Worst Camera Manufacturers 2016

By: John Honovich, Published on Jan 27, 2016

Can Arecont do it again?

In 2011, integrators overwhelmingly selected Arecont as the Worst IP Camera Manufacturer. And then in 2014, Arecont repeated.

Now, in 2016, the market has changed significantly. Arecont has faded while the Chinese have surged. Will Arecont keep their title or will they be overcome by new challengers?

150 integrators answered the following question:

"In the past year, what camera manufacturer have you had the worst experience with? What happened?"

Of the 150 respondents, 4 manufacturers stood out. We examine each one, sharing dozens of comments and explanations from integrators about the camera manufacturers they have had the most problems with.

WARNING: This list cannot be used for promotion in any way. Please report any promotional use to us (info@ipvm.com) and we will rectify / block those who do so.

*** ******* ** ** again?

** ****, *********** ************** selected Arecont ** ******** ** ****** ************. *** ****** ****, ******* ********.

***, ** ****, *** market *** ******* *************. Arecont *** ***** ***** *** Chinese **** ******. **** Arecont **** ***** ***** or **** **** ** overcome ** *** ***********?

*** *********** ******** *** following ********:

"** *** **** ****, what ****** ************ **** you *** *** ***** experience ****? **** ********?"

** *** *** ***********, 4 ************* ***** ***. We ******* **** ***, sharing ****** ** ******** and ************ **** *********** about *** ****** ************* they **** *** *** most ******** ****.

*******: **** **** ****** be **** *** ********* in *** ***. ****** report *** *********** *** to ** (****@****.***) *** we **** ******* / block ***** *** ** so.

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

Improving ******* / ***********

******** ** *** ******** 2 *******, ***** *** a **** ****** ********** of *********** *** **** they *** ** '***** experiences' with *** ******* ** the **** ****. ***** that ***** ** ***** a ******** *******, ** improved *************.

Top * **********

**** *** *** *** 4 ***** ****-*******:

  • *******: ***** ******* *****, consistent **** **** ******* but *** ** *** as ***** ******** ****
  • *****: ****** **** ***** selections *** ******* *** significant ******** ******** 
  • *********: * ********** **** performance **** *** ******* amount ** ***** ********** votes, **** **** **** their ********** ** *** favorite ****
  • *******: * *********** ****** of ***** ***********, ****** balanced ** ******** **** favorite **********; ***** * concern

******* ** ***** *, no ************ (****** *** Hikvision *** **********) *** * notable ********* ** ***** experiences.

#1 - *******

******* ******** *** ***** top ****** *** ***** camera.

******* / ******* ****** remained ******:

  • "******* - *******, *******"
  • "*******, ************ *** ******* has **** ************* ** a ***** *** *** gave ** ********* ****"
  • "*******. ***** ******** ******* lacks **** *** ********** name *******"
  • "*******. **** *** *********** at *** **** **** the *** ***** ********. Tech ******* **** ******** to "*** ***'* *** these **** ***"."

******** ***** * ******* cited *****:

  • "*******. ******** ********. ***** out ** *** ***."
  • "******* - *** *** of *** *** *******."
  • "*******. **** ******* ****."
  • "*******, *** **** *** of *** *** ********. Extremely **** ********* ******* response **** ****** ** arise, *** *** ** "tech" ******** *** **** of ************."
  • "*******. ***** ******* *** 75% ** **** **** bad ****** ** ******** the ***. *** ** RMA **** *** ******** almost ****** **** *** from *** ***. ***** those ***'*, ****'** **** ok."

** **********, *********** ***** their *****-****** *****, ***** is ***** **** ********* *********** differentiator ** *** ******

  • "*******. ** **** *** 180 *** *** ***** in ******** ************. *** the *********** *** **** an ** ***** *******."
  • "*******. ** **** *** some *********** ****** *** especially **** *** ********** model **** *** * independent ******. ************ ** a ******, ********** **** installing ** *** ******* environment *** **** ******, which ** ******** ** an ******** ********. * am ******* ** *** how *** *** **** models ****, **** ********* focus *** * **** also ***** **** *** having ******* ******* ******."
  • "******* ******, *** *** panoramic *** ***** ***."

*** ****** ******* ******* get **** ***** ********** than ***** **** ** simply **** **** ****** are ***** ****, ** one ********** *****, "***** **** a *** ******* ******** that **** ** ***** now *** ****, *** those **** ****** **** upgraded/replaced (*******)."

