WDR Camera Mega Shootout 2019 - Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Panasonic, Vivotek

By Ethan Ace and Derek Ward, Published Sep 04, 2019, 10:29am EDT (Research)

**** ** *** ******* *** ******** ever, **** ** ******* **** * manufacturers:

** ************ *****-******** *********-*** ******, ******* **** ***** ** **, low **** ** ****, ** *** how **** ******* *** ******* *** trends ** *** ** ****.

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

****: ** **** *** ******* ****** and ***** ******* *** ******** **** be *** *****/****** ** ** ******* new **** *******.

*** ******* ********* *********** ** ****** WDR ********* **** ** **** **** entrance:

[effects output image]

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

  • ***** ****** ****** ******* **** *** worst *******?
  • *** **** **** *** *********** ******* to ****?
  • *** **** ******* (**) ****** ****** real ***** ***********?
  • *** **** *** ****** ***** ******** and **********?
  • **** *** *********** ****** *** ***** performance?
  • **** ****** *** ************ ************* **** on *** ***********?
  • **** ********** ** ***** ******* **** motion/variable *** ****** *** ******?

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

*********** *********** *********** ** **** ******* than **** **, ** ****, **** cameras ******* ****, *****-******** ***. **** very *** **** ****** ** ** some ***** **** **** ********** (**+) models **** **** *******.

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

  • *** *********** ******* ******** *******:** ****, **** ******* ********** *** cameras ********** ***** **** *** **** shootout, **** **** ******* ******* ******* strong ********* *** ****** *********** ** darker *****. **** ** *** ** say **** *** ******* *** ****** are **** **********, *** **** ****** will ******* ****** **** ***** ******.
  • ******* (**) ******* ** *** ******* performance:***** ** ***** ** **** *** cameras ******* **** *** ** ** 150 **, ** ** ***** **** dynamic ***** ******* ******* *** ***********. Cameras **** "***" *** ** *** dB ******* ********** ************ ***** ******** 130, ***, ** ******, *** **** versa. **** **** ****, ***** ****** be ********* ** ******* ******* **************.
  • **** ***** ********/************ ******:**** ****** ****** ********* ****** ** moderate ***** ******** ****** **** *** enabled. *******, ***** ****** *** ******* less ********** **** ******* ******** *****, in ***** ****** **** ***** ****** red ** **** ** ***********.
  • ** ****** ** *** ***** ******:*** ****** ****** ****** ******** *** automatically ** *** ***** ** ********* effectively *** ****. ************, ******** *** resulted ** ********* ** *** ***** performance, **** *** ****** ************* ********* it ** *****.
  • ** ******** ****** ** ************ *** optimizations: ** ***** **** ************ **** optimizations **** *********** *** *** *********** and ***** * ******* *************** (*****, Dahua, *** ******), ***** *** *** make * ******** **********. ****, *********, and ******* *********** ******** ** ****.

Manufacturer / ***** ***********

**** *** *** **** ******* *********** tested, **** *** *****-*** ** ** providing *** **** ****** ** ******* tested **** ********** ****** *********** ** the ********* *** **** **** *****, while ***** *** ******* **** **** average ** ***** *******. ***** ************* varied **** ******, **** **** **** as ******* *** ********* ********** ***** average ** **** ****** *** ***** average ** ******.

*******, ***** ***** *** **** ***** top **********, ** ************ ********* ******* "worst", ** *********** ****** ****** *** much ** ******* ***** ***** ***********.

Chart2

****:****** ****** **** *** ****** ** an ********** ********* ** **** ************. Instead, **** **** ******** ** ********* a ***** ******* ** ******* *********** and *** *******. ******* ****** ******** these ************ ****** ** ** ****, but *** * ********** **** ** best/worst ***********.

Newer ******* *** ********* ******

**** **** ****** **** **** *********, newer ******* ** *** ******* ********* better ** **** ****. *** *******, Hikvision's *** *********'* ** ****** *** some ** *** ****** ******, ******** in **** (** ***** *******), *** offer *******/***** ******* *********** ** *** tests. ** ********, *** **** *****-*** Mk ** *** **** ********* ***** early ****.

Camera ***** ********

***** ****** **** *******, **********, ** rating, *** ***** *** **** *****:

WDR Shootout Results Overview

Decibel ******* ** *** ******* ***********

****** ************* ***** ****** *** ****** WDR **************, *****, *****, *** **** 150dB. *******, *** ***** **** **** these ****-******* *** *********** *********** *** do *** ******* **** ***** ***********.

