Integrated IR Camera Shootout 2020 - Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Panasonic, Uniview, Vivotek

By Ethan Ace and Derek Ward, Published Jan 30, 2020, 10:03am EST

The best and worst cameras tested in this IPVM shootout showed major differences in quality and performance.

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While many view IR as being a commodity, our month-long testing of 25 cameras across 9 manufacturers showed differently.

Key Performance Differences

Based on nearly a month of testing, we found several key performance differences:

  • Missing facial details: While the best cameras tested could capture facial details of subjects moving, many cameras tested smeared or obscured faces.
  • Uneven illumination: The best cameras delivered even illumination providing superior image capture over many cameras with hot and dead spots.
  • Problems adjusting to moving objects: Top cameras tested were able to quickly adjust for objects moving but many cameras could not.
  • Poor capture of multiple objects: While top performers could properly capture multiple objects in the scene, many models only exposed the foreground, missing distant subjects.
  • Ghosting/flare on license plates: The best performers captured highly reflective license plates with no flare or ghosted/doubled images, while others suffered from flare and ghosting, reducing details.

Models Tested

We included models with resolutions ranging from 1080p to 4K, low to high cost, to see how they compared to examine trends in integrated IR performance in 2020:

  • Avigilon 2.0C-H5A-BO1-IR
  • Avigilon 8.0C-H5A-BO1-IR
  • Avigilon 2.0C-H4SL-DO1-IR
  • Avigilon 5.0C-H4SL-BO1-IR
  • Axis M3106-LVE Mk II
  • Axis M3206-LVE
  • Axis P3245-LVE
  • Axis Q1798-LE
  • Bosch Flexidome 5000i / NDE-5503-AL
  • Bosch Flexidome 3000i / NDE-3502-AL
  • Dahua N85CL5Z
  • Dahua N45DL7Z
  • Dahua N44CL52
  • Hanwha LND-6011R
  • Hanwha XNO-6085R
  • Hikvision DS-2CD2785G0-IZS
  • Hikvision DS-2CD2723G1-IZS
  • Hikvision DS-2CD2725FHWD-IZS
  • Hikvision ECI-T22F2
  • Panasonic WV-S2531LN
  • Panasonic WV-S2570L
  • Uniview IPC3238ER3-DVZ
  • Uniview IPC262EBR9-HDUPZ
  • Vivotek FD8379-HV
  • Vivotek FD9365-EHTV
  • Wyze Wyze Cam 2.0

The video below quickly reviews the models tested:

Overall ********** ** ****** ********

*** **** *****-*** *** Q1798-LE, **** *** ********** Axis ******, ********* **** in *** ***** ** this ****. ******* ****** performed ***** *******, **** as ********'* ***** *** 4K *** *******, *****'* low **** ********* *****, and ****** ******** ***-****, but *** ******** **** one ** **** ****** and ******* ****** ******* than *** **** *******.

*** ******** ** ************* tested *** ** ***** one ****** ***** ** below *******, ********* ****, Bosch, *** ******. **** Avigilon *** ******* ********* at ******* ** ***** average *** *** ****** tested.

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Axis *** */* **** *******

*** **** *****-*** *** Q1798-LE ********* **** ****** all **********, **** ****** facial *******, ********* ********** for ****** *******, ***** images ** ********** ******* and ******** *******, *** no ******** ******.

**** **** **** ***** two ****** *** **** of *** ****** ******* in **** ****, **** released ** ** ****. Additionally, *** *****-** ** a **** ****** ***** 4/3" ** *****, ***** sells *** ****** $*,*** USD, *** **** ********* model ** **** **** by * ***** ******.

Low **** *******: ***** *** *******

*****'* ********* ***** (~$***) was *** **** *****-**** camera ******, **** ****** coverage, **** ************, *** overall ****** *******. *******'* ~$260 **********-***** ******** **** coverage, *** *********** *** subject *** *** *******. Others, **** ** *****, Hanwha * ******, *** Hikvision, ********* *** **** issues, **** ************, ****** illumination, *****, ** *** of ***** ******.

Low-Cost *********** ***** ** *******

****** *** ******* ** the "***** *******" ******* of **** ******** **** from *** ************'* ****** cost **** (**** *, Dahua ****, ****** *, Hikvision ***** *******). *** two ******** ****** **** poor ********** **** *****'* 5000i (~$***+) *** *********'* S2531L (~$***).

