performance for PTZs, an area that has traditionally been a problem, even more so than fixed cameras, due to the challenges of higher F stops and long-range varifocal lenses of PTZs.

Two of Hikvision's most notable efforts are (1) their Darkfighter PTZ line and (2) more recently, their DarkfighterX, the "next level of surveillance", that unlike any major manufacturer, uses 2 sensors, as Hikvision explains the "IR sensor delivers image brightness, the other sensor for visible light guarantees vivid color."

We bought and tested the Darkfigher X DS-2DF8225IH-AELW against Hikvision's Darkfighter line (the DS-2DF8236IX-AELW) to see how this technology works and which one is better in which ways.

Inside, we share our full test results, including:

  • Wide angle vs zoom details captured
  • Low light color performance (in sub 1 lux 'no light' and in 2 - 7 lux ambient / 'urban' lighting')
  • Monochrome vs. color performance differences
  • Focus issues
  • Size compared to other PTZs
  • Relative bandwidth consumption
  • Comparative pricing

********* *** ******* ** ********* ***-***** *********** *** ****, ** area **** *** ************* **** * *******, **** **** ** than ***** *******, *** ** *** ********** ** ****** * stops *** ****-***** ********* ****** ** ****.

*** ** *********'* **** ******* ******* *** (*) ***** *********** PTZ **** *** (*) **** ********, *****************, *** "**** ***** ** ************", **** ****** *** ***** ************, **** * *******,** ********* *********** "** ****** ******** ***** **********, *** ***** ****** *** visible ***** ********** ***** *****."

** ****** *** ****** ************* * **-*********-*********** *********'* *********** **** (*****-*********-****) ** *** *** **** ********** ***** *** ***** *** is ****** ** ***** ****.

******, ** ***** *** **** **** *******, *********:

  • **** ***** ** **** ******* ********
  • *** ***** ***** *********** (** *** * *** '** *****' and ** * - * *** ******* / '*****' ********')
  • ********** **. ***** *********** ***********
  • ***** ******
  • **** ******** ** ***** ****
  • ******** ********* ***********
  • *********** *******

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

Low ***** *********** *******

**** **** *********'* ********* *****, *** ************ *** ******** ***** ****** *** ****** ********** in *** **** *** ** ****** **** ***** ******** *********** model, ***** ******* **** ** ***** ** *** **** *****, obscuring ******* ******.

*******, **** ******/******** ******* **** *** ******** ********* ** **** details, ** *** ***-* *********** *** ******** ****** ******* ** subjects *** **** (****** ******* *****) ** *** ***** ****** and ******. ************, ** ********* ****** **** ******* ******** (*+ lux), *********'* ******** *********** *** ***** ******** ***** *** ****** similar ** ** ****** **** *** ************.

**** *** **** ** ********** *** ***** *** ********** ******* color *********** **** ******** ******** ** ***** *** *** ********* moderate *********** ******* ** ** ** ** **** ******* **** fields ** ****. ****** *** ****** ** ** ****** ****** by ******** ** **** ***** ***** ****** ******/**** ******* ** a ***** ****.

Other ******** - ***** *** ********* ******

*** ************ *** ******** **** ***** ****** ***** ** **** other ** **** ** *** **** *****, ******* ** ***** on ******** *** ** ** ~** ******* ***** ******** ********, while *** ***-* *********** *** *** ************* **** ** **** problem.

*******, ************ ******** (*.***+) **** ****** **** *** ******** *********** PTZ ** *** ***** *** **** ****** ** ~**-**%.

Competitor **********

** **** ******, ***** ***** *** ** **** ********* ******** involved, ** ******* **** ** *********. ** ******** *******, ** will **** ** ***** ************'* ** / ***-***** ****, **** as**** ***** ***** ********* ** ***.

*******

*** **-*********-**** ************ *** ***** *** ~$*,*** *** ******, ***** 30% ****** **** *********'* ****** *********** (***-*) ***, *****-*********-****(~$*,*** ******).

Physical ********

*** ************ *** ** ******* ** ************ ** ***** ********** IR ******, ** **** *** ********** (****** *** ******* ** silver ******* ** *** ******* ***-***** ** ***** *********/***** ******).

**** *** *******, *** ****** ***** ******* ** ************ ** PTZs ** *** **** ******* *** *** ******* ******* *** camera's ****** ****, ** ***** ** *** ***** *****:

DarkfighterX ******

************ **** *** ***** *******, *** *** ***** *** *** for ********** *** ********* ******** *** ***. *********, **** ******* use * ****** ****, **** ***** ***** ** **** ** them. ******* ** **** ***********, *** ************'* ******* **** ** color (****** "***" ** *** *** *********), **** ** **, unusual *** ** *******.

********* ***** *** ** ****** ** *** ****** ******** **** strange *******. ****** ********' ********** *** ****** ******** "***" *** change ** **** ****, ***** *****.

