Super Low Light HD Lens Tested

By: Ethan Ace, Published on Jun 26, 2015

A smaller F-number can make a big difference in how much light reaches an imager.

For example, the difference even between a f/1.2 and f/1.0, which may seem very close, can be significant, as shown by our F-Stop Calculator:

However, almost all megapixel cameras use lenses of at least f/1.2, with many at f/1.4 and even some lower cost ones at f/1.8 or higher.

We recently bought a F/0.95 6MP rated lens from Hikvision (the HV0733D-6MP). This lens is huge, shown below in the middle surrounded by 'normal' size megapixel surveillance lenses:

* ******* *-****** *** make * *** ********** in *** **** ***** reaches ** ******.

*** *******, *** ********** even ******* * */*.* and */*.*, ***** *** seem **** *****, *** be ***********, ** ***** by ****-**** **********:

*******, ****** *** ********* ******* use ****** ** ** least */*.*, **** **** at */*.* *** **** some ***** **** **** at */*.* ** ******.

** ******** ****** * F/0.95 *** ***** **** from ********* (*** *******-***). This **** ** ****, shown ***** ** *** middle ********** ** '******' size ********* ************ ******:

** ****** **** **** on ***** ******* **** Axis, *******, *** *******, ranging **** **** ** 5MP, ** *** **** differences, ** ***, ******* between **** ***** *** F ****** **** *** typical ********* ******.

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

Key ********

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

  • *** */*.** **** ******** low ***** *********** ** all ******* ******, *******, the ***** ** *********** was ********* ******, ********** relative ** *** ***** of *********** ********* ***** passing.
  • ** *** ***** *** 5MP ******* ******, ******* were ******** ** ***** light ****** ***** *** F/0.95 ******** ** ***** lenses.
  • ** *** ***** *** light **** ***** (**** F/1.2 ****), ******* ***** was *******, ********* ******* delivered, ****** ***** ********** was **** ******** ********* between ******.
  • **** ****** ******** **** may ** ** ***** for ********** ** ********* selection.

*******

*** *******-*** *** * street ***** ****** $***. This ** ************* **** expensive **** ******* *-* megapixel ***** ******, ********* in *** ***** **$***.

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

** ******** **** *** light *********** ** ******** and ****** ** ** issue, *** */*.** *** ******* moderate *********** ** ****** at ***** ****** ***** 1 ***, ********** ** cameras ***** *** **.

***** ****** ** ******* when ********* ********** *** box ******* ***** **** lens, ** *** ********* size ******** ** ******** lenses *** ******* * longer *******. 

Physical ****

*** ********* */*.** **** is **** ****** **** typical ********* ***** ******, nearly ****** ** **** diameter *** ******. **** size *** ** * practical ***** **** **** camera ********, ** *** lens *** ******** *** camera *** ****** *** fit ** ******* **********. Additionally, ** **** *******, aesthetics *** ** * concern.

Low ***** *********** ***********

** ****** *** */*.** Hikvision **** ** ***** cameras ** *** ***** levels ******* **** *.** to *.* *** ** show *********** ******* ***** lenses *** *** *** light *****. ** ****** a ***** ** *******, from **** ** *** resolution ** *** *********** FOV **** *****:

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

*****, ** ****** *** HV0733D-6MP **** * *** Arecont ****** ************, * notoriously **** *** ***** performer, **** * **** F/1.8 *-**** **** (*** UHD45-10). ***** *** * **** **********, ** *** *** the ********* **** ****** 2.5x **** ***** **** the ******* *****.

** ~*.** ***, *** difference ******* *** *** lenses ** *****, **** the ****** ********* ** image ***** *** */*.** lens, ***** ** ****** images *** ******** ***** the ******* *********** *****-** lens (*/*.*). ** ~*.** lux, *********** *** **** clear, **** *** ****** able ** ****** *** chart ***** *** */*.** lens, *** ** ******* are ********. ** ~*.** lux, ***** ****** *** too *** ** ******* a ****** ***** **** either ****.

**** *****

*** **** ***** ***** with * *** ***** F/1.3 ****, **** ** pass **** ***** **** the ***** ** *** F/0.95.

** *** **** *****, the ********** ** ***** level ** ~*.** *** ~0.35 *** ** *****, with ****** ******* ** both ******* *** ***** provided **** ***** *** F/0.95 ****. ** **** low ***** ******, *** F/0.95 **** ***** ******** better ***** **********, *** the ***** ** *** dark *** ***** ****** too **** ** ******* details ** *** *******.

******* ***-****

*******, *** ******* ***-**** uses * ************ *********** F/1.2 *-**** ****.

** *** ******* ***-****, effects *** **** ********** due ** *** ****** F ******* ** *** lenses, ** **** ** the ******'* ********* *** light ***********. *** **** difference **** ** *** light ****** ** ******* digital *****. ** ~*.** lux *** ~*.**, ******* details *** **** ****** to ******* ***** *** F/0.95 ****

Comments (8)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

06/26/15 04:20pm

It makes sense to evaluate it in night mode, but some cameras claim good low light performance in color (day mode) as well. Will you test these lenses in color as well?

Undisclosed #2

06/26/15 11:08pm

Thanks Ethan. Could you clarify one thing? You said:

A smaller F-number can make a big difference in how low light reaches an imager.

...the difference even between a f/1.2 and f/1.0, which may seem very close, can be significant.

But this seems at odds with the information in the f-stop tutorial:

Small differences in F numbers (e.g., f/1.2 vs f/1.4) generally do not impact low light performance significantly.

Is there a subtle distinction I'm missing?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 06/26/15 11:14pm

Yes, statement #1 talks about how much light reaches the imager. Statement #2 refers to how much it impacts performance. Two Different things.