*** *******, *** **** *****-*** *** Dahua *******, **** ***** ** *** dB, ************ ****** **** ****** *******, such ** *** ********* ***** ****** 4MP *** ******'* ******* * *****, shown *****.

Decibel Ratings Do Not Reflect Performance3

**** **** ***** ** ** *** the **** ****** *** ****** ** the ******** ***** *** ****** ****-***** outliers **** ** ****** *** ********* uncommon.

2019 *** *********** ******** **** ******** ******

** ****, **** ******* ********** *** cameras ********** ***** **** *** **** shootout, **** **** ******* ******* ******* strong ********* *** ****** *********** ** darker *****.

*** *******, "*******" *********** ****** **** this **** **** ** *** ***** N45DL7Z ********** ******** ***** ******* ******, such ** *** **** ***** ***** below **** ******* *** ****** ********.

Average 2019 Performance Better Than Past Tests 2

************, ** **** *******, *** ***** camera ** *** ******* **** ** facing * ******* ***** (~*,*** *** backlight/~120 *** *******) **** *** **** (~5,500 *** *********/~** *** *******).

**** ** *** ** *** **** all *** *** ****** *** **** performing, ** ***** ** **** ****. However, ******* ****** *** ****** ** outperform ***** ****** **** *** **** manufacturer, *** ** ******* ** ****.

Reduced ***** ******** / ************ ******

** **** *****, ******* ************* ******** from ********** ***** ****** (********** ***) and/or ************ **** ******** ***. *******, in ****, ***** ****** *** ******* reduced.

*** **** ******** ***** ******** ** our ******* *** ***** ** *** Dahua *******, ***** ******** **** ******** reduced ******** *** *** ******** ** all ******.

*** **** *****-*** ******* **** * more ****** **** ** ********, **** the *****, ******, *** **** ******* in *** *** **** ****** ** the ***** ***** ********, ****** ****** are ***** ******* ************.

*******, **** ******* ******* **** ************* red-tinted, **** *** *****/**** ******** ********* pink/purple *** ******* ****** ********* **********.

No ********* ** *** ***** ***********

** *** *****, ** *******' *** light *********** *** *********** ******* **** WDR *******, **** *** ******* ****** automatically ********* *** ** *** *****/***** mode, ** ** ********* ********** ** performance.

*** *******, *** ****** ***-***** ** visibly ******** ****** **** *** ***, but ********* ******* *** *** ****.

Hanwha-PNV-9080R-Minimal-Nighttime-Performance-Difference-With-WDR

*** **** *****-*** ** ** ***** virtually ********* ** ***** **** *** enabled *** ******** ** *** *** interface:

Nighttime-Performance-Identical-With-WDR

Performance **** *: **** ****** / **** ****** *****: ******* ******** *** ****

** *** **** *********** *** *********** test, ******* ****** * ******* ******** through * ******** *** ****, **** very **** ******* *** ****** (~*,***) vs. **** *** *** *******. **** scene ****** ** ** ******* ***** factors:

  • ***** *******/******* *******
  • ****** *********/****
  • **** ** ****** ********

** **** *****, *** **** *****-*** Mk ** ********* **** ** *** models ******, **** ***** ******* ******* from ******* ** ******, **** **** moderate ********* ** *** ***** (****** the *******'* **** ******* ***** **********). Others ******** ***** ******* *******, **** as *** ***** *** ******* ******* below, *** ****** *** *** **********. The **** *****-*** *** *** *****-********** true *** ****** ** **** ****, with *** ******* *** ********** **** totally ****** ***.

WDR Motion Performance Comparison

** ******, *** *********** ******* ***** cameras *** **** **** ********** **** best ** *****. ******** **** *** Axis *****-*** ** **, ***** ******* details *** ** **** ** ** enters, **** ******* ** ******.

** ********, *** **** ***** ***** the *****-***, ***** ** ****** *** practically *** ****** **** *** **** is ****.

Performance **** *: ****** / ******* ****** *****: **** ********* ****

** **** ****** *** *********** ******* scene **** **** ******* ******, ** open ********* ****, ** *** *** performance ******** ******** ** *** *** door *****. *********** ****** ********, *** not ***** ***** ***** ********* **** in *** *** **** ***** ********* well ****.

** **** *****, *** *********-*** ***** performed ****. *******, *** ********* **-****** performed **** ****, ** ******** ** its **** *********** ** *** *** door *****. *** ******* **** *** performers **** **** ******'* ***-*****, ***** appeared ********* *** *** *** ******* any ******* ** *** **** **** of *** *****, *** *** ******* FD8379-HV, ***** ******** **** ******* ******** and **** ********* ** *** **** beside *** ****.

