GW Security GW8555-MIP 4k Security Camera vs Lorex

GW8555MIP is one of 4k Security Cameras introduced by GW Security. This product is designed with bullet model in addition of GW Security GW8571 4k security camera with dome model. There are couples of competing product such as Lorex LNB8973BW. We’ll show you head to head spec comparison table between the two products.

What this product does

Like the first 4k security camera offered by GW Security gw8571 dome model with 3.3~12.0mm varifocal lens, GW8555mip is also designed with the same 3.3~12.0mm varifocal lens providing around 3~4 optical zoom. The optical zoom is motorized instead of manual zoom adjustment, this is to allow you to customize the view angle by software.

GW security gw5555mip Bulet 4k Camera

GW8555-mip vs GW8571-mip

The apparent difference is the model’s design, the bullet vs the dome. Normally dome model offers wider view angle compared with the bullet model camera, however both GW security cameras offers  the same varifocal lens ranging 3.3~12 mm providing up to 3.6x motorized optical zoom and the same variations of view angle ranging from 22~115 degree view angle.

Audio

GW8555-mip offers audio interface ports both Input and Output as well as alarm In Out, but GW8571 doesn’t. 

Both models of GW 4k Security cameras are IP66 and IK10 vandal resistant, ideal for outdoor placement like other business grade outdoor cameras like Lorex or Amcrest.

Highlights

• 4k / 8mp (3840 x 2160) recording resolution @30 fps
• Varifocal lens 3.3~12.0 mm with Progressive Scan Starvis Back-illuminated Sensor
• 3.6x motorized optical zoom lens
• Varifocal Field of view angle ranging from 22° to 115°
• H.265 compression format
• 40pcs IR LEDs illuminating darkness up to 145ft (45m) with IR reflection design
• Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) & WDR (wide dynamic range)
• Onvif and P2P technology
• POE and optional non-POE power
• Two way audio interface and alarm In/Out
• IP66 weatherproof and IK10 vandal resistant   

Both GW Security 4k security cameras are tagged with the same price around $299.99. can this product compete with other similar products in the market including Lorex, Hikvision or Amcrest?

GW Security vs Lorex

Let’s take one of high grade security cameras offered by Lorex – Lorex LNB8973 4k security camera which is designed with bullet model in additions of dome model like LNB8974 turret dome 4k security camera.

For business grade cameras, both GW Security GW8555 and Lorex LNB8973 are ideal solution to support your business need, monitoring more detail, large area to cover with sharper and larger image results.

Lorex lnb8673

Lens

Technically both GW Security and Lorex offer similar varifocal lens with slightly different range of focal length and providing nearly equal optical zoom, motorized zoom lens. however, GW8555 offers higher frame rate 8mp @30 fps instead of Lorex with 8mp @15fps (only up to 2k @ 30fps).

Zoom

With slightly longer focal length variation between 2.7 ~ 12 mm focal length, Lorex offers 4x optical motorized zoom compared with only up to 3.6x optical motorized zoom by GW Security. moreover, Lorex add another 16x digital zoom in addition of optical zoom. If 4x optical zoom is not enough, you may choose other more optical zoom cameras such as Amcrest ip2m-853 with 12x optical zoom, or Imporx with 30x optical zoom.

Night vision

Another benefit what Lorex offers is the CNV (color night vision) technology applied to lnb8973 camera like other Lorex high end security cameras which allows you to view color night vision instead of black and white view in ambient light. However, in full darkness it shifts to black and white video view like normally other night vision cameras.

