Uniview’s latest OwlView Plus series is a step above the standard OwlView cameras. It combines extreme low-light performance with a large 1/1.2-inch image sensor – resulting in a substantial increase in clarity and sharpness.
We got our hands on the latest OwlView Plus 8MP Turret (IPC3638SE-ADF28K-WP-I1) and compared it with a regular OwlView turret (IPC3628SR-ADF28KM-WP). The main difference between these two cameras is the sensor size: The standard OwlView has a 1/1.8″ sensor, while the OwlView plus uses a much larger 1/1.2″ image sensor with a 123% larger surface area.[*]
The OwlView Plus camera is also slightly larger – measuring 5.1″ in diameter vs. 4.6″ for the standard OwlView turret. It’s not very noticeable when comparing them side-by-side but it’s something to keep in mind.
*The surface area of a 1/1.8″ sensor is 38.20mm², while a 1/1.2″ sensor has a suface area of 85.33mm².
How Does Sensor Size Affect Image Performance?
A larger sensor allows for greater clarity and detail to be captured by the camera – even if the resolution is the same. This is due to more light being captured by each of the pixels on the sensor, resulting in an image that’s closer to what you can see with your eyes.
The larger sensor also has the added benefit of improving the low-light performance and signal-to-noise ratio of the camera.
Confused? Let’s take a look at some examples so you can see the difference.
8MP OwlView vs OwlView Plus (Outdoors)
In this test, we’re comparing the 8MP OwlView against the latest 8MP OwlView Plus. We mounted both cameras on a wooden block, which was strapped to a tripod for stability and height.
Both cameras have been set to 6144 Kbps (CBR) with H.265 encoding and u-code disabled. This is to ensure a fair comparison where the settings of the camera are taken out of the equation. We want to test the image sensor – not video compression or bitrate.
I loaded both videos into NVIDIA’s Image Comparison Analysis Tool (ICAT) and swiped between the two cameras.
While fully zoomed out, we can see a slight improvement in the colours. The OwlView Plus has a slightly narrower field of view – losing about 6-degrees of width but improving in image quality.
The image from the OwlView Plus looks softer and more natural compared to the intense sharpness of the standard OwlView camera.
Let’s zoom in and take a closer look.
8MP OwlView vs OwlView Plus (200% Zoom – Outdoors)
Here’s the same comparison but zoomed in by 200% for a closer look. The 8MP OwlView Plus manages to resolve the small text on the sign without oversharpening the image.
My impression is that the OwlView Plus provides a more natural-looking image that’s pleasing to look at. The larger image sensor is gives the image a sense of depth and realism that’s not possible on the regular OwlView cameras.
With the still image comparison above at 150% zoom, we can clearly see the differences between the two cameras. Despite both cameras being 8MP resolution, the advantage goes to the OwlView Plus with a 1/1.2″ sensor.
Now let’s see how these camera compare in the dark. Will the advantages of the larger sensor still hold true?
Low-light Setup & Testing Methodology
Once again, both cameras are mounted on a wooden block that’s secured to a tripod. We moved everything to the warehouse, allowing us to control the lighting.
With the warehouse lights turned off, the only illumination was a 60 watt LED turned down to 10% brightness. The overall effect was a very dark environment – similar to a dark alleyway without any nearby lighting.
To keep things consistent, we used the same Uniview poster – which was located about 15 ft away from the cameras. Both cameras were adjusted to approximately the same angle to make the the comparison fair.
Let’s see how the OwlView and OwlView Plus cameras compare in this low-light scenario.
8MP OwlView vs OwlView Plus (Warehouse – Low-light Test)
Both of the OwlView cameras perform extremely well despite the lack of light – no surprises there.
As with the outdoor test, the OwlView Plus camera has an extra layer of clarity and sharpness in the picture. Let’s zoom in by 200% to see if the details are any better.
With 200% zoom, it’s easier to see the subtle details that are brought to life with the OwlView Plus’ large image sensor. The text on the sign sharpens greatly, and the noise is almost completely eliminated.
This makes OwlView Plus a great choice for low-light scenarios where you need to retrieve details such as people’s clothing or vehicle model.
Just for fun, let’s compare these cameras against a Lorex ‘E841CD‘ turret camera. This is a 4K camera from 2023 that claims to have colour night vision and excellent low-light performance. Let’s see how it holds up against the OwlView cameras.
Wow, what a difference the OwlView technology makes! The footage from the Lorex camera is nearly unusable due to the extreme noise and poor colour retrieval.
This is just what happens with a still image! Let’s try adding motion to the scene and see what happens.
The video above seems unbelievable, but it’s true. The 4K Lorex turret exhibits extreme ghosting – while under the same lighting conditions the Uniview OwlView Plus delivers a clear and natural looking image.
Final Thoughts
It’s impressive how much of an upgrade these new OwlView Plus camera are. If you’re still rocking an older camera system, now would be the time to upgrade. These cameras are ONVIF compatible – meaning they’ll also work on third-party video recorders.
If you’d like to purchase these OwlView Plus cameras, you can contact us at XLR Security. We’re a Canadian Distributor for Uniview and offer fast shipping across Canada.
