Panasonic Series 6 IP Cameras Tested

Author: Ethan Ace, Published on Jul 21, 2014

Can Panasonic make a comeback?

One of the early entrants in IP cameras, Panasonic has been slipping, dues to faster and more aggressive competitors.

Now, Panasonic has released a sixth generation plus added a 20%+ price cut.

We tested two models from their new 6 series, the 720p WV-SFV611L and the 1080p WV-SFV631L to see how they stack up against competitors from Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Samsung, and Sony.

 

In this report, we look at their performance in full light, low light, and WDR scenes to find out just how good this new generation is.

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Comments (12)

Marc Lindike

07/22/14 12:53pm

Dear Ethan,

thanks for the test ... i am wondering if you used a more or less static or a rather dynamic scene for your bandwith comparisons. I assume it was rather static.

Our recent tests showed very significant bandwith differences between manufacturers in handling scenes with moving objects.

Best regards

Marc

P.S:

Our test case: A0 Test Chart covering 40% of the FOW, mounted on a whiteboard which is suspened from the ceiling with 2 parallel 3m long ropes, forming a pendulum. This pendulum generates any (reasonable) required target object speed and is repeatable. The test chart contains faces, license plates, barcodes, siemens stars etc and pictures of typical surveilance scenes.

Luke Maslen

IPVMU Certified | 07/22/14 01:22pm

Hi Ethan, thanks for a great review. These new Panasonic models appear to be fantastic cameras. However I can't help myself from saying, "They're ugly!" I don't know why anyone would want the plus sign design and bevelled edge. The Pelco Sarix shown in your Physical Overview video looked much nicer with its clean lines and simple face. I would plead that Panasonic get some really good industrial designers on to their next generation of this camera and make it look as good as it performed in your tests.

Paul Jakowski

IPVMU Certified | 07/22/14 01:30pm

I would like to see Hikvision camera in this test to see how it compares being half price.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Paul Jakowski | 07/22/14 02:37pm

Paul, for space considerations, we can't include every manufacturer. However, you can contrast these results to our test of Hikvision cameras from 7 months ago.

Harold Baumgarten

In reply to John Honovich | 07/23/14 06:17pm

Nice report, the new Panasonics seen to perform very well.

I did notice though that comparisons were made with the Axis Q1604 which is NOT an IR camera so I believe the results are not quite right i.e. image in "Below 1 Lux, with IR on" and bandwidth table.

Derek Ward

In reply to Harold Baumgarten | 07/23/14 06:44pm

Harold,

Thank you for addressing your concern. The Axis Q1604 image (and every other non-ir camera in those comparisons) were collected with IR off on the Panasonic and Avigilon cameras, as to not skew the results.

The same applies to the bandwidth table, as "Dark, IR On" measurements were obtained with all IR off for the non-integrated IR cameras tested. IR was also only on for one camera at a time, so results would not be skewed.

Harold Baumgarten

In reply to Derek Ward | 07/23/14 07:39pm

Derek, thanks for your kind response, still, the title of that specific shootout is:

Below 1 Lux, with IR on, the Panasonic 6 Series domes

Thereupon my comment, the result´s presentation creates confussion IMHO, same for the table.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

07/27/14 02:36pm

Clearly Panasonic has done their homework.

Pros:The IR performance was the best in the group tested.

Cons: Tails!

We have one customer who prefers Panasonic dome cameras.

We have been starting to see problems with corrosion on the RJ45 female connection even though they are mounted to boxes.

I would recommend wrapping the connection with a butyl tape or product recommend for this purpose.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 07/28/14 03:59pm

The cameras come with tape in the box to wrap the the connection and the manual shows best pratices on how to do it.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 07/29/14 01:15am

I'm still not a fan of the tail but thanks for the heads up. I think the industry is moving towards designs that help to reduce the possibility of making installation mistakes. Manufactures can put yards of tape and hands full of descant packs in box but they don't do any good if they come back with the truck at the end of the day.

Phil Shanahan

07/31/14 12:44pm

I agree with the comment abouth them being ugly, 90% of dome cameras are installed in shops, offices, hotels...... places where there seen and need to look good, if its a thermal PTZ in an Oil Refinery then its a different story.

The previous generation (or maybe the one before) was even worse, the domes were horrible cheap looking silver/grey plastic things, stick one of them up in a high end office, building lobby and you get shouted at.

Bosch and Sony make the best looking dome's around in my view

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | 08/06/14 09:34pm

For what it's worth on the dome aesthetics discussion: the models tested here are outdoor vandal resistant domes. The interior domes looks like this:

Cleaner look, but obviously whether you like the look of it or not is a matter of preference.

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