Have a look more detail to spec comparison table between GW Security and Lorex  

Table 1 GW Security vs Lorex

Model	GW Security GW8555	Lorex LNB8973
Camera lens	Built-in 3.3~12mm varifocal lens	2.7~12mm varifocal lens with Sony Exmor R™ CMOS front illuminated image sensor
Recording resolution	8mp /4k (3840x2160) @30 fps	8mp / 4K (3840×2160) @ 15fps 4mp / 2K (2560x1920) @ 30 fps
Zoom	3.6x optical motorized zoom	4x optical motorized Zoom; 16x digital Zoom
FOV ranging	115 degree (wide) ~ 22 degree (Tele) degree view angle	102 degree (wide) ~39 (Tele) degree view angle
Compression format	H.265; H.264	H.265, H.264
Day & Night	Yes, 40pcs IR LEDs range up to 145ft (44m)	Yes, CNV (color night vision) technology in ambient light ~175 ft and up to 250 ft in full darkness
Storage	No local memory storage; NVR storage	Store to connected NVR storage, local memory storage is N/A
POE	Yes, also available for non-POE power interface	Yes, 12V DC 802.3af
Audio	Yes, In-Out interface and In-Out alarm	N/A
Onvif	Yes	Yes
Outdoor support	IP66 weatherproof and IK10 vandal resistant	Yes, IP67 weatherproof housing with aerospace-grade aluminum housing
Price (Aug 2018 Amazon)	$299.00	$227.99

 
GW Security offers faster frame rate, real time video stream @4k resolution compared with Lorex. While Lorex offers color night vision in ambient light. Choose one of them which one is best suited to your business need. See more spec and manufacturer’s details below, current price and rating in Amazon.

See also Amcrest ip8m-t2499 turret model camera

Amcrest IP8M-T2499EW 4k Security Camera

Amcrest introduces various models of 4k security camera ranging from bullet models, dome or PTZ models and of its newly launched model is Amcrest IP8M-T2499EW 8MP (4k) security camera with Turret model in a challenge of similar product have been in the market for a while such as Lorex LNE8964ab or Hikvision.

What this product does

Unlike PTZ camera which allows you to control the position of view angle by panning in horizontal direction, the turret model camera allows you to adjust the view angle position manually by turning it to point to the view angle position you need. And the view angle is fixed to point to the desired area to cover. Should this model of camera doesn’t fit to your need, you should consider PTZ outdoor camera which is controllable via the app for panning and tilting capability.

Amcrest ip8m-t2499ew turret model 4k camera

You may also like the high resolution 4k PTZ security camera such as Samsung, USG 4k PTZ camera or Hikvision.  

Sharp image quality

Amcrest IP8M-T2499EW is designed with solid aluminum metal based housing with IP67 rated weatherproof. It comes with high resolution 8MP CMOS 1/2.5” IMX274 Sony Starvis progressive image sensor and S3LM Ambarella Chipset, which features superb image quality even in low light condition.

It provides you 4k resolution @15 frame per second (fps), and for higher speed you may use 3k resolution @30fps real time rate.  

Great night vision

Generally you see that night vision cameras come with bunch of red glowing infrared IR LEDs which is easy to notice that the camera is installed within the area. But Amcrest IP8M-T2499EW turret model camera comes with one powerful IR LED illuminating up to 165ft distance at night.   

The video footage recording is black and white, when you prefer color night vision you may consider Lorex lines of CNV outdoor cameras such as Lorex LNE8964ab Turret model camera, however this camera is more expensive, nearly as much twice as the price of Amcrest turret camera.

Highlights

Sharp and high resolution up to 8.0MP (aka 4k) @15fps, or 3.0MP resolution @30 fps.

• For lower latency, this camera supports H.265 compression format
• Comes with built-in IMX274 Sony Starvis image sensor and S3LM Ambarella Chipset to enhance low light capability
• WDR ~120dB
• Night vision support with 1pcs powerful IR LED range up to 164 ft distance
• Comes with built-in Microphone for one way audio
• POE support
• Storage to PC, NAS Local, and MicroSD Card (Up to 128GB).
• IP67 weatherproof and solid metal aluminum based housing 
• Fixed lens 2.8mm with 112 degree wide view angle

Cons

• 4k @15 fps, not as fast as 4k @30fps
• Manual adjustment of view angle

Amcrest IP8M-T2499EW is tagged with lower price compared with other similar models, sharp image quality even in low light condition and featuring Wide Dynamic Range up to 120dB.

