Hikvision H.264+ Tested

Author: Ethan Ace, Published on Feb 10, 2016

Is 'regular' H.264 soon to be a thing of the past?

Last year, Axis started the 'smart' H.264 trend with their Zipstream release. Later last year, Hikvision announced their own offering, named H.264+.

IPVM finds 'smart codecs' to be one of the most intriguing new developments in the market today.

How well does Hikvision's H.264+ work? IPVM upgraded 3 Hikvision cameras (the DS-2CD4024FWD-A, DS-2CD4132FWD-IZ and the DS-2CD6026FHWD-A) to H.264+. We then tested them against 2 Axis Zipstream cameras (the M1125 and the Q1635).

We did tests:

  • Indoor day
  • Indoor dark
  • Outdoor treeline
  • Outdoor roadway

We then compared bandwidth, image quality of those 5 cameras as well as the H.265 cameras we tested recently to determine what impact Hikvision's H.264+ would have.

** '*******' *.*** **** ** ** * ***** ** *** past?

**** ****, **** ******* *** '*****' *.*** ***** **** ************** *******. ***** **** ****, ********* ********* ***** *** ********, ***** H.264+.

**** ***** '***** ******' ** ** *** ** *** **** ********** *** ************ in *** ****** *****.

*** **** **** *********'* *.***+ ****? **** ******** * ********* cameras (*** **-**********-*, **-**********-** *** *** **-***********-*) ** *.***+. ** then ****** **** ******* * **** ********* ******* (*********** ********).

** *** *****:

  • ****** ***
  • ****** ****
  • ******* ********
  • ******* *******

** **** ******** *********, ***** ******* ** ***** * ******* as **** ** ****.*** ********* ****** ******** ** ********* **** ****** *********'* *.***+ ***** have.

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

*******

** *** *****, ********* *.***+ ************* ******* ********* ** *** scenes (**-**% ********** **** ******), **** *** ****** ****** ** high ****** ******** ****** ** ****, **** ******* ******* ******, in **** ****** ******** **** *********'* *** ********.

********, **** *.***+ *** ********* ** *** ******** ** *** Hikvision ****, ********* *** *** **** ******, ****** **** ***** the ***** ********* **** ********* ******, ********* ****** ***** ********** to **** *** *** *** ** *** ******.

*.***+ ** ****** ** **** * **** ******** ****** ** Hikvision's *********** ********, ******* ** *** **** ** ***** *** competitors ** ******* **** ***** *** ***** ***** *********. **** Axis *** ********* **** ******** ********** ********* *******, ** ******* all ************* **** ** ********** ********* ***** *** ***** ***** cameras.

H.265 ******

**** *********'* *.***+ *** **** ********* ********* *** **** ********* savings **** *.***, ** ***** ** *** *.*** ** *.*** shootout. ** ****, ** *** ************ ********* ***** *** ***** term ****** ** *.*** ***** *** ********* ******* ** '*****' H.264 ******** **** *** ******* ** **** **** ******** *****.

Camera *************

*.***+ ** ********* ** ****** ********* ******* ******** ** ******** 5.3.4, ********* ************* *******. **** **** ********* ******* ********** ******* ********* ******** ********, with ***** ******* ******* *.*.* ** ******, ***** ****** *** Asia ***** *.*.* *** *.*.* *** ********. **** ******, ***** should ******* ***** ******* ** **** *** ****** ******* *** their ******.

*** ******* * *** * ****** ********* ******* ******* *.***+. It ** ********* ** *** * ****** *** **** *******, which ******** *** *** ****** *** ************** ** ** ****. ***** * ****** ****** ** *** support **.

**** ***** **** ********* ******* ***** ** *.***+ *** ******** in **** *** ****, ~$*** *** *** ******. ******** ** Axis *********, ***** ** ********* ** ****** **** *** ******, with *** ********* ** *** *** ***** ********* ******(~$***-***), ***** ****** *** ************* **** *********.

