Review of Axis Communications
Axis Communications — part of the Canon Group — are manufacturers of network cameras for the physical security and video surveillance industries. Headquartered in Sweden but with a global presence in over 50 countries and territories, in 1996, they introduced the AXIS 200, the industry’s first network camera.
Recent years have seen Axis expand into other network-based products, but the bulk of their work remains in network video surveillance and access control hardware.
Quick Summary:
Company Name: | Axis Communications (Parent Company Canon Inc.) | |
|---|---|---|
Address: | Emdalavagen 14, SE-223 69 Lund, Sweden | |
WEBSITE: | www.axis.com | |
Main phone number: | +46 46 272 18 00 | |
number of employees: | 3600+ | |
year established: | 1984 | |
original founder(s): | Mikael Karlsson, Martin Gren, Keith Bloodworth | |
Current ownership/investors: | ||
overall rating: | Coming soon.. |
IP-based video vs. CCTV
Since the AXIS 200, Axis Communications have become global leaders in producing Internet Protocol (IP) cameras.
Numerous advantages come with IP-based video. Higher resolutions allow more detailed video that is suitable for facial recognition or identification requirements, with options of recording HDTV (720p/1080p) or, with a 5-megapixel camera, (2560 x 1920) — which for reference is about ten times more detail than a CCTV camera.
Additionally, features like Camera Intelligence provide motion detection and encryption of the video feed. With less cabling and on-site hardware requirements and maintenance, in many cases, they prove to be cheaper than their counterparts.
Camera Options
Axis has a wealth of network camera options available to meet a variety of security needs. If you are looking for outdoor security with a visible presence, a fixed box camera is a powerful deterrent. Again, there is a range of scales involved, from something more standard right up to the AXIS Q16 — a hard-wearing, all-weather camera with excellent light sensitivity and OptimizedIR, which allows recording even in fully dark environments.
For a more discrete, indoor aesthetic, wall, corner, or ceiling-mounted fixed domes cameras are suggested. With a choice of around 15 different fixed dome cameras, they cover a host of various applications in transport, commercial or residential units. Some useful features are water resistance, light finders, wide dynamic range, and tilt-and-zoom options.
Depending on the kind of surveillance necessary, multiple options are available. Pole, wall, or column-mounted cameras offer a panoramic 360-degree view. Also, AXIS Radar Autotracking for PTZ, provides a quick and easy way to scan for objects of interest automatically, removing the need for manual joystick control.
Options for ultra-discretion come in the form of modular cameras. Commonly used in ATMs, supermarket exits, and so on, these cameras come in two parts. One contains the image sensor and lens; the other processes the image and relays it to the network. The beauty of this two-part system is that the main until can be placed anywhere, while the lens is so small and discrete it can be fixed in the most undetectable spaces.
More specialist needs are catered for by a range of cameras that are recommended for use in elevators, correctional or hospital environments, and parks or recreational areas. For example, the AXIS P91 is a vandal-resistant network camera that can be fixed to a corner, but with their optimized field of vision, they promise no blind spots. An explosion-proof camera is also offered for industrial environments.
Pros
- Openness, compatibility, and integration are made easy with a flexible and scalable system that can be tailored to your precise needs.
- Image quality and increased coverage coupled with less cabling and an encrypted transmission are significant improvements in the security camera space.
- IP cameras can record a range of analytics and track various things like people or objects, and can be used as a smoke alarm.
Cons
- The cost of replacing a current CCTV system by installing a new IP camera system can be considerable.
- Higher bandwidth, and increased data storage costs will be incurred by installing an IP camera set-up.
- Additionally, more mature industries like CCTV offer not just the more competitive pricing, but also a larger pool of installer and vendor choice.
