By Ethan Ace and Rob Kilpatrick, Published Jun 19, 2019, 09:47am EDT
Repositionable multi-imager cameras are one of the fastest growing segments in video surveillance, with a slew of new offerings being recently released but who is the best and worst?
To see who stands out, we bought and tested 10 repositionable models from 7 manufacturers:
The video below provides a quick overview of the models and manufacturers included:
Cameras were ranked across 10 criteria:
Field of view options: Repositionable multi-imager models varied greatly in how closely imagers may be positioned, whether they can be panned or rotated to corridor mode, and how easily they may be moved.
Zoom range: Some tested models include fixed lenses while others include motorized varifocal options with big differences in focal length range.
Size / weight differences: Cameras ranged from under four pounds to over 15, with sizes ranging from low profile and small diameter to over 12" wide.
Daytime details: Cameras were tested at ~300 lux at distances ranging from 20' to 80' to see how well lit scene performance differed.
Night details: Cameras were tested in a very dark <0.1 lux scene to show differences between IR cameras and non-IR models.
Low light detail: Low light color performance was tested at multiple ranges at ~2 lux to see how details differ.
WDR performance: All models tested included true WDR performance, tested to see how each handles strong backlight and darker areas of the scene.
Bandwidth efficiency: Smart codec bandwidth was tested in day and night scenes using H.264 and H.265, included in most cameras, to see how bitrates compare.
Video analytics / VMD performance: Cameras' on board analytics and VMD performance varied drastically, from highly accurate to easily triggered by everyday nuisances like foliage, shadows, or animals.
Pricing comparison: Pricing ranged from a low of ~$900 USD to almost $3,000, with higher price not necessarily equaling higher performance/more features.
Plus we examine additional factors which did not impact rankings but are key information for decision-makers, including:
VMS H.265/H.264 streaming and configuration support
VMS video analytic/VMD event support
Number of VMS licenses required
Country of origin
And we declare winners for best value, worst value, best low light, best positioning, and best analytics.
Executive *******
******* ** *********** ** resolution, ********** ** **********, and ***** ********, ** is ********* ** **** a ****** "******". *******, some ******* ******* ********* best ** ******* *****.
**** *****:*** ***** ******* ** models ** ~$*,*** *** and *****, *** **** P3717-PLE ***** *** *** its ******** ***********, *** profile ****, *** ***** analytics *********** (****), ***** the ********* **** ****** model *** * *** performer ** **** ****** with ** ** *** offered * **** **** range *** ****** ********** at ***** ******** **** others.
**** *** *****/** ***********:*** ********* **** ****** and **** ******** ** Multisensor ******* *** **** low *****/**** *********** *** to ***** ****** ********** and ******** ********** **.
**** *** ***********:*** **** *****-*** ******* more ******* *** *** setup **** ***** ******, with ******* **** ** be ****** ******* ********, as **** ** ****** in ***** (* ******* not ******** ** *** other ***** ******), ***** with ********* ****** *** corridor **** *******.
**** *********:*** ******** ** ***********'*****-******** *********(******** ** *** ********) outperformed *** ***** ****** tested, **** ******* ****** performance ** ***** ***** rejection, ***** ****** ******* on *******, *******, ******, or ***** ******** *******, or ****** ********** ** people ** ********.
***** *****:** ****** $*,*** *** street *****, *** ********* WV-X8570N ****** *** ******* value, ******** *** ** evenly *** ****** *** offering *** ******** *********** its **** **** **********, but **** ** **** due ** *** **** of ********** ** *** with ****** ** ****** plus ***** ***** ****.
**'** **** ** ******* with ******* ********* * new ****** ** ******* which *** ******* *** release ***** **** ******. As **** ** **** are ********, ** **** to ****.
**'** **** ** ******* with ******* ********* * new ****** ** ******* which *** ******* *** release ***** **** ******. As **** ** **** are ********, ** **** to ****.
**** ***** ** ** excellent *********** *** ******* if **** *** ***** they **** ******* **** from *** **** ****** of *** ****. * look ******* ** **** test.
Comments (38)
Undisclosed Integrator #1
****** *** *** ************* round **!
*** *** ****** *** issues **** ********** / double ****** ** *** dome ******? **** *** extremely ********* ** ***** cams **** ** *** Arecont *************.
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Undisclosed Integrator #2
**
***** ** ***** ******* present "********" ****? **** is *** ********* ***** for *** *** *******...? In ******** ** ********** views?
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Undisclosed #3
*** ***** ****** *** the ** **** *** 32? $*** **** > *.** *** ******, a ****** *******... *** the * ******* ** adjustability?
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Undisclosed Integrator #4
*** *** ***** ** test *** *** **** multi-sensor (***-*****) *** **** ****? I ***** *** **** we're ******* ** *** them ** *** ** our ******** ****.
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Undisclosed #5
***** **** ****! Multi-imagers *** ********* ******** our **** **** *****. This **** ****** ******* with ** **** **** scientific ************ ******* ****, Avigilon, *** *********. ** is ***** ** *** some **** ******* *** detailed *******.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #6
***** ***********, ** *** have * *** ******* consumption ***** *** ***** ?
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Jim FitzGibbon
*** *** ****** ** what ******* ** *********** your ******* *** ********* on? ** ******** **** was *** ******** ******* of *** ******* ******? I **** ** ******* that ** **** **** and ******* ** ******* some *** ******* *** cameras **** *****-****** ******* and ***** *** *** only *****-****** ******* **** I **** *** **** take * *** ** power *****. **** ** beneficial ***** ** *** setup ** ***** *** cabling *********.
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Sergey Bystrov
06/20/19 07:11pm
**** ****,
****, ******* ********** **** only **** ******** ****:
*) ****** ***** *******
***(!)
*) *******/****** ****** ***** quality.
**'* **** ** **** such * ***** **** will ******* **** *** bitrate *** **** **** static ******* ******* *** would ** ******* ** dynamic ******.
** ******* ****** ** apples, ***** *** ** bitrate **********/******* ********** *** always **** *******: *******, static ****** *****, ****** object *****. *********, ** might *** ****** **** be **********.
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Terrence Harless
**'* ******* *** *** Arecont *** ****** **** they ****'* **** ******** in * *****-****** ****** shoot-out.
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David Coughlin
06/24/19 02:30pm
*** **** *** ****** shots ***** **** ********* backgrounds *** ********* **** the ****** ** ********* angles? (***** *** * few **** ***** *********** above. ** **********, *'* referencing *** *** *********** Comparison.) ***'* **** ** these ********* *** ******* for ********* ******* ** light ** *** *****?
***** ***,
***** ********
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Undisclosed #7
*** **** *** ****** of ******** ******** **** depending ** *** **** of ****** ** ***?
*** ******* **** ** the ******?
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Tim Sutton
* ***'* *** *** Arecont *******? ***
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Tim Sutton
**** ** ****! * was ****-*** ******-**-***** **** my **** ** * have *** ******* *** trouble **** ***** *******. Hopefully **** *** ****/**** to ***** *** **** of *******...
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Chris Doyle
10/22/19 07:40pm
******* ******** ** *** paragraph *** *.*** ******* matches *** *******. *'* curious ***** ** *** text ** ******* ** correct. ***** **** ****, this ** ***** ******** presented ****. **** ** up, ****!
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