Hikvision DarkfighterX Vs Darkfighter PTZ Tested

By: 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

********* *** ******* ** improving ***-***** *********** *** PTZs, ** **** **** has ************* **** * problem, **** **** ** than ***** *******, *** to *** ********** ** higher * ***** *** long-range ********* ****** ** PTZs.

*** ** *********'* **** notable ******* *** (*) their *********** *** **** and (*) **** ********, their ************, *** "**** ***** ** ************", **** ****** *** major ************, **** * sensors,** ********* *********** "** ****** ******** image **********, *** ***** sensor *** ******* ***** guarantees ***** *****."

** ****** *** ****** the********** * **-*********-*********** *********'* *********** **** (the **-*********-****) ** *** *** this ********** ***** *** ***** one ** ****** ** which ****.

******, ** ***** *** full **** *******, *********:

  • **** ***** ** **** details ********
  • *** ***** ***** *********** (in *** * *** 'no *****' *** ** 2 - * *** ambient / '*****' ********')
  • ********** **. ***** *********** differences
  • ***** ******
  • **** ******** ** ***** PTZs
  • ******** ********* ***********
  • *********** *******

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

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

**** **** *********'* ********* shows, *** ************ *** produces ***** ****** *** better ********** ** *** **** FoV ** ****** **** their ******** *********** *****, which ******* **** ** bloom ** *** **** field, ********* ******* ******.

*******, **** ******/******** ******* does *** ******** ********* to **** *******, ** the ***-* *********** *** produced better ******* ** ******** and **** (****** ******* color) ** *** ***** levels *** ******. ************, in ********* ****** **** ambient ******** (*+ ***), Hikvision's ******** *********** *** model ******** ***** *** detail ******* ** ** better **** *** ************.

**** *** **** ** attractive *** ***** *** absolutely ******* ***** *********** when ******** ******** ** night *** *** ********* moderate *********** ******* ** do ** ** **** require **** ****** ** view. ****** *** ****** to ** ****** ****** by ******** ** **** which ***** ****** ******/**** details ** * ***** cost.

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

*** ************ *** ******** from ***** ****** ***** in **** ***** ** PTZs ** *** **** tests, ******* ** ***** on ******** *** ** to ~** ******* ***** actively ********, ***** *** non-X *********** *** *** significantly **** ** **** problem.

*******, ************ ******** (*.***+) were ****** **** *** standard *********** *** ** low ***** *** **** scenes ** ~**-**%.

Competitor **********

** **** ******, ***** there *** ** **** technical ******** ********, ** focused **** ** *********. In ******** *******, ** will **** ** ***** manufacturer's ** / ***-***** PTZs, **** ****** ***** ***** ********* ** ***.

*******

*** **-*********-**** ************ *** ***** for ~$*,*** *** ******, about **% ****** **** *********'* latest *********** (***-*) ***, the**-*********-****(~$*,*** ******).

Physical ********

*** ************ *** ** similar ** ************ ** other ********** ** ******, in **** *** ********** (though *** ******* ** silver ******* ** *** typical ***-***** ** ***** Hikvision/other ******). 

**** *** *******, *** camera ***** ******* ** ************ IR **** ** *** dual ******* *** *** visible ******* *** ******'* single ****, ** ***** in *** ***** *****:

DarkfighterX ******

************ **** *** ***** *******, one *** ***** *** one *** ********** *** digitally ******** *** ***. *********, both ******* *** * single ****, **** ***** split ** **** ** them. ******* ** **** combination, *** ************'* ******* mode ** ***** (****** "Day" ** *** *** interface), **** ** **, unusual *** ** *******.

********* ***** *** ** images ** *** ****** produces **** ******* *******. Moving ********' ********** *** appear ******** "***" *** change ** **** ****, shown *****. 