WDR Static Scene Performance Comparison

** ********, ******* *** **** ***** of **** ** *** ********* **-******, contrast ** **** **** ****** *** field ** ****:

** *** ******* ******-**, ***** ***** only ***** ****** ** *** ******* beside *** ****, *** ******* *** subject's ******** ** *** ****** ** the *****, ********* *******.

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

** *** *****, **** ******* ********* noticeable ****** *********, ********* ** "******" images ** ******** ******* ****** ********* or ** ******** ******. ***** ******* were **** ******* ******* *** **** overhead **** ** ** ******, ***** below ** *** *******'* **** *** body.

*** **** *****-*** ******** ****** *********, but *** *******'* **** ******* *****. The ***** ******* ** **** ***** display ***** ******** ** ******.

WDR Motion Artifacts Comparison

**** **** ** *** ***** *** door *****, ****** ********* **** *** a ********* ***** ** ********' *****. Although **** **** ******* ** **** cameras, **** *** *** ****** ********* usable *******.

***** ********* *** ** **** ********* the ******* ** **** ******* **** the ***** *******:

WDR-Motion-Artifacts-Visible-In-Moving-Objects

** **** **** **** *********** *** artifact ****** ** ***** ****** ******* of **** ****, *** ***** ** which *********'* ***, ***** ******** ****** ******* **** WDR ** *******, **** ** ******** very ***** ** *** ******:

Verkada D40 Extreme WDR Artifact Issues

Pricing / *********** *********

** **** ********, ****** ****** ******* did *** ************ **** ****** *** performance. *** *** ********* **** *****-*** Mk ** ***** *** ~$*** ***, far **** **** **** ****** ********** models, **** ** *** ********* **-****** (~$1,050) ** ***** ********* ********* ***** (~$1,000+). *** **** ** **** ** the ~$*** ********* **-**********-*** *** ***** N45DL7Z (~$***), ***** ******* ***** ******* performance ** *** ***** ******.

* **** **** ** ********* ******/****** price ******** ** ****** ** *****, listed **** ****** ** ******* *****:

Camera Price Performance

Test ***********

** **** *******, ** ****** ***** on *** **** ********:

  • **** ****** ***********:* *** **** *******/******* **** ******* entering, ~*,*** *** ******** *** ~*** lux *******.
  • *** ****** ***********:** **** ******** **** **** ******* centered ** *** **** *** ** the **** **** **** ** **, ~7,000 *** ******** *** ~*** *** indoors

** ** *** ************* **** *********, we **** ******* ******** **** ******/*** door *********** **** *** ******, ****** both **** **********.

*** *** ****** ***** ******* ********. Manufacturers **** ***** *********** ** ******* optimizations, *** ** *** *****, ***** settings ******* *** ****** ** ** practical ****** ** ***********.

**** ***** ******** **** ************ ***** all ******:

  • *********** *** ************ ** ~**-** ************ in *** ******* ***** ** *******.
  • ******* ***** *** *** ** * maximum ** */*** / ****.

Firmware ******** ****

*** ********* ******** ******** **** **** in **** ****:

  • ******** ****: *.**.*.**
  • ******** *.**-***-**: *.**.*.**
  • ******** *.**-***-***-**: *.**.*.**
  • **** *****-***: *.**.*
  • **** *****-***: *.**.*
  • **** **** *****-*** ** **: *.**.*.*
  • **** *****-***: *.**.*
  • ***** ***-****-*: *.**.****
  • ***** ***-****-*: *.**.****
  • ***** *******: **.***.*******.*.*
  • ***** **-***-**********-***: **.***.*******.*.*
  • ***** *******: **.***.*******.*.*
  • ****** ***-*****: *.**.*********
  • ****** ***-*****: *.**********
  • ****** ***-*****: *.*********
  • ********* **-*********-**(*)*: **.*.** ***** ******
  • ********* ***-****: **.*.* ***** ******
  • ********* **-**********-***: **.*.** ***** ******
  • ********* **-*********-***: **.*.** ***** ******
  • ********* **-******: *.**.
  • ********* **-******: *.**.
  • ******* ******-**: *****
  • ******* ******-****: *****

Comments (23)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

09/04/19 03:17pm

Excellent report, I often have to explain WDR to customers. Being able to show them your sample videos will certainly help in their understanding.

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Ryan Karpilo

09/04/19 08:58pm

Well done.

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Undisclosed Integrator #2

09/04/19 09:28pm

Avigilon just launched their new H5 line. A few weeks too late for this report.

