Illustra Pro Gen3 4K Camera Tested

By: Rob Kilpatrick and Derek Ward, Published on Oct 23, 2019

Johnson Controls has released the latest generation in their Illustra Pro line, the Pro Mini-Dome Gen 3, a non-OEM model claiming to "optimize video quality while minimizing configuration time."

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We bought and tested the Illustra Pro Gen 3 4K model to see how it performs, examining:

How does this new 4K model perform in full light (~400lx), low light(~2lx) and dark (~0.02lx) scenes?
How does installation compare to other dome models?
How does smart codec H.265 bandwidth compare day and night?
How well do they integrate to VMSes?
How does it compare in price to competitive 4K domes?

Note: This is the latest in our ongoing updated 4K camera testing. Readers should also see our tests of Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Panasonic, Pelco, Uniview, and Vivotek and look for our 4K shootout 2019 soon.

******* ******** *** ******** the ****** ********** ** their ******** *** ****,*** *** ****-**** *** 3, * ***-*** ***** claiming ** "******** ***** quality ***** ********** ************* time."

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** ****** *** ****** the ******** *** *** 3 ** ***** ** see *** ** ********, examining:

*** **** **** *** 4K ***** ******* ** full ***** (~*****), *** light(~2lx) *** **** (~*.****) scenes?
*** **************** ********* ***** **** ******?
*** ********* ******.*** ********* ******* *** and *****?
*** **** ** **** integrate ** *****?
*** **** ** ******* in ***** ** *********** 4K *****?

****: **** ** *** latest ** *** ******* updated ** ****** *******. Readers ****** **** *** our ***** **********,****,*****,*****,******,*********,*********,*****,*******, ************* **** *** ***** ******** ********.

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

*******

*******, *** ******** *** Gen * **** *** competitive ** ** **** light *** *** ******, but **** ** *** light ***** (~* ***) and **** **** ** scenes (~*.** ***). ******** performance *** ****, **** significant ***** ***** ******, daytime *.*** ***** ***** bitrates **** ****** **** average (****** ******* ** night).

*******

*** ******** *** *** 3 *****-***-**** ***** *** ~$1,000 ***,***** ** ****** **** cameras **** ********'* ***-*****(~$*** ******) ********** **********-****(~$*** *** ******). *******, **** ** less **** **** ** the***** ********* *********** *****-***(**** ~$*,***).

Size **********

******** *********** *** *** 3 *** ** * "dome", *** ** ** more ******* ** ******* turret *******, **** ** "eyeball" ********** *** ****** and ****. ** ** similar ** **** ** typical ********* ******* *** domes, **** ** *** Axis *** *** ********* Smart ****** ****** *****.

Illustra Pro Gen 3 Varifocal Turret Compared to Competitive Domes

IR ************

** *** *****, *** Illustra *** *** * severely *********** ******** ** night **** ** **, due ** * ***** IR *******. *** ******** Pro **** ****** ** illumination ** ******** **** level, *** **** *** adjust ***** ***** ** what ** ** *** scene.

**** ************ *** ** seen ******** ** ~**' distance, **** *** ****** not ******** ******** ** the ******* ******, ******* overexposure.

Weak *** ***** *** **** *******

**** *** ******* *** test ***** ~**' **** the ****** (~*** ***), full ***** (~*** ***) image ******* ** *****, while *** ***** (~* lux) ******* **** ********* that ******* ****** ******* on *** *******. ** the ****, ** ************ is *********, ********** ********* facial ******* *** ***** text.

** ~**' ******** (~** PPF), *** ***** *** dark ***** ******* ******, with *** ****** ****** to ******* ************ ******* of *** ******* ******* a ********** **** ***. Full ***** ******* *** recognizable *** ******* **** artifacts. ****** **** *****, both *** ***** *** dark ****** ******* ** basic *********, ** ******* noise ******** *** ******* and **** *****.

Solid *** ***********

** ****** *** ******** Pro *** * ******* an ******** *******, **** a ~**** ************ ******* interior *** ******** *** levels.

** *******, *** ******** Pro *** * ** set ** "***** ***", which ** ******** ******* WDR. **** *** ** "True ***", *** ******* is ***** ** **** regions ** *** *****, with **** ***** *** overexposure.

******** ** **** ** adjust ** *** ******* environment, *** *** ******** does *** ***** **** light. *** ******* ******** and ******** ** *********** at *** *** ** the ****, *** *** IPVM ********* ** *** subject's ***** ** ******* once ** ** *******.

Bandwidth **********

******** *** *** * H.265 ******** **** ~**% higher ****** *** ***, with *********** ******* ********* ~2 **/*. ** *****, bitrates **** ***********, ~*.* Mb/s ******** ** ~* Mb/s *******.