*****

**** ** ****, ***** did ******, **** * similar **** ** **********:

  • "*****. ***'* ** ***** failures."
  • "*****. *** ******* *** firmware *** ********. *** many ******** **** *** cameras *** ******* ** needing ** ** ********. Many ***** *** ******** didn't *** *** ***** or ****** *** ********."
  • "***** - *****-*******. ********* poor ******* ** *****-****** at ** ******* */* dramatically ******** ***** ****."
  • "*****. ******** ******. ******* products ****** **** **** been ******** ******."
  • "** *** ** ****** system ***** ********** ******* would ** ******* *** days ** * ****, and ** **** ******* months ** *** ***** to **** ************** *** the ******** *** ******* them. ** ******** ** continually **** ********** *** network *********** **** ******* on *** *****, **** to **** **** **** at ******* ******* **** we ******* **** ** the *****."
  • "*****. **** **** ****** gone **** *** *****. The *** ***** ****** has ** **** *** their ******** **** *** kept ** **** *** times."

***** *** *** *** challenges and, **** **** ***, ** ********** ** turn ****** ******.

*********

*********'* ******* **** ***** with * **** ****** of ******** ********** *** more ***** *********. **** was ** ***** ******** to *********** **** ****, Avigilon *** ****, *** had ******** ** ***** ratios ** *:* ** better (*.*. *** ***** one ***** ******** **** had ******** ******** **********). So ***** ********* *** much better **** ******* *** Pelco, *** ********** ******* show integration ************ **** ********* is ***** *** ****** many ***********.

** *** ******** ****, Hikvision ******* ******** / DoAs **** **** ******* **** ***********, with **** *** ********** issues ** **** ****, which ** ** ********* plus *********** *** **** of *** **** ******** generally. ********, **** **** the **** ***** ***********, Hikvision ***** ****** * tremendous ***** ********* **** Axis, ****, *********, ***., that *** ******* *********'* selection.

*** **** ****** ********* were * ******* ** product *********** ******:

  • "********* - **** ** features ****** ** *** side ** *** *** but *** ***** ******* all *****-********* **** *********."
  • "********* *******, **'* ***** hard ** *** *** correct **** ***** *** position ***** ************."
  • "********* ********* ******* ****** detection ********** **** ******** insensitive"
  • "*********. * **** *** cameras (**** *****) ** the **** **** ***** the **** **********. *** every ****** **** ********* picture **** *** **** settings. **** *** *** doesn't ***** *******."
  • "********* ***** ** *** functioning ********. ** ***** to *** **, *** sometimes ********* ****** ** because *** **** ******** it *****."

************, * ****** ** integrators ***** ******* ********:

  • "*********. **** ******* *** security ******** **** *** manufacturer"
  • "*** ******. ***** ***** but **** **** ** tech *******."
  • "*********. ****** *** *** acting ******** *** *********'* tech ******* *** ** help ** ***. *** made ** ***** ** replacing *** ******. *** after ******* ***** ** the ****, *** ****** was ****."

*** * *** ********* integration **********: 

  • "** **** ****** ** test *** **** *** cameras *** *** ** go ******* * ********* people ** *** *** gave ** ** ***** 2 ********* ****** ********* to **** **** ******* and **** ***** *** problems."
  • "********* *** *********** **** the *** *** ******** and ******* **** ********* was ****** **** *** and *** * **-** hour ***** *** ***** question/step"

*******, *** ****** ******* to **** ****'* ****-******* upgrade, * ****** ** integrators ********* ****** ****** connecting ** ***** ********* devices:

  • "*********. ****** ** ****/******* cameras."
  • "********* ***** ****** ******** is * **** **** the ******* **** ***** with ********* **** ******, it *** **** *** camera **** *** **** to **** **** ** hour **** *** *** default ** ***.***.*.** ** stupid ** **** ******* to ** *** ***** address ***** ** * the router ** *****'* ****** a ********. ** *** better **** ** *** 192.0.0.64 *** * ***** some ***** ********* **** dont **** *** ** change * ****** ** out ***** ** *** thought ** **** ** change **."
  • "********* ********* ***** ****-***** security **** ** ******* password ******** **** *** first *** **** * camera... ************* ** *** a *** ****** ******* introducing **** *******, *** updating **** ** ******* it, ******* ********* *****/**** 2.x *** ****** **** as * ******; *** still *** ** ********* a ** ** *** default ******, ******* ** the ******* **, *** set * ********. **** also ******* *** ******* IP **** ***.*.*.** ** 192.168.1.64 **** *** ***** firmware, *** ***** *** fired ** *** ****** and ***** ** **** SADP, ***** *** ** way ** **** ***** it ***. ******* ****** were ****** ** *** fact *** ** *** major **** **** *** 192.168.1.x ** ***** ******* by *******. *** *******, our ******** *** ******** to *****/***** *** ********* cameras, *** **** *** newer ********, **** ********* password ******** ****** *** camera ** **** *** logins *** **** ** hour, ** *** **** to ** ******* *** to *** * ****** to ** ***** *** know ***** ******* ** is, *** ** **'* the ***** ********, ******** the *** ** *** your ****** ******** ** that *******... *** **** SADP *.* *** *** set *** ******* ********, and ***** ******* **** "Unactivated" ***** *** *** a ******** ** ****"

