Product Overview
Three 13MP sensors working in unison, the AXIS P3818-PVE delivers a seamlessly stitched 13MP panoramic image at 5120 x 2560 resolution across a full 180-degree horizontal field of view from a single outdoor dome mounting point. Designed for car parks, building perimeters, open plazas, and wide-span industrial sites, this multisensor camera eliminates the need for multiple separate cameras to cover a broad scene, reducing cabling runs, mounting hardware, and licensing overhead. Featuring Axis Lightfinder technology, the P3818-PVE captures usable colour and monochrome imagery down to 0.16 lux and 0.05 lux respectively without relying on built-in IR illumination, making it suited to sites with existing ambient or external lighting infrastructure. It also integrates Forensic WDR, Zipstream compression, and a suite of on-camera analytics including AXIS Fence Guard, Motion Guard, and Loitering Guard. Built to IP66, IP67, NEMA 4X, and IK10 standards with a polycarbonate hard-coated dome and aluminium base, it is engineered for permanent outdoor installation in demanding environments.
Key Capabilities
13MP Multisensor Panoramic Coverage
Three independent 1/2.8″ 13MP CMOS sensors are seamlessly stitched into a single 5120 x 2560 stream, delivering a 180-degree horizontal panorama from one camera head. This reduces the number of mounting points, cabling runs, and NVR channels required to cover a wide outdoor scene.
Lightfinder Low-Light Performance
Without relying on IR illuminators, Lightfinder technology achieves colour imaging at 0.16 lux and monochrome at 0.05 lux. Sites with existing pole lighting, facade lighting, or streetlights benefit directly, as the camera extracts usable detail under ambient conditions rather than projecting its own IR cone.
Forensic WDR and Day/Night Switching
Forensic WDR handles high-contrast scenes where vehicle headlights, bright entry points, or sun glare compete with shadowed areas in the same frame. The auto-removable IR cut-off filter ensures accurate colour rendition during daylight and maximum sensitivity after dark.
On-Camera Analytics Suite
AXIS Fence Guard, Motion Guard, Loitering Guard, Video Motion Detection, active tampering alarm, and audio detection all run on-camera via dual ARTPEC-7 processors. These analytics allow operators to define zones and trigger alerts without depending on server-side processing or additional software licences for basic perimeter logic.
Axis Edge Vault Cybersecurity
Axis Edge Vault with Axis device ID and a FIPS 140-2 level 2 certified Trusted Platform Module provides hardware-level device authentication and encrypted identity management. This matters for government, infrastructure, and enterprise deployments where network device integrity must be verifiable and auditable.
H.265 Zipstream and Edge Storage
H.265 encoding combined with Axis Zipstream reduces bandwidth and storage requirements without sacrificing detail in moving regions of the frame. MicroSDXC card support with SD card encryption, NAS compatibility, and ONVIF Profile S, G, and T compliance give integrators flexible recording architecture options.
Best For
- Open Perimeter and Facade Coverage: The 180-degree horizontal field of view and 13MP stitched output allow a single camera to monitor a full building elevation, courtyard boundary, or entry approach without leaving gaps between multiple camera fields.
- Externally Lit Car Parks and Transport Hubs: Where ambient lighting is already installed, Lightfinder extracts strong low-light imagery without IR, making the P3818-PVE suited to lit car parks, transit platforms, and forecourts where IR washout is undesirable.
- Enterprise and Government Sites Requiring Cybersecurity Compliance: FIPS 140-2 level 2 TPM certification and Axis Edge Vault device identity support deployments where hardware-level device authentication is a procurement or compliance requirement.
- Installations Prioritising Reduced Camera Count: Where minimising the number of mounting points, NVR channels, or cabling infrastructure is a design priority, the multisensor architecture replaces 3 or more individual cameras at a single location.
