Sony Next Gen HD Dome Camera Tested (SNC-EM642R)

By: IPVM Team, Published on Aug 18, 2017

Sony has released their latest generation, claiming improved WDR and low light, increased IR range, and more. We tested the SNC-EM642R outdoor IR vandal dome to see how these new models stack up against the latest from others, including:

Testing multiple features and scenes, including:

  • Daytime image quality
  • Low light image quality
  • IR illumination range
  • IR illumination pattern/hotspots
  • Wide dynamic range in static and changing scenes
  • Install issues
  • Bandwidth

And more. See our full results inside.

Related, see IPVM's Sony 6th generation cameras test, IPVM's Sony 20MP / 4K camera test and IPVM's Sony 35mm super low light test.

**** *** ******** ***** latest **********, ******** ******** WDR *** *** *****, increased ** *****, *** more. ** ****** *** SNC-EM642R ******* ** ****** dome ** *** *** these *** ****** ***** up ******* *** ****** from ******, *********:

******* ******** ******** *** scenes, *********:

  • ******* ***** *******
  • *** ***** ***** *******
  • ** ************ *****
  • ** ************ *******/********
  • **** ******* ***** ** static *** ******** ******
  • ******* ******
  • *********

*** ****. *** *** full ******* ******.

*******, *******'* **** *** ********** cameras ****,****'* **** **** / 4K ****** ***********'* **** **** ***** low ***** ****.

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

*******

*** ***** ******* **********/***** Sony *******, *** ****** is * ***** *********** upgrade **** ******** ****** in *** ***** *** WDR ***********, ** * similar ***** ***** ** the ******* ****** ****.

*******, ***** ***** ***** manufacturers' ******* *** ******** ** find *** *********** ** any ******** ********** ****** to ******, *** *** high ******** ******** ** others *** ********** ** for ****.

Key ********

**** *** *** *** findings **** **** ****:

  • ***** ******* *** *****:*** ****** ******** ********** fewer ******* ** **** test ******* *** ***** in *** ***** ****** (<1lx) **** ****, ******, and ********* ******* ******.
  • **** ** *****:*******, *** ** ************ was *** ******* ** cameras ******, ***** **** Hanwha, ~***'/***, ****** *** is **** *** ** this *****, ~*.
  • **** ** *******:** ******* ******** *** more **** **** ***** cameras ******, **** ** center ************ *** **** dimming ** ***** ** the ***.
  • ***** *** ***********:*** ****** ********* **** in **** *** ****** tested, ****** **** **** Hanwha *** *********, ****** provided ******** **** ****** than *** **** ***** in **** ******.
  • **** ********* ***********:*** ******'* ********* *********** was *** ******* ** cameras ****** ** *** due ** *** **** of ***** ******, ***** all ***** ****** ****** include (** ** **** manufacturers ** ****). 

*******

***** ** **** *** Sony's *********** ****** *********, the ******'* ********* ****** price ** ** **** with ***** ****** ******, such ** *** **** P3225-LVE ** **, ***** starlight *****, ** ********* S2531L (*** $***-***), *** moderately ****** **** *** Hanwha ***-***** *** ********* 4526 (**** ~$***-***).

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

** *** ***** ** ~20' *** **** ******** less ****** ** *** subject *** **** ***** than *** ***** ******* tested, **** *** *******'* face ********* *******/*******. *** Hanwha ******* * ******* displayed *** **** ******* ** the ******* (****** **** some ****** ************ ** lower/small **** *****), ***** both *** **** *****-*** and ********* **** ******* more ****** ** *** subject's ******** **** *** EM642.

******* **** *** *******, with *** ******* ** ~26, ** ****** ****** produced ******* ****** ******* in **** *****, **** all ********** ******* ***** or *********** ****** *** impossible ** ********. *******, notable *********** ** **** legibility *** *******.

*** ****** ** ************ by *** ****** ******* X, ***** ******** ******* of *** ***** ** the ****** ****, ** well *** **** *****-*** which ***** **** ******* letters. **** *** ****** and ********* **** ******* no ******* ****.

IR *******

*** ***-*****'* ** ************ was ********** **** ****** the **** ***** ** view, ******** ****** ** the *****, ******** *******. 

*******, ******** ** ****** such ** ****, **** illumination ********** ** **** less ******, **** ******* to *** **** ******** pattern ** *********, ***** below.

IR *****

** *** *****, *** Sony ***-****** ******* *** specified ** ***** ** 60m/~195', **** *** ******* clearly ******* ** **** 200'. *******, ****** *** foot at **** ******** ** low, **** ** ******* telephoto ***** ******, **** about * ***, ****** anything *** ********* **********. The ****** ******* * is *** **** ***** camera ** **** **** with * ********* ** range ******* *** ***** (50m/164') ***** ** *******, reaching ***'+ ***** *****. 