**** **** *** ****** also *** * "*****" monochrome ****, *** **** functions *********** *** **** as ******** ** ****, removing *** ***** *** light *********:

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

**** ***** **** ****** of **** (***** *****), the ************ ****** ******** brighter ****** **** ****** contrast ** ***** **** the ******** *********** ****** produces ** ********** **** IR **. *** *** background ** *** *****, clouds, *** ******* ***** are *** ****** ******* in *** ************ *****, but *** ** *** ***-* Darkfighter.

**** ** ***** **** side ** ****:

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

*******, **** *** ************ camera ** ****** ***, subjects ****** **** ********* to ****** ** *** to **** ***** (***'+), as *** ******'* ** switched ** ****/******* *****, shown *****. **** ******** regardless ** ***** ** being ****** ** ** off.

**** ** ***** ** motion *****, **** *** subject ******* ********** ** range **** ****** **, then **** ********* ** see **** ****** ***.

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

******** *** ************ ******** * brighter ******* *****, **** colors *** ****** ********, fine ******* **** ** facial ******** ******** ********** blurred/smeared **** ******* **, reducing ***** *********.

*** *******, ** ***' distance (~** ***), *** subject's ****** ******* *** test ***** *** **** clear ** *** ************ camera, *** ***** *** more ************/******* ** *** ***-* DarkFighter ***.

 

** ****** *****/****** **** levels, **** **** ** detail ******* **** **********. Shown ***** ** ~***', the ************ ****** ** dimmer, **** **** ***** subject ******* *** **** chart ********** **** *** standard *********** *****. *******, colors *** ***** ******* visible ** *** ************, shown ** *** ***** below.

*******, ** ****** ***** (~500'), **** *******' ******* suffer, **** **** **** of **** *** ******* and **** ***** ******* details.

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

** ********* ****** **** ******** lighting, *** ************ ********* worse **** *** ******** Darkfighter *** ** ***** mode. ***** ****** **** ~2-7lx ** *** *****, depending ** ********* ** parking *** ********. 

*** *******, ** ~***' distance, **** ***** ** ~5-6lx, *** ************ *** Darkfighter ******* ******* ******* and ***** ******** ** "day" ****, ***** *** standard *********** ******** ******* details ** *** ******* and ***** **** ** on.

*** **** *** **** at ***** ***** ******, ~2-3lx, ***** *****. ** this *****, ******* ** the ************ *** *********** are ******* ** *****, with ******* ***** ****** with ** **.

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

****** *******, *** ************ camera *********** ******** ***** issues ******* ** ***** IR **** ******. ** *** example *****, *** ****** fails ** ***** ****** the ****** **** ~** seconds.

 

** ********, *** ***-* *********** PTZ ******* ** *** subject ** **** *-* seconds ****** * ******* tracking *******:

 

FoV **********

*** **** ***** ********** ***** ***** the **** ***** ** view ** **** ******. While *** ************ ******** greater ***** ******** **** the *********** ** ***** mode *** **** ******* are ******* (*** ***** up ********** ******** *****)

 

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

** ******* ******, *** DarkfighterX *** *********** **** produce ******* ******* ** the ******* *** **** chart, **** ****** *********** in **********. *** ************'* image ** ******* ******/***** than *** ***********, *** practical ******* *** *******.

** **** *****, ~***', details *** *******, ** well.

Bandwidth **********

** **** **** (and *** ****** (~***) scenes, *** ************ *** consumed ~**-**% **** ********* than *** ***-* *********** *****. Both ****** ****************'* *.***+ ***** *****.

**** **** ***** ******** were ******** ****** ****** tracking ** **** ******* represent **** ***** ***. Those ***** ****** ***** with **** ********* ** otherwise ****** *** ****** less ********** **** *** H.265+ ******** **** ******* to ***** *******, ****** the ************ ***'* ******** are ***** ********** ****** than ***-*, ** ~**%. 

*.***+ ******* **** ********* in ***** *** *********. H.264+ ******* ****** ******* issues ** ******** ******* Center *** ****** ****.