For coaxial cable infrastructure already in place you may like to upgrade your aging DVR system with Amcrest 16 channel DVR system kit which includes 8 4k analog cameras. Or upgrade your lower resolution camera system with 4k security camera systems such as Lorex or Hikvision 4k security camera system kits.  

Amcrest AMDV8M16-H5 16 Channel DVR System Kits

Many people still prefer DVR (digital video recorder) system rather than NVR (network video recording) system in connecting cameras to the recording unit. The good thing with DVR is the longer distance you can run the medium cable from the camera to the recording unit. Amcrest offers DVR 4k system kit AMDV8M16-H5 consists of 16 channel 4k DVR system plus 8pcs 4k analog cameras.

Amcrest AMDV8M16-H5

With DVR, you need to use coaxial cable to run from the analog camera to the DVR unit up to 500m. and with Amcrest AMDV8M16-H5 you can run as long as maximum up to 700m (2,300ft) with Auto Signal Compensation (ASC) technology for reliable data transmission from the analog camera to the recording unit.

You can compare with NVR system which uses CAT5e / CAT6 network cable and the maximum length you can run from the IP camera to the recording (NVR) unit is up to 300 ft(100m) except you add another extending Ethernet (POE) switch at different location. The distance between POE switches I the same up to 300ft.

4k Recording

In the recent years we can find lots of IP camera with 4k resolution (up to 8.0megapixels) and NVR units that can support 4k resolution too. Now, Amcrest offered analog system which supports 4k resolution both the recording unit and the analog cameras.

Amcrest AMDV8M16-H5 support up to 4k resolution with 16 channel BNC connection to allow you connect up to 4k resolution analog cameras. This surveillance bundle the 16 Channel DVR system plus 8pcs HDCVI cameras with 4k resolution @15 fps. However, the recording can support only up to 4k recording resolution @7 fps.

For industrial plants, warehouses, and offices this AmcrestAMDV8M16-H5 16 channel DVR system kit is appropriate with frame rate up to 7fps. For faster frame rate speed you may consider NVR system such a Amcrest 16 channel 4k security camera system kit.

However, if you still don’t have UTP network cabling system in place, Amcrest DVR system is preference with coaxial cable system up to 700m length between camera to the recording unit (DVR).

Highlights

1. 16 channel Digital Video Recording (DVR) system with built-in 16-BNC ports
2. Supports Recording resolution up to 4K (3840x2160P) @7fps each BNC port
3. Can support long distance coaxial cable between camera and DVR unit up to 2,300ft (700m) using Auto Signal Compensation (ASC) technology
4. Pentabrid Technology Supports: HD-CVI, AHD, TVI, CVBS, and IP
5. Support QR Code scan for Easy to setup
6. Comes with 2TB Hard disk (you can install up to 10TB)
7. Includes 8pcs 8.0megapixel (4k) resolution @15 fps HDCVI cameras, 87 degree view angle and 12x IR LEDs night vision support
8. DORI distance Detect up to 208 feet away, Observe up to 83 feet away, Recognize up to 42 feet away and Identify up to 21 feet away
9. IP67 weatherproof with heavy duty plastic housing ideal for outdoor

Cons

1. Since it is analog technology, this system doesn’t support compression format, you require more disk storage space to record video footage
2. Cameras don’t support motion detection

For NVR system that requires PTZ camera you may like one of best POE PTZ cameras with outdoor feature. Or you may also consider high resolution 4k PTZ outdoor cameras including USG and Samsung.

USG 4k Outdoor PTZ Camera

Monitoring a large area such as warehouse yard, parking area, airport and others you need very detail image quality with very close zooming in capability. 1080p resolution camera with 5x optical zoom feature might not be appropriate for those purposes. You may consider 4k Outdoor PTZ security camera with large number of optical zoom feature. USG offers you 4k PTZ camera with 22x optical zoom.