Limited *************

*********'* *.***+ ******** *** ************* ********, **** *********** **** * simple **/*** ******* *** ********* *********. ** ******* ** ******* I-frame ******** ** *********** *** ********, ****** **** ********* ***** includes ******** ******** *** **** ** *****.

*** **** ************ ********* ********** **** ***** *.***+ ** "******* average *******", ***** ******** ** **** ******* ***** * *** level **** ** ******** ****** ** ****. *********'* ************* ****** at ***** ***** **** *** ******** *** *** ****** ** properly ****** ** **** *******.

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

Stream ********

** *** ***** ***** ** ****** ****** ******** ** *.***+ and **** ********* ***** ***** ******* ********* ********.

*******, ******* ************ ***** *.***+ ** ********* ****** *** ~** at ** ***. **** ******** ***** ***. *******, ********* ****** Q ****** **** **** ******, **** ~** ** **, ***** Axis ****** **** ~**-**.

**** **** *** ********* ******** *-***** ********* ** ***** ** seconds *** ** *** ***** ** ********.

Bitrate ***********

** ******** ******** ** *** ******* **** ***** ****** ** and *** ** ******** ******:

****** ******

*****, *******, ***** ******* ** *** *********, ******* *.***+ ** reduces ******** ** *** ********* ******* ** ** ******* ** about **%. *******, **** ** ***** ******, ******* ** ***** roughly ******* ** *** **** ***** **** ************.******* ********* ** (****, *** ****), *** *****'* ******* ** about **% ***** **** *** ********* *******.

** ***** ** *** **** *****, *.***+ ******** *** ***** significantly ***** (>**%), *** **** ***** *** ********* **** *** 4024 *** ************* ****** **** *** **** *****. *******, *** to *** *****-** **, *** **** *** *** ****** ******** in **** *****, ***** **% ***** **** *** *****.

********** ********* ** ** ***, *.***+ (*** *********) ******** *********. Hikvision ******** ******* ** ** ******* ** ~**%, ** *** Zipstream ** *** *****. *** **** *** *** ****** ** the ********* ******, ******** ***** **** *** **** ******.

******* ******

****, ** ****** ********, ***** * ******** **** ****** ******* and ******* ** *** ***. ** **** *****, *.***+ ******* increased, ********* ~**%, ***** ********* ********* ******** ** ~**%.

** **** *****, *********'* **** *** **** **** **** ******** lower **** *** **** *****, ***** *** **** *** ********** higher.

*******, ** ****** ** * **** **** *** **** **** amounts ** ******. *.***+ ****** *** ********, ********* **** **** 70%. *** *****, *** **** ****** **** ********* *** ******* lower, **** **** *** **** *********** *** ******* **** *.***+ on.

Image ******* *******

*.***+ ****** ** ***** ******* *** **** ******, **** ******* in **** **** ******* ** *** *********** ** ****** ******, such ** *** ******* ** *** ********* *****. **** *.***+ off *** ******* ** **** *******, **** ********** ******** *** leaves *******. ******* *.***+ **, *** ****** ** *** ***** becomes ********** ******* *** ****, **** ******* **** ******* *** brighter **********, ** ****.

*******, **** **** ***** *********** *** *****, *** ** *** no ********* ****** ** *** ***** ** ****** ******* **** as ****** ** ********.

Test **********

*** ******* **** ****** ***** ******* ******** ****** ***** ********, configured ** ***** *****.

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

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

Comments (28)

Lew Cody

IPVMU Certified | 02/10/16 03:20pm
* **** **** ******* ********* **** *** ** *** **** to *** ****** ******** **** ****. **** ** *********** **** affect ** *** ** *******. **** ** * *** **** to ***** ** *** ****** ** *** ** ******* ************** be ********** ** *** **** ****. **** **** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM Admin | In reply to Lew Cody | 02/10/16 03:23pm

***, ** *** ****** *** ***** *******? *** **** ** for *.*** ** *.***+ (** ** *** ****** ****.*** ***+)?

Undisclosed 1

| 02/10/16 03:54pm

*** ***** *** ********* *** ***** ** *** ******? **** choosing *.***+ **** *** ****** ** *** ******* ******* ** deliver ******** ******* ** ****** ***** *****?

