Product Overview
For sites that demand simultaneous wide-area awareness and targeted detail capture from a single mounting point, the Axis P1518-E dual-lens box camera delivers a genuinely differentiated approach to outdoor surveillance. Featuring a fixed 5.9 mm lens producing 4K resolution at a 114-degree horizontal field of view alongside a remotely adjustable 10.9-29 mm varifocal lens on a 2 MP sensor, this camera covers both the broad scene and the detail zone without requiring two separate camera positions or cable runs. Equipped with the ARTPEC-8 SoC and a dedicated Deep Learning Processing Unit, it supports on-board Object Analytics, Video Motion Detection, Scene Metadata, and optional License Plate Verifier and Speed Monitor applications. Built-in Lightfinder 2.0 and Forensic WDR operate across both image streams, and the integrated heater extends reliable operation from -40 degrees C to 60 degrees C. It is well suited to entry points, traffic lanes, perimeter gates, and high-security outdoor installations where both context and detail must be captured concurrently.
Key Capabilities
Dual-Lens Simultaneous Coverage
A fixed 5.9 mm 8 MP lens and a remotely adjustable 10.9-29 mm 2 MP varifocal lens operate independently and simultaneously, giving installers both a wide contextual overview and a narrow detail stream from one mounting point. This eliminates the need for a second camera at complex entry and perimeter locations.
4K Wide-Angle Stream with Corridor Format
The 8 MP sensor captures at 3840×2160 at up to 25/30 fps with a 114-degree horizontal field of view, and supports corridor format for monitoring hallways, driveways, and entry lanes in a portrait orientation. This maximises pixel density in long, narrow spaces without cropping useful scene data.
ARTPEC-8 with Deep Learning Processing
The onboard DLPU enables AI-powered Object Analytics, Video Motion Detection, and Scene Metadata without burdening the VMS server. Optional License Plate Verifier and Speed Monitor applications can be added, making this camera capable of supporting traffic enforcement and access control workflows at the edge.
Lightfinder 2.0 and Forensic WDR
Minimum illumination of 0.05 lux in colour and 0.01 lux in black and white across both streams means the camera retains usable image quality in near-darkness without built-in IR. Forensic WDR handles high-contrast scenes such as vehicle entry points with bright headlights against shaded backgrounds.
IP67, IK10, and Built-In Heater
Rated to IP66, IP67, NEMA 4X, and IK10 impact resistance, the P1518-E is built for exposed outdoor and industrial environments. The integrated heater maintains camera operation from -40 degrees C to 60 degrees C, making it suited to sites with extreme seasonal temperature ranges.
Axis Edge Vault and Power Redundancy
Axis Edge Vault with FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification provides hardware-based cryptographic protection for device identity and credentials. Dual power input via IEEE 802.3at PoE or 10-28 V DC with power redundancy ensures the camera remains online if one power source fails, which matters at critical monitoring points.
Best For
- Traffic Lane and Entry Point Monitoring: The varifocal 10.9-29 mm lens can be remotely adjusted to frame a specific lane or boom gate, while the wide 5.9 mm stream captures the surrounding vehicle queue simultaneously, supporting both License Plate Verifier and contextual scene recording.
- Perimeter Gates and Security Checkpoints: IK10 impact resistance and IP67 weatherproofing make this camera suited to exposed gate posts, checkpoint structures, and outdoor mounting positions where physical contact with vehicles or equipment is a risk.
- High-Security Outdoor Installations Requiring Cybersecurity Compliance: Axis Edge Vault with FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification and signed firmware meet the requirements of government, critical infrastructure, and enterprise security projects where device integrity must be verified and documented.
- Extreme Climate Environments: The built-in heater and confirmed -40 degrees C to 60 degrees C operating range make this camera suitable for cold-climate locations such as alpine sites, refrigerated logistics facilities, or outdoor industrial installations with broad seasonal temperature swings.
- Installers Wanting Remote Lens Adjustment: The varifocal lens on the 2 MP stream supports remote zoom, focus, pan, and tilt adjustment, reducing the need for physical access after initial mounting, which is particularly useful at height or in difficult-access locations.
