Panasonic 4K / 12MP Camera Tested

Author: Ethan Ace, Published on Aug 17, 2015

We bought the new Panasonic 4K / 12MP WV-SFV781L dome camera and tested it against the: 

In this in-depth report, we tested:

  • FoV widths up to 135' to determine how the 4K cameras would compete at under 30ppf levels / wide areas
  • Daytime, nighttime and WDR scenes to examine how performance varies across the most fundamental different scene types.
  • 4K vs 12MP modes
  • Smart IR performance
  • Super Chroma Compensation: Low Light Color Mode
  • Compression Level differences
  • Bandwidth consumption

** ****** *** *** ********* ** / ******-*********** ****** *** ****** ** ******* ***: 

** **** **-***** ******, ** ******:

  • *** ****** ** ** ***' ** ********* *** *** ** cameras ***** ******* ** ***** ***** ****** / **** *****
  • *******, ********* *** *** ****** ** ******* *** *********** ****** across *** **** *********** ********* ***** *****.
  • ** ** **** *****
  • ***** ** ***********
  • ***** ****** ************: *** ***** ***** ****
  • *********** ***** ***********
  • ********* ***********

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

*******

*********'* ** **-******* ********* ************* ****** ******* ** **** ****** of **** **** ****, *****, *** ***** ** ****** ******, with above ******* *** ***** ***********, ********* ** ******** ***** ***** mode.

*******, ** ** ************ ********* *** ***** *****, ****** ** *** price *** **** ** *** ********** **** ***** *****. ********* is **** * *******, ** *** *********** ** **** ****** was *** ******* ** ******* ******, **** **** ***** ****** quantization **** *******.

Market ******

** *** (*) ** ******* ** **** ******, **** *** the ***** ** **** ***** ******** ** ****** ** ** Ultra ** ** ***** ****** *****. ** **** ***, ** believe **** ********* ***** **** ****** ** ********** ****** *** such ************.

****: ****, ** **** ** **** *** **** ** ****** as ** ****** ** ****.

Key ********

**** ***** **** ** *** *** ******** *** **** ****** in **** ****:

*******

  • ** **** *** ******, *** **-******* ******** **** **** ******* than *** ***** ** ****** ******, **** ** ****** ******** and ***** ****. **** *** ********** ********** ** **** ****** of **** (**'+).
  • *** ***** *********** ** ****** **** *** *********, **** ** cameras ******. *******, ** ***** *** ******, ******* *** ******** ** digital *****, ****** ****** ********** **** ****** **** *** ***** 4K *** ***** ********* ****.
  • ****** *** *********** ******* ****** *********, *** **** *********** ** dark *****, **** ******** **** ********* ** ***.
  • ******* *********** ******** ("******") ******** ** ************ ** ~** *******, significantly ****** **** *******, ****** ***** ******* ****** *** *******, with ******* ******* ** ******* ***** ******* ~**-***.
  • ******** ** **** *** ****** ***** ******* *********** **** *-** other ** *******, ****** *********'* ****** **** **** ***** ** noted *****. *** ***** ******** **** ******* ** ***** ****** or ******** *****.
  • ******** ************ **** ~** ** ** ("******" ** "****" ** *** web *********) ******** ** **** ******* *********, **-*** ***** ****** in **** *** ****** *** ** **** **** ******* ***** displayed (*****/****** ********, *******, ***.).
  • **** ****** ******* **** ***** ***** *****, ****** *** **** of ******* **********.

*****

*** **-******* ***** *** ~$*,*** *** ******, ****** ** ~$*** more **** ******** ***-*****-*** (***** ****, ****** ****) *** ***** ****** *** ***** ** ******* *****-* (***** ** ************).

Physical ********

*** **-*******'* **** ******* ******** ******* ** *** ****, **** closer ** **** ** ********** **** ***** ***** *****, *********** here ** **** ********** ** ** **** ***** ***:

*** ****** **** ******** **-***** ******** *** **** *** *********, as **** ** * **** ******* ******, ***** *** ***** ************. We ****** *** ***** ******** ** **** *****.

4K *** **** *****

** ******** ** ** **********, *** ****** ** ******* ** 15 frames ** **** ********** (*********). **** ******** *********** *** **** horizontal ***, **** ****** **% ******** ** ******** ***** ** view. *** ****** *** ** ****** *********** *** ********* ** FPS ** **** ********** ****** *** *****.