**** *** ********* **** brought ** ******** ** an **** **********:********* *** *** **** Of ***** ***** *******. Plug *** **** ***** Perhaps **** *** ******** 

*******

******, ******* ******** ***** a ****** ** ***** responses. *******, **** ******** moderately **** ********* *** the ***** ****** ** complaints ** ****-******. **** fell **** *** ******* categories.

******** ******** ** ******* performance / ******* ******:

  • "******* ******* ** **********. Many ********* ***** ******** from *** ***."
  • "******* - ******* **** to ** ********** ** order ** ******* * cable *** ******* ****."
  • "******* ****** ***** ** environment *********."
  •  "******* - *** ****** and ********* ******* *** thing --- *** *** camera "******" *****'* **** that ********** ** *******. one ******* - **** ONVIF ** *** *** cut *****. ***** *** get ** ** ****, (FYI * *** ** ONVIF ******* *** ******* said **** *** **** to **** *******) **** comes ** ***** - samsung ********* **** *** "working ** *****" ****** be *** ****...?.. *** late *** ** *** the ********."
  • "******* - ******* *****. IR ********** *** ******* on *** ****** ** purchased."

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

  • "******* - ** **** almost * ***** ** resolve * ******* ***** that ****** **** **** covered ***** ********. ** had ** ** **** moisture ** *** ***** that *** ******* ** on *** ****. **** all **** *** **** they **** ******** *** moisture ****, *** **** honor *** ******** ** the ****** **** ****."
  • "*******, * *** ** install *** * ****** with ***** ********* *** locked *** ** *** unit *** ***** ** the *** ** ******* for *** ****** ***** call **** *******."
  • "******* ... **** *************, poor *******, **** **** their *** *******. **** have **** *** ************ model (**** **** *** from ******** ************ ******* being ** ********** **** dealer)and ***** **** ******* has **** ********."
  • "*******, **** * ******* disappointment **** ******** *** followup."

*********?

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

Comments (17)

Henk Heijmink

01/27/16 03:21pm

If you just ask the question "In the past year, what camera manufacturer have you had the worst experience with? What happened?", does that statistically mean anything if you don't know the market share of each brand?

For instance, if ALL respondents use Arecont, they are likely to get more bad reports than a horrible camera of some obscure brand that only 2 or 3 respondents use.

Compare: If you ask 1000 people about problems with their car, you may get 50 people complaining about Volkswagen, and 2 people complaining about a LADA. Does that mean a LADA is a better car. I doubt it..

I hope more parameters were taken into account with this poll.

Kind regards

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Henk Heijmink | 01/27/16 03:30pm

That's why we factor in the ratio of favorite to worst responses. We asked both questions and compared the results. This allows us to balance for companies with more usage (i.e., not simply say Volkswagen is bad because they get 50 complaints when they get 200 positive selections).

We omit camera companies with very low integrator usage. For example, Brickcom might be great or terrible but since not enough integrators respond either way, they are excluded.

Henk Heijmink

In reply to John Honovich | 01/27/16 03:39pm

Thanks for your clarification. I'm glad there is more nuance that just asking the question "What camera manufacturer have you had the worst experience with?"

In general, when it comes to 'naming and shaming', I think it must be completely clear and transparent how data was gathered.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Henk Heijmink | 01/27/16 03:43pm

150 IPVM integrator members answered a 20 question open-ended survey answering a variety of questions on cameras, analytics, VMSes, VSaaS, etc. Each integrator disclosed to us who they were. We do not disclose the names behind any individual response / comment made to keep the integrator from any retribution from the manufacturer.

Michael Goodwin

In reply to John Honovich | 01/28/16 05:08am
why do people have issues where SADP won't detect/change the Hik's IP's even though they are not on the same IP range... mine will auto detect them even though they are not on the same IP range I'm on... why are people also not prepping camera's on a stand alone switch prior to throwing them into the production environment, a lot of these type of responses sound like "I don't know what I'm doing so I'll complain"

Undisclosed End User #6

In reply to Michael Goodwin | 04/16/16 01:40am

well said - upon my first attempt to put a Hik cam on a test server setup i found the security "feature" which locked out the IP that was trying to access the camera without the proper password already setup. it was easy to then access the cam from the PC i first used to disable the "feature" & setup the cam on the server & then re-enable the "feature." Hik documentation may suck to explain this, but one time having to troubleshoot will teach you to do what Mr Goodwin describes.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to John Honovich | 01/28/16 02:03pm

John

May I inquire which regions these 150 IPVM integrator member are from?
What would the rough split be between the different regions?