What this product does

USG business grade PTZ outdoor POE camera offers super high resolution PTZ camera up to 12MP resolution @20 fps (frame per second) with built-in Sony IMX226 Chip Image Sensor. You can capture object as long as 1000ft sharply and compressed the distance clearly with more detail considering the feature of 22x optical zoom lens ranging from 6.5~146mm varifocal lens.

Night vision

This USG 4k PTZ outdoor camera is capable of recording at night with its night vision with built-in 10pcs high  power IR LEDs to illuminate up to 1000ft distance clearly and sharply, you can use 12Mp resolution @20 fps or 4k (8MP) resolution @30 fps. Feel confident with image detail to show you license plate and face clearly.

USG 4k PTZ Outdoor Camera

USG 4k PTZ outdoor camera is ideal for high resolution demand of business monitoring need such as warehouse yard, parking area, airport and so on.

Highlights

1. High resolution PTZ camera up to 12MP @20 fps, 4k @30 fps
2. 22x optical zoom range 56.7~3.07 degree vield of view angle
3. Support H.265 efficient compression format
4. Built-in 1/1.7 inch Sony IMX226 Chip image sensor
5. Varifocal lens 6.5mm~146mm with motorized auto focus zoom
6. Comes with image stabilization
7. Night vision with 10x IR LEDs range up to 1,000ft distance
8. Day and night vision with 3D DNR and super WDR
9. IP66 weatherproof and 4x NEMA rated vandal resistance
10. P2P 2.4 technology and Onvif
11. 360 degree endless panning and tilting with 300 degree / second speed
12. ESD protection against lightening and power surges
13. POE supports 

The price is actually costly, it is tagged around $1,100 in Amazon with the above high performance camera and rich feature lists.

However, this price is only one third as expensive as similar 4k PTZ camera introduced by Samsung, the Samsung Hanwha PNP-9200RH 4k outdoor PTZ camera with 20x optical zoom.

If you compare with USG, Samsung Hanwha PNP-9200RH comes with 4k resolution @30 fps with motorized 20x optical zoom and 16x digital zoom. The good thing is that this Samsung PTZ camera offers faster panning speed up to 400 degree / second compared with USG which is only up to 300 degree /second.

See also best PTZ outdoor camera in the market for homes or businesses such as Ventech, Amcrest or Lorex.      

Best PTZ POE Outdoor Cameras

PTZ stands for panning tilting and zooming, meaning the security camera with panning horizontally, tilting vertically and zooming in and out capabilities in its way to operate the viewing and recording the area to cover. You can control the PTZ camera either local via your computer, NVR / DVR unit or remotely using your mobile devices.

Outdoor PTZ camera

Mostly PTZ camera is installed outdoor in harsh environment, exposed to sun ray, rain and wind and your camera should withstand to this harsh environment to guard your property at least to give you an early warning when intruder attempt to get into the outer ring of your property.     

It’s therefore your PTZ camera should be at least IP65 or IP66 or IP67 rated weatherproof. And some models are also IK10 vandal resistant.

POE Camera

Most PTZ outdoor security cameras are featured POE, meaning you can run a single UTP Cat5e or Cat6 network cable for both power and data medium from the camera to your network (NVR unit). However, for analog camera that comes with BNC connection it doesn’t support POE because the camera is analog model. analog camera using coaxial cable for connecting data from the camera to the DVR unit.

Best PTZ Outdoor Cameras

Let’s start with analog model which uses coaxial cable for transmitting data from camera to the digital video recorder (DVR) unit. And then followed by digital IP PTZ outdoor cameras that use POE network cable for data and power transmission. The following lists of popular and best PTZ outdoorcameras either for home or businesses.

