Testing Arecont Omni

Author: Ethan Ace, Published on Oct 20, 2014

The Arecont SurroundVideo Omni is one of the most novel new camera offerings in the past few years.

Like their 180 and 360 predecessors, the Omni supports 4 imagers / cameras inside. The major advance is that the imagers can now be repositioned and the lenses can be changed.

Below is a screenshot from our test, showing us repositioning an imager inside the Omni:

However, many are reluctant given Arecont's poor track record / reputation.

We bought the 12MP Omni model, the AV12176DN, and tested it in a variety of scenes to see if it was worth it plus to know the following:

  • How does it perform in WDR and low light?
  • How does it compare to fisheye panoramics?
  • What applications does this camera best fit?

*** ******************** ****** *** ** *** **** ***** *** ****** ********* ** the **** *** *****.

**** ***** *** *** *** ************, *** **** ******** * imagers / ******* ******. *** ***** ******* ** **** *** imagers *** *** ** ************ *** *** ****** *** ** changed.

***** ** * ********** **** *** ****, ******* ** ************* an ****** ****** *** ****:

*******, **** *** ********* ************'* **** ***** ****** / **********.

** ****** ******* **** *****, *** *********, *** ****** ** ** * ******* ** ****** ** see ** ** *** ***** ** **** ** **** *** following:

  • *** **** ** ******* ** *** *** *** *****?
  • *** **** ** ******* ** *****************?
  • **** ************ **** **** ****** **** ***?

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

Key ********

**** *** *** *** ******** **** **** ****:

  • **** ******* *** ************** ******* ***** *** ************ **** ** better ***** **** ***** **** ******* ********* ******* (****** ** multi ******).
  • ******* *** ****** ** ***********, **** ** ***** ************ ****** initial ***********.
  • ******* ** ******* ****** ** ******** (*.*" ** ****) **** traditional **** **** ******* **** *******.
  • ***** ******* ** **** *** ***** *********** ******** ** **** end *** ***** ******.
  • ******* **** ********* ****** *** ******* *******, ******** *** ********** depending ** ***** ******.
  • **** ** ******* ****, ****** *** ****** ** ******* * usable ***** ** **** ~*.* *** *****.
  • ******* *** *********** ******** ** ***** **** *** ******, ****** against ****** ********* **** ****** *****.
  • ************ **** *** ******* ****** ******** ***********, **** ** ***** IR *** *******, ******* ******* ** *** ********* ** ***, and ******* ***** ******* ********.
  • ** ********* ********* ******, **** ******* ******** *** ****** ********** to ***** ****** ****** *******.

*******

*** *********-** (**** **** *.*** ******) ***** *** *****$*,*** *** ******. *******, ******* *** ******* ** **** ******** *******, ******* drops ** ***** $*** ****. ************, **** *** *** *******, cable ****, *** ****** **** ** ******, ******* ******** ******** cost. *******, **** ** ***** ********** **** ********* **** **** low **** *******, ***** *** ********* ***$*** ** ******* ******* ********** **.

Potential ***

*** **** ************* **** ** * ***** *******, ******** ***** areas ***** ** *** *** ******* *** ** *** ****** of **** *** *** ** ********* ** ***** ***** ******** single ****** *******.

*******, ***** ****** ****** ******** ***** (**** * ***) ** present ** ********* *********** ** * *** *******. ***** ******* WDR *********** ****** *** *** ** ***** **** ***** *********** in ********, ** ****.

*******, ***** *********** *** **** ****** ****** ** ********* **** (unfortunately ******* ** ******* *******) **** ** ***** ** *** filters, *** ********* ** ******* ******* **** ******* ** * VMS ** **** ** *** *** *********, ** ******* ***** balance ******.

Physical ********

******** ** ***** *****, *** ************* **** ** *****, *** the **** ****** ** ****, ** ***** ** *********** *** image ******* ** ******* **************. ** ****** *** ******** ************ of *** ****** ** **** *****:

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

******** ** ***** **** *******, *** **** ** **** *****. At ****** *" ** ********, ** ** ***** *.*" ****** than **** ******* **** *******, *** *" ** **** ****** than ****** ******.

