At this speed, our subject is a complete blur, almost unrecognizable as human. Pelco's budget Sarix model, the IL10, defaults to 1/5s shutter speed, which the refer to as 'multi-frame exposure' in firmware. Note that the M3006 and M3007 defaults to 1/15s shutter speed. Changing exposure to 1/30s, the image darkens and noise increases greatly, but some details of the subject such as clothing and hair style may be made out. At this setting, our subject is a severely blurred and can barely be seen. The Axis M3004 and M3005 both use an exposure setting called 'default', which equates to 1/4 second shutter. Changing shutter speed to 1/30s, the image dims slightly, but blur is eliminated, providing rough facial details.Ĭontrast to the 5MP version, where the problem is even worse: Worse, additional modes slow the shutter further, all the way down to a full one second when using 'moonlight' mode.Īt 1/5s shutter speed, images are moderately brighter in the AV3116, though no details of our moving subject are available due to motion blur. At 1/30s, the chart becomes difficult to read and our test subject is difficult to detect.Īrecont defaults to an exposure mode simply named 'balanced', with no indication of what shutter speed it actually is (1/5s). In the D11 comparison below, we can see our subject is a blur using this speed. Most ACTi cameras default to 1/5s slow shutter. Here's an Arecont camera, showing the tradeoff: In the far right, is a moving person with slow shutter OFF.In the center right, is a stationary person with slow shutter OFF.In the center left, is a moving person with slow shutter on.

On the far left, is a stationary person with slow shutter on.We tested 6 manufacturers using a comparative approach: This is a huge deal as the cameras on the slower end (i.e., 1/4s) are taking in 750% more light than the ones of the higher end. Manufacturer's default slow shutter setting typically ranges from 1/4s to 1/30s and are often given fancy marketing terms to obscure what they are doing.

Only later when it is put in production and cars or people pass by, do they notice the issue. They do this because they correctly assume that most users will 'test' by pointing their cameras at a wall and judge performance by how bright the image is. Many manufacturers default their cameras to go to a shutter speed that is too slow to capture moving objects without creating blur/ghosting effects. Your first impression of an IP camera's performance in low light is frequently wrong.

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