Sony has released their latest generation, claiming improved WDR and low light, increased IR range, and more. We tested the SNC-EM642R outdoor IR vandal dome to see how these new models stack up against the latest from others, including: Axis P...
By IPVM Team - 2 days ago
Axis has been touting its new Q6155-E laser focus PTZ as 'always in focus' and 'always in color'. Does it really deliver? We bought and tested the Q6155-E to see how laser focus worked and whether this "flawless focus" was all marketing hype or ...
By Ethan Ace - 6 days ago
RFPs are hard. Do them 'right' and it takes a lot of knowledge and time. Do them 'wrong' and you can be (a) unwittingly locked into a specific vendor or (b) be forced to accept inferior quality products. This guide helps IP camera purchasers ...
By IPVM Team - 6 days ago
Infrared (IR) has become an increasing core component to video surveillance systems. In particular, the expansion of integrated IR cameras that build IR illuminators within the camera has become common. On the positive side, this means that camer...
By IPVM Team - 20 days ago
Continuing our tests of Hikvision's new low cost Value Plus line, we bought and tested the 3MP DS-2CD2035FWD-I, now including H.265+. We shot the camera versus competitive models from Axis (M2025) and Hanwha (Wisenet Q) as well as Hikvision's pas...
By John Scanlan - 27 days ago
Uniview is offering a HD zoom bullet camera, the IPC742SR9-PZ30-32G, with an integrated pan / tilt positioner, for the price of a low-cost bullet. This demo shows the camera panning and tilting through just part of its range: We bought this ca...
By Ethan Ace - 2 months ago
Bluebeam Revu is a construction design markup tool that claims it is "used by 94% of top US contractors", but what role does it have for physical security professionals? In this report, we share our tested findings of Bluebeam Revu, including 2...
By Brian Rhodes - 2 months ago
Hanwha is keeping the Samsung brand alive in consumer cameras with the SmartCam A1, a new offering combining an autotracking 1080p camera with base station and totally wireless, battery operated cameras. We bought and tested the A1 to see how it ...
By John Scanlan - 3 months ago
Camera resolution continues to advance, with Digital Watchdog offering the MegaPIX PANO 48MP 180° camera, the highest resolution mainstream camera available, outside of $10,000+ specialty cameras (such as Dallmeier's Panomera). But, with this hig...
By Ethan Ace - 3 months ago
Purpose-built wall mount panoramics have become an attractive niche to cover entranceways. In 2013, we bought and tested Vivotek's 1MP version. Now, Vivotek has released a 3MP version, the CC8370-HV with IP66 and IK10 ratings, and "anti-ligature"...
By Ethan Ace - 6 months ago
Hikvision has entered the multi-imager market with their 180° PanoVu DS-2CD6986F-H, an 8MP, 4-imager model equipped with ~1/1.8" imagers and Hikvision's Darkfighter super low light capabilities. We bought the Hikvision DS-2CD6986F-H and tested it...
By Ethan Ace - 6 months ago
Axis continues to expand in the multi imager market, adding to a segment started with the 33MP Q3709. We bought the Q3708-PVE and tested it against: Hikvision PanoVu DS-2CD6986F-H (Separate test report to be released later this week) Pelco O...
By Ethan Ace - 6 months ago
Avigilon is best known for their large sensor, high megapixel cameras. But with new offerings from Sony and soon Axis, the questions is how well their H4 Pro Series can keep up with competitors. In this report, we tested the Avigilon 4K Pro (8L-H...
By Ethan Ace - 8 months ago
Pixels per foot / Pixels per meter is the most fundamental and valuable, though imperfect, metric for specifying video surveillance image quality. In a single number, this metric (e.g., 10ppf, 40ppf, 100ppf) conveys important information about wh...
By IPVM Team - 8 months ago
Hanwha Techwin (formerly Samsung) continues their push into H.265 cameras, now with the high-end P series, including 4K resolution and smart codec. We tested their high end bullet model, the PNO-9080R against Axis, Dahua and Hikvision 4K bullet a...
By Ethan Ace - 9 months ago
The 4MP trend continues, now with Hanwha Techwin / Samsung in their latest Wisenet Q series. We bought one of these models, the QNV-7080R, to see how it stacks up against 4MP competitors from Axis and Hikvision in full light, low light (below), W...
By Ethan Ace - 10 months ago
Sony is making a big push for their SNCVB770 camera, touting its low light capabilities that they claim can deliver true color in pitch black darkness. While the 'super low' light market segment is definitely growing, Sony's SNCVB770 has a dramat...
By Ethan Ace - 10 months ago
Bosch has released their first 'Starlight' 1080p camera, the Flexidome IP starlight 7000 VR. We tested this new dome against competitive super low light models from Axis ('LightFinder') and Hikvision ('DarkFighter'), as well as Bosch's existing 1...
By Ethan Ace - 10 months ago
Pan/Tilt/Zoom cameras remain critical parts of many surveillance systems, especially in large security operations. Because of this it is important to understand and consider the key elements in selecting and using PTZ cameras. In this guide we co...
By Ethan Ace - 11 months ago
Hikvision is the most common choice for low price entry level products but they are also competing with low light models, smart CODECs, WDR cameras, and more. In this report, we focus on the growing 4K segment, testing the Hikvision DS-2CD4585F-I...
By Ethan Ace - 12 months ago
Panoramic cameras, including fisheyes and multi-imagers, have become increasingly widespread, with most manufacturers offering fisheyes and an increasing number offering multi-imagers. However, with many options, it can be confusing to understand...
By Ethan Ace - 12 months ago
A key weakness of multi-imager cameras is poor low light. While integrated IR has become dominant in cameras overall, it is still uncommon in multi-imager cameras. But now, Vivotek has released the MS8391-EV, a 12MP multi imager model touting 30...
By Ethan Ace - about 1 year ago
In our initial testing of Pelco's Optera multi-imager, the main issue was their ONVIF 'bowtie' video streaming which undermined third party integration. Now, Pelco has released new firmware that they say fixes this problem with what they call 't...
By Ethan Ace - about 1 year ago
Panoramic cameras are almost always ceiling mounted, looking down for a general overview of the scene, but is this really the best location, or can wall mounting provide similar or better details and overview? To find out, we shot out panoramic c...
By Ethan Ace - about 1 year ago
Is bigger better? In the past decade, the surveillance industry has moved from 0.3MP to 1MP to 2MP to 3MP to 5MP to 4K (8.3MP), etc. But there are even higher resolution cameras above that. This report covers selling those super high resolution ...
By IPVM Team - about 1 year ago
