Hikvision Launching Smart H.264 and H.265

By John Honovich, Published Apr 08, 2015, 12:00am EDT

The CODEC wars are heating up.

Axis made waves just weeks ago with their H.264 Zipstream, claiming 50% average bandwidth reduction.

And H.265 has been eagerly anticipated for approaching 2 years.

In this note, we examine Hikvision's approach and the competitive matchup.

Hikvision ***** *.***

******** ** ******* ***** H.264 ********* ******* **** either '***** *.***' ** H.264+. **** **** ** available ** ***** * series *******, ***** ******* shipping ** ****. ***** are **** ******+ ****** ******* ************ * ** ***** coming *******. ******** * series ******* *** ** firmware ******** **** ****** for '***** *.***'. ********* claims ******* ********* ****** levels ** ****.

Hikvision *.***

********* ** **** ********** its ***** *.*** ******* and **** **** **** be ******* *** *** 5MP ****** ** *** West ****.

********* *** **** **** new **** **** ** required *** ***** *.*** cameras *** ***** *** not *** ********* *** even ***** *****.

Axis ** *********

**** **** ** *** tell **** **** *** be ********* *.*** ******* this ****, *** *** likely ***** ** **** time *** ***** ******* to ** ********* ****** from ********* ** ****** else.

** **** ***, *** 'super' *.*** ******** **** both *** ******** *** more ****** ** **** an ********* ******, ********* on *** **** **** actually ****. ** *** currently ******* **** ********* and ********* **** ** the **** **** *********'* Smart *.*** ** *********.

**** ** ******* ******* that *** ***** ** niche / ******** ****** (like *** ******** ****) *** ********* **** Hikvision ****** ****** *****. If **** *** **** gain ** **** ** bandwidth, **** ***** ** even * **** *********** advantage. *******, ** *** cost ********* **** ********* can ***** ** *********, this **** ** **** for *** ******* ********, but ***** **** ** become * ******** ******** for *** *************.

Comments (9)

Avatar

Luis Carmona

IPVMU Certified | 04/08/15 02:40pm

Can you clarify this statement, "Hikvision did note that new NVRs will be required for their H.265 cameras and those are not yet available nor even being shown."

Does that mean it is a proprietary implementation of H.265 that other VMS's will not be able to read?

Brian Tally

In reply to Luis Carmona | 04/08/15 03:28pm

So instead of a software update, just buy all new hardware?

Pat Villerot

In reply to Brian Tally | 04/08/15 04:50pm

Unfortunately, it sounds like it. H.265 may require less bandwidth but it also requires more processing. Typically most NVRs are designed to process exactly the load that is anticipated and little more. An upgrade which doubles the processor load is unlikely to be accounted for on a few hundred dollar legacy NVR any more than any legacy VMS servers that are deployed could tolerate a doubling in processor load. The same thing happened when the switch from MJPEG to MPEG4 occurred and again when MPEG4 switched to H.264.

This article covers more on H.265 and why legacy hardware is unlikely to be able to support it.

Pat Villerot

In reply to Luis Carmona | 04/08/15 04:42pm

Hikvision likely does not have any NVRs available for H.265. Even these cameras may be a soft launch. Since any manufacturer's first goal is to sell their own product versus piecemeal with another VMS that is likely why that statement was made in that fashion. It may take some time for the various VMS to write new code to support H.265.

In this article about Axis H.264 Zipstream the point is made that H.264 Zipstream does not require any new code/drivers to work within the VMS where H.265 would. Hikvision Smart H.264/H.264+ may be similiar and is possibly supported in VMS day 1.

Avatar

Luis Carmona

IPVMU Certified | 04/08/15 04:54pm

If it just pertains to Hikvision, that would make sense. Geutebruck (because we deal in it) and Aventura I know support H.265. I was just curious if the Hikvision camera "might" be able to stream to these VMSes using ONVIF or RTSP, or if Hikvision was requiring an SDK and special drivers, with the idea they'd only support it on their own NVR's first as a way to boost NVR sales.

Luke Maslen

IPVMU Certified | 04/09/15 06:20am

Hikvision have announced their first H.265 cameras but that they don't have any H.265 NVRs. Dahua have released H.265 NVRs but haven't yet announced any H.265 cameras. What perfect partners they could make!

Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Luke Maslen | 04/09/15 06:47am

Geovision is announcing both the 'cart and the horse'.

Eric Fleming Bonilha

04/09/15 01:41pm

John

When you test zipstream and the new H.264 from hikvision, be sure to test the impact of variable GOP in the system overall

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Eric Fleming Bonilha | 04/09/15 02:14pm

Yes, Ethan is spending a lot of time with that as it appears to be a big factor in its performance / potential savings.

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