Firmware ****

*** **** ******* ******** available ** *** **** of ******* *** ****, verified ** ********* *** technical *******.

  • ********* **-*********-****: **.*.* ***** 170824
  • ********* **-*********-****: **.*.* ***** 170907

Comments (6)

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | 04/26/18 03:54pm

**** **** *******, **** detailed ******! * ** wondering * *** ****** though;

** "*** ***" **** Zoomed ***

** ** ******** **** these ***** ** ** issues ***** ** ***** in ********? ** ** it * ** ****** feature **** ** **** an ******** ****? ** does **** ** ** a ***** ***** ** me. *** ***** ***** you ***** ***** **** that ******* **** ***********.

****** *******, *** ************ camera *********** ******** ***** issues ******* ** ***** IR **** ******. ** the ******* *****, *** camera ***** ** ***** during *** ****** **** ~15 *******.

** ********, *** ***-* Darkfighter *** ******* ** the ******* ** **** 2-3 ******* ****** * similar ******** *******:

* ******'* **** *** notice **** ** ***** examples **** *** *** model *** ****** ** tighter ** *** ******* walking. ** *** ****, in *******, **** *** cameras **** **** ******* focusing ** ******** **** using **** ****? ** there ********* ******** ** the **** **** ****** this? ** ** **** simply * ****** ***** with **** *** *****?

***** **** **** ** related ** ***** ** B&W ****? ***** *** standard ** **** **** these ****** ** ***** mode? ***** *** *** model ***** ****** ** B&W ****?

Avatar

Ethan Ace

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

* ***** ***** **** could **** *** *** IR ************ ** ********, yes. ** ****** ***** odd ** ** **** it *** **** * sharp **** ** ************. Using *** ****** ***** LEDs ** *** ***** would ****** ******* **.

** *** ******* *'** done, **'* ********* **** easier ** ***** **** zoomed ******* **. *** actually **** **** **** the *********** *** ***** at **** **** *****/***** because **** *** *** longest ** **** ** autofocus ***** ******** ******** in *** ***** (~* seconds). ** ***** ***** it **** **** **** time.

**** ******** ** ***** mode. * ***** ****** the ***-* ****** ** autofocus ***** ** ***** mode, *** ****** ******* the ***** ** ****** and ***** ******** ***** it ***** ** ***. The *** ***** ** on, ** *** ********** image ***'* ****** *** brighter/or ****** ********.

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

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

** * ****** ** the **** ** *** DFX **** ** ******** by *** **** ** deliver ****** ** *** sensors? ******'* **** ** a ********* **** **** DF ****? ***** *********** had ** ** **** in ***** ** ******* the **** ******* *** that ***** ** **** focusing ************? ** **** case, ** ** ****** a ******* ****** ***** and *** ********* **** could ** ******** ** firmware?

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

04/26/18 11:27pm

****** ************* ****. 

********** ** ****** ****** tests ******* ***** ***** PTZs. 

Dennis Ruban

05/01/18 03:45pm

**** *** *** ************ ***** when *** ******** *** bandwidth? **** * *** my ********, *** ****** generated ****** *.* **** ** medium **** *.***+ *******, and *** ****** *** with ****** **** *** same ********* ***********

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Dennis Ruban | 05/01/18 04:17pm

*** ********* ************ **** taken **** *** ****** being **** *** ********, as ** ********* ** the **** *** ******** on *** *****. ** they're ****** **** *******, since *****'* ******** **** screen ******. **** **'* still, **'* **** *****, 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

