Worst Camera Manufacturers 2020

By IPVM Team, Published May 06, 2020, 11:58am EDT (Info+)

Which camera manufacturer have integrators had the worst experience with in the past year? 200+ integrators told us.

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200+ integrators answered, and there were minimal changes in the negative responses from our 2018 survey, the 2nd and 3rd worst swapped places. While the 3-time worst manufacturer achieved its fourpeat, the largest group of responses indicated no bad experiences.

In this report, we share detailed feedback from integrators and examine key themes impacting the overall market.

This is the first year IPVM tracked responses from inside and outside the US.

Top *******

******* ******* *** #* ***** *** only ********* *** *****. ********* *** net ******** ******* *** **, ***** Arecont *** ***** ** *** ***** inside *** ******* *** **. ******* problems ******** ******, ** ******** ** Arecont, **** ** ***** ******** *** related ** ******** ************ ** ***** past *** ****** ******* ****** ***.

***, ** *** ******** ****, *** number ** *********** ********* ** ******** was ******* **** ******* *** ********* negative ********* ********, * ***** **** 2018 **** *********.

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

  • ********* - *** ********** *** ******** outside *** **, * **** **** for *** *******. *******, ********* ******** more ******** ********* **** ******* ** the **, *** ******* ******** ** positives, ******* ********* *** *** **** negative.
  • ***** - ************* **** ******** **** Hikvision ** *******, **** ******** **** as **** ******** ********* **** ********* in *** ******* *** **.
  • **** - *** ***** ****** **** strong *******, ******** **** ******** ********* than *****

*******

******* *** ******* ***** ** *** outside *** **. *********** ***** ******* issues, ************ ***** ********, ******** ****** and ******* **** ***** *******:

  • "*******. ******** ***** *****-**** ******* ******, new ******* *** *** *** ********** installed *********. ******/******** **** ********. *** to ***. **** *****/******."
  • "******* ******, ******** ********, **** ***'* them *** *** **** ** *** back **** ****** * ****** ** months"
  • "******* ********* ** ** *** ***** manufacturer **'** ****** ****. ** *** to *** **** *** ** ***** opportunity"
  • "*******. ****** *******. ** **** ********. Basically, **** ***** ****** ********* **** with **** **** **** ****. **** with ****"
  • "******* ** ******** / ******** *** reliable ** *** ** *** ***** Image ******** *****"
  • "**'* ****** *******. **** ******** ** be ********, **** ***** **** ******* to *** ******* ******"
  • "******* ******, ******** ********, **** ***'* them *** *** **** ** *** back **** ****** * ****** ** months"
  • "******* ****** ***** *********** **** ** the *******. **** **** *** ** the *** ******* ****"
  • "*******, *** ******* *** **** ******. lack ****** *********** ******"
  • "** ***** **** *** **** ****** with ******* *** **** ***** ******* line"
  • "******* - **** *** *******. ***'* use ******* *****"
  • "*******. ** **** ***** **** ***** 180 ******* *** *** ********"
  • "******* - **** **** ***** *******"
  • "*******. * **** *** ******* *******"

******* ******* ** **** *** *** favorability *** ******* *** *****, **** of *** ******** ******** ******** ***** of **** ***********, *** *********** ****** problems. *******, **** ********* ******* ********** recent ********.

*********

***** ********** ******** **** ******* ******** responses **** *******, ********* *** ** their ************* ****** ***, **** **** received ********** ********* ******** *** **** a *** ******** ******* *** **.