1. Ventech VT65HB

The more optical zoom factor the better you can get the object image detail and the closer detail you can get. Ventect VT65HB offer you analog PTZ outdoor camera with 30x optical zoom feature and resolution is 1000TVL, as detail as 1080p resolution IP camera.

It also comes with high power 9pcs IR LEDs to view night vision up to 300ft distance in darkness of the night.  

Highlights

• 6” Analog PTZ camera with 1000TVL Sony image sensor
• Varifocal lens with focal length 5.35~96.3mm
• Panning up to 360°endless and 0°~ 90°tilt range
• Panning speed 6°~30°/s; tilting control speed 4~17°/s
• 30x optical zoom
• 9pcs high power IR LEDs range up to 300ft (98m)
• 128 presets, 4 patrol and 1 pattern
• IP66 rated weather proof with Solid metal housing
• TVS3000V lightning protection, surge protection and voltage transient protection,
• Comes with 100ft ready to use PTZ cable

Cons

• No Audio

With the absent of the audio you cannot get the audio in to listen to the surround area to monitor. This product is tagged with the price around $270 in the market. For cheaper product you may consider the following Sunba product.

Click here to learn more details Ventech PTZ camera

2. Sunba 405-22x

One of Sunba products in analog PTZ camera is Sunba 405-22x, an analog camera that requires you to run coaxial cable from the camera to the DVR unit like Ventech discussed above. Sunba 405-22x comes with 22x optical zoom factor, lower number of optical zoom factor than Ventech which is 30x optical zoom.

Sunba 405-22x delivers analog signal with 960H (700TVL) resolution, lower resolution than Ventech.

Highlights

• Analog PTZ outdoor camera with 960H (700TVL) resolution
• Varifocal lens 4.7~94.0mm providing you 49.6~ 2.5° range of field of view angle
• 22x optical zoom
• Night vision support with IR LEDs ~ 328ft distance
• 255 presets
• High speed 0~120°/s panning 360 endless
• Solid metal housing with IP66 weatherproof

Cons

• doesn’t support two way audio
• no vandal resistant

This product is economical model with the price tagged around $170 in Amazon, one of best PTZ camera in the market with reasonable price.

Clickhere to learn more details Sunba 405-22x

Now, let’s discuss few models of best PTZ outdoor cameras with IP digital technology as opposed with analog camera products. With IP camera you can join the camera with your existing computer network in home or in offices to connect to the internet in case you need to monitor the camera remotely via internet.

3. Amcret IP4m-1053

Unlike the two products above, this one Amcrest IP4m-1053 is an IP camera, PTZ outdoor camera with higher resolution of 4MP (aka 2K) resolution with H.265 compression format (more efficient for storage and reduce network latency).

It is designed with metal based housing and looks a bit big for PTZ camera in general. It comes with 4-MP STARVIS™ Sony CMOS image sensor with Ambarella Chipset S3L55M and it features 12x optical zoom.  

Highlights

• Ultra HD @4MP (2K) resolution @30 frame per second (fps)
• Supports H.265 more efficient compression format for lower network latency and storage space
• 1/3” 4-MP STARVIS™ CMOS image sensor with Ambarella Chipset S3L55M
• Focal Length: 5.3mm~64mm angle of View: H: 58.2° ~ 4.8°
• 12x Optical zoom with the addition of 16x digital zoom
• 6pcs IR high power LEDs range up to 328ft (100m)
• Panning endless 360°
• Memory slot up to 128GB micro SD card
• POE+
• In/Out audio interface
• IP66 weatherproof rated with metal housing

Cons

• more expensive

You can connect to any high resolution NVR unit or Blue Iris software to operate this camera, and you can also control using your mobile devices, Android or iOS with downloaded apps.

Click here to learn more details Amcret IP4m-1053

This product becomes one of best PTZ camera introduced by Amcrest with higher resolution compared with the previous PTZ outdoor camera products offered by Amcrest with reasonable price.

Continued