12MP / ** ***** ********

****** *** ******** ** *** ********* **-******* ** **** ** and **** ***********. *** ~*** ** *** ****** *** ************ ****.

Daytime ***** *******

*** **-******* ******** **** **** ******* ** **** **** **** other ******* ******. **** ** **** ********** ** **** ~***' HOV (~***' **** *******), ***** *** ********* ** ** **** to ******* ******** ******* ******* *** **** ******* ***** ** the **** ***** **** ***** *******, ** **** ** ****** capture *** **** ******* *****.

** ***** **' **** *** *******, *** *** ******* ** ~70'. *** **-******* ***** ******** *** **** ******* ** ******* tested.

*******, ** *** ****** ****** ***, *** ******* ******* *********** details *** *** **** ***** ** ****** *******, ****** *** SFV781L ******** ********** ****** ******* **** **** **** ******** *** better **********.

Low ***** ***********

*** **-*******'* ** ***** ** ********* *** ***/~**'. ** **** range, *** **** ******* ** ********** ** *** ******* **** scene, **** ****:

*******, ******* ** **** ***** *** **** (** ** *** cameras) *** ** **** ****** ** ******* *****, ********* *** subject.

****** ** *** ****** (~**') ***** * ******** **' ****, the *** ******** *** ********* ******* ** *** **** ***** and ******* *****, ********** ****** **** *** ***** ** *** Panasonic ***** ** ******.

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

** **** ***** ********* ****** (*** ******* ** *** ********* * ******), *** ******'* ** *** ********** ** ******** ******** *** scene *** *********** *** ******, **** ***** ******* ** ***** overexposure. **** ** ******* ** *** ******* *****, ** *** subject ***** **** ~***' **.

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

** ******** ** *** ***** ** **, *** *** ******** a ***** **** ****** "***** ****** ************" ***** ***** *** mechanical *** ****** ***** ******* ** *****, ********* ***** ******* to ********** *** *** ******** ***** ******* ** ** *****. 

**** ******* ** ******* ********* ***** ******, **** ***** ** ~0.2 ***, **** ******** ****** ******* **** *** ******* ***** mode (**** *** ***** *****). **** **** *** ** *********** is *** **** ** **** ****.

WDR ***********

*** *********** *** ****** ******* ****** *********, *** **** ** dark *****, **** ** **** **** *** *****:

*** **-******* *** *** ********* ********* ** *** ****** **** of *** *** *****, **** *** **** ******* ** *** subject *** **** *****. *******, ** **** ***** ** *** scene, ** ********* *****, **** *** ******* *** ***** ****** visible.

***, ***, ***

** ******** ** *** *** ****, ***** *** ****** ******** Black ******* ** ********* ************. ********* ********* ******** ***** *******'* function **: "******** ********** ** **** ***** ******* ********* *** image ******* ** ****** *****."

** ***** ***' ******* ** ** *******, **** ** ********* increase ** ********** ** *** **** ***** ** *** *** scene. Turning *** ** ******** ** *** ******* ***** ****** ********** washed *** ** *** ****** **** ** *** *****, ***** he *** **** **** ******* ** *** **** **** ****** the ****, **** ****:

Compression ***********

*** **-*******'* ******* *********** ("******", * ** * ***** ** 0-9) ******** ** ******* ************ ** ~**, **** **** *** most *******, ***** ******* *********** ************* *** ******* ******* ** these ******.

*******, *** ******* ********** ******* ~** *** ******* ************ ** ~30 ** *** *** *** *******, **** **** ****** ********** in **** **** *******, ******* * ****** ** ******** ** bitrate. ******* **** ** *** **** *****-*, ***** *****, ***** show * **** **** *********** ******** ** ******* **** ********** quantization ** **, **** *** *******'* **** ******* ******** *******.

Bandwidth **********

******* ** **** ********** ** ***** ******* ** *********** ************ levels, ** ****** *** **-******* ** **** ***** ******* "******" quality ***** *** ************ ** **.

** **** ************ ******, *** **-******* *** ****** **** ***** cameras ****** ** **** *** ******. *******, ** *** *****, bitrates **** ******* ** ******** ***** **** ***** ******* ****** when ***** ***, *** *** *** *** ****** ** *** dark **** ** ** **** ***** ***** ******* ~** ************.

***********

******* **** ****** ***** ******* ******** ****** ********* *****. ******* speed *** *** ** */*** *** ** *** ******. ************ was ************ ** ~** **** ** *-***** ******** ** ** (1 *** ******).