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 09/04/19 09:43pm

We plan to test H5 and have been in communication with Avigilon. We'll update when that's released. There are always new cameras coming out and we're doing ongoing tests, e.g., the 4K shootout is scheduled for later this month and our aim is to have H5 in that report when it's released.

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Slava H

09/05/19 03:51pm

Would be nice to add Uniview camera to this list in the future.

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Damith Jayasinghe

09/06/19 03:40am

Need to test H5A just came out. H4A were old.

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Damith Jayasinghe | 09/06/19 04:16am

H5A cameras should be shipping to us tomorrow and we plan to add them to these rankings as soon as possible.

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Michael Miller

In reply to Ethan Ace | 09/06/19 11:27am

H5a or H5SL?

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Michael Miller | 09/06/19 02:04pm

H5A, though we will probably also look at the H5SL later on.

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Undisclosed #3

09/06/19 12:46pm

I find it interesting that Axis has not changed their DB numbers as their products have continued to improve and are clearly better then previous generations. I guess that shows just how useless those numbers are even within the same manufacturer.

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Joe Hernandez

09/06/19 04:50pm

Kudos to the IPVM testing team!!! The comparison and result allows us dealers/integrators to know the real value of a manufacturer's products and saves us a lot of time during product selection for a project.

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Undisclosed Integrator #4

09/06/19 08:48pm

Just curious, were these tests based on out of the box settings or was each device set to WDR on and Full or HIGH setting selected? Only wonder as I know some have WDR enabled from the manufacturer while a few others need to be turned on from default state of "off".

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Undisclosed Integrator #4

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 09/16/19 02:54pm

John just curious if you had missed this one. I just wanted to know if all devices were tested based on Out of Box settings or each device had WDR tailored to the same level.

Thanks

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 09/16/19 03:23pm

Sorry that we missed that. WDR was enabled if it was not enabled out of the box. Off the top of my head I can't recall who ships enabled/disabled, but we can gather that list if needed.

We did not set everything to same level, because that's pretty much impossible. Everyone uses different settings, different terminology, different scales, etc. We asked manufacturers their recommended settings in these scenes, and nearly all replied with some adjustments. However, these adjustments did not make much practical difference at all, so image comparisons are shown with default WDR settings.

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Undisclosed Integrator #5

09/09/19 02:20pm

I wish you had tested the Hanwha XNV-6085 instead of the XNV-6080R, as this camera has outperformed all the other low light level cameras I have seen. It is a much better low light level camera than than XNV-6080R.

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5 | 09/09/19 02:39pm

this camera has outperformed all the other low light level cameras I have seen

Can you clarify why you are emphasizing low light when this was a WDR shootout?

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Ofer Apitz

09/09/19 03:12pm

Hi

How come SONY is not tested ?

SNC-VM642R is a great WDR performer ...

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Ofer Apitz | 09/09/19 03:23pm

Ofer, thanks for your first comment!

We tested 23 cameras and there is only so much space and time. Specifically, for Sony, the issue has been the company's declining investment and commitment to video surveillance, e.g., Bosch Integrating Sony Video Security Sales And Marketing Team. We might test Sony in the future depending on new releases and increased focused within video surveillance.

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Jason Crist

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 09/11/19 04:28pm

Maybe they should commit global espionage? You have cameras from Hik and Dahua, both companies who have products banned for known unscrupulous practices but Sony isn't "investing enough"? What exactly should they be investing in?

That's the most bullshit response I've ever read, CONGRATS!

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Jason Crist | 09/12/19 12:20am

Jason, that's your funniest response yet!

So IPVM is pro-Hikua now? Lol

What exactly should they be investing in?

Building new cameras. Sony knows this, you can't remain competitive by refreshing your line twice a decade. I can sympathize with Sony being demoralized by the race to the bottom but some other non-Chinese manufacturers continued to invest and release various new products, Sony did not.

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Takeshi Sumiya

09/10/19 01:58am

Ecellent report,

But, I want to compare SONY cameras also.

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Stéphane Briard

IPVMU Certified | 11/14/19 03:35pm

Hi

Can we expect the same performance as the P3225LVE for the 3225VE or 3225V ? I would say yes based on the specs but I would appreciate your input.

Thx for that shootout

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Jacob Hengel

YourSix | 11/30/19 09:27pm

Curious to see how ARTPEC-7 in the P3245 tests against the ARTPEC-5 of the p3225 (clear current WDR leader).

Any chance to amend that to this article now that P3245 has been out for a bit? I believe the WDR shootouts publish very end of q3 or early q4 so hoping not to wait :-)

Low-light is superb in ARTPEC-7 but I have not seen if WDR has gotten as sizeable of an upgrade with that new chip.

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