Consider statement #3 inside the report, weighing both:

"The F/0.95 lens improved low light performance of all cameras tested, however, the level of improvement was typically modest, especially relative to the level of theoretical increased light passing."

Undisclosed #2

In reply to John Honovich | 06/26/15 11:27pm

Two Different things.

Let's just talk performance then.

This article says "modestly improving performance"

The tutorial says "not significantly impacting performance"

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 06/26/15 11:30pm

In this test, we tested F/0.95 vs lenses up to F/1.8, which is much larger than the example we gave in the tutorial, quote "f/1.2 vs f/1.4".

Undisclosed #3

06/27/15 12:12am

Would be interesting to see a depth of field comparison or calculation of the lenses as well.

Chris Dearing

IPVMU Certified | 06/29/15 04:04pm

John, does the fact that the Hik lens and the Computar lens have different formats have to be considered? The Computar is listed as a 1/2.7" and the Hik is listed as a larger 1 1/8" format.

This means the diameter of the image circle formed by the lenses is different. For the Computar looks to be around 6.6mm, whereas the Hik should be around 9mm. The 5004's sensor is a 1/3" or 6mm diagonal, so although using a lens with a 1 1/8" format lens is possible, it wastes much more of the light passed by the lens, than the 1/2.7" format:

I didn't look up the other sensor sizes, I just wanted to throw this out for discussion and see if it makes any sense first.

Chris Dearing

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Chris Dearing | 07/01/15 05:33pm

Correction: Format type should read 1/1.8", not 1 1/8".

Relative sizes and sizes in mm are unaffected.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Panasonic 32MP Multi Imager Camera Tested (WV-X8570N) on May 16, 2019
Panasonic has released their first multi imager models including the 32MP (4x4K) WV-X8570N, claiming "Extreme image quality for evidence capturing...
Hikvision DeepinView Camera Analytics Tested on May 08, 2019
Hikvision is expanding its 'deep learning' offerings with a new camera series called 'DeepinView' claiming false alarm reduction and improved...
Speco Ultra Intensifier Tested on Apr 22, 2019
While ISC West 2019 named Speco's Ultra Intensifier the best new "Video Surveillance Cameras IP", IPVM testing shows the camera suffers from...
Startup Spectral Edge RGB+IR Claims "Unique Low Light Performance Tech" on Apr 03, 2019
This UK startup, born out of university research, is boldly proclaiming that they deliver "Unique low light performance tech for video surveillance...
Axis 5MP P Vs Q Camera Shootout (P3227-LVE vs Q3517-LVE) on Apr 02, 2019
While Axis' Q3517-LVE tested well, it is one of Axis' most expensive dome cameras, over $1,000 USD. Because of this, members asked us how it...
Covert IP Camera Shootout - Axis, Hanwha, Hikvision, March, Vivotek on Mar 20, 2019
Covert cameras were one of the last holdout areas for analog cameras. However, in the past few years, IP / HD covert cameras have become...
Axis IR Multi Imager Camera Tested (P3717-PLE) on Feb 18, 2019
Axis has released their first IR multi imager, the P3717-PLE, a repositionable model listing 360° IR illumination and flexible positioning,...
Hanwha Smaller Multi Imager Tested (PNM-9000VQ) on Feb 14, 2019
Hanwha's first repositionable multi imager PNM-9081VQ tested well, but was huge, over 12" wide and weighing in at over 10 pounds. Now, they have...
Bandwidth vs Low Light Shootout - Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Geovision, Hanwha, Hikvision, Uniview, Vivotek on Feb 08, 2019
Nighttime bandwidth spikes are a major concern in video surveillance, but do all manufacturers' cameras perform the same? Are some more consistent...
Sony Favorability Results 2019 on Feb 06, 2019
Sony Favorability amongst integrators improved moderately compared to their 2017 favorability results, with a modest net positive...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Access Control Job Walk Guide on May 22, 2019
Significant money can be saved and problems avoided with an access control job walk if you know what to look for and what to ask. By inviting...
ASCMA / Monitronics Declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on May 22, 2019
Monitronics is entering into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company, also called Ascent Capital Group Inc., aka ASCMA, aka Brinks Home Security,...
US Considers Sanctions Against Hikvision and Dahua on May 22, 2019
The US government is considering blacklisting "up to 5" PRC surveillance firms, including Hikvision and Dahua, Bloomberg reported, with human...
Dahua USA Celebrates 5 Years of Errors on May 21, 2019
Dahua USA is, in their own words, 'celebrating' 5 years in North America or as trade magazine SSN declared: Dahua Technology finds success in...
Axis ~$150 Outdoor Camera Tested on May 21, 2019
Axis has released the latest in their Companion camera line, the outdoor Companion Dome Mini LE, a 1080p integrated IR model aiming to compete with...
Covert Facial Recognition Using Axis and Amazon By NYTimes on May 20, 2019
What if you took a 33MP Axis camera covering one of the busiest parks in the US and ran Amazon Facial Recognition against it? That is what the...
Amazon Ring Public Subsidy Program Aims To Dominate Residential Security on May 20, 2019
Amazon dominates market after market. Quitely, but increasingly, they are doing so in residential security, through a combination of significant...
LifeSafety Power NetLink Vulnerabilities And Problematic Response on May 20, 2019
'Power supplies' are not devices that many think about when considering vulnerabilities but as more and more devices go 'online', the risks for...
Facial Recognition Systems Fail Simple Liveness Detection Test on May 17, 2019
Facial recognition is being widely promoted as a solution to physical access control but we were able to simply spoof 3 systems because they had no...
Inside Look Into Scam Market Research on May 17, 2019
Scam market research has exploded over the last few years becoming the most commonly cited 'statistics' for most industries, despite there clearly...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact