Invisible IR Camera Tested (Vivotek)

By: Ethan Ace, Published on Jan 30, 2017

Integrated IR is everywhere in surveillance, from high-end long range cameras to even the lowest cost models. But this IR usually comes with a distinct red glow from its 850nm illuminators, giving away the camera's position at night.

Now, Vivotek has released the FD8166 microdome, a compact camera with invisible 940nm IR illuminators for discreet surveillance.

We bought and tested this new model to see how it stacks up against Axis and Hikvision minidomes and whether this new addition is marketing hype or useful in real world scenarios.

********** ** ** ********** in ************, **** ****-*** long ***** ******* ** even *** ****** **** models. *** **** ** usually ***** **** * distinct *** **** **** its ***** ************, ****** away *** ******'* ******** at *****.

***, ******* *** ******** the****** *********, * ******* ****** with ********* ***** ** illuminators *** ******** ************.

** ****** *** ****** this *** ***** ** see *** ** ****** up ******* **** *** Hikvision minidomes *** ******* **** new ******** ** ********* hype ** ****** ** real ***** *********.

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

*******

*** ******* ******'* *** of ********* ***** ** is * ******** *******, and ******** **** *** size, ***** *** ****** more ********* ** **** than ***** ** ***** in *** ***** ******.

***** ********* **** ********** and ******** ************ *** **** these ******** **********, ********** at * ********** *** price.

*******, *** ****** ** illumination *** *********** *********** can ** ***********.

*******

*** *******-* ***** *** about $*** *** ******. This ** ********** ** other ***** *********, **** as*********'* **-**********-*, *** ******** **** expensive **** ******, **** as****' *****-* (~$*** ******).

**** **** *** ******* FD8166 ** *** ** few ********* ** *** ***** IR, ******* ** *** more ******* ***** ****.******'* ** **** ******* **** **** ********* 940nm, *** **** ********** is ********* ***** **** in **** *** ******* and/or ******** ************.

Size **********

*** ******* ****** ** about *** **** **** as ***** ******* *****, shown ****:

*** ******'* ************ ** notably ********* **** **** compact *****, ** *** gimbal ** **** ******* (though, *********, ***** ******) and ** **** *** placed ** *** **** of *** ******, ******* of *********** *** ****, both ******** *****.

IR *** *********

*** ****** ****** *** IR **** ** *** body ** *** ****** instead ** *********** *** lens ** ** ******* of ** *****. **** means **** *** **** do *** ****** ****** of *** ******.

** *** *****, *** LEDs ******** ******* *** sufficiently **** ****** ** illuminate ******** **** ** the ******** ** **/**** tilt, ******* *** ********* the ******'* *****.

Invisible **

*** ***** **** **** in *** ******* ****** are ********* ** *** human *** *** **** digital ******* (**** ** the ****** **** ** take *** ***** *****). In * **** **** (~0.5lx), *** ****** ** barely *******, ****** ** much **** ********* ** spot, ***** *** ********* IR ****'* **** *** be **** **** ****** the ****.

Bright *** ****** *****

**** **** ****** *** camera's ** **** *** invisible ** *** ***** eye, ** ***** **** a **** ****** ****** LED *******, ***** ** visible ******* *** ******'* clear **** *** **** through *** ******* **** housing, ****** **** *** location. This *** *** ** turned *** *** *** web *********, *** **** installers *** *** **** realize **** ******* ** installs *** ********* **** lights **.

One-Axis ******

*** ****** ** *********** adjustable **** ** *** axis: **/**** ****. ***** is ** *** ** rotate *** ****** ****** or ***** *** ******, which *** ** * problem ** ****** ********.

******** ** ******** ** a ***** **** ** the ******, ***** *****:

*** ****** *** ** rotated ***** **-**° ** ********* mounting ****** *** ******** the ****** **** ***** slotted ******** *****, *** there ** ** ***** rotation.

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

******* ********* **** *** small ** **** **** a **** ***** ** 6M (~**'), ** *** tests *** ****** *********** a ***** **** ******, but ******. ************ *** strong ****** ** ****** detect ******** ********** *** room.

************ *** ******* ** the ********* **** ** dome, ***** ***** *** comparison.

****** ********* *** *****, details ** ~** *** / **' ***** **** weak, **** **** ***** text ****** *******, *** no ****** ******* *********. However, ***** ******* ****** did *** ******* **** better, **** *** ********* 2522 ******* *** ***** test ***** **** *******, but ** ****** *******, and *** ***-** **** M3045-V ********** ******* ** neither ***** *** *******.

Full ***** ***********

** **** *****, *** cameras *** ********* *********, with **** ******* ** ~3/4 ** *** *******, and ****** ******* *******.

Versions ******

*** ********* ******** ******** were **** ** **** test:

******* *******-*: *****
**** *****-*: *.**.*
********* **-*******: *.*.*

Comments (4)

Itamar Kerbel

01/31/17 06:49am

I get a lot of requests for 940nm IR but when customers realize that they lose a lot of IR distance they usually go for regular IR.