*** **** ******* ****** ** *** negative ********* **** **** *******, ********/*** interface ******, *** ************* ********:

  • "*********. * ********* ** **** *** that's **. * *** ** ** back ***** ** ******* ** *** different ******. **** **** ***** *******. Hardware ** **** ***** *** ******* very ****. *** ** ******* ** after * ****."
  • "*********. ** *** **** ** * lower *** ******* *** **** **** great **** ** *** ****. ******** video ****-*** ** ********** ******* *** interface. ** ***** ** **** ***** working."
  • "*** (*********) *** **** ****** *** cameras ********* ******** ***. ********** **** work ****, *** *** ***** **** camera **** *** ******* ********* ******** it *** *** *****"
  • "********* ******** ****** ** *** ******** Explorer ******* ****** ** ********* ******** Awful **** **** ****, ** ***** camera *** ***** **** ** ****** only, *** *** **********, *** ***** leak *******, *** ******'* ****"
  • "*********, *** * ****** ** *******, that **** *** ** ******* ***** ago, ** *** *** ** * sudden. ** ** ****** *** ** Hikvision ****** *** **** *-* *****"
  • "********* ******** ****** **, ****** ******** more ********, *** **** ** *** the ***** ***** ** *** *****"
  • "********* **** ** ****** ********/****** ********/*** good ****** **** *** ******. ********** and ******."
  • "********* ******* **** *** **** ******* made."
  • "********* - **** **** ******* ****."
  • "*********, **** **** *** ****** ***** time **** ****"
  • "*********. **** ********."
  • "*********. **** ********* ****"
  • "*********, ******** ********"

* ***** ****** ** ********* ********* problems ******* ** *** ** ********** ban *** **** **:

  • "*********. ********** *** ***"
  • "*********, *** **** *** *****"
  • "*********. ******?"

****

**** ******** *** **** ******** ********* overall (*********** ****** ************ ****), *** **** *** **** ******** responses **** *****. *********** ********* ****** with ****** ********:

  • "****. ** **** **** **** **** Q6000-E ***** **** ********* **** ***** out ** *** ******** *** ******. One ***** *** ** *** ** 10 ***** ** ***'* *** ***. The ******** ***** ******** ***** **** the ****** ** *** *** ** the **** ****** *******"
  • "****. ***** ***** ******* ** *** job **** *** ** ** ******** multiple ***** ** **** ******** ***** they *** ***** ********** ******* *********. Cost *** ******* * *******."
  • "*** ****** *********** **** **** **** by *** **** ** *** **** trouble *** ************ ****. ***** ***** series *** *** ***** **** ******** accounted *** * *********** ****** ** service ***** ********** ******** *****."
  • "**** ***** **'** *** * ***** of ***** ******* (*****'*) **** ** the ***** ***** ** **** *** for ** *** *** **** ******* it."
  • "**** - *** * *** ** P32 ****** *****, **** ******* **********. AXIS ******** **** *** ** ***** reimbursement. "*****, *** ** *** *** lunch""
  • "**** *** * *********-******* ******* ***** which *** ** ** ************ ********** early **** ****."
  • "** ***** **** **** *** *** to ** ******* ***'* ** * bad ***** ** ******* **** **** out."
  • "****, ** *** **** ** ******* fail ** ******* ****. *** **** did **** ** *****"

* ***** ****** ** ********* ******** sales ******* ********:

  • "**** ******* ** ******* *** ****** access *** *** ***** - **** may ** ***** *** ** ***'* have *** **** ** *** ******* to ******* ** *** *** ***** margin -*** ***** *** ******"
  • "****. ******* ****** *** **** ** a *********** ** ** ********** ** help ******** *** ********."
  • "**** - ********** ** ********* **** Hardware *** ******** ** *********."

*****

*****'* ******** ********* **** **** ************* compared ** ****, *******, ******** ********* were **** ***, ************ ** *** US. ***** *** * *** ******** outside *** **, ******* ******** ****** than *********.

*********** ***** ****** ******* *** ******** problems ** ******* ********:

  • "***** * ***** ****** *** *** eyeball ******* ****** ****** ********. **** are ********* ** ***** **** *** pigtail ** *** **** ** *** camera ******** ** *** ****** ** spots."
  • "*****. ** ********* *** ** ****** for * ***** **** ** ****. I ***'* **** *** ***** ** describe *** *** *** *** ***** quality. *$ *** ****** ****** *** way **** ******."
  • "*****, ******* ** *** ******** ******* made ***** ** * ***** ********* specialist ******* *** ****** **** **** should **** *** * ********* *****"
  • "*****, ******* ***** ** *** ****** digits ** ******-*** *******. *** *** of ***, ** ****** ****** * year ** **********, *** ***** ** PTZ ******* *** * ******* ** well."
  • "***** ******** ******* ******* ***** ******* tech ******* *** ******** ****** *** purchased ************ **** ***** *** *** the ***** **** ***** **** * reseller"
  • "*****/***. ***'* *** *** ******** *** a ******** ******."
  • "*****. ******* ********, ****** *****, **** working"
  • "***** - ******* **** *** *** time."

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

** ****** ******* '******' ******** ** remain *** ** *** ********** *** matured *** ***** *** ***** ******* manufacturers.

*******, *** ******* *** *** ******** will ****** ***** ** ** / 'smart' ******* **** *** **** *** years.

Comments (24)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

05/06/20 04:38pm

I wonder if there are there any other camera manufacturers that offer fully motorized multi-sensors if Arecont dealers are looking for an alternative to Omni series?

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David Morgan

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 05/06/20 04:45pm

Hanwha has a few PTRZ Multi Imager models available now. There, I said it for you.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #10

In reply to David Morgan | 07/13/20 12:08pm

I have noticed one thing in this industry, it seems like "patented/copyrighted" technology is often copied and duplicated with no recourse. It seems like manufacturers are not willing to enter into litigation to protect their IPO, UNLESS it is analytics and that seems to have died down, in last few years. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Arecont's multi-sensor technology a patented tech? Wouldn't Hanwha, DW, Pelco, Vivotek, and anyone else with a multisensor in one housing be infringing on their intelectual property?

(Pardon my ignorance in copyright/patent law)

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #10 | 07/13/20 12:14pm

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Arecont's multi-sensor technology a patented tech?

Yes, Arecont did have patent(s) on this, though see this 2018 article: Axis Wins, Arecont Cancels Multi-Imager Patent.

From the best I can tell, in the mid 2010s, there was some concern about Arecont patents but since Axis' win, there has not. Also, of course, Arecont's bankruptcy was an issue.

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Guilherme Barandas

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 05/06/20 10:23pm

Hanwha, Vivotek...

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Steve Bukoski

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 05/07/20 12:25pm

I think Hanwha does. PNM-9084Qz

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Clint Guethlein

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 05/07/20 02:09pm

Hanwha has at least one multi-sensor motorized unit. I think it is this one:

PNM-9081VQ 20MP Outdoor 4-Sensor 360° Network Dome Camera

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Undisclosed Integrator #2

05/06/20 05:01pm

I'm curious, is the number of failures/complaints compared to the total volume sold? If camera A is 10 times more popular than camera B, and it has 9 times the failure/complaint rate, it's still better?

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Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 05/06/20 06:04pm

Reminds me of this:

“There are only two kinds of languages: the ones people complain about and the ones nobody uses.”― Bjarne Stroustrup, The C++ Programming Language

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Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 05/06/20 06:29pm

Great quote, but I'm not sure it answers the question.

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Undisclosed Integrator #4

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 05/06/20 07:47pm

That's only logical. Manufacturers with lower volumes ought to equate to lower numbers of complaints, although the content of the complaint should probably be afforded greater weight. Issues with DOA products or multiple failures post-install that result in truck rolls are more significant than not liking the GUI.

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 05/06/20 09:10pm

the number of failures/complaints compared to the total volume sold?

No, in the same way, the favorite lists (e.g., Favorite Camera Manufacturers 2020) doesn't factor in sales volume, we do not factor in sales volume under worst.

Let's pick ACTi, e.g., is ACTi 'worse' than Axis or Hikvision in 2020? Maybe but so few people use them.

The goal of this survey and this is the 5th time we run it (see also 2018, 2016, 2014, 2011) is to highlight, among things that lots of people use where they had the most problems.