*** ***** ***** ***** the ***** **** *** subject ******** ** ~***' distance, *** ******'* *********** max ** *****. ******* are ***, *** ** is ******* ***********.

Exterior **** *** ***********

** ****** ******* ******* an ******** **** ** see *** **** ******* *** harsh ******* ***** *** change ** ************ ** the **** ****** *** closed. *** ****** ****** from ~** ****** ** 1,300lx ******* (****** *** difference).

** **** *****, *** Axis *****-*** ******** ****, with *** ******** ******* details **** ******* ** inside, ***** *** ***** suffers **** **** ************ of *** ******* ******* and **** ******* ** the **** *** **********. Both *** ********* *** Hanwha ****** ********** **** discoloration *** **** ** contrast, ******** ******* **********.

*** **** ***** ***** these ******* ** ****** as *** ******* ******, moving **** ******* ** inside.

Overhead **** *** *********** 

** **** ****** *** in * **** ******* scene **** ****** ********, a************* **** ******** ****. Lux ****** **** ~**** lux ** ****** **** the **** ** ~*** lux ******, * *** variance.

*** ****** *** **** cameras ******* **** ** this *****, ******* ***** details ** *** ******* against *** ****** *********, though ******* ********** ** the ****** **** ****** the ****. *** ****** and ********* ******* **** lose ******* ****** ******* due ** ******* ******** and ************* ** *** face. **** **** *** XNV-6080R ******** *** **** details **** ** *** dark **** ** *** scene.

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

** *** *****, *** SNC-EM642R ********* ********* ** the ****, ******, *** Hikvision ****** ******. ****** there **** **** **** slight ***********, ********* ******* were ******* *** **** across *** ******.

**** *** **** ** short ***** (~**'/~*****):

** **** ** ****** range, **** *** ******** to ~**.

Lens **********: ****** **. ****

** ****** **** ******* at *** ****** *** side of *** ***** ** view ** *** *** clarity ****** ** *** lens' *****, ***** *****:

 

*** ****** ****** **** clarity ** *** ****' edge **** ****** **** some ******** **********. **** that **** ***** *** similar ** ***** *******. However, ** **** ***** lengths *** * ***** varied ***** ******* ** this ****, ** ****** directly ******* *** ***** to ******.

  

Sony **. *********

** ****** *** ********* S2531L ******* *** **** EM642 ** ******** ** the ******* *****, *** omitted ** ** ***** comparisons *** ** **** of *****. ** **** included ***** *********** *** reference ***** **** *** Panasonic *** ******** ***********.

** *** *****, *** S2531L *** **** ******* **** the ******, ********* ******* of *** *******'* **** and ******* ** *** test *****.

****'* *** *********** *** also ****** **** *** S2531L. **** ******* **** overexposed, *** ********* ******** from ********/********* ** *** subject ** ****.

No ***** *****/**** ********* ***********

*** ******'* ******** **** much ****** **** **** cameras ******, *** ** its **** ** ***** codecs, **** **** *** Bosch ***** ********* *********** its ********* ******* (****** still ~**% *****). **** that **** ******** *** with * *** ** the ***, ****** ***** recent ****** **** ** the**************, ***** ** *** have * **** *** implementation.

Physical ********

*** ****** ** ******* ** past **** ******* ***** as **** ** ***** manufacturers' ******* **** ** the ********* ****, *** noticeably ****** **** ******, shown *****:

*******, *** ***-****** ******** a ********* ****** **** inside *** ******* *** camera. ******** **** *** zoom/focus ******** ***** ****** the ****, *** ****** may ** ***** *** focused ***** * **** monitor ******* ** ** IP ************ **** ** laptop, ***** *** **** installation. **** ******* ** not ******, *** ** not ******** ** *** Axis, *****, ** ********* domes ******.

** ****** ***** *** other ******** ******** ** the ****** ** **** video:

Test **********

*** **** ** ** date ******** *** **** at *** **** ** testing:

  • **** ***-******: *.*.*
  • **** *****-***: *.**.*.*
  • ***** ********* ** ********* 7000VR: *.**.****
  • ****** ***-*****: *.*********
  • ********* **-**********-***: **.*.**
  • ********* **-******: *.**

Comments (3)

Geoffrey King

08/18/17 11:53am

Thanks IPVM team for your thorough review. It's becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish features from one top-tier camera to the next, yet this report is very well detailed.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

08/23/17 12:05pm

My impression is Hanwha is the real dark horse here. The one bringing the best value of performance and price combination in the mid to upper tier. As a long time Sony dealer and proponent, this is disappointing.

Avatar

Franky Lam

RICOH (HONG KONG) LTD
08/24/17 03:42am

As I use to work for Hanwah SAMSUNG (Sole Distributor in HKG) for more than 5 years, and now I switch my role back to SI. I do find both quality and performance of SONY and SAMSUNG are near. But in some real case of project, and I find SONY is best outcome than AXIS and SAMSUNG.