*******, *** ****** ** ********** *****, **** **** *.*" ****, due ** *** ********* **** ******. **** ***** ** ****** short ** ******** ** **** *****.

Positioning *** *******

*** **** ********** ***** ******* *** ************* ********** ***** * ring ** ******** ***** ** *** ****'* ******** *****. ****** (M12 *****) *** ******* ****** ** ********** *** ******* **** and ******** ** *** *** ***.

****** *******, ** ***** ** ******* ** ******** ******* **** the ****** ** *****, ******* ** ****** ** ********* *** they ****** ** ***** *** ******** ***************** **. *** ******* *** ** **** ** ***** *** the ****** *** ********* ******* ***** ******** ***** ** ****.

*** *********** ******* ** ***** ** **** *****:

Sample ******

*** ********* ****** **** **** * *** ****** ******** ** where *** ************* **** *** ***, **** ******* *** ***.

****** ******/****

** **** *****, *** ****** **** *** *** ****** (~**° AoV) *** **** ******* ** *** ******** ******** *** ******* areas, *** *** *.*** (~**° ***) ** **** *** ****** open ****** *****.******** **** ***** (~** ** ******* .***).

**** ***** ***** *** ***** ** *** ******* *** **** scene:

******* ******* ***/********

****, ***** *.*** ****** *** **** ** ******* *** ****** parking **** ** ***** * ***° *******, *** * ****** 6mm **** ** **** *** **** ******* ** *** ******** and *******, **** *******, ******* ******* ****.******** **** ***** (~** ** ******* .***).

**** ***** ***** *** ***** ** *** ******* *** *** parking *** *****:

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

*******, ** **** *******, *** *.*** ****** *** **** ** cover *** *** ******** ***** ***** *** *** ****** (* total *** ** ~**°) ***** *** ******* ******* ****** *** lot.******** **** ***** (~** ** ******* .***).

**** ***** ***** *** ************* ** *** ******* ** **** scene:

Imaging ***********

** ****** *** **** ******* ***** *** ******* ** **** as ********* ******* ** **** ******* *********** ** ******** ******.

*** *** ******** ********** **** ******, *** ********* *** ********** in * ***** ***° ***** ** **** ** **** *********** versus ****** ****** ********** (**** ***** *** ********* **-*******) *** up ** ***° **** ** ****.

**** *****, ~*** ***

** **** *****, *** ********* ******** **** ********* ** *** 3MP ****** ****** ******* **********, **** ******* *****, *** ****** desaturation. **** *** **** ****** ******* ********* ******** ** *** single ****** **** *** ********* *******, ***** ******* **** *** first **** ** *** **** ***** *** ***** ******* *******.

*** *****, ~* ***

****** * ***, *** ******* *** ********** **** ***** **** the ********** *** **** **** **** *** **** *****, ****** the ***** ** ***** ******* ** **** *. *****, *** single ****** ******* ******* *** ******.

****, ~*.* ***

** * **** **** *****, ~*.* ***, *** **** ** unable ** ******* *** ****** *****. *** ******, ***** *** Hikvision **** ******* ******** ********* ** *** ******* *** *****, but ** *******.

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

******* ** *** ** *** ************* *** ******* ******* ** their *******, ***** ******** ******** ****** (*:* ** **** ****) to ******* *** ***** ***********, *** ****** **********. ******* ** performance **** ********* ** ***** *****.

** ***** * ***, ******* ******* ** ********* *** ***** moderately, **** *** ******* *** ***** ******** **** *******. *******, the ******** ** ********** ******* *******, **** *** ***** **** legible **** ** *** ***-****** *****.

** ~*.* ***, **** **** ******* ** *** ****** ** still ****** ** ******* * ****** *****. *** ******* *** chart *** **** ****** *******.

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

** ****** *** *********** ** **** *****, ******* ****** ********* through * ****** ******** ****:

*** ********* ******** ****, **** ******* ** *** ******* *** test *****, ****** ** ***** ** *** **** **** **** to *** ****, ********** ******** ** *** **** *****. *** Omni *********** **** ******* ********* *******, **** *** **** *** DS-2CD6362.