Why Choose the AXIS P1518-E
The AXIS P1518-E addresses a specific gap in outdoor camera deployments: the need to capture both a wide scene overview and a zoomed-in detail stream from a single mounted unit. A single-lens camera at the same location forces a compromise between field of view and pixel density. The P1518-E removes that compromise by running 2 independent, simultaneously recorded streams, each optimised for a different purpose. The 4K wide lens with corridor format support and 114-degree coverage handles scene context, while the remotely adjustable varifocal lens handles the detail zone, whether that is a licence plate, a face at a gate, or a specific area within a larger space. The ARTPEC-8 processor with DLPU allows analytics to run at the edge without additional server load, and the FIPS 140-3 Level 3 Axis Edge Vault provides a level of cybersecurity assurance that general-purpose cameras do not offer. Available at Security Wholesalers, the P1518-E is a considered choice for installers who need to justify camera placement to technically demanding clients.
Buyer Decision Tips
No Built-In IR: Plan Your Illumination: The P1518-E has no built-in infrared illuminator. At locations with no ambient lighting at night, you will need to add a separate compatible Axis illuminator to maintain image quality in complete darkness. The camera’s Lightfinder 2.0 performs well in low ambient light such as streetlit areas or car parks with overhead lighting, but complete darkness sites require the illuminator to be scoped and ordered separately as part of your installation design.
License Plate Verifier and Speed Monitor Are Optional Add-On Applications: These applications are not included in the camera firmware by default and must be licensed separately through Axis. If your project requires licence plate recognition or vehicle speed monitoring, confirm the application licensing cost and compatibility with your chosen VMS before quoting. The hardware supports these applications via the DLPU, but they are not active out of the box.
Key Features & Technical Specifications
| Model |
AXIS P1518-E |
| Part Number |
02758-001 |
| Image Sensors |
1/1.2″ 8 MP (wide lens) and 1/2.8″ 2 MP (varifocal lens) |
| Max Resolution |
3840×2160 (4K UHD) at 25/30 fps (8 MP stream); 2 MP stream at 50/60 fps |
| Wide Lens |
Fixed 5.9 mm, 114° HFoV, corridor format support |
| Varifocal Lens |
10.9-29 mm, 29-11° HFoV, remote zoom, focus, pan and tilt adjustment |
| Processor |
ARTPEC-8 SoC with Deep Learning Processing Unit (DLPU) |
| AI Analytics |
Object Analytics, Video Motion Detection, Scene Metadata, Shock Detection, Active Tampering Alarm; optional License Plate Verifier and Speed Monitor (separate licensing required) |
| Min Illumination |
Colour 0.05 lux, B/W 0.01 lux (Lightfinder 2.0 on both streams) |
| Built-In IR |
No. Compatible with optional Axis illuminators |
| WDR |
Forensic WDR on both streams |
| Video Compression |
H.264, H.265 with Zipstream, Motion JPEG; multiple individually configurable streams |
| Weather and Impact Rating |
IP66, IP67, NEMA 4X, IK10 |
| Operating Temperature |
-40 degrees C to 60 degrees C (built-in heater included) |
| Power |
IEEE 802.3at Type 2 Class 4 PoE or 10-28 V DC with power redundancy |
| Cybersecurity |
Axis Edge Vault, FIPS 140-3 Level 3 |
| Audio |
Audio in and supervised I/O port |
| Local Storage |
MicroSD card slot |
| Serial Communication |
RS422/485 |
| Included Accessories |
Removable sunshield, wall bracket, cable glands |
Ideal Use Cases
Vehicle Entry and Exit Points
The varifocal 2 MP lens can be framed to capture licence plates at a boom gate or entry lane, while the wide 4K stream records the surrounding vehicle queue and scene simultaneously, supporting both access control workflows and incident review without a second camera.
Outdoor Perimeter and Gate Structures
IK10 impact resistance and IP67 weatherproofing make the P1518-E suited to exposed gate posts, security boom structures, and perimeter walls where physical contact with vehicles or the elements is routine. The included wall bracket and cable glands support a clean, weathertight installation.
Critical Infrastructure and Government Sites
Axis Edge Vault with FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification provides hardware-based cryptographic verification of device identity, meeting the cybersecurity requirements of government facilities, utilities, and other critical infrastructure projects where chain-of-trust and firmware integrity must be documented.
Cold-Climate and Industrial Outdoor Sites
The built-in heater and confirmed operating range of -40 degrees C to 60 degrees C make this camera appropriate for alpine facilities, cold-storage logistics sites, outdoor industrial yards in cold regions, and any installation where temperature extremes would cause standard cameras to fail.