Panasonic 32MP Multi Imager Camera Tested (WV-X8570N) on May 16, 2019
Panasonic has released their first multi imager models including the 32MP (4x4K) WV-X8570N, claiming "Extreme image quality for evidence capturing...
Vivotek 20MP Multi-Imager Tested on May 30, 2019
Vivotek has released their latest repositionable multi-imager camera, the MA9321-EHTV, a 20 MP model claiming "Supreme Night Visibility", "Optimal...
Avigilon 32MP and 12MP H4 Multisensor Cameras Tested on Jun 11, 2019
Avigilon has released their H4 Multi-Sensor line of cameras claiming "broad scene coverage and high image detail" We bought and tested the...
Hikvision ColorVu Camera Tested on Jun 24, 2019
Hikvision says their new ColorVu line captures "vivid chromatic images in darkness", with unconventional white light illuminations whereas most...
WDR Camera Mega Shootout 2019 - Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Panasonic, Vivotek on Sep 04, 2019
This is the biggest WDR Shootout ever, with 23 cameras from 8 manufacturers: We included true multi-exposure WDR and non-WDR models, ranging...
Panasonic 4K Camera Tested (WV-S2570L) on Sep 13, 2019
Panasonic has released their latest generation 4K dome, the WV-S2570L, claiming "Extreme image quality allows evidence to be captured even under...
Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) Guide on Oct 01, 2019
Understanding wide dynamic range (WDR) is critical to capturing high quality images in demanding conditions. However, with no real standards, any...
Axis "Best Of The Best" 4K Camera Tested (Q1798-LE) on Nov 21, 2019
Axis has released their "best of the best" Q1798-LE bullet camera, touting "4K without compromise" with a large Micro 4/3" image sensor, custom...
AVTech ~$70 IP Cameras Tested Vs Dahua and Hikvision on Dec 04, 2019
Taiwanese manufacturer Avtech is taking direct aim at low cost leaders Dahua and Hikvision with ~$70 starlight and white light illuminator...
Uniview Color Low Light Camera Tested Vs Hikvision ColorVu on Jan 07, 2020
Hikvision has been marketing ColorVu aggressively. Now, Hikvision domestic rival Uniview (UNV) is offering aggressive pricing for their new rival...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Every VMS Will Become a VSaaS on Feb 21, 2020
VMS is ending. Soon every VMS will be a VSaaS. Competitive dynamics will be redrawn. What does this mean? VMS Historically...
Video Surveillance 101 Course - Last Chance on Feb 20, 2020
This is the last chance to join IPVM's first Video Surveillance 101 course, designed to help those new to the industry to quickly understand the...
Vulnerability Directory For Access Credentials on Feb 20, 2020
Knowing which access credentials are insecure can be difficult to see, especially because most look and feel the same. Even insecure 125 kHz...
AI/Smart Camera Tutorial on Feb 20, 2020
Cameras with video analytics, sometimes called 'Smart' camera or 'AI' cameras, etc. are one of the most promising growth areas of video...
China Manufacturer Suffers Coronavirus Scare on Feb 20, 2020
Uniview suffered a significant health scare last week after one of its employees reported a fever and initially tested positive for coronavirus....
Cheap Camera Problems at Night on Feb 19, 2020
Cheap cameras generally have problems at night, despite the common perception that integrated IR makes cameras mostly the same, according to new...
Milestone Launches Multiple Cloud Solutions on Feb 18, 2020
Milestone is going to the cloud, becoming one of the last prominent VMSes to do so. Milestone is clearly late but how competitive do these new...
Video Surveillance Architecture 101 on Feb 18, 2020
Video surveillance can be designed and deployed in a number of ways. This 101 examines the most common options and architectures used in...
UK Stands Behind Hikvision But Controversy Continues on Feb 18, 2020
Hikvision is exhibiting at a UK government conference for law enforcement, provoking controversy from the press, politicians, and activists due to...
IronYun AI Analytics Tested on Feb 17, 2020
Taiwan startup IronYun has raised tens of millions for its "mission to be the leading Artificial Intelligence, big data video software as a service...

What IPVM Is

The world's leading authority on video surveillance, with 200,000+ visits monthly.

  • Articles on cameras, video analytics, VMS, and trends
  • Tests showing actual performance and problems
  • Courses in surveillance, access control, etc
  • Camera Calculator for designing systems

Dedicated To Independence

We're dedicated to staying independent and objective. We're the only industry source to refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship, and consulting from manufacturers. Why?