Testing Arecont Omni

By: 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?

    • *** ******************** ****** *** ** *** most ***** *** ****** offerings ** *** **** few *****.

    **** ***** *** *** 360 ************, *** **** supports * ******* / cameras ******. *** ***** advance ** **** *** imagers *** *** ** repositioned *** *** ****** can ** *******.

    ***** ** * ********** from *** ****, ******* us ************* ** ****** inside *** ****:

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

    ** ****** ******* **** *****, *** AV12176DN, *** ****** ** in * ******* ** scenes ** *** ** it *** ***** ** plus ** **** *** *********:

    • *** **** ** ******* in *** *** *** light?
    • *** **** ** ******* to *****************?
    • **** ************ **** **** camera **** ***?

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

    Key ********

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

    • **** ******* *** ************** sensors ***** *** ************ Omni ** ****** ***** wide ***** **** ******* panoramic ******* (****** ** multi ******).
    • ******* *** ****** ** reconfigure, **** ** ***** magnetically ****** ******* ***********.
    • ******* ** ******* ****** in ******** (*.*" ** ****) than *********** **** **** ******* dome *******.
    • ***** ******* ** **** low ***** *********** ******** to **** *** *** ***** models.
    • ******* **** ********* ****** but ******* *******, ******** its ********** ********* ** light ******.
    • **** ** ******* ****, camera *** ****** ** produce * ****** ***** in **** ~*.* *** scene.
    • ******* *** *********** ******** to ***** **** *** models, ****** ******* ****** backlight **** ****** *****.
    • ************ **** *** ******* issues ******** ***********, **** as ***** ** *** filters, ******* ******* ** web ********* ** ***, and ******* ***** ******* settings.
    • ** ********* ********* ******, with ******* ******** *** sensor ********** ** ***** single ****** *******.

    *******

    *** *********-** (**** **** 2.8mm ******) ***** *** about $*,*** *** ******. *******, ******* *** ******* ** four ******** *******, ******* drops ** ***** $*** each. ************, **** *** VMS *******, ***** ****, and ****** **** ** needed, ******* ******** ******** cost. *******, **** ** still ********** **** ********* than **** *** **** cameras, ***** *** ********* for$*** ** ******* ******* ********** **.

    Potential ***

    *** **** ************* **** is * ***** *******, allowing ***** ***** ***** do *** *** ******* 180 ** *** ****** of **** *** *** ** expensive ** ***** ***** multiple ****** ****** *******. 

    *******, ***** ****** ****** adequate ***** (**** * lux) ** ******* ** nighttime *********** ** * key *******. ***** ******* WDR *********** ****** *** use ** ***** **** harsh *********** ** ********, as ****.

    *******, ***** *********** *** Omni ****** ****** ** potential **** (************* ******* in ******* *******) **** as ***** ** *** filters, *** ********* ** dropped ******* **** ******* in * *** ** well ** *** *** interface, ** ******* ***** balance ******. 

    Physical ********

    ******** ** ***** *****, the ************* **** ** wider, *** *** **** itself ** ****, ** order ** *********** *** image ******* ** ******* configurations. ** ****** *** physical ************ ** *** camera ** **** *****:

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

    ******** ** ***** **** cameras, *** **** ** very *****. ** ****** 8" ** ********, ** is ***** *.*" ****** than **** ******* **** cameras, *** *" ** more ****** **** ****** models. 

    *******, *** ****** ** relatively *****, **** **** 3.1" ****, *** ** the ********* **** ******. This ***** ** ****** short ** ******** ** most *****.

    Positioning *** *******

    *** **** ********** ***** sensors *** ************* ********** using * **** ** threaded ***** ** *** dome's ******** *****. ****** (M12 *****) *** ******* simply ** ********** *** current **** *** ******** in *** *** ***.

    ****** *******, ** ***** it ******* ** ******** imagers **** *** ****** in *****, ******* ** trying ** ********* *** they ****** ** ***** and ******** ***************** **. *** ******* can ** **** ** rough *** *** ****** and ********* ******* ***** mounting ***** ** ****.