*** ********* ********/******** ******** **** **** ** **** ****:

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

Comments (30)

Michael Miller

08/17/15 01:48pm

*** *** ****** ***** *** *** ****? **** ***** **** testing ** ******* ** ***** ** **** ** *** ********'* 4K ****** ***** ** *** ***.

**** ******:*** *** **** ******* ** **** ** ********* *****, *********** ****** ******** * ~*** ** *** ****** ********** ********.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

In reply to Michael Miller | 08/17/15 09:10pm

*******,

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

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 08/17/15 09:19pm

**** *** ***** *****, *********** ******** ********, *****!

*** ***** *** ** *** ********** *** ********* *********, ****** see:

*** **** ***********, ** **** **** * ******** ***** ** the **** ** ******:

** *** **** ** ******, ***** **** ** ** ***********, lower ***** ****, *** ** ********** ** *** ****** **** than *********** (**** *** ********* **** ******), **'* *** * top ********.

Michael Miller

In reply to John Honovich | 08/17/15 09:48pm

** *** **** ** ******, ***** **** ** ** ***********, lower ***** ****, *** ** ********** ** *** ****** **** than *********** (**** *** ********* **** ******), **'* *** * top ********.

** ******'* **** ***** *** ***** **** *** **'* $**** MSRP ** **'* ** *** **** ***** ***** ** *** Panasonic. **'* ************ *** **** *** **** ** ** *** image ******/******** *** ********* *** **** **** *** * *****'* seen ******* ** **** *** ***** ** ***.

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

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Miller | 08/17/15 10:49pm

** **** ** *** ********* ****** ** ******, ***** ***** number *** *** ********* **? *** **-*****-*? *** *** *** including **** ** ***?

Michael Miller

In reply to John Honovich | 08/17/15 11:07pm

**-*****-* ** *** ***** ****** *** ** *** **** ** not ******** ** *** $**** **** ***** *****. ****** ***** off ** * ****** $*** **** ******* $*** *** * housing. $****+ *** **** ****** ** *** * *** **** for **** **** ****** ****** ** *** *****. ****** ** you ** **** ****** *** ***** **** ****** ** ***** under $****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Miller | 08/17/15 11:13pm

*** ** ******* *** **** ** $*,***, *** *** ****** price?

****, ***** *** *** ****** ****** "***** *** ** ****** $125", *** *** ****** ** ** ** ** **** **** that **** (************?). * *** ******* ***** ****** *** *** ***** ** Avigilon *** '******* ***** *******', **** '****'.

Michael Miller

In reply to John Honovich | 08/18/15 01:43pm

**** ********* ** **** ********* **** **** ****** ** ******* knowing *** ***** **'* **** ** ******** * ****. *** Sig **-**** ** * ***** ******** ** **** ***** ** one ** **** **.

********* ***** - ** *** **** **** ****** ** ***** with ** ******** ** **** *** **** ****. ** **** been ********** ********** ***** ** ***** ******* **** **** **** lighting ** ******** *** *** **** ******* **** **** ********.

****** * ** *** ****** ** ****** **** ****** ** if *** ***** **** **** * *** **** **** **** a ****** *** **** *** ** *** ** * ***** out. ***** *** *** **** ** **** *********.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Michael Miller | 08/18/15 12:37am

**-*****-* ** *** ***** ****** *** ** *** **** ** not ******** ** *** $**** **** ***** *****.

***** **** ** *********? **'* * *** ********** ********, ******* **** *, ****, it **** *** **** **$*,***. ********** **$*,***.

* ******'* **** * '********' ****, ** ** ****** ********?

Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 08/18/15 01:29am

**** ** * ** *** *** ******** ** ****** ** $2085 **** *** * **** **** *** * ******.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Michael Miller | 08/18/15 01:40am

********, *** *** *** **** **** ***'* **** *** '******* off *** *** ***'?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Miller | 08/18/15 03:10pm

**** ********* **** ** ******** ****** **** *** **** ** the**-*****-* ** $****.

** *** **** ** **** **** ** $****, **** ***** to ***.

Michael Miller

In reply to John Honovich | 08/18/15 03:28pm

**** *** **** *** *** ** ***** ** ** **** installed **** ** ** **** ** *** **** ***** ** the *** *******. *

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Miller | 08/18/15 03:30pm

** ******** *** *** ** ****** ******* ** **** **% in *** **** *****, ***?

Undisclosed #2

In reply to John Honovich | 08/18/15 03:34pm

*** ******** *********** ******** ******** **** *** *******!

Michael Miller

In reply to John Honovich | 08/18/15 03:34pm

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

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

In reply to John Honovich | 08/18/15 03:35pm

**** *** ******* ******* ***** *** ****. **** ****** ** a *** ****** ** *** **** ** **** ***** ** make **** ******* ****** ** * **** ** **** *** testing

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 08/18/15 03:39pm

**** **** ****** * ****** ******** - ******** **** **** are ******* ** ***** ********, *** **** ******* *** ******* for ***** ******** **** ** **%....

