Pelco Surevision 3 Tested

By John Scanlan, Published Apr 12, 2017, 03:07am EDT

Pelco has released generation 3 of its Surevision cameras, claiming improved performance in both super low light and WDR performance.

We bought and tested the 1080p Pelco IME229 [link no longer available] against competitive models from Axis, Hikvision, Hanwha, and Panasonic, as well as Pelco's previous generation to see how it stacks up.

*******

*****'* ********** *.* ****** performs ********* ** ******* ********** ****** in *** *** *** light ******, ****** **** not ***** *** ** any ****. *******, *** lack ** ***** ***** (offered ** **** ******* in ****) ******* ** much ****** ******** ** all ****** **** *********** models.

*** ***** ******* ********* to **********/***** *****, *** Surevision *.* ** * solid ****** *** ******* upgrade **** ******** ***********.

*******

*** ****** ************ ****** *** ~$*** USD, ******* ** **** outdoor ** **** ******, such ** *** **** P3225-LVE ** ********* **-****** (both ~$***), *** ********** higher **** ****** **** as *** ********* **-******* or ****** ***-***** (**** ~$600). 

Physical ********

** ****** *** ******** features ** *** ****** in **** *****:


*** ****** ** ******* in **** ** ***** outdoor ** *****, **** as *** **** *** and ********* **** ****:

User ********* / *************

**** ** *** ********** * web ********* ** ********* from **** ***** *******. However, *******, ***** *** added * ******* ********** slider ***** **** * max *** ******* *******, missing **** ******** *******. Using ******* ******** (** quality), *** ****** ******** ~***.

Image ******* **********

*** ***** ***** ***** the **** ***** ** view / ********** ****.

*** ********** ***** ***** the ***** ****** *** ***** cameras ** **** *****.  The ****** ******** ****** ****** in *** ******** ****, but ****** ** ******* detail ** *** ****** of *** *****, ********* washed ***.

** * **** *****, ~0.01 ***, *** ****** provided better ****** **** *** Axis ***** *** ***** IME319 (********** *, ** IR). *******, ******** ** the *********, *********, *** Wisenet * ******, ** appeared ******, ******** ******* of *** ******* *** test *****.****:***** *** **-******* ***** to *******.

Wide ******* *****

**** *** *** ******* on *** ****** *** to **** ** ********* best ** *** *********** WDR **** *****. ** tested *** ******* * south ****** **** ** mid ***.  *** **** scene ***** ** **** below ***** *** ****** lux ******* *** ~**, while *** ******* ******* is ~**,*** ***, * 244x ********.

*** ****** ****** *** WDR ********, "******" *** "High", **** * ********** performance ******** **** ***** High, ***** *****. ** tested ***** ******** ** this **** ******* *****, as **** ** **** light *** *** ***** and *** ** ******** impact ** ***** ******* or ********* **** ***** High, ** **** **** this ******* ** *** comparisons *****.

*** ****** ********* **** compared ** **** ***** cameras (*** ** "****"), with ***** ******* ******* the ****** ********* *** in *** *** ******** area ** *** *****, outperformed **** ** *** Axis *****.

 

*********

*** ** *** **** of***** *****, *** ***** ******'* bitrates **** *** ******* tested *** *** *****, drastically ****** **** ***** models. 

*** ********* ******** **** used *** **** ******'* smart ***** *****:

  • **** *****-***:********* ******* / ******* GOP **** / ******* FPS **
  • ****** ***-*****:******* *** *** / Dynamic *** ** / Wisestream ****
  • ********* ****:*.***+ **
  • ********* ******:*** ******* ** (***) / ***** ****** ****** On

Test **********

*** **** ** ** date ******** *** **** at *** **** ** the **** ** *******:

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

Comments (8)

Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | 04/12/17 03:46pm

The IME229 offers two WDR settings, "Normal" and "High", with a noticeable performance increase when using High, shown below. We tested these settings in this wide dynamic scene, as well as full light and low light and saw no negative impact on image quality or bandwidth when using High...

With no "Off" option?

Does this camera not use multi-exposure WDR in its High mode?  If so, isn't the typical trade off lower max frame rate and loss of clarity of moving subjects because of frame integration?

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 04/12/17 10:22pm

Yes there's an off option. Also, there was no loss of clarity, but FPS maxes out at 30 with WDR on instead of 60 with it off. Given how rare 60 FPS applications are, it's a fairly minor negative. 

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Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ethan Ace | 04/12/17 11:39pm

Yes there's an off option.

That explains it then, sounds like both normal and high use multiple exposures.  

Maybe a only a different integration algorithm?

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | 04/12/17 10:23pm

Update: Pelco plans to add smart codecs to the Surevision 3 in upcoming firmware. We'll update this test when it's released.

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Undisclosed #2

04/15/17 12:50am

Did you test the performance with 30 fps as well?

And what about setting the Quality slider for higher (up to the right)? Does it increases even more the bitrate? I'm curious if this gives better definition on the chart's characters in the full light comparisson.

Thank you.

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Shannon Davis

IPVMU Certified | 04/17/17 08:18pm

So Pelco is going to try and do this again. I lost faith in the almighty Pelco back in 2012 which is sad as they have been the go to video platform for years in the Analog world. The last time I installed Pelco at a site we ended up replacing all the cameras and NVR within the first year. The only Pelco we use now are some of the mounts and fortunately they haven't messed with that success.

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Undisclosed Integrator #3

04/18/17 10:39am

That P3225's forensic capture is hard to beat, will you be reviewing any of the MkII models?

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 04/18/17 12:04pm

We plan to pick up the MK II to stay up to date, but from comparing specs and talking to Axis I don't expect it'll be a drastic improvement in performance. But we will see for ourselves when it gets here. 

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