    *** *********** ******* ** shown ** **** *****:

    Sample ******

    *** ********* ****** **** just * *** ****** examples ** ***** *** SurroundVideo **** *** ***, both ******* *** ***.  

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

    ** **** *****, *** camera **** *** *** lenses (~**° ***) *** more ******* ** *** narrower ******** *** ******* areas, *** *** *.*** (~90° ***) ** **** the ****** **** ****** areas.******** **** ***** (~** MB ******* .***).

    **** ***** ***** *** setup ** *** ******* for **** *****:

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

    ****, ***** *.*** ****** are **** ** ******* the ****** ******* **** in ***** * ***° pattern, *** * ****** 6mm lens ** **** *** more ******* ** *** entrance *** *******, **** distant, ******* ******* ****. ******** **** ***** (~** MB ******* .***).

    **** ***** ***** *** setup ** *** ******* for *** ******* *** scene:

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

    *******, ** **** *******, two *.*** ****** *** used ** ***** *** two ******** ***** ***** two *** ****** (* total *** ** ~**°) cover *** ******* ******* across *** ***. ******** **** ***** (~** MB ******* .***).

    **** ***** ***** *** configuration of *** ******* ** this *****:

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

    ** ****** *** **** against ***** *** ******* as **** ** ********* cameras ** **** ******* *********** in ******** ******.

    *** *** ******** ********** room ******, *** ********* was ********** ** * rough ***° ***** ** view ** **** *********** versus ****** ****** ********** (Axis ***** *** ********* DS-2CD6362) *** ** ** 180° **** ** ****.

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

    ** **** *****, *** AV12176DN ******** **** ********* to *** *** ****** imager ******* **********, **** details *****, *** ****** desaturation. **** *** **** higher ******* ********* ******** to *** ****** ****** Axis *** ********* *******, which ******* **** *** first **** ** *** test ***** *** ***** subject *******.

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

    ****** * ***, *** AV12176 has ********** **** ***** than *** ********** *** much **** **** *** Axis *****, ****** *** chart ** ***** ******* to **** *. *****, the ****** ****** ******* cameras *** ******.

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

    ** * **** **** scene, ~*.* ***, *** Omni ** ****** ** produce *** ****** *****. The ******, ***** *** Hikvision **** ******* ******** detection ** *** ******* and *****, *** ** details.

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

    ******* ** *** ** few ************* *** ******* binning ** ***** *******, which ******** ******** ****** (4:1 ** **** ****) to ******* *** ***** performance, *** ****** **********. Effects ** *********** **** depending ** ***** *****.

    ** ***** * ***, turning ******* ** ********* the ***** **********, **** our ******* *** ***** slightly **** *******. *******, the ******** ** ********** reduces *******, **** *** chart **** ******* **** in *** ***-****** *****. 

    ** ~*.* ***, **** with ******* ** *** camera ** ***** ****** to ******* * ****** image. *** ******* *** chart *** **** ****** visible.

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

    ** ****** *** *********** in **** *****, ******* strong ********* ******* * raised ******** ****:

     

    *** ********* ******** ****, with ******* ** *** subject *** **** *****, though ** ***** ** the **** **** **** to *** ****, ********** compared ** *** **** Q1615. *** **** *********** both ******* ********* *******, even *** **** *** DS-2CD6362.

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

    ****** ******* ** *** three **** ***** **** intermittent, *** ******:

    ** *** ****** "*****" 

    *** ** **** ******* regularly ****** ** **** the ** *** ****** on ****** **** *****. This ******** ** ******* coloration, ** **** ** the ***** *****. ********* the ****** ***** **** issue.

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

    ***** ******* ** **** imagers ************ ******* *** to *** ***** ** another. ** *** ***** below ** *** *** the **** **** ******** caused ** ****, **** experienced ** **** ****** in **** *****. ********* sometimes ***** **** *****, and ** ***** ** compensated *** ** ********* ***** gain controls ** *** *** interface.