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM Admin | In reply to Undisclosed 1 | 02/10/16 04:44pm

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

******* *.***+ ** ** *** * *** * ****** ******* multistreaming ** *** ******* ******* ** *****, *** *** *** no ****** *** ** *** ** ******* ***** ******* ** (e.g., *** ****). *** ** *** ** ****** **** ******* streaming ***** **** ***** ****, *** ***/** *** ** *** 4132.

Lew Cody

IPVMU Certified | 02/10/16 03:55pm
*** ***** ** # ********-** *** ***** *** ** ****** with *** ******** ****** *** ***** * *** ****** ** current ******* ** ***** ****** **** * *** ******** *** same ***** * **** ***** ** ******** **** *** ****** firmware '******.*.********'. *** ***** ****** *** "*********** ****" *** ****** version ** ******** (**) ********** ****** *** **** ** ****.

Undisclosed 1

| 02/10/16 05:13pm

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

** *** *.*** *****, *** *.*** ****** **** ******** ** mainstream *.*** ******* **** ********* ****** *** ***************. *** *** *********** ** *** ****** **** **** **** comparison, *** **** *** ******* *** *.*** *********** ** *.*** performance:

*** / ***, ***** *** *.*** ******* ******* ******* ** no ********* ******* ******** ** ****** / ******* *.*** *******.

**********

** ** *** ********* [*****-****** *******] ******* ** **** *** really ****** *** ******* ******** ** ******* *.*** ** '******' than *.***.

****** ** **** ***** ***** *** ** ********** ** ********** h.264. ** **** **** *********** ***** *.***+ ******* *******, ********* between *.*** *** *.***+ ** *** **** ****** ** **** conclusions.

**** ***** **** ** *** *** *** ****** *** *** h.265 *******, **** *.***+ *******, **?

John Honovich

IPVM Admin | In reply to Undisclosed 1 | 02/10/16 05:17pm

"** **** **** *********** ***** *.***+ ******* *******, ********* ******* h.264 *** *.***+ ** *** **** ****** ** **** ***********."

*** ***** ***** ********* ******* (********* *** ****) *** ********** low ******** ** '*******' *.*** *******.

Thumbnail 1

Luis Carmona

IPVMU Certified | 02/10/16 06:51pm

** *** *** ** ***** **** *** * ********** ** "enhanced" **** *******, *** ****'* *** ******* ** **** ******** to ** *** **** ****** *** ****** **** ***** *** could **** ********* ***********, **** ** ****-*** *** ********* *** low-res *** *******?

John Honovich

IPVM Admin | In reply to Luis Carmona | 02/10/16 07:17pm

**. *'** ***** ***** ****** **** ***** **** ******. *** 'pulling' ********* *********** ** * ******* ** ******** ***** ****** and *.*** ***** ******* / *********** ** *** ********, **** like '*******' *.*** ** ***.

Thumbnail 1

Luis Carmona

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 02/10/16 07:19pm

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

Undisclosed 1

In reply to John Honovich | 02/11/16 03:12am

**. *'** ***** ***** ****** **** ***** **** ******. *** 'pulling' ********* *********** ** * ******* ** ******** ***** ****** and *.*** ***** ******* / *********** ** *** ********, **** like '*******' *.*** ** ***.

** ** *****, * *** ************* ***** ** *** ******** h.264 *****, ** **** ** ********** '*******' *.***, ** ***** is ****** ** ******* **** **** **** ********* ** ** h.265 ** **** *****.

****, ********* ******** * **** * ****** ***** *** **** had *.*** *** *** ** **, ***'* **** ** **** ever ***** ** ** *** ********.

John Honovich

IPVM Admin | In reply to Undisclosed 1 | 02/11/16 06:39am

** ** *****, ** *** *** ******* ** ********* ******** H.265 *** ** ******* ** *********. ***, ** ***** ** models ********, ***** *.*% ** **** ***** ** ** ********** scalable *.***.