Key *********** *******

*** ***** ******** *** following *** ******* ***** impact *********** ********, ** other *****, ******* * camera ** ********** "****" or ***:

  • ******* ** ****** *******:*** ********* ******** *********** difference *** ****** *** quality ** ****** ******* by **** ****** ** moving ********. ***** ** illumination ******** *** ***** were *********, ******* ***** include ******, **** **, but ****** **** ********* and ***** ****** ******* unusable.

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  • ******* ******** ** ********:****, *** ********* ** IR ******** *** *********, as ****. ******* ** our "****" ******** ***** covered *** **** ***** of *** ***** ** view ******* ******** ** the ***** ** * bright ****** *******.

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  • ********** ** ****** *******: Third, ** ********** *** well ******* ******** ** objects ******** ** *** scene, ** ***** ************ or ****** *******. **** did *** ******* ****** much ** ***, ***** others *********** ******** *** background.

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  • ********** *** ******** ******* in *****: **** ********* was ******* ******* ***** adjust ** ******** ****** a ******* ******* ******* the ***** ***** * larger, **** ********** ****** was ** *** **********, with *********** ******* ***********.

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  • ********** ****** ********: ****, we ****** *** **** cameras ******* ****** ********** objects, **** ** ******* plates. **** ******* ******** from ******** *** **********, while ******, *** **** were **** ** ******* both *** ******* ***** and **** ******* ***** default ********.

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Manufacturer *********** ************* ******

**** ************ *** ***** an *********** ** ******* optimizations ** ******* ** eliminate ****** **** ** testing. *** **** ****** suggestion *** ** ****** WDR, ********* ** ********* and *********.

** *** *****, **** had *** ****** ** evening *** *** ******'* illumination, *** ******** ******* additional *******. *** *******, in *** ********* ********, enabling *** ******** ******* dark ***** ** *** field ** ****, *** practical ******* ******* **** similar.

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*********, ***** *********** *********** (********* ************), ***** *** ***** results ** *** *****. In *** *******, *** had ******** ******, ******* out ****** *** **** spots ** *** ******'* field ** **** *** improving ******* ******* **********.

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*******, ** *** *******, details **** *********** *******, with ******* ***********:

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***** ***** *********** *** improve ***** ******* ** some *****, **** *** not ****** ******-***-***** ***************, as **** ****** *** not **** ** **** scenes *** ***** *** unlikely ** **** **** they ****** ****** ***** settings *** ** **** levels.

Performance **** *: ****** ******* *******

*** ********* ******** *********** difference *** ****** *** quality ** ****** ******* by **** ****** ** moving ********, **** **** providing ***** ******* ** long ******* ***** *****, others ************ ******** ** close ***** *** ********* solid ******* ******, *** others * ****** ** others ****** *** ********* any ****** ******* ** the *******.

*** **** *****-*** *** Q1798-LE (*****) ********* **** overall ** **** **** due ** ***** **** IR ************, ****** ************ for ****** *******, *** lack ** ***** ** overexposure.

*** ****' *** *** M3106-LVE ** ** ********* poorly, ************ *** ******* throughout (*****), **** ** recognizable ******* *********.

*********, ******* **** ** the ****** * ****** and ********* ***** ******* overexposed *** *******, **** increased ****** ** *****, shown ****:

*** ********** ***** ***** some ** *** *** performers ** **** **** compared ** *** ***** to **** *** **** range ** ***********:

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Performance **** *: ******** ** ** ********

*** **** **** ****** covered *** **** ***** of **** ****** *********** in *** *******, **** some ******* ** ********** to *** ***** ** the *** *** ****** containing * ****** ****** hotspot ***** ****** ************.

*** **** *****-*** ***** fully *********** *** ***** of **** **** **** to ****, **** ** center ******* ** **** edges:

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*******'* *** **** *** also ******* *** ***** of **** ****, ****** was ******** ****** ** the ******.

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*******, ******, ********* **** average/above ******* ******, *** not ****** **** *** field ** ****. *** example, *** ***** ***** suffered **** ********** **** edges, ****** ** *** not ********** *** ******* in *** ****** ** the *****.