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

    ********* ********, ********* *** a ***** * ***, without ******, *** ** night. *******, **** ******* the ****** *** *** VMS ** **** ** the *** ********* **************, framerate ***** ****** ** 1-3 ***, *** ************ the ****** ******* **********. Closing *** *** ********* remedied ****, **** *** streams *** ********* ********** again.

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

    *** **** ********* *** no ******** ********* ******. Bandwidth *** ****** *** moderately ****** **** *** single ****** **********. ******* was ***** **** **** fisheye ********* ****** ****** in **** *****, ****** higher **** *** ** equipped ********* **** ** both *** ***** ******.

    ***** ****** **** **** average ********* *********** *** the ****** ** * whole ** ***** ** these ************.

     

Comments (9)

Avatar

Nathan Wheeler

10/20/14 05:06pm

Great product review. Looking at all the comparison shots, it was interesting to see how stark of a performance difference you get from multi-imager panoramic cameras compared to high MP fisheye's de-warped. I understand the math of it and why but in every single comparison above it was essentially the difference between usuable forensic footage and unusable.

Four years ago when I was working for Arecont, the 180 panoramic was my favorite camera to use and to sell. This is a long awaited and much needed upgrade to the physical capabilities of that line. It will be fun to do some tests with lenses to concentrate the field of view even further. If the plexiglass bubble could be replaced with one more accommadating to longer lenses, this could make some really interesting configurations.

Jim Elder

10/21/14 03:53pm

Would like to see an actual video clip of something moving

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Jim Elder | 10/21/14 03:57pm

We included three Exacq exports so users could see it for themselves. They're linked above each sample scene:

Jim Elder

In reply to Ethan Ace | 10/21/14 05:48pm

Perfect Thanks

Michael Blumenson

IPVMU Certified | 10/21/14 05:23pm

John... Good review. Would have loved to see this camera in a shoot out with the Mobotix D15Di which has two movable sensors.

Avatar

Clint Guethlein

IPVMU Certified | 10/21/14 06:28pm

I beleive that the plan to put out a vari-focal lenses for this form factor as well.

One note on the VMS license requirements: NICE treats this ( and all mulit lenses cameras ) as 4 separate licenses for its VMS.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Clint Guethlein | 10/21/14 06:42pm

Clint, that's good information on both the lenses and the licensing. NICE is an exception, as I can't think of another VMS I've seen recently which treats it as four separate licenses. (Doesn't mean there isn't one, I just can't think of any.)

Jim Elder

In reply to Ethan Ace | 10/21/14 09:47pm

I was told by Arecont at one of the shows last year that if any manufacture treats an Arecont surround camera as 4, I was to call them (Arecont) and they would get it resolved somehow. The guy was pretty strong about being able to resolve this issue. Guess not strong enough to persuade Nice...

Marian Maroszek

In reply to Ethan Ace | 10/30/14 12:19pm

I guess that NUUO's products work the same way - one sensor - one license.

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

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...
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...
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...
Bank Security Manager Interview on May 15, 2019
Bank security contends with many significant threats - from fraudsters to robbers and more. In this interview, IPVM spoke with bank security...
Milestone XProtect 2019 R1 Tested on May 15, 2019
For the past few years, Milestone has released quarterly software updates XProtect VMS platform. What is new and how much impact do the updates...
Bluecherry Open Sources Entire VMS on May 13, 2019
Bluecherry announced they have "released the entire Bluecherry software application open source with a GPL license". We spoke to Bluecherry's...
Mining Company Security Manager Interview on May 10, 2019
First Quantum Minerals Limited (FQML) is a global enterprise with offices on 4 continents and operations in 7 countries with exploratory operations...
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...
Aegis AI Gun Detection Video Analytics Startup on May 07, 2019
Gun detection analytic startups are increasing as the promise of AI and the threats of active shooters grow.  One company, Aegis AI, is being led...
Restaurant Security Manager Interview on May 06, 2019
Wright’s Gourmet House in Tampa, Florida has been around for over 50 years. During most of that time, there were no security measures in place. Now...

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