Thanks

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 01/28/16 02:37pm

Sure, ~70% North America / ~30% outside North America

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to John Honovich | 01/28/16 03:22pm

Thank you.

Can 30% be split more?
I'm particularly interested in European portion.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

01/27/16 03:47pm

For a while I thought Samsung was climbing up to the top, but ever since they were acquired by Hanwha it has not been the same. We have noticed the level of product knowledge and support has changed. You can see the gradual decline of the level of support.

They are hiding behind the Samsung brand, trying to hide the fact that they are no longer Samsung, but they are Hanwha Techwin.

I think as a Samsung Techwin product dealer, we should be aware what the ultimate brand will be at the end of the day. Certainly the quality of the product and the support has gone from above average to below.

I noticed that their email address changed too, but kind of deceiving manner. @samsungsecurity.com and their consumer line posing as Samsung by adding sv at the end, samsungsv.com.

Maybe IPVM can get more answers from Hanwha Techwin.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 01/27/16 04:02pm

I do not know what impact Hanwha has had on Techwin surveillance products or support. I have not seen or heard of big changes yet but maybe it has not surfaced.

As for answers from Hanwha Techwin, the email addresses did change and the Samsung brand is gone in Korea but Hanwha Techwin says they can continue to use it in surveillance 'overseas'. What they refuse to clarify is for how long, simply saying "it is our decision to keep the brand name for years to come." I would be surprised if they are not forced to drop the Samsung brand in a few years but we will have to wait and see.

Tom Sorrell

01/29/16 02:16am

Great summary - very interesting. Thanks.

sam Kay

01/30/16 08:13am

[Note: Poster is a Hikvision Employee]

i just don't understand , what is it with IPVM and HIKVISON. i never saw a good report about this company , all IPVM do is give the bad image about them, given the fact that HIKVISION Products are always standing out for themselves, and give a perfect result, in most of the Projects. small or big. they can not be bad, and be number 1 manufacture in the world, for many years, if the performance is bad many others will lead the market, people don't care about the price if the product is not stable and does not give good results.

Michael Goodwin

In reply to sam Kay | 01/31/16 09:15am

Neither, but then they make it pretty obvious so you just take everything they power with a large grain of salt...

BTW do you know if there is a 12mp (4x3k) EXIR cam in the works? at the moment we're stuck buying Dahua :|

Undisclosed #5

In reply to Michael Goodwin | 01/31/16 06:31pm

If you're anywhere but North America, you can look at the Ds2CD40C5F:

otherwise you may have to wait for the EZ-viz model. ;)

Undisclosed Integrator #4

01/31/16 04:55pm

Great Job John ,

We try different camera manufacturers all the time , see how they perform on a job by job basis, if they do, we try others, if not we see why not and do not go on with them, we read all the write up's and review for a period of time to see if the stand the time test and not just snap reactions to reviews

Certain manufacturers have not adapted to a strict set of standards so we don't use or support them.

We treat surveys just like they are surveys, not facts, likes, dislikes per company or manufacturer.

Because our next job is based on reputation, not sales we don't take a lot of chances on company's that buy other company's and resale their products as the same product under a new name.

Even if the company is on the worst list , we look at all the facts 1st. still like some of their products as they perform.

Products, time as a company, experience in industry, background as a company and many more items to verify they stand the test of time and stability

A lot of the cameras on the worst list we have tried , they are still in operation today and no problems , they are not the latest greatest , but the don't or have not failed yet. and others are pieces of junk and would not recommend , costco, walmart grade .

Still some of the cameras are great , the company's on the list are still great in certain areas as they still perform to standard.

pelco, panasonic, axis, arecont, Hikvision all have great products and should be given credit for that.

like any survey , if you give a survey it is always biased to the people, place, demographics of that area or country.

My concern is not the list , but the same junk , under new name, and package sold as the latest greatest, and sold by some salesman who does not know the cameras from walmart from the high end camera from axis,arecont,panasonic, pelco. Just selling products ( just phone salesman) with a great line.

Undisclosed Integrator #7

06/16/16 01:50am

As far as Hikvision support in the last 8 months that we have called, I have always found support it good. Most of the time support answers quick and they usually get the issue resolved. Some tech support agents are not a sharp as others but I feel they get the job done.

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