Learn video surveillance and get certified. IPVM provides live online classes, recorded videos, personal help, cutting edge education and certification. We have substantially rewritten the course and training materials for 2017 to reflect new de...
By Brian Rhodes - 1 day ago
How far have IP cameras come? We bought and tested 4 cameras across the past 15 years to understand how much and where performance has improved. For consistency across the long time frame, we bought these 4 Axis cameras: Axis 2100: ~2002, ...
By Ethan Ace - 5 days ago
12MP sensor fisheye panoramic cameras are becoming increasingly common. We have tested Hikvision's DS-2CD63C2F as well as Panasonic's SFV481 4K panoramic. Now, we bought and tested the Hanwha / Samsung PNF-9010R fisheye camera against those two ...
By John Scanlan - 17 days ago
Axis has lagged offering low cost IR cameras while their Asian competitors have made IR standard even in their most entry level cameras. Recently, Axis has added the M2025-LVE, a 1080p outdoor, integrated IR camera that sells online for $300 or l...
By John Scanlan - about 1 month ago
IPVM bought and tested the lowest-cost WiseNet X model, the indoor 2MP fixed focal XND-6010 dome, continuing our testing of Hanwha's new WiseNet X line. We shot out the 6010 against competitive low-cost fixed focal models from Axis and Hikvision ...
By John Scanlan - about 1 month ago
Pelco has released generation 3 of its Surevision cameras, claiming improved performance in both super low light and WDR performance. We bought and tested the 1080p Pelco IME229 against competitive models from Axis, Hikvision, Hanwha, and Panason...
By John Scanlan - about 1 month ago
Hanwha has released their latest generation, the Wisenet X series, powered by their new Wisenet 5 processor. This new series claims improvements to low light, WDR, compression/bitrates, and image stabilization. To see how the X series performs, w...
By Ethan Ace - 2 months ago
"We're #3," in China says Uniview (UNV). While the company significantly trails Hikvision and Dahua in total sales, one notable difference is that Uniview is owned by Bain Capital, the American investment firm. In the past few years, Uniview, has...
By Ethan Ace - 3 months ago
Arecont Vision is back with another multi-head camera, this time thinking smaller with the MicroDome Duo, a two-imager model, with the tagline "Look both ways for hallway surveillance", a form factor rarely seen in surveillance. However, given ...
By John Scanlan - 3 months ago
Panasonic has released their latest generation, the i-Pro Extreme series, with enhanced compression (smart H.265) enhanced WDR and secure communication. We tested their Extreme series vandal dome, the WV-S2531L against their previous generation S...
By Ethan Ace - 4 months ago
Multi-exposure WDR was once only available in expensive cameras but in the past few years, this capability has become available even in sub $200 cameras. But is the multi-exposure WDR in low cost cameras just as good as more expensive ones or is ...
By Ethan Ace - 4 months ago
Samsung is gone but Hanwha is back. Their latest generation Wisenet X, touts a slew of new high end features including H.265, WiseStream II, gyroscopic stabilization, audio analytics, and more. See their marketing video: Inside, we take a look...
By Ethan Ace - 4 months ago
This report concisely explains the developments and most common options for surveillance cameras offered in 2017, including resolution, H.265, HD analog, image quality, video analytics and cost. Compared to surveillance camera developments in 201...
By John Honovich - 5 months ago
Calculating surveillance bandwidth is complex, and inexperienced users can easily underestimate bandwidth, leading to reduced storage durations and/or overloaded networks. The most common way technicians estimate storage is to use manufacturer or...
By IPVM Team - 5 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 - 5 months ago
Understanding wide dynamic range (WDR) is critical to capturing high quality images in demanding conditions. However, with no real standards, any manufacturer can claim WDR, and many do even if actual performance is weak, causing confusion for eve...
By IPVM Team - 5 months ago
For years, HD resolution was IP camera's greatest advantage. However, starting in 2013, analog cameras with HD resolution started shipping and, now, just a few years later, HD analog has become a significant force in the video surveillance indust...
By IPVM Team - 5 months ago
Bandwidth is one of the most fundamental, complex and overlooked aspects of video surveillance. Many simply assume it is a linear function of resolution and frame rate. Not only is that wrong, it misses a number of other critical elements and fai...
By Ethan Ace - 5 months ago
Understanding video surveillance resolution can be surprisingly difficult and complex. While the word 'resolution' seems self-explanatory, its use in surveillance is far from it. In this tutorial, we will explain 5 critical elements: What resol...
By John Honovich - 5 months ago
For many, even $100 cameras are too expensive. That is where spam king Longse comes in with their relentless offer of ~$20 cameras. In our past tests, Longse was no match for Hikvision or Dahua, with numerous quality flaws. But with cameras advan...
By Ethan Ace - 6 months ago
A few years ago, analog was SD only. In the past few years, HD analog, up to 1080p, has become commonplace. Now, HD analog is doubling its max resolution to 4MP. We bought and tested two of Dahua's new 4MP CVI 3.0 cameras, the A43AG23 turret/ey...
By Ethan Ace - 7 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 - 7 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 - 7 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 - 8 months ago
The most competitive part of the market is for low-cost cameras. Hanwha Techwin / Samsung has released its new low-cost Q series to go after this segment. We bought two of these new Wisenet Q models and tested them against competitive domes from...
By John Scanlan - 8 months ago