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*** ********* ******** **** produced ** *****'* **** series ******, ****** ******* even **** ** ******* in *** *****:

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**** **** **** ******** of *** ***** ** view *** ******** **** heavily **** ***** ******* in ********, ******* ** some ***** *** "********" of ******** *** *** result ** ***** ***** details.

Varifocal ****** ** **********

*** *** ****** ***** impacted *** **** ******* IR *** ** *** scene *** ******* ******* adjusted ** ************ **** motorized **** *** *******. For *******, **** ******** zoom ** ****' * and * ******, *** camera ******** ******* ********* LEDs *** ********* ** decreased ***** ** *** the *****, ************ ****:

** ********, **** ****** did *** ****** ************ at *** **** ******** zoom, **** ** *** Panasonic * ****** ******. Regardless ** **** *****, illumination ******* ******** *** same:

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Performance **** *: ******** ****** **********

** **** ****, ** placed * ********** **** chart *** ******* ***** in *** **********, **** a ******* ** *** background ** *** *** cameras ******** ** **** both *******.

****, **** ** *** Axis */* ****** *** ExtraLux ***** ****** ********* the ****** *****, ********** and **********, ***** *** Bosch ***** ****** ********, but ***** ******* ********* the **** ******* *******. By ********, ******* **** as *** ********* ***** Express *** ******** ** significantly ****** *** ******* in *** **********, ******** detail.

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Performance **** *: ********** ****** ********

*******, **** ******* ********* flare ** ******** ** highly ********** ******* **** as ******* ******. **** commonly ******** ******* ** lens ***** ** *** side ** *** ******'* field ** ****, *** also ******** ** * "ghosted" ****** ***** ** the ****** ** **** cases.

***** ****** **** *** common ** **** *******, but **** ********** *** significantly ******** ** *** cameras ** *** ****, the ******** **** *** Uniview ********** *****, ***** below:

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***** ******* ************ ********* slight ********, *** *** as ********* ** ******* as ***** ******.

Outdoor ***********: ******* ***** ***** ************

** **** ****** ******* at ***** ** ** outdoor ******* ***, ******* from ~*-* ***. *******, performance *** ********** *******, but **** ****** ******** moderately ** ******* ***** reduced *** ********* ** their ** ************ ********.

*** *******, *** ***** models ***** ******** *** brightest ******* ******* ******* appeared **** ****** *********** outdoors ** ******** *** street ****** ****** ***** levels.

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** *** ******* *******, no ******* **** **** to ******* * ******* plate ******* ******** *** shutter *************, **** *** default ** */*** *** to * **** ****** 1/2000s ** */***** ***** drastically ******** *** **** of *** *****.

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Compared ** $** **** ***

*** ******* ** **** shootout ******** ****** ****** than ****'* $** **** Cam, ***** ******** **** dimmer ****** *******, **** weak ******* *******. **** is ****** ****** ** illuminate * ***** ****** than * ******* ***** room.

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**** ****, *** **** Cam ******** **** **** details ** ******** **** at ***** *****.

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Test **********

**** ****** ******** **** changed ** *********** ************* as **** ** ********, including:

  • ******** *** *** ** a ******* ** */*** in *** ******* ** reduce/eliminate **** ** ****** objects
  • *********** *** *** ** ~28-30 ************ ** *** cameras
  • ***** ****** **** ********

********** ** ******** **** left *********. ************ ******** was ****** ********** **** defaults, ** ********* *****.

****** ******** ** *** time ** ******* *** used ** *** *******.

Comments (17)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

01/31/20 01:56am

*** * **** **** P3245 **** ** *** office *** * *** weeks, ****** ******* *** night ****** *** *** best *'** ****, ***** out * *** ***** (pats *** ****)

Agree
Disagree
Informative
Unhelpful
Funny: 2

vincent hoffmans

01/31/20 06:08pm

***** *** *** *** test. ***** ***** ***** are **** ******* ******** conclusions ** *******.

Agree
Disagree: 1
Informative
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Funny

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to vincent hoffmans | 01/31/20 06:19pm

***** ***** ***** *** only ******* ******** *********** or *******.

***** ** ********* ******** in *** ******, ****** below:

Key *********** *******

*** ***** ******** *** following *** ******* ***** impact *********** ********, ** other *****, ******* * camera ** ********** "****" or ***:

  • ******* ** ****** *******:*** ********* ******** *********** difference *** ****** *** quality ** ****** ******* by **** ****** ** moving ********. ***** ** illumination ******** *** ***** were *********, ******* ***** include ******, **** **, but ****** **** ********* and ***** ****** ******* unusable.

