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 *** ******* **/*. 

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