Michael Miller

In reply to John Honovich | 08/18/15 03:55pm

**** ******* *** ***** ** *** ****** *** *** ***** line. *** *** *** ****** ******** ***** ********. *** *** look ** **** ** **** ****** **** ****** ** * great ***** *****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Miller | 08/18/15 03:59pm

**'* * '****** **** ******' ****:

  • ***** **** ** ***** ***
  • *** **** **** **** *** ***** **** ** *********** (** vs **)
  • **** *** **** ********** **
  • **** *** **** **** ***** ** **** **** **** **** recommended ***** (**** **** ********* ****)
  • **** *** ******* **** (**** **** ********* ****) ********* ** pay ** **** ** ~$**** *** **** **********

*** **** ***** ** ************* **** ********* **** *** ** the *** ** *** ******.

*** ***, ********'* ********** ***** ******** **** **** **** ** price ********, ** **** **** **** ******* ** **** **% on * **** *** ********, ****'* *** * **** ****.

*******, *** * *** *** ****** ***** ** ******* ***** Avigilon, *** **** ******** *** ******** ** * ********* ** camera **** ****** **** ****.

Michael Miller

In reply to John Honovich | 08/18/15 04:16pm

*******, *** * *** *** ****** ***** ** ******* ***** Avigilon, *** **** ******** *** ******** ** * ********* ** camera **** ****** **** ****.

* ***** ***** ** *** ***** **** ******** ** ****** and **** * ******** ** ***** ********* ********* *****.

**'* ***** ** ****** * *** *** *** ***** ** spin **** *** *** *** ****. **** **** *********** ** about *** ***** ***** * **** *** ****** *** ** another ****** **** ******* *** *****. **** **** ** *** did **** ** *** ** *** **** *** ***** **** it.

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

Michael Miller

In reply to John Honovich | 08/18/15 03:45pm

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

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Michael Miller | 08/18/15 03:49pm

***** ** ****** *** ****?

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 08/17/15 10:10pm

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

* ****** ** ******* *** **** **** ***** ***** **** guarantee ** **** ********...

Derek Ward

08/17/15 02:32pm

*** *** **** ******* ** **** ** ********* *****, *********** ****** ******** * ~*** ** *** ****** ********** ********.

Michael Miller

In reply to Derek Ward | 08/17/15 02:42pm

******

Michael Miller

In reply to Derek Ward | 08/18/15 11:01pm

***** ***** ********. **** *** ***** **** ******** ** **** machines? * **** ***** **** ***** ** ** ******* *** (i7) *** ** ******* ******* ******** *** ** **** *** play ********. **** **** *** ***** ** ******* *** ** the ** ****** *** ********* **** ** ***** *** **** how **** ** *****? ***** *** **** * **** **** all ** ******* ** ********? ***** ***

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Michael Miller | 08/18/15 11:08pm

******* ******** ** ******* ** ****** ** *'* *** **% of *** ******** ** ****. ** ****, **** * ****** 4K ****** ** ****** ** ***** **. ** ** ******* (Pro, ******* *****), * *** **** **** *** ** ******* at **** ******* ******. ***** ****, *'* *** ** ****** to **** **** ******. ******* ** *** **** ** **** (Axis, *****, *****, ***), ** **** ** ** ***** *-* FPS.

** *****'* ***** ********* ***** ************* ** *.*** ********** ** Exacq, *** ********* ** ********** ********* ****** ****** ** ***** of.

Michael Miller

In reply to Ethan Ace | 08/19/15 12:02am

****** *****. ***** *** ****** ***** * **** **** *** 4 ******* ** **?

Michael Goodwin

12/01/15 09:53pm

*** **** **** *** *** ***** ** ***** ******* *** latest ***** ** **+ ***'*?

****://********.*********.***/**/*****************************.****

*/*.*” *********** **** ****

****://***.*************.***/********/***-**********-*-****.****

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