  • ******* ******** ** ********:****, *** ********* ** IR ******** *** *********, as ****. ******* ** our "****" ******** ***** covered *** **** ***** of *** ***** ** view ******* ******** ** the ***** ** * bright ****** *******.

  • ********** ** ****** *******: Third, ** ********** *** well ******* ******** ** objects ******** ** *** scene, ** ***** ************ or ****** *******. **** did *** ******* ****** much ** ***, ***** others *********** ******** *** background.

  • ********** *** ******** ******* in *****: **** ********* was ******* ******* ***** adjust ** ******** ****** a ******* ******* ******* the ***** ***** * larger, **** ********** ****** was ** *** **********, with *********** ******* ***********.

  • ********** ****** ********: ****, we ****** *** **** cameras ******* ****** ********** objects, **** ** ******* plates. **** ******* ******** from ******** *** **********, while ******, *** **** were **** ** ******* both *** ******* ***** and **** ******* ***** default ********.

Agree
Disagree
Informative
Unhelpful
Funny
Avatar

Lasse Sørensen

01/31/20 10:26pm

* **** ****** *** Bosch ***** **** **, and * *** ****** sure **** * *** me *** ******'* *** the ******** ***** ** get *** ****** ******** as * *****. **** to **** **** ** isnt **. *** ****** ago ** **** ****, a *** ******* **** the ****** * ******** 🐠 (*** *********) *** im ***** ** **** the ***** ** ***** fair *****/***********.

Agree
Disagree
Informative: 2
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Funny

Gary Dorrian

CAA Security Systems
02/01/20 07:50am

* *** *** ****** understand *** *** **** do ***** ********* *** the ******** ***, ******* and ***** ***** ** the **** ********* ****, Avigilon ***** ***. *** not ****** * **** test.

Agree: 5
Disagree: 1
Informative
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Funny

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Gary Dorrian | 02/01/20 05:09pm

****, ****** *** **** first *******!

***** ****** *** ****** know:

*. ** **** ** extensive ************* **** *****, Hikvision *** ******* ********** about **** ** ****** and *** ** ******. We **** **** ***** opportunity ** **** ** feedback *** **** ***.

*. **** ******** ****** do *** **** ** to **** **** ***** companies?

*. ***** *** **** was ********, ********* ********* we **** *** "* ***** *** **** Fighter ******" *** **** is ***** ****** ** Monday ***** **** * variety ** ***** ******* that **** ******** *******.

****** ***** *** *** us **** **** ****** you **** ******.

Agree
Disagree
Informative
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Funny
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David Johnson

02/03/20 02:52pm

********* ******** *** *****. As *** ****** **** 'you **** **** *** pays ***!' ** ****** virtually *** ** ****** provides * ******** ***** to * ***-** ****** in ***** ********. *** and **** ****** **** to ***** *** ******** of ******* ******* '**** person' ** '******* **** person' *** * ******** performance ******.

Agree
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Ethan Ace

IPVM | 02/06/20 05:01pm

******: ** ***** *** Hikvision ***** ****** *** Darkfighter, ******'* *** * series ***-*****, *** ******* FD9389-HV ** *** ********.

*** ********* *** ****** models **** ***** ******* in *** *****, ******* is ** *** ******* rankings.

*********'* ***** ****** ******** rough ******* ******* **** limited ************ *** *** fairly **** ****** *** field ** ****, *** it ******* **** ****/********* on ****** ******* ***** reduced ****** *******.

*** ****** ***-***** *** clear ** *** **** (below), *** * *** center ***, ***** *** to **** ***** ************ (at ~**-**' *** ******).