Intermittent **** *** ******

****** ******* ** *** ***** **** ***** **** ************, *** common:

** *** ****** "*****"

*** ** **** ******* ********* ****** ** **** *** ** cut ****** ** ****** **** *****. **** ******** ** ******* coloration, ** **** ** *** ***** *****. ********* *** ****** fixed **** *****.

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

***** ******* ** **** ******* ************ ******* *** ** *** color ** *******. ** *** ***** ***** ** *** *** the **** **** ******** ****** ** ****, **** *********** ** this ****** ** **** *****. ********* ********* ***** **** *****, and ** ***** ** *********** *** ** ********* ***** **** controls ** *** *** *********.

*****/****** *****

********* ********, ********* *** * ***** * ***, ******* ******, day ** *****. *******, **** ******* *** ****** *** *** VMS ** **** ** *** *** ********* **************, ********* ***** slowed ** *-* ***, *** ************ *** ****** ******* **********. Closing *** *** ********* ******** ****, **** *** ******* *** framerate ********** *****.

Bandwidth ***********

*** **** ********* *** ** ******** ********* ******. ********* *** sensor *** ********** ****** **** *** ****** ****** **********. ******* was ***** **** **** ******* ********* ****** ****** ** **** light, ****** ****** **** *** ** ******** ********* **** ** both *** ***** ******.

***** ****** **** **** ******* ********* *********** *** *** ****** as * ***** ** ***** ** ***** ************.

Comments (9)

Nathan Wheeler

| 10/20/14 03:06pm

***** ******* ******. ******* ** *** *** ********** *****, ** was *********** ** *** *** ***** ** * *********** ********** you *** **** *****-****** ********* ******* ******** ** **** ** fisheye's **-******. * ********** *** **** ** ** *** *** but ** ***** ****** ********** ***** ** *** *********** *** difference ******* ******* ******** ******* *** ********.

**** ***** *** **** * *** ******* *** *******, *** 180 ********* *** ** ******** ****** ** *** *** ** sell. **** ** * **** ******* *** **** ****** ******* to *** ******** ************ ** **** ****. ** **** ** fun ** ** **** ***** **** ****** ** *********** *** field ** **** **** *******. ** *** ********** ****** ***** be ******** **** *** **** ************* ** ****** ******, **** could **** **** ****** *********** **************.

Jim Elder

| 10/21/14 01:53pm

***** **** ** *** ** ****** ***** **** ** ********* moving

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM Admin | In reply to Jim Elder | 10/21/14 01:57pm

** ******** ***** ***** ******* ** ***** ***** *** ** for **********. ****'** ****** ***** **** ****** *****:

Jim Elder

In reply to Ethan Ace | 10/21/14 03:48pm

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

Michael Blumenson

| 10/21/14 03:23pm

****... **** ******. ***** **** ***** ** *** **** ****** in * ***** *** **** *** ******* ***** ***** *** two ******* *******.

Clint Guethlein

IPVMU Certified | 10/21/14 04:28pm

* ******* **** *** **** ** *** *** * ****-***** lenses *** **** **** ****** ** ****.

*** **** ** *** *** ******* ************: **** ****** **** ( *** *** ***** ****** ******* ) ** * ******** licenses *** *** ***.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM Admin | In reply to Clint Guethlein | 10/21/14 04:42pm

*****, ****'* **** *********** ** **** *** ****** *** *** licensing. **** ** ** *********, ** * ***'* ***** ** another *** *'** **** ******** ***** ****** ** ** **** separate ********. (*****'* **** ***** ***'* ***, * **** ***'* think ** ***.)

Jim Elder

In reply to Ethan Ace | 10/21/14 07:47pm

* *** **** ** ******* ** *** ** *** ***** last **** **** ** *** *********** ****** ** ******* ******** camera ** *, * *** ** **** **** (*******) *** they ***** *** ** ******** *******. *** *** *** ****** strong ***** ***** **** ** ******* **** *****. ***** *** strong ****** ** ******** ****...