Traffic Monitoring and Speed Detection
With the optional Speed Monitor application supported by the onboard DLPU, the P1518-E can be deployed for vehicle speed measurement at site entrances, loading docks, or internal road networks, without requiring a separate dedicated device for speed data.
High-Security Corridor and Entry Hall Monitoring
The wide lens supports corridor format for portrait-orientation streaming, making the camera effective in long, narrow passageways such as secure facility corridors, airside walkways, or controlled access tunnels where a standard landscape frame wastes significant resolution on ceiling and floor.
Choosing the Right Model
- Choose this model if: Your installation requires 2 independent, simultaneously recorded streams from one mounting point, one wide and one detail-focused, and your site benefits from edge AI analytics including optional licence plate recognition or speed monitoring, and cybersecurity certification (FIPS 140-3 Level 3) is a project requirement.
- Choose a different model if: Your location has no ambient light at night and you need built-in IR illumination, as the P1518-E has no onboard IR and requires a separately purchased illuminator. A single-lens outdoor camera with integrated IR would be a simpler and more cost-effective choice for standard low-light outdoor positions where dual-stream coverage and edge AI are not required.
- Choose a different model if: Your project does not require the dual-lens capability or FIPS-certified cybersecurity, and cost per camera position is a primary consideration. A single-sensor fixed or varifocal outdoor camera would deliver comparable image quality at a lower unit price for general-purpose outdoor monitoring.
FAQs
- Does the AXIS P1518-E record both lenses simultaneously?
Yes. Both the fixed 5.9 mm 8 MP lens and the varifocal 10.9-29 mm 2 MP lens produce independent, simultaneously configurable video streams. Each stream can be recorded, managed, and viewed separately within a compatible VMS, allowing the wide overview and the detail zoom to be used independently in playback and investigation.
- Can the varifocal lens be adjusted without physical access to the camera?
Yes. The 10.9-29 mm varifocal lens on the 2 MP stream supports remote zoom, focus, pan, and tilt adjustment. This means the detail lens can be re-framed after the camera is mounted, without requiring a technician to physically access the unit, which is particularly useful at height, in confined spaces, or in live environments where access is disruptive.
- Does the P1518-E have built-in IR for night vision?
No. The P1518-E does not include built-in infrared illumination. In locations with sufficient ambient light such as streetlit car parks, floodlit entry points, or illuminated industrial yards, Lightfinder 2.0 provides colour imagery down to 0.05 lux and black and white down to 0.01 lux. For sites with complete darkness, a separate compatible Axis illuminator must be added to the installation.
- What is Axis Edge Vault and why does it matter for this camera?
Axis Edge Vault is a hardware-based secure element built into the ARTPEC-8 processor that stores cryptographic keys and device identity certificates in a tamper-resistant environment. The P1518-E holds FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification for this component, meaning it meets rigorous US government and international standards for cryptographic module security. This matters for government, defence, utilities, and enterprise projects where device identity and firmware integrity must be verified and audited.
- Are the License Plate Verifier and Speed Monitor applications included with the camera?
No. These applications are supported by the onboard DLPU but must be licensed separately through Axis. The camera hardware is capable of running them at the edge, but you will need to purchase the application licenses and install them through the Axis device management interface. Confirm licensing costs and VMS compatibility before quoting these functions as part of a system design.
- What power options does the P1518-E support, and what does power redundancy mean in practice?
The camera accepts IEEE 802.3at Type 2 Class 4 PoE from a compatible PoE switch or injector, or 10-28 V DC from a local power supply. With both sources connected, the camera includes power redundancy: if the PoE network fails, the DC supply keeps the camera running. This is relevant for critical monitoring points such as entry gates or security checkpoints where downtime is not acceptable.
- Is the AXIS P1518-E suitable for installation in a corridor or narrow passageway?
Yes. The fixed 5.9 mm wide lens on the 8 MP stream supports corridor format, which rotates the stream to a portrait orientation. This means the full sensor resolution is applied along the length of a narrow space rather than wasted on the walls beside the walkway. This is useful for secure facility corridors, access tunnels, airside walkways, and other long narrow environments where a standard landscape frame is inefficient. This model is part of the Security Wholesalers range and is well suited to professional installer projects requiring this capability.
Additional Information
AXIS 02758-001 Datasheet