Why Choose the AXIS P3818-PVE
The AXIS P3818-PVE occupies a specific position in outdoor camera design: it delivers panoramic 180-degree coverage at 13MP resolution from a single dome housing, something a standard fixed or varifocal camera cannot replicate regardless of its individual sensor quality. Where a single-sensor camera captures one directional view, the P3818-PVE’s 3-sensor stitched output covers an entire facade, courtyard, or open area simultaneously without mechanical rotation or manual panning. The dual ARTPEC-7 processor architecture handles the computational demand of stitching and on-camera analytics concurrently. The IK10, IP66, and IP67 ratings ensure the casing holds up against direct impact and water ingress in permanent outdoor installations. The hardware-level cybersecurity features, including the FIPS 140-2 certified TPM, distinguish this camera for high-security sites. Available at Security Wholesalers, the P3818-PVE suits integrators designing coverage plans where wide-area outdoor monitoring efficiency and verifiable device integrity both matter.
Buyer Decision Tips
Lighting at the Installation Site: The P3818-PVE has no built-in IR illumination. Its Lightfinder performance is excellent under existing ambient lighting, but completely unlit outdoor areas with no pole lights, facade lights, or streetlights will not be served well by this camera after dark. Confirm that the site has adequate existing lighting infrastructure before specifying this model for a night-time surveillance requirement.
PoE Budget and Switch Compatibility: The P3818-PVE draws up to 18 W and requires an IEEE 802.3at PoE+ source. Standard IEEE 802.3af PoE switches providing only 15.4 W are not sufficient. Verify that your PoE switch or injector supports PoE+ on the port used for this camera, and account for the full 18 W allocation in your switch budget calculations when planning multi-camera deployments.
Key Features & Technical Specifications
| Model |
AXIS P3818-PVE (Part No. 02060-001) |
| Sensor Configuration |
3 x 13MP 1/2.8″ progressive scan RGB CMOS |
| Total Resolution |
13MP seamlessly stitched; max 5120 x 2560 |
| Lens |
3 x fixed 3.2 mm, f/2.0 |
| Field of View |
180° horizontal, 90° vertical; pan ±180°, tilt 0°-50° |
| IR Illumination |
None; Lightfinder technology |
| Minimum Illumination |
0.16 lux (colour), 0.05 lux (B/W) |
| IR Cut Filter |
Yes, auto-removable |
| Video Compression |
H.265, H.264, Zipstream, Motion JPEG |
| Max Frame Rate |
30 fps |
| WDR |
Forensic WDR |
| Analytics |
AXIS Fence Guard, Motion Guard, Loitering Guard, Video Motion Detection, active tampering alarm, audio detection |
| Cybersecurity |
Axis Edge Vault with Axis device ID; TPM FIPS 140-2 level 2 certified |
| Audio |
2-way audio system; 3.5 mm analog/digital mic/line in connector; AAC-LC, G.711, G.726, LPCM, Opus |
| Power |
PoE+; IEEE 802.3at; max 18 W, typical 11 W; shielded RJ45 1000BASE-T |
| I/O |
2 x configurable supervised inputs/digital outputs via terminal block; 12 V DC output, max 50 mA |
| Storage |
MicroSD/SDHC/SDXC with SD card encryption; NAS; 512 MB onboard flash |
| Weather/Impact Rating |
IP66, IP67, NEMA 4X, IK10 |
| Operating Temperature |
-40 to 50 degrees C |
| ONVIF Compliance |
Profile S, G, T |
| Processor |
Dual ARTPEC-7 SoC; 2048 MB RAM per processor |
Ideal Use Cases
Building Perimeter and Facade Monitoring
The 180-degree horizontal panorama covers a full building elevation or courtyard boundary from a single overhead dome position, with 13MP resolution providing the detail needed to identify individuals or vehicles across the full stitched frame.
Externally Lit Car Parks
Lightfinder’s 0.16 lux colour sensitivity is well suited to open-air car parks with pole or facade lighting already in place. A single P3818-PVE mounted on a central pole or building corner can cover a wide entry zone without requiring separate cameras for each aisle approach.
Critical Infrastructure and Government Sites
The FIPS 140-2 level 2 certified TPM and Axis Edge Vault device identity framework satisfy hardware-level security requirements common in government procurement, utilities, and infrastructure projects where camera network integrity must be verifiable at the device level.
Logistics and Freight Yards
Loading dock areas, freight staging zones, and yard entries frequently require wide coverage across activity that spans a broad horizontal arc. AXIS Loitering Guard and Fence Guard analytics allow zone-based alerting on a wide-area view without manual review of full-time footage.