Aabdc871b689fb09fedcb4569b935c31

Marian Maroszek

In reply to Ethan Ace | 10/30/14 10:19am

* ***** **** ****'* ******** **** *** **** *** - one ****** - *** *******.

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

Nest Cam Outdoor Tested on Sep 23, 2016
After years of claiming an outdoor model was "coming", addressing their biggest user demand, Nest has finally released their Outdoor Camera, an...
Milestone Ends Development of "Enterprise" VMS on Sep 22, 2016
Milestone 'Enterprise' was one of the first enterprise video management software offerings, selected by many early adopters of IP video. However,...
History of Video Surveillance on Sep 22, 2016
This is a concise history of video surveillance covering the past decade.  The goal is to help professionals newer to the industry understand...
Totally Wireless IP Camera (IPVideo Corp NomadHD) on Sep 21, 2016
Wireless battery powered cameras have been a surveillance pipe dream for years, limited by camera power consumption, battery technology, and...
Tagged RFID Object Search Recorded Video on Sep 20, 2016
Video analytics has gotten fairly good at tagging people in video, but it does not solve the problem of finding items like specific merchandise or...
How to Measure Video Quality / Compression Levels on Sep 16, 2016
Two cameras have the same resolution, frame rate and scene monitored but camera A consumes half the bandwidth than camera B. Is Camera A better?...
Camera Course September 2016 on Sep 15, 2016
This is the only independent surveillance camera course, based on in-depth product and technology testing. Lots of manufacturer training exists...
PTZ Camera Guide 2016 on Sep 15, 2016
Pan/Tilt/Zoom cameras remain critical parts of many surveillance systems, especially in large security operations. Because of this it is important...
Milestone Kills Go, Slashes Express Pricing, Launches Enhanced Version Free on Sep 12, 2016
Milestone is shaking up the industry again with enhanced free software and a major price drop. 6 years ago, Milestone launched their first free...
Axis / Canon Launch 20MP Avigilon Rival on Sep 12, 2016
For years, Avigilon has essentially owned the 'super high resolution' single imager market. And Axis has resisted, most famously in 2012, when...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Nest Cam Outdoor Tested on Sep 23, 2016
After years of claiming an outdoor model was "coming", addressing their biggest user demand, Nest has finally released their Outdoor Camera, an...
ACTi Refuses Race To The Bottom, Shifts To Solutions on Sep 23, 2016
The original low cost IP camera disruptor was ACTi. Back in the 2008 - 2010 time frame, Taiwanese manufacturer ACTi challenged the Western and...
You Get Robbed, Canary Will Pay You Up To $1,000 on Sep 22, 2016
Canary is trying to break the status quo in DIY security, first by raising over $40 million, and now a revamp of their monthly services package...
Milestone Ends Development of "Enterprise" VMS on Sep 22, 2016
Milestone 'Enterprise' was one of the first enterprise video management software offerings, selected by many early adopters of IP video. However,...
History of Video Surveillance on Sep 22, 2016
This is a concise history of video surveillance covering the past decade.  The goal is to help professionals newer to the industry understand...
Access Control Course Fall 2016 on Sep 22, 2016
IPVM offers the most comprehensive access control course in the industry. Unlike manufacturer training that focuses only on a small part of the...
Totally Wireless IP Camera (IPVideo Corp NomadHD) on Sep 21, 2016
Wireless battery powered cameras have been a surveillance pipe dream for years, limited by camera power consumption, battery technology, and...
Axis Launches IP Speakers on Sep 21, 2016
First, Axis introduced an IP horn, then it was video intercoms, and now it is Networked Speakers? While IP-based Public Address systems are not...
Tagged RFID Object Search Recorded Video on Sep 20, 2016
Video analytics has gotten fairly good at tagging people in video, but it does not solve the problem of finding items like specific merchandise or...
FLIR and Geovision Join the Hikvision Price Cut Race on Sep 20, 2016
Hikvision's price cuts are clearly a trend setter. After numerous and increasingly large cuts, the destructive cycle is accelerating. Last month,...

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