Vivotek 20MP Multi-Imager Tested

By: Rob Kilpatrick, Published 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 Image Quality in High Contrast Environments" and more.

We bought and tested this new model to see how it performs, examining:

How does it perform in full light (~300 lux), low light, ~(2 lux), and dark scenes (~0.01 lux)?
How flexible is imager positioning?
How does it compare in size to competitive multi-imagers?
How do H.265 and H.264 day and night bitrates compare?
How well does it integrate to third party VMSes (Avigilon, Exacq, Genetec, Milestone and NxWitness)?
How many VMS licenses does it use?

This is the latest in a series of new repositionable multi imager testing. Readers should also see our tests of the Axis P3717-PLE, Dahua's Multi-Flex 4x2MP, Hanwha's PNM-9000VQ, Hikvision PanoVu 20MP, and Panasonic's 32MP WV-X8570N. Coming up we plan to test Avigilon's H4 multi sensor and put these cameras head to head in a shootout.

******* *** ******** ***** latest ************** *****-****** ******, the******-****, * ** ** model ******** "******* ***** Visibility", "******* ***** ******* in **** ******** ************" and ****.

** ****** *** ****** this *** ***** ** see *** ** ********, examining:

*** **** ** ******* in **** ***** (~*** lux), *** *****, ~(* lux), *** **** ****** (~0.01 ***)?
*** ******** ** ****** positioning?
*** **** ** ******* in **** ** *********** multi-imagers?
*** ** *.*** *** H.264 *** *** ***** bitrates *******?
*** **** **** ** integrate ** ***** ***** VMSes (********, *****, *******, Milestone *** *********)?
*** **** *** ******** does ** ***?

**** ** *** ****** in * ****** ** new ************** ***** ****** testing. ******* ****** **** see *** ***** ** the**** *****-***,*****'* *****-**** *****,******'* ***-******,********* ****** ****, ************'* **** **-******. ****** ** ** plan ** ************'* ** ***** ********* *** ***** ******* head ** **** ** a ********.

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

*******

***** ** *** *****, the ******-**** *** ******* key *********:

***** **** ***** ******:*** ****** ******** ****** than ******* ******* ** well *** ****** (~*** lux *** **), **** subjects ****** ******* *** facial ******* ****** ************.
***** **** ******* ********:*.*** ******** **** ***** than **** *********** **** models *** *********'* ***** ****** *** smart *****.
***** *** ***********:*.*** *** *.*** ********* and ************* ** **** as ****** **** *** were ********* ** *****, Genetec, *********, *** ******* Optix *****. *** ****** did *** ******* ** Avigilon ******* ****** ********** of ********.

*******, ** ***** ***** than ****-*** ******, ***** were *** *** ******* problems:

**** *** ***** ***********:** *** ***** (~* lux), *** ****** ******** rough ******* *******, *** much ******* ******** ** daytime ******, ***** ** darker (~*.* ***) ******, no ****** ****** ** the ******* ** **** chart **** ********.
******* ** ***** ******* WDR:******* ****** *********, *** camera ****** *** ******* details *************. ******* ** dimmer ***** ** *** scene **** ******.

Integrated ** ***** *********, *** *** ********

**** **** ******* *** announced * *** ************** model ***** **** ******** integrated **, *** ******-****, but ** ** *** yet *********. ******* ******* this ******* ** **** in ****** ****.

*******

*** ******* ******-**** ***** for ~$*,*** *** ******. This ******* ** ***** than **** **** ******, such ** ******'* ***-****** (~$2,000 ******), *** ****** than ******, *.*., ********* PanoVu **** (~$*,*** ******, also ******** ********** **).

Size **********

*** ******-**** ** ******* than **** ***** ***** imager ******, **** ******** taller **** *** **** P3717-PLE, *** ******* ** diameter **** **** *** Axis ***** *** ******'* PNM-9000VQ.

Size Comparison

Physical ******** / ****** ***********

*** ****** ** ******* in ************ ** ***** models ******. ******* **** simple ** ********, ****** moved *** **** ** place ** ********, *** could *** ** ********** more ******* **** ~**-**° to **** *****, ******** limiting ***********.

Vivotek MA9321-EHTV Physical Overview Video

Strong ******** ******* / **** *** ***** *******

** *** *****, *** MA9321 ******** ****** ******* details ** ***** *****, with ******* ******** **** exposed *** *-* ******* test ***** *****. ***** facial ******* *** ********* in ***** *****, ~* lux, ****** ****** ****** moderately *****, **** *** chart ***********. *******, ** very *** ***** (~*.* lux), ** ****** ****** are ********, **** *** subject ************.

Day Night Image Detail Comparison

WDR ***********

** ****** *** ******'* WDR *********** ** ******* of ~*,*** *** **** an ****** *** ** ~45, * ******** ** ~44x, ***** ****:

WDR Test FOV

******* *** ******* *******, facial ******* *** *******, but ************* ***********. ** the ****** **** **** to *** **** (~** lux), *** *******'* **** is ****** ************.

WDR Performance

Broad *** ***********

*** ******-****'* *.***, *.***, and ****** **** *** integrated **** *****, *******, Milestone, *** ******* *****, working ******** ** *** four *****. *******, ** were ****** ** *** the ****** ** ******** Control ****** ** ***, regardless ** ********.

*** ***** **** **** a ****** ******* *******.

*********

******-**** ******** **** ********** low ** *** ******, with ******** ***** **** some *********** *****-****** ******, such ********'* ***-***********-******, *** ******* ** others, **** ***********'* ****** ****.

**** **** ******** ** very *** ***** ******* significantly ******** ** ~* lux ******, ** *** camera *** *** ******* usable ******, **** *** details *** ********* **** unavailable.

***** ************ **** ***** with ***** ****** *** enabled, **** ******** ****** in *** ***** (******** walking ** ***** *****). Dynamic *** *** *******, but ******* *** *** not.

Bitrate comparison

Sample ******

** ****** *** ****** in ****** *** ******* scenes ** ******* ********* configuration ******.

*****, ** ** ****** warehouse, *** ****** *** set ** ** ***** areas ** ********, **** an ****** ****** ** moderately ** ***** *** entrance/exit ***** ** **** as ****** *****, ******* viewing *******, ****, *** work *****, *** *** turned ** ******** **** to **** *** **** open ******** ****. *******, the **** ****** *** set ** ***** *** rest ** *** ****'* lower ******** *****.

*** ****** ******* *** entire ***** ******* ********** blindspots, ****** *** ********** imagers' **** ********* ******* 2 *** * **** both ***** ******* ** corridor **** ** *** the ******/**** ****, ** their ***** ********* ******** in **** ** *******.

********, *** ****** *** configured **** *** ******* in ******** ****, ** cover * ****/**** ****** area ******* *** ******** as **** ** *** entrance/exit *****, ***** ***** viewing ******* *** ******. The ********* *** ******* were **** ** *:* to ***** ****** ******* areas.

VMD ***********

*** ******* ******-**** **** not ******* ********* *********, we ****** *** *********** of *** *** *** camera ******* ** *** simplest ** ***** ***** sources ** *** *****, such ** ******** ****** from ****** *****.

VMD-False-Alerts-On-Small-Flashing-Activity-Lights

Country ** ******

*** ******-**** *** **** in ******.

Test **********

******* **** ****** ***** default ******** **** **** adjustments:

***** ****** *** *** Dynamic *** **** *******
******* *** *** ******** to ****** * ***** frame **** *** ******* and ********* *********
***** *** *** ** "Fixed *******" **** * setting ** "****" *** no ******* ***
*** *** (**** ***) was ******* ****** *** scenes

******* ***** *** *** to * ******* ** 1/30s.

******** ******* ******-****-***** *** used ** **** ****, the ****** ********* ** the **** ** *******.

Comments (24)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

05/30/19 09:35pm

* **** **** **** 30 ** ***** ** various **** ******* *** approval. ********** **** **** and *** ******* *********. Vivotek *** ***** ***** sensor ******* *** ***** integrations. **** ********* **** how ** ******* **** well **** *** *************.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 05/30/19 10:16pm

**** ********* **** *** to ******* **** **** with *** *************.

****** ***:

**** ** **** ** an ******** ***** ****** due ** ****-******** ** Onvif.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 05/30/19 10:58pm

****** **** ** ** an ******** *****. ***, "You **** *** * $15k *********" *** *** party *******. ***. **** $15k ********* ** **** unlocks ******** ** ***** an "**** ********."

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 05/31/19 01:11am

*** ***'* **** ** buy *** ********* *** 3rd ***** ******* **** Avigilon. **** ********* ********* fairly ****, ** ***** with ******-****** *******. *****-******* are **** *********, *** still ********* ****.