**** **** *** ****** **** *** * "*****" ********** ****, but **** ********* *********** *** **** ** ******** ** ****, removing *** ***** *** ***** *********:

Bright ******/******** ******** **** ****** ***

**** ***** **** ****** ** **** (***** *****), *** ************ camera ******** ******** ****** **** ****** ******** ** ***** **** the ******** *********** ****** ******** ** ********** **** ** **. The *** ********** ** *** *****, ******, *** ******* ***** are *** ****** ******* ** *** ************ *****, *** *** in *** ***-* ***********.

**** ** ***** **** **** ** ****:

IR "*** ***" **** ****** ***

*******, **** *** ************ ****** ** ****** ***, ******** ****** very ********* ** ****** ** *** ** **** ***** (***'+), as *** ******'* ** ******** ** ****/******* *****, ***** *****. This ******** ********** ** ***** ** ***** ****** ** ** off.

**** ** ***** ** ****** *****, **** *** ******* ******* eliminated ** ***** **** ****** **, **** **** ********* ** see **** ****** ***.

Reduced **** ******* ******** ** ******** ** *******

******** *** ************ ******** * ******** ******* *****, **** ****** and ****** ********, **** ******* **** ** ****** ******** ******** moderately *******/******* **** ******* **, ******** ***** *********.

*** *******, ** ***' ******** (~** ***), *** *******'* ****** details *** **** ***** *** **** ***** ** *** ************ camera, *** ***** *** **** ************/******* ** *** ***-* *********** PTZ.

** ****** *****/****** **** ******, **** **** ** ****** ******* more **********. ***** ***** ** ~***', *** ************ ****** ** dimmer, **** **** ***** ******* ******* *** **** ***** ********** than *** ******** *********** *****. *******, ****** *** ***** ******* visible ** *** ************, ***** ** *** ***** *****.

*******, ** ****** ***** (~***'), **** *******' ******* ******, **** only **** ** **** *** ******* *** **** ***** ******* details.

Performance ***** ********** ** ******** ***** ******

** ********* ****** **** ******** ********, *** ************ ********* ***** than *** ******** *********** *** ** ***** ****. ***** ****** from ~*-*** ** *** *****, ********* ** ********* ** ******* lot ********.

*** *******, ** ~***' ********, **** ***** ** ~*-***, *** DarkfighterX *** *********** ******* ******* ******* *** ***** ******** ** "day" ****, ***** *** ******** *********** ******** ******* ******* ** the ******* *** ***** **** ** **.

*** **** *** **** ** ***** ***** ******, ~*-***, ***** below. ** **** *****, ******* ** *** ************ *** *********** are ******* ** *****, **** ******* ***** ****** **** ** on.

Occasional ***** ******

****** *******, *** ************ ****** *********** ******** ***** ****** ******* to ***** ** **** ******. ** *** ******* *****, *** camera ***** ** ***** ****** *** ****** **** ~** *******.

** ********, *** ***-* *********** *** ******* ** *** ******* in **** *-* ******* ****** * ******* ******** *******:

FoV **********

*** **** ***** ********** ***** ***** *** **** ***** ** view ** **** ******. ***** *** ************ ******** ******* ***** coverage **** *** *********** ** ***** **** *** **** ******* are ******* (*** ***** ** ********** ******** *****)

Full ***** ***********

** ******* ******, *** ************ *** *********** **** ******* ******* details ** *** ******* *** **** *****, **** ****** *********** in **********. *** ************'* ***** ** ******* ******/***** **** *** Darkfighter, *** ********* ******* *** *******.

** **** *****, ~***', ******* *** *******, ** ****.

Bandwidth **********

** **** **** (DarkfighterX *** ******** ~**-**% **** ********* **** *** ***-* *********** model. **** ****** ****************'* *.***+ ***** *****.

**** **** ***** ******** **** ******** ****** ****** ******** ** more ******* ********* **** ***** ***. ***** ***** ****** ***** with **** ********* ** ********* ****** *** ****** **** ********** will *** *.***+ ******** **** ******* ** ***** *******, ****** the ************ ***'* ******** *** ***** ********** ****** **** ***-*, by ~**%.

*.***+ ******* **** ********* ** ***** *** *********. *.***+ ******* worked ******* ****** ** ******** ******* ****** *** ****** ****.

Firmware ****

*** **** ******* ******** ********* ** *** **** ** ******* was ****, ******** ** ********* *** ********* *******.

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

Comments (6)

Thumbnail image

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | 04/26/18 05:54pm

**** **** *******, **** ******** ******! * ** ********* * few ****** ******;

** "*** ***" **** ****** ***

** ** ******** **** ***** ***** ** ** ****** ***** be ***** ** ********? ** ** ** * ** ****** feature **** ** **** ** ******** ****? ** **** **** to ** * ***** ***** ** **. *** ***** ***** you ***** ***** **** **** ******* **** ***********.

****** *******, *** ************ ****** *********** ******** ***** ****** ******* to ***** ** **** ******. ** *** ******* *****, *** camera ***** ** ***** ****** *** ****** **** ~** *******.