Scott Bradford

IPVMU Certified | 01/31/17 07:04pm

I've done a fair amount of work with 940nm for Police work. You lose IR range, but if you're doing work in the woods, it's pretty important. For building/indoor/resi work, I don't really see the point

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Scott Bradford | 01/31/17 08:37pm

If I were a comedian, I'd make a joke about not really seeing the point. Invisible IR humor!

But that is actually the point. If you want to better mask where your cameras are located/aimed in the dark, 940nm helps. I think that applies to most any application.

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ethan Ace | 01/31/17 08:38pm

If I were a comedian, I'd make a joke about not really seeing the point. Invisible IR humor!

pun score: 2/10

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

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...

Vivotek 20MP Multi-Imager Tested on May 30, 2019

Vivotek has released their latest repositionable multi-imager camera, the MA9321-EHTV, a 20 MP model claiming "Supreme Night Visibility", "Optimal...

Hikvision ColorVu Camera Tested on Jun 24, 2019

Hikvision says their new ColorVu line captures "vivid chromatic images in darkness", with unconventional white light illuminations whereas most...

Axis ARTPEC-7 P1375-E Camera Tested on Jul 12, 2019

Axis claims the new P1375-E box camera with ARTPEC-7 chip delivers "clear, sharp images in any lighting condition." But how well does it do? We...

Bosch Starlight 8000i Cameras Tested on Jul 23, 2019

Bosch has released their new Flexidome IP Starlight 8000i cameras, claiming "exceptional detail even in extreme low-light situations." To see...

Axis 4K Camera Shootout 2019 on Aug 14, 2019

Axis' 4K Q3518-LVE claims the "best video quality possible", with Lightfinder super low light performance, Axis' high end Forensic WDR, and...

Panasonic 4K Camera Tested (WV-S2570L) on Sep 13, 2019

Panasonic has released their latest generation 4K dome, the WV-S2570L, claiming "Extreme image quality allows evidence to be captured even under...

Color Low Light Mega Camera Shootout - Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Panasonic, Speco, Sony, Vivotek on Nov 12, 2019

This is the biggest color low light shootout ever, testing 20+ super low light models from 10 manufacturers: Increasingly, each manufacturer...

Axis "Best Of The Best" 4K Camera Tested (Q1798-LE) on Nov 21, 2019

Axis has released their "best of the best" Q1798-LE bullet camera, touting "4K without compromise" with a large Micro 4/3" image sensor, custom...

AVTech ~$70 IP Cameras Tested Vs Dahua and Hikvision on Dec 04, 2019

Taiwanese manufacturer Avtech is taking direct aim at low cost leaders Dahua and Hikvision with ~$70 starlight and white light illuminator...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Breaking Into A Facility Using Canned Air Tested on Jan 28, 2020

Access control is supposed to make doors more secure, but a $5 can of compressed air may defeat it. With no special training, intruders can...

ROG Security - Cloud AI For Remote Monitoring on Jan 28, 2020

ROG Security is offering cloud-based AI analytics to remote guard companies, by touting having "nothing to install" to "add virtual guards." We...

Brivo Business Profile 2020 on Jan 27, 2020

Brivo has been doing cloud access for more than 20 years. Is the 2020s the decade that cloud access becomes the norm? CEO Steve Van Till recently...

Favorite VMS / NVR Manufacturers 2020 on Jan 27, 2020

In 2018, a new winner emerged and a former top choice declined. Now, there is a new #1, a new top 5 finisher and 2 major VMSes in decline. Our...

"Hikvision Football Arena" Lithuania Causes Controversy on Jan 24, 2020

Controversy has arisen in Lithuania over Hikvision becoming a soccer team's top sponsor and gaining naming rights to their arena, with one local MP...

Axis and Genetec Drop IFSEC 2020 on Jan 23, 2020

Two of the best-known video surveillance manufacturers are dropping IFSEC International 2020, joining Milestone who dropped IFSEC in 2019. The...

Multipoint Door Lock Tutorial on Jan 23, 2020

Despite widespread use, locked doors are notoriously weak at stopping entry, and thousands can be misspent on locks that leave doors quite...

Avigilon Shifts Cloud Strategy - Merges Blue and ACC on Jan 23, 2020

Avigilon is shifting its cloud strategy, phasing out its Blue web-managed surveillance platform as a stand-alone brand and merging it with its ACC...

Verkada Paying $100 For Referrals Just To Demo on Jan 22, 2020

Some companies pay for referrals when the referral becomes a customer. Verkada is taking it to the next level - paying $100 referrals fees simply...

Camera Analytics Shootout 2020 - Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Uniview, Vivotek on Jan 22, 2020

Analytics are hot again, thanks to a slew of AI-powered cameras, but whose analytics really work? And how do these new smart cameras compare to top...