Limited *.*** ********* *** ******** ***********

*** ******** *** *** 3's *.*** ****** *** supported ** *** ***** tested: ********, *****, *******, Milestone, *** ******* *****. However, *.*** ****** **** in ***** *** *******. Camera ********* **** **** supported ** ***** *** Network *****.

VMS Integration Comparison2

Significant ******** ***** ***** ******

** *** *****, ****** sources ** ***** ****** frequently ********* ********'* *********. For *******, ***** *** large ******* ** *** scene ****** ******, **** as *** **** *****:

******* ****** ******* *** scene ***** **** ******* false ******.

****** ***** ****** *** (either **** ******** ***** or ** *** **** room) ************ ********* ***** alerts, ***** *****.

No ****** ** ******* *******

****** ******* ***** **** no ****** ** ******* branches/foliage ** *** *****.

No False Alerts on Swaying Foliage

People ******** ******* *** ********

********'* ********* ******** ******** subjects ******* ******* *** scene, ****** ** ******* other *********.

************, ******** ******** **** accurately ********, ******* ****** miss.

Separate ******* ******* *** ***** *******

**** ******** **** ******, *** ******** *** Gen * *** ******** buttons *** ********* *** defaulting *** ******. ***** buttons *** ***** ** the ****** ****, ******* the **** **** **** to ****** *** ****** from *** **** ** get ** *** *******.

Country ** ******

*** ******** *** *** 3 *****-***-**** *** **** in ******:

Test **********

*** ****** *** ********* prior ** ******* **** a *** *********** ** standardize ******** **** **:

******** *** *** ** a ******* ** */***.
**** *** *** ******* for *** *******.
*.*** *** *******, **** IntelliZip ****.

Version ****

*** ********* ******** **** during *******:

*** *** * *****-***-****: 02.03.00

Comments (24)

Sean Nelson

Nelly's Security | 10/23/19 03:14pm

***** **** *** ***** balance ******** *** **** issues ** ****:

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Sean Nelson | 10/23/19 03:58pm

***** **** ** *** filter *** *******.

Luca Fogliati

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 10/26/19 05:58am

***** **** *** ****** doesn't **** ** ** filter ** ***

Derek Ward

IPVM | In reply to Luca Fogliati | 10/28/19 02:05pm

** ****, ** *** Sean,

** **** **** ** be * ***** ********* issue, ** *** ** cut ****** **** **** and **** **** *** forth ******* ***** *** B/W. * ****** *** red ***** **** ** outdoor ****** **** ******.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Derek Ward | 10/28/19 09:12pm

** **** **** ** be * ***** ********* issue, ** *** ** cut ****** **** **** and **** **** *** forth ******* ***** *** B/W.

*** *** ** *** really **** *** *** filter ** ************ ****** and *** *****?

*** *** ****** ****** doesn’t **** *** ******* b+w ** ***** ** its ***.

*** **** **** ** is **** ********* ******* than ****** ** **** consistent **** ** ****** not ***** ** *****, as ****** ******** ***** days *** ****** ** in **, ** ******* to ********.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 10/28/19 09:18pm

********* *** *** **** a "*****" ** *** hold *** ****** ***** to **** *** *** block *** **** **** your ****. **** ***** is *** *** ****** moving.

Derek Ward

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 10/28/19 10:20pm

*'* ********* ******* *** a ***** **** *** MFG ** ** *** the ***** ***** *** way ** ****. * listened *** *** ***** of *** ** ******, and * *** **** it. * ******* *** spec ***** ** *** camera *** ** ** labeled ** "**** ***/*****". Maybe ** ** ** to ********* *** **'* getting "*****", *** * plan ** ******* **** camera *** *** * while *** ****** ** the ***** **** *****/******/*******.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 10/29/19 05:33am

**** ***** ** *** cut ****** ******.

*** “*****” ** **** the ******** **********. ******* the ****** ***** ** ‘nother *****.

**** ****, * ******* it *** ***** ******* adjustments *********:

Derek Ward

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 10/29/19 02:25pm

***** ******** **** *** manufacturer *****:

"*** *** ******* **** the ****** *** ** integrated ********* ****. ** have *** ** ********** with *** **** ******* stuck ** *** ***** in *** *********** ******* and ********* ** *******. I ***** ****** **** if ** **** ***** out *** ***** *** an ***** **** ** much **** ******** ****** to *** *** ***.

**** * ******* *** are ******** ****** ** a ********** ** **** made; *** **** ******* have ***** ***** ******* tuned ** ***** ** to **** **** ******** colour ************ *** ********** (like *****), * **** effect ** **** ** scenes ***** *** ************* green ** *** **** other ******* **** ********.

**** *** ***** *** with ***** ************* ******* is **** ** ‘******’ scenes *** ***** ****** colour *** ***** * little ****. ** **** had ********** ******** **** customers **** **** ** not **** *** ‘****** out’ ***** *** ****** the ***** ****** *****."