** ********, *** ***-* *********** *** ******* ** *** ******* in **** *-* ******* ****** * ******* ******** *******:

* ******'* **** *** ****** **** ** ***** ******** **** the *** ***** *** ****** ** ******* ** *** ******* walking. ** *** ****, ** *******, **** *** ******* **** more ******* ******** ** ******** **** ***** **** ****? ** there ********* ******** ** *** **** **** ****** ****? ** is **** ****** * ****** ***** **** **** *** *****?

***** **** **** ** ******* ** ***** ** *&* ****? Would *** ******** ** **** **** ***** ****** ** ***** mode? ***** *** *** ***** ***** ****** ** *&* ****?

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 04/26/18 04:10pm

* ***** ***** **** ***** **** *** *** ** ************ in ********, ***. ** ****** ***** *** ** ** **** it *** **** * ***** **** ** ************. ***** *** longer ***** **** ** *** ***** ***** ****** ******* **.

** *** ******* *'** ****, **'* ********* **** ****** ** focus **** ****** ******* **. *** ******** **** **** **** the *********** *** ***** ** **** **** *****/***** ******* **** was *** ******* ** **** ** ********* ***** ******** ******** in *** ***** (~* *******). ** ***** ***** ** **** even **** ****.

**** ******** ** ***** ****. * ***** ****** *** ***-* camera ** ********* ***** ** ***** ****, *** ****** ******* the ***** ** ****** *** ***** ******** ***** ** ***** IR ***. *** *** ***** ** **, ** *** ********** image ***'* ****** *** ********/** ****** ********.

Thumbnail image

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | In reply to Ethan Ace | 04/26/18 04:14pm

** * ****** ** *** **** ** *** *** **** is ******** ** *** **** ** ******* ****** ** *** sensors? ******'* **** ** * ********* **** **** ** ****? Maybe *********** *** ** ** **** ** ***** ** ******* the **** ******* *** **** ***** ** **** ******** ************? In **** ****, ** ** ****** * ******* ****** ***** and *** ********* **** ***** ** ******** ** ********?

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

04/26/18 04:27pm

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

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

Dennis Ruban

05/01/18 03:45pm

**** *** *** ************ ***** **** *** ******** *** *********? When * *** ** ********, *** ****** ********* ****** *.* mbps ** ****** **** *.***+ *******, *** *** ****** *** with ****** **** *** **** ********* ***********

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Dennis Ruban | 05/01/18 06:17pm

*** ********* ************ **** ***** **** *** ****** ***** **** for ********, ** ** ********* ** *** **** *** ******** on *** *****. ** ****'** ****** **** *******, ***** *****'* constant **** ****** ******. **** **'* *****, **'* **** *****, a *** ******* **/*.

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

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...
Video Quality / Compression Tutorial on Oct 17, 2018
While CODECs, like H.264, H.265, and MJPEG, get a lot of attention, a camera's 'quality' or compression setting has a big impact on overall...
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...
Amazon Ring Spotlight Cam Tested on Sep 17, 2018
Amazon's Ring has released their latest camera entry, the Spotlight Cam, which we bought and tested in our Consumer IP Camera Analytics...
Vivotek 4MP Camera Tested (FD8379-HV) on Sep 13, 2018
Next in our series of updated 4MP testing, we bought and tested Vivotek's FD8379-HV, and entry level 4MP model claiming "top-notch quality video in...

Most Recent Industry Reports

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...
Camera Height / Blind Spot Added to IPVM Camera Calculator on Oct 18, 2018
IPVM has added camera height and blind spot estimation to the Camera Calculator. This is especially helpful for those who need to mount cameras up...
Axis Strong US Growth, Flat EMEA - Q3 2018 Financials on Oct 18, 2018
This spring, Axis had its best financials in many years (see Axis Strong Q2 2018 Results). However, over the summer, Axis had many products sold...
Best Alternatives to Banned Dahua and Hikvision on Oct 17, 2018
With the US government ban and a growing number of users banning Dahua and Hikvision, one key question is what to use for low cost? While Dahua and...
Video Quality / Compression Tutorial on Oct 17, 2018
While CODECs, like H.264, H.265, and MJPEG, get a lot of attention, a camera's 'quality' or compression setting has a big impact on overall...
Knightscope Winning Investors, Struggling With Growth on Oct 16, 2018
While Knightscope's new financials show the company only winning 11 new customers in the past 12 months, the company continues to win new...
Integrator Laptop Guide on Oct 16, 2018
This 18-page guide provides guidance and statistics about integrator laptop use. 150 integrators explained to IPVM in detail about their laptops,...
Huawei Admits AI "Bubble" on Oct 16, 2018
A fascinating article from the Chinese government's Global Times: Huawei’s AI ambition to reshape industries. While the Global Times talks about...
ADI's Financials Revealed + W-Box Growth Priority on Oct 15, 2018
  ADI is one of the most powerful distributors in the security industry but how big are they? How much profit do they make? How much do they sell...
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...

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