**** ***** ****, **** do *** **** *** integrations **** ********* ***** ********* *******, *** **** *********** **** ** * VMS *******, ****** **** **** Exacq, *******, *********, *** Network *****. ** **'* not ** ****** **** this ************* **** ** addressed.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Ethan Ace | 05/31/19 02:50am

*********** "*********" ***** ******* has **** ** **** cameras *** ****.

Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 05/31/19 10:18am

*** **** ******* **** they **** *** ****?

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Michael Miller | 05/31/19 02:54pm

* ****** ***** *** exact ******. *** **** make/made **** **** **** ptzs *** **** *** them. *** *********** ** minimum *+ ***** ***.

Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 05/31/19 03:28pm

**** ******** *** *+ years. *** ******* ******* Fisheyes *** ** **** in-house. **** ***** ******* or * ** ******* BS.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Michael Miller | 05/31/19 04:10pm

*** *'* ********* ** my ***** *** ******* of *** ******* **. Not ******, **********.

** ***** **** *** helped **** ** **** they **** **** ** cameras *** ********. ***, and ** *** ****. Thus *** *********** "*********."

Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 05/31/19 04:19pm

** **** ****** ******** doesn't ************ **'* ******* (besides *** ******* *** IR ***) ** ***** but *** **** *** name ***** *******. **** either ****** ** *** have ** **** **** your ******* *****.

Michael Miller

In reply to Michael Miller | 05/31/19 04:23pm

*** * **** ********* every ******* ** ********'* cameras ** ***** **** the ******** **** *******. Looking ******* ** **** response.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Michael Miller | 05/31/19 04:41pm

* ***** **** **** make *** ***** *******. If * *** *** clear ***** **** **** I *** ********** *** misinterpretation *** **** ***** be ** ***** *** not ***** *****. ** that ** *** **** then * *********.

Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 05/31/19 06:04pm

*********** "*********" ***** ******* has **** ** **** cameras *** ****.

***** **** ******* ******* the ******* *** ** PTZ *** *** ****** are **** ** *******?

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to Michael Miller | 06/01/19 07:50pm

*******, **** *** *******, the ******** ***** *** built ******** ** ********.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 06/01/19 04:06am

* ******* *** $*** appliance *** *** ********* to ** *** **** that **** ******** ********* to ********* ****** ** third ***** *******. *** are ***** *********** ** you ***** ** ***** a $*** ****** ** record ***** ***** *******.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 06/01/19 07:11pm

***** ******* ***** **** an ***** “**********” *** does *** ***** ***** profiles **** ***. ** Avigilon ******** *** ********** is ***** **** ** should **** *** **** an *****, **?

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 06/03/19 05:21pm

*** ****** ** ****** on *****'* ******* ** Profile * **********.

** *** *******, ******, while ******* * *** typically ********** **** ***'** get ****** ********* **** a ****** ******* ******, multi-channel ******* *** *** or ****. **'** **** issues **** ***** ***** using *****, ** ****. We **** *** ***** for ******* ** **** issue, ********, ******* *****-****** is ********* ****** **** it's ** *****.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

06/01/19 07:13pm

*****,

*** ***** ** **** picture *****’* **** **, but *** ************* ***** does, *** ***** * UL ******* ** ***** ?

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 06/03/19 06:13pm

******** **, ***** ** no ** *******. *** Intertek ** *** ****. I ******* *** *** and *** ************* **** came **** **, ** well. *'** *** ******* for *******.

Undisclosed Integrator #4

06/03/19 02:51pm

**** ** ****** *** Pictures **** *** ******* or ** ** *** a "*********" ****** ** 4 ** * ******* ??? :( ...

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 06/03/19 05:29pm

** **** *** ******. Stitching ** ********* **** used ** ***** *****-****** models (***° ** ***°). Because *** ******* ** this *** ***** ************** models *** ** *****, and ***** ** ****** to ** **** *** overlap ** ***** ******* are **********, **** ***'* stitch.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | 06/03/19 06:49pm

******* *** ******* **** pointed *** **** *** MA9321-EHTV ****** *** **** one ******* *** *** four ********, *** ** our ******* ** **** four. **** *** ** due ** ***** * pre-release******** ****** *.********. ** *** ******** to ********** ********* ***** and **** ****** **** our ********.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Ethan Ace | 06/21/19 01:40pm

******: ***** ********** ******* with ** ******* *******, we ********* **** *** Vivotek ****** *** **** require * ****** ******* in *******. **'** ******* the ***** *** *** report ***********.

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | 06/20/19 06:23pm

******:

***** * ******* ** VMD ***********. *** ******* ******-**** **** not ******* ********* *********, we ****** *** *********** of *** *** *** camera ******* ** *** simplest ** ***** ***** sources ** *** *****, such ** ******** ****** from ****** *****.

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