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Derek Ward | 10/29/19 05:14pm

**** *** ***** *** with ***** ************* ******* is **** ** ‘******’ scenes *** ***** ****** colour *** ***** * little ****.

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

** ******** ********, *** Grass ** ****** *******!

Ian Ginsberg

In reply to Sean Nelson | 11/06/19 02:37pm

**** ***** **** **** HDR *** **** **, notice *** **** ******** on *** **** ****** in *** ***** *****. Tall **** ***** ** HDR *** ************.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

10/23/19 05:15pm

***-*** = ***? ****, digital *** ***’* **** ‘smart’.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

10/24/19 12:27pm

******* ***? *'* ********* you ****'* **** ** up ** **** ** the ***.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 10/25/19 03:32am

** *****’* ****** ** up. ** **** ***** it *** ******* ** until *** **** ** publishing *** ** ****’* look **** ** *** quickly ********** ******* **** of ******** **. *’** take * ****** **** at **.

** *** ** ******* OEM, *’* *** ***** of **** ***** *** case. *** ******** ************ and *** ********* ** the ******** *** *********. They ***** ** ************ by ******* **** ********* firmware, ********. *’** *** if ** *** **** anything ***** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Ethan Ace | 10/25/19 11:57am

***** ** ****** *******, it ** ****** ************ by ******* (*** ***/ ***/ *********** import *******):

Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Honovich | 10/25/19 11:11pm

***, *** ******* **** is * **** ***, rivaling *** ********* ***** website **** ***** ***:

** *****! ***** ****** criminals *** ******* ** everything; ********** ****** **** eye ***** ******* ******** with *** */*” ******...

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 10/25/19 11:42pm

******* **** ** * real ***

** ***** *******, **** have ** *** ******** model (********* ******* ***** **** that) ** ********* *** mostly **** ** ********** business **** * ******* of *** ********, ****** the ******* *** **** important *** ****.

*********** **** *** * publicly ****** ******* ** Taiwan *** *** ~$** million ******* ** ****, roughly **** **** *** prior ****:

******* ** ****, ******* revenue ** ** ********** 10-15%.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 10/25/19 07:04pm

******, * *** **** to *********** *** ****** partly ** *** *** SoC. *** ****** ** using *********** ***. ******* ************* **** really ******** ****** ******, this ** *** **** shot ** *** ***:

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to Ethan Ace | 10/25/19 07:12pm

**** *** *** *** to *** **** *********. I ****** ** **** is ******** ** **** what ******* **** ** their *******.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 10/25/19 09:30pm

****** ** **** ** intended ** **** **** Topview **** ** ***** product

* ***’* **** ***’* internal ******* *** ** is ****** *** **** like **** ** ****** their ******* ** *** the *** **** ******.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Ethan Ace | 10/25/19 08:44pm

*** ****** ** ***** an ********* ***.

*** **** ****** ********* starts ******** ***** ***** “Amb******”?

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | 10/24/19 05:22pm

******:

******* *** "******* *.*** streaming *** ******** ***********" section ** ******* ******* for *.*** ********* ** Genetec.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

10/25/19 03:59pm

***** *** ****** ****** check *** ******* ***********? My ******* ****** ** half ** *** *****. The ****** ******* ** set *** **** **** so ** ***** ** the ****** *** **** values.

******

Derek Ward

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #4 | 10/29/19 02:16pm

***** ** #*,

***** ******* **** **** the **** *** ****, I ** ****** ******* the **** ******* ** we ***** ** *** report. ** **** *** shooting ** "****" **** (which ** ** ******** profile **** *** **** crossover *******/****** ********) ****** testing, ** ** **** "Auto" *** ******** ******** that ************ ** *** testing. ***** ** ** image ** *** ******** "Demo" **** ****:

*******, * ***** **** to **** **** ***** the ***** *** ******** you *** ******** **** the ****** **#*. *** much ** *** ****** motion ** ********* ** your *****? **** ***/******* software *** *** ********* the ********* **? **** codec *** *** *****? It's ***** ** *** "I'm ****** **** *** bitrate" **** *** ***** have *** ****** *** to *-** *** (** test ** ** ***), in * ***** **** looking ** * **** with ** ******.

** *** ********* *****, we **** ****** *** chips ** *** ******** of *** ********* **** lab, *** *** ******** image *******,*** ** *** ******,***** ****** **** ******** bandwidth(*** ** ********* ****** in *** *****). * lowered *** ********* ** low ** ** ***** go, *** *** *** rate ******* ** ~**%. The ***** *** *** negatively ******** *******/****** ****. The ******* ** **** true, ** ******* ********* to *** ********* ********* by ~**%.