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Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to John Honovich | 05/06/20 09:16pm

Ah indeed makes sense. We're not looking at absolute percentage of failures here, it's more a most annoying/time consuming gauge of vendors/models, highlighting what to look out for. Thanks John.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #6

In reply to John Honovich | 05/07/20 12:44am

As the ACTi BDM for the East I’ll file this under “all publicity is good publicity!!”

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Undisclosed Integrator #4

05/06/20 07:47pm

As a Hikvision fan I will concede that their software/firmware is the worst part about them and really doesn't correlate with their position as the largest manufacturer. I wish I were a fly on the wall at their HQ because I'd really like some insight into how and why they do (or don't do) things, like export video in a usable format that doesn't require another tool to convert which you CAN'T get on mobile. NVR GUI sucks and doesn't give you the same options as you get with the web interface (which requires an insecure plugin). Hik-Connect is buggy and poorly structured with only one "owner" per device requiring sharing with other users, and notifications are tied to the setting of the "owner".

Hikvision's analytics are notoriously poor. I set the camera on the side of my house to alert to intrusion detection with a 10 sec filtering time and a 30% sensitivity. I had to turn it off because I was getting constant notifications on my phone about a rabbit that was occupying about 5% of the selected zone. I have high hopes that they've finally figured things out with the 2nd gen 4K Acusense but won't hold my breath.

Hardware-wise though I've been plenty satisfied with the majority of their line. I've installed and used just about everything they have so far, from 8" PTZs to Value Express. I really like their 2MP Darkfighters and the ColorVu line, and their Value series gives very good performance and features for the price. Always something on sale at ADI, and Hikvision's launch frequency for new products is nothing if impressive. I just wish they'd get their act together on the software/firmware side of things. And admittedly I haven't installed a huge amount of their products compared with larger integrators, but I have yet to receive anything that's DOA.

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Undisclosed #7

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 05/07/20 12:35pm

Because it is much easier to copy hardware than software. Sure, you can make a bit-for-bit copy of a piece of software, but that does not give you the source code and the ability to modify and extend it. Hardware is really just a bunch of components connected together, much easier to copy a proven design.

Chinese products are often clones of other more successful products that have come before them. Rarely do we see much true innovation in software come out of China.

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Undisclosed Integrator #8

In reply to Undisclosed #7 | 05/07/20 01:28pm

Unless it’s designed to identify Muslims...

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Undisclosed Integrator #4

In reply to Undisclosed #7 | 05/08/20 06:57pm

I'm curious. Which product did Hikvision copy to come out with the ColorVu, which apart from the white light is one of the best performing ultra-low light color cameras IPVM has tested?

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Undisclosed #5

05/07/20 12:03am

Maybe check your Arecont commentary there are two exact same comments listed. It makes the list look worst than it is

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Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #5 | 05/07/20 01:57am

Thanks for your first comment U5, we removed the duplicate and confirmed the response tally was not impacted. It was just a misplaced copy-paste when organizing the comments.

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Undisclosed #7

In reply to Undisclosed #5 | 05/07/20 12:36pm

I'm sure there would have been more anti-Arecont comments if the techs were not busy trying to fix their Arecont cameras and had time to respond.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #9

05/07/20 04:43pm

It would be interesting to see the unhappiness split for Arecont's newer Can'tera product line versus the legacy Product line.

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Jorge Lozano

Condortech Services, Inc.
05/07/20 05:43pm

I am glad you keep posting these facts, we do not want to be negative about certain manufacturers that claim their products will perform according to their specs, but at the end of the day it is the installer or integrator that does pay for the consequences. Our Company had a bad experience 4 years ago with one of the major manufacturer of personal duress systems, which at the end of the installation; Our Company ended up revamping the entire system since it did not meet the specs.

I am glad that IPVM keep testing those electronic security systems, it will help the community of installers and integrator a lot

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Marcin Mazurek

07/11/20 08:32pm

Where is UNV and Tiandy?

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