Login to read this IPVM report.

Related Reports

Leica Launches LIDAR / Thermal / IP Camera on Mar 04, 2020
Swiss manufacturer Leica is launching what it calls a "real-time reality...
Seek Scan Thermal Temperature Screening System Tested on May 28, 2020
Now that IPVM has tested Dahua, Hikvision, and Sunell, we are returning to...
IR Surveillance Camera Guide on Feb 06, 2020
Integrated infrared (IR) cameras are everywhere in 2020, but not all IR is...
Euklis Presents AI Analytics on May 05, 2020
Euklis presented its AI facial recognition, LPR, and object recognition...
Video Surveillance Cameras 101 on Feb 25, 2020
Cameras come in many shapes, sizes and specifications. This 101 examines the...
ISS Presents Face As A Credential and UVSS on Apr 30, 2020
ISS presented its security platform, including access control integration,...
New Axis M30 Cameras Tested on Mar 26, 2020
Axis has released a new generation of, for them, relatively low cost M30...
TVT Temperature Measurement Terminal Tested on Jul 23, 2020
While Dahua and Hikvision get the most attention for China temp products,...
USA ICI Elevated Skin Temperature Detectors Examined on Apr 06, 2020
Infrared Cameras, Inc. (ICI) is aiming to help slow the spread of COVID-19...
FLIR Presents Dual Spectrum High Security Focused PTZ on May 01, 2020
FLIR presented its Elara DX-Series bispectral, visible and thermal, PTZ...
Density Presents Occupancy Monitoring For Coronavirus Protection on May 22, 2020
Density presented its cloud-based occupancy sensor to deal with Coronavirus...
Tiandy Super Starlight Cameras Tested on Apr 30, 2020
Tiandy is taking aim at China competitors Dahua and Hikvision, with a new...
Axton Presents Pulsed-Light Illuminators on May 15, 2020
Axton presented Pulsed-Light Illuminators (Pulsar Series), at the April 2020...
Hanwha Presents AI Analytics and First 8K Camera on May 11, 2020
Hanwha presented their AI Analytics and the "Industry's First 8K" camera at...
Video Surveillance History on May 06, 2020
The video surveillance market has changed significantly since 2000, going...

Recent Reports

False: Verkada: "If You Want To Remote View Your Cameras You Need To Punch Holes In Your Firewall" on Jul 31, 2020
Verkada falsely declared to “3,000+ customers”, “300 school districts”, and...
US GSA Explains NDAA 889 Part B Blacklisting on Jul 31, 2020
With the 'Blacklist Clause' going into effect August 13 that bans the US...
Access Control Online Show July 2020 - On-Demand Recording of 45+ Manufacturers Presentations on Jul 30, 2020
The show featured 48 Access Control presentations, all now recorded and...
Face Detection Shootout - Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Uniview, Vivotek on Jul 30, 2020
Face detection analytics are available from a number of manufactures...
Sunell is The First China Manufacturer to Market NDAA Compliance on Jul 30, 2020
Most China manufacturers are going to be impacted by the NDAA 'Blacklist...
Ink Labs Relabels China YCX Fever Camera And Steals Dahua's Marketing on Jul 30, 2020
A US company marketed a 'thermal temperature scanner' as its own, selling...
Genetec and Dahua-Backed Intelbras Split Examined on Jul 29, 2020
China is the cause of the breakup between Canada's and Brazil's largest video...
This YouTuber is Now Selling ThermoHealth Temperature Screening on Jul 29, 2020
An enterprising 20-year old is mass marketing medical devices on Facebook and...
Hikvision Returns To Growth Driven By Overseas Fever Cameras on Jul 29, 2020
While Hikvision's revenue fell in Q1 2020, it rebounded in Q2 attributed to...
Brazil's Biggest Domestic Surveillance Company Intelbras Profile on Jul 29, 2020
While Intelbras is not widely known outside of Latin America, Intelbras is a...
The Kiosk Market Pivots To Temperature Screening (Interviewed) on Jul 28, 2020
Video surveillance is not the only market that has pivoted to medical device...
Integrator Acquisitions 'A Good Market' During COVID-19, Says Greybeards on Jul 28, 2020
Industry broker Ron Davis of the "Greybeards" says that the integrator and...
Keypads For Access Control Tutorial on Jul 28, 2020
Keypad readers present huge risks to even the best access systems. If...
US Surgeon General Unwittingly Showcases Sanctioned Dahua Temperature System on Jul 28, 2020
The US' top public health spokesperson, the Surgeon General, posted a photo...
Remote Network Access for Video Surveillance Guide on Jul 27, 2020
Remotely accessing surveillance systems is key in 2020, with more and more...