*** ******* **** *********** at ****** ***** **** others, ******** ** ~**', shown ****.

** **** ******** ** update ******** ** *** cameras *** ****** *** update **** ************.

Agree
Disagree
Informative: 2
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Funny

Laura Jones

02/10/20 04:25am

**** ** ****** *** mentioned * ****** *** series ***** * *** hoping ** *** ********* from *** * ****** tested ******* *** ******* are ** * * & * ****** **** the ***** *** ****** of ***** ******* ****. Have *** ***** ****** any ** ***** *** comparison ****? * **** a ******* ** ***** be ******** ** *** Axis ***** ***** ** some ******* *’** ******** experienced ** *** *****.

Agree
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Derek Ward

IPVM | In reply to Laura Jones | 02/10/20 03:24pm

***** ******, *** ***** you *** *** ********!

*'** ******* * *** example ****** ** **** you *** *** ****** XNO-6085R ******** ** *** Axis *****-***. *** *****, I ****** ** *** you **** **** ******* IR ******** ** *** 6085R *** ******, ** seen *****:

***, *** ******** ****** as ** *** *** Hanwha ***** ****** ****** the **** ***** ** that ** ***** *** long *** ** ** adjust **** * ******* walking ** ******* *** scene. ** ~**' ****, a ****** ******* ******* overexposed, **** *** ****** unable ** ****** ** and ******** ** **** close-range *******:

**** *** **** *** Hanwha ******* ********:

*** *****-***** ****** ** the ***** ****** **** of *** **** *********** 2.0 ******* ** ******. If *** **** ********* or **********, ****** *** us **** *** *'* be ***** ** ******* more ****!

Agree
Disagree
Informative: 3
Unhelpful
Funny

Laura Jones

02/10/20 04:48pm

****** *****! ****’* ** excellent ********. * **** that *** * ******* concern **** *** ***** on ** *** **** couple ***** **** *** number ** **’* *** placement ** ****** ** not *** **** **** overexposed *****. **** **** done *** ********** *** follow **.

Agree
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Informative
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Funny

Vladi Raikhlin

02/23/20 10:24pm

***** ********! *** ** Axis ******* **** *** LPC ** *****-**. ** you ****** ** ** close ** *****-*** / Q1798-LE?

Agree
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Informative
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Funny

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

04/05/20 01:15pm

* **** ** *** Illustra *** ******* ** the **** **********

Agree
Disagree
Informative
Unhelpful
Funny: 1

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 04/05/20 01:17pm

#*, ** ****** *** Illustra *** ***** * months *** *** **** did ********** ******. ***:******** *** **** ** Camera ******

Agree: 1
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Camden Dexter

IPVMU Certified | 08/16/20 09:42pm

*** **** ****,

** ***** **** **** of *** ******* *** have ****** ***-***, ** am * **** * Edge ******** *****?

Performance **** *: ********** ****** ********

*******, **** ******* ********* flare ** ******** ** highly ********** ******* **** as ******* ******. **** commonly ******** ******* ** lens ***** ** *** side ** *** ******'* field ** ****, ***

Agree
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Informative
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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Camden Dexter | 08/17/20 02:46am

******, ******, **** ******* somehow *** *** *****. I *** ** ** back ** ******* ** find **, *** *** full ******* *****:

Performance **** *: ********** ****** ********

*******, **** ******* ********* flare ** ******** ** highly ********** ******* **** as ******* ******. **** commonly ******** ******* ** lens ***** ** *** side ** *** ******'* field ** ****, *** also ******** ** * "ghosted" ****** ***** ** the ****** ** **** cases.

***** ****** **** *** common ** **** *******, but **** ********** *** significantly ******** ** *** cameras ** *** ****, the ******** **** *** Uniview ********** *****, ***** below:

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***** ******* ************ ********* slight ********, *** *** as ********* ** ******* as ***** ******.

Agree
Disagree
Informative: 1
Unhelpful
Funny

Undisclosed End User #3

02/23/21 11:32pm

***** *******. ** ***** be **** ** *** something **** **** ********* the ****** ****** ***** IR ******* ****** ******* manufacturers. ******** **** ** at *** *** ** my ****, *** *******, I ****** **** *** Dahua ******* & *******. The ** ******* ***** above ******* ** ***** models. * **** **** sold * **** **** of ******* ********** ** these.

Agree
Disagree
Informative
Unhelpful
Funny
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