******** ***** ****** **** *********** ********, **** **** **** ***** gained ****** ********* ************** ** ** * ******.

Undisclosed 1

In reply to John Honovich | 02/11/16 07:26am

...***** *.*% ** **** ***** ** ** ********** ******** *.***

*****'* ** ***** *** ** *** ********* ******* **** *** test **** *.***/***?

* ***** *** ***** ****** *** *** *** ** *** a ***** ***.

Undisclosed 1

In reply to John Honovich | 02/12/16 09:52am

** ** *****, ** *** *** ******* ** ********* ******** H.265 *** ** ******* ** *********.

**** ***** **** ** *** **** **' ***!

John Honovich

IPVM Admin | In reply to Undisclosed 1 | 02/12/16 12:06pm

******** ****** * *** ** ********* * **** ******* ***** ** ** ******** *** ** ** ** *** real. +* *** *** ** *** ************ *** **** **** not ****** *** *********** ****** *********.

Lew Cody

IPVMU Certified | 02/11/16 01:43am
***** **** *** ******** * ********* **** *** **** ****. Not **** ****** *** *** **** *********. * **** ** the ******* * *****.

John Honovich

IPVM Admin | In reply to Lew Cody | 02/11/16 02:00am

***, ****** *** *** ********. * ** ******* **** *** upgrade ********. * **** *** ***** ** *** ******** *** appliances ***** ***** *********** ** *.***. * ** **** **'* possible *** ********* *** ********* ********** ****** ** ** ** makes ** *********** *** ******** *****.

Michael Gombos

| 02/11/16 03:03am

* ******** ********* * ** *** *** *** ***** **** cameras *** ******* *.***+. * ********* **** ** * ********* system *** ******* * *********** ***** ** *** ***** ******* "starting" ** *** ******* ****** ****** ******* *.***+ ***. ****** else *** **** *** ** ********* *** ********** ******** *******? Running *** **** ***** ****** ** * **** ** **** HW ************ *******. * ***** ** ********* ****+ *** *** time ***** *** ** *** ***** ***** ****** *** ** times ** ** ** ******* ** ** **** ****** ******** on * ****** ** ******* **** ***** **** ** * multi-view. *** ****'* **** **** * **** *****...

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM Admin | In reply to Michael Gombos | 02/11/16 03:28am

** *******, * ****'* *** **** ** ** *****, *** we *****'* ******* ** **** ***, *** ****'* **** *** firmware ****** *** *** * ****** **** ** ***** *******. I'll ****** **** *** ****** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM Admin | In reply to Michael Gombos | 02/11/16 07:32am

*******,

"******* *** **** ***** ****** ** * **** ** **** HW ************ *******."

*** *** *** ** *** **** *** ********** ** ******* HW ************ ******* ** ********? ** *** ********** **** **** Milestone *** **** *** *** ******* **** ********* ** ********.

Michael Gombos

In reply to John Honovich | 08/22/16 11:36am

******* *** ****** ** ******* ****. *** ***** ** ***** present **** ** ************ ** *** ***. *'** *** ***** h264 **** **** ** * *** ********* ******* *** *** of **** ***** **** *** **** *******. **** *** **** noticeably ****** ** ****** ** ********* ******.

Undisclosed 4 Manufacturer

In reply to Michael Gombos | 08/22/16 08:50pm

*** ***** ** **** ** ******** **** *** ****** **** have ** **** *** ** *-***** ****** ** *** ***** decoding *** **** ** *** ******. ***** ****** ** **** higher **** **** ***** ** ** ****** ** *** ******, which ***** * *********** **** **** *** *** ***** *-*****. If *** ******** * *** ** ****** *.*. ************ **** your **** ** ***** ** *** ******, ** *** ***** nearly ** ****?

Undisclosed 2 Manufacturer

| 02/15/16 02:50am

****** *** *** **** *** ******. *.***+ ***** *** ** be ****** *** ******** **** *** **** *** **** *.***+ cameras **** **** *** ****.