Public Spaces and Transport Interchanges
Transit plazas, bus interchanges, and pedestrian thoroughfares benefit from the P3818-PVE’s wide-area stitched coverage and on-camera analytics. The IK10 impact-resistant casing and IP67 weatherproof rating support installations in exposed public infrastructure where vandalism and weather exposure are ongoing considerations.
Choosing the Right Model
- Choose this model if: Your site requires 180-degree panoramic outdoor coverage from a single mounting point, has existing ambient lighting infrastructure, and the deployment demands verifiable hardware-level cybersecurity compliance such as FIPS 140-2 certification.
- Choose a different model if: The installation site is completely unlit at night and relies on the camera itself to provide illumination, as the P3818-PVE has no built-in IR. A camera with integrated IR illuminators would be more appropriate for dark, unlit outdoor environments. Similarly, if full 360-degree coverage is required rather than a 180-degree sweep, a fisheye or full 360-degree panoramic camera would better suit that application.
FAQs
- How does the 3-sensor stitching work in practice, and does it produce a single video stream or multiple streams?
The P3818-PVE uses 3 individual 13MP sensors aligned to produce a seamlessly stitched 13MP panoramic output at up to 5120 x 2560 resolution. The camera presents this as a single panoramic video stream, simplifying recording and display. Operators can also dewarped or region-of-interest crops from the full panoramic view depending on the VMS platform in use.
- Does the P3818-PVE have built-in IR illumination for complete darkness?
No. The P3818-PVE does not include built-in IR illumination. It uses Axis Lightfinder technology to achieve usable imagery down to 0.16 lux in colour and 0.05 lux in monochrome. This requires some level of existing ambient lighting at the site. For fully dark, unlit outdoor environments, an alternative camera with integrated IR illumination would be a more appropriate choice.
- What PoE switch specification is required to power the P3818-PVE?
The camera requires IEEE 802.3at PoE+, with a maximum power draw of 18 W. Standard IEEE 802.3af PoE ports, which are limited to 15.4 W, are not sufficient. Ensure that the switch port or midspan injector supplying this camera is confirmed as PoE+ capable and that the port budget allocation accounts for the full 18 W draw.
- What does FIPS 140-2 level 2 certification mean for this camera’s cybersecurity?
The Trusted Platform Module (TPM) in the P3818-PVE is independently certified to FIPS 140-2 level 2, a US federal cryptographic security standard. Combined with Axis Edge Vault and Axis device ID, this provides hardware-rooted cryptographic identity verification for the camera itself. It allows network administrators to confirm that the device connecting to their network is a genuine, unmodified Axis unit, which is a requirement in many government and critical infrastructure procurement frameworks.
- Can the on-camera analytics like Fence Guard and Loitering Guard be configured without additional software?
Yes. AXIS Fence Guard, Motion Guard, Loitering Guard, and Video Motion Detection are all built into the camera firmware and run on the dual ARTPEC-7 processors. They can be configured directly through the camera’s web interface without requiring a separate analytics server or software licence. Event triggers from these analytics can be sent as ONVIF events, email alerts, or HTTP notifications, and can also activate the digital output on the terminal block.
- What recording options are available for the P3818-PVE?
The camera supports three recording paths. Local edge recording to a microSDXC card (with optional SD card encryption) provides on-device storage without network dependency. NAS recording allows footage to be written directly to a network-attached storage device over the local network. For centralised management, the camera is ONVIF Profile S, G, and T compliant, making it compatible with a broad range of VMS and NVR platforms. Security Wholesalers can advise on compatible recording solutions for this camera.
- What are the mounting and adjustment options for getting the right angle across a wide outdoor scene?
The camera offers pan adjustment of ±180 degrees and tilt adjustment from 0 to 50 degrees, allowing the installer to position the sensor array to cover the target scene during installation. Because the lens is fixed at 3.2 mm per sensor with a combined 90-degree vertical field of view, correct mounting height and tilt angle are important during commissioning to ensure the panoramic coverage arc aligns with the intended monitoring zone on the ground plane.
Additional Information
AXIS DE-02060-001 Datasheet