Undisclosed 3 Manufacturer

| 02/16/16 05:09am

**'* **** ***** ** ******* *.***+ **** *.***, ***** *** same ********** **** *.***+ **** *** ** **** *** *.*** as ****.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM Admin | In reply to Undisclosed 3 Manufacturer | 02/16/16 05:21am

******, ** *** **, *** **** ************* *** ******* ***** smart ****** **** *.*** (**** ** *******, *** ****.*** ** ******* ****).

*** ***** ** ********* ** **** ** **** *.***+ ******* has *********** ******** **** *.***, ******* *** ********** ************* ** H.265, **** ******* *** *******, ********* ********* *****, ***.

**** *.*** ** ********** *** ***** ****** *** ***** **, yes, ****** *** ** ***** *****, *** * ********** ***'* see **** ********** ********** ********* ** ****.

Undisclosed 1

In reply to Ethan Ace | 02/16/16 07:21am

...*** * ********** ***'* *** **** ********** ********** ********* ** 2016.

** ** ********** ********** *** **** *** ******* *** ************* will **** ************* ************ ** *.*** *******, * ***** **** you, ** ***'* ***** ** ****** **** ****.

** *** ***** ****, ** ********** ********** ** ******** ** the ****** ** ******* *** ******* **** **** **** ** actually ***** *** **********, * ***** ** **** ** ***********.

***? ******* ** *** *** ****** ****** *** ** **** Chinese *********, **** **** ** ** ****** *.***. ** **** point, ** ******** *****'* **** **** **** **** ** *** that ****, ** * ***** ****** ** ****'* *** **** pretty **** ***** ****** **** **** ** ** *.*** *******.

******'* ******* ******* *.*** ***'*!

**** **** **** **** ** *.*** ******* **** *** ***, usage **** ****** *** ** ******'* ********** ** *.***, *** only ** *** *** *** *** *** ******* *********** ** default.

****, ** ******, ****'* *** *** ** *** *******. *.*** should **** **** ** ***** ******* ** ****-***, ****-********** ******* connected ** ****-*********** ************. ***??

*** ********** ** *** **** ****'* ****** *** ********** ** how **** ** ** ** ***, ** *** *** ** the ****, * ***** ****** *** ***-*** ** ****** ** be ********* *.*** *******.

*****.

John Honovich

IPVM Admin | In reply to Undisclosed 1 | 02/16/16 09:09am

"******* ** *** *** ****** ****** *** ** **** ******* republics, **** **** ** ** ****** *.***."

**** ********* ******. *** ******* **** * *** ** **** H.265 ** ** *** * *** **** **** ****** ** China *** **** *** ****** / ******** ****** ** ***** firmly *.***.

Undisclosed 2 Manufacturer

| 02/17/16 01:37am

*** **** **** *.*** ** **** ******** **** *** **** it *** ** ** ********** ** ********. *** **** **** happened ** ****-*, ***** *** **** **** ** *** ************ industry *** ***** **** ****, **** ** ****-* *** ****** to ** **** **** ********* ** ****** **** ****-*.

** ** *** ******* **** ******/*****/********* *** ********* *.***/****, *** making ** ** ** * ********** ****** ********, **** * don't *** **** **** **** ** ****** ********, *** *** licensing ***** ** **** *** *** ** ******* ****** ******.

*** ******* *** *.*** ******* *** **** ** **** *** or ****, *** ******* ********* ******** **-* ** ** ********** and **** *.*** ** ** ** * ********* ********. ***** H.264 ******* ***** ** ****, ** *** **** ********* ** all ******* ********* *******, *******, *****/*** *** *******.

******* *.*** *** ** ********** ***** ***, **'* **** ** see *.*** ******* ***** ** ** ****** ****. ** *.*** may ** **** *******, *** *** ** **** ** ** above ** ***** ****. **** *.*** ** ************ ****** *** take * *** ***** ** **** ** ****** ****, ****'* why *.***+ *** ** **** ****** **** ** *******.

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