Product SKU: P1388-LE
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Product Overview
Built for demanding outdoor perimeter installations, the AXIS P1388-LE is an 8 MP (4K) box camera engineered for infrastructure sites, industrial yards, traffic lanes, and critical facility boundaries where fixed-lens cameras simply cannot deliver the coverage flexibility required. Featuring a motorised varifocal 3.9-10 mm CS-mount lens with remote zoom and focus adjustment, it lets installers fine-tune the field of view from 122 to 46 degrees horizontal without physical access after mounting. Equipped with Lightfinder 2.0 for colour imagery down to 0.13 lux, Forensic WDR at up to 120 dB, and Optimized IR reaching approximately 50 m, it maintains usable footage across extreme lighting conditions. Powered by the ARTPEC-8 processor with an integrated deep learning processing unit, the P1388-LE runs AXIS Object Analytics on-camera. Its IP66, IP67, IK10, and NEMA 4X ratings, combined with an integrated front heater and electronic image stabilization, make it suited to cold, humid, dusty, and wind-exposed environments.
Key Capabilities
Motorised Varifocal Lens with Remote Control
The 3.9-10 mm CS-mount lens with f/1.5 aperture allows remote zoom and focus adjustment from the management interface. Installers on large perimeter or traffic projects can dial in the exact field of view after commissioning, avoiding repeat site visits when coverage requirements change.
8 MP 4K Resolution at 60 fps
A 1/1.8-inch progressive-scan RGB CMOS sensor with 2.0 µm pixels delivers 8 MP video at up to 60 frames per second. This frame rate suits fast-moving targets such as vehicles on traffic lanes or people crossing a perimeter boundary, capturing detail that lower frame rates would blur.
Lightfinder 2.0 and Forensic WDR
Colour imagery is achievable at approximately 0.13 lux (25/30 fps) or 0.3 lux (50/60 fps), and Optimized IR extends monochrome coverage to around 50 m in total darkness. Forensic WDR handles up to 120 dB contrast, preventing blown highlights at entry points where artificial lighting meets dark surrounds.
On-Edge Deep Learning Analytics via ARTPEC-8
The ARTPEC-8 platform includes a dedicated deep learning processing unit that runs AXIS Object Analytics on the camera itself, classifying and tracking humans and vehicles in real time without relying on server-side processing. The camera also supports AXIS Perimeter Defender and License Plate Verifier applications.
Industrial-Grade Housing with Integrated Heater
Rated IP66, IP67, IK10, and NEMA 4X, the enclosure handles temperatures from -40 to +60 degrees Celsius, 100% humidity, and sustained winds of up to 55 m/s. The integrated front heater prevents lens fogging and icing in cold or high-humidity outdoor environments without requiring an additional accessory.
Axis Edge Vault Cybersecurity Architecture
Axis Edge Vault provides secure boot, signed firmware, and a CC-EAL6+ certified secure keystore that protects device identity and video stream integrity. For installations at utilities, ports, or government facilities where network security compliance is mandatory, this hardware-level protection addresses requirements that software-only solutions cannot match.
Best For
- Critical Infrastructure Perimeters: IP66/67, IK10, NEMA 4X ratings and an integrated front heater make this camera suited to utilities, substations, ports, and similar sites where environmental exposure is constant and failure is not acceptable.
- Traffic and Vehicle Monitoring: The motorised varifocal lens allows precise framing of traffic lanes or vehicle entry points, and the ARTPEC-8 platform supports the AXIS License Plate Verifier application for edge-based plate detection.
- Remote or Hard-to-Access Mounting Positions: Remote zoom and focus adjustment via the P-Iris motorised lens means the field of view can be optimised after installation without a return visit to a rooftop, tower, or gantry position.
- High-Speed Industrial Surveillance: 60 fps at full 4K resolution ensures fast-moving subjects, such as forklifts, vehicles, or pedestrians crossing industrial zones, are captured with sufficient temporal detail for post-event review.
Why Choose the AXIS P1388-LE
The AXIS P1388-LE occupies a specific position in the market: a 4K outdoor box camera with on-edge deep learning, a motorised varifocal CS-mount lens, and an enclosure rated to withstand conditions that would compromise lighter-duty cameras. Where a standard fixed-lens outdoor camera provides a set field of view and no on-camera analytics, the P1388-LE enables remote lens adjustment, runs AXIS Object Analytics without a server, and protects video integrity through hardware-backed cybersecurity via Axis Edge Vault with a CC-EAL6+ certified keystore. The integrated front heater addresses a practical limitation of cameras deployed in cold or condensation-prone environments, removing the need for aftermarket heated housing accessories. Electronic image stabilization compensates for vibration on gantries, towers, or windy exposed walls. Available through Security Wholesalers, the P1388-LE is backed by Axis Communications and is suited to integrators specifying for infrastructure, industrial, or high-compliance projects where on-edge analytics and environmental durability are both required.
Buyer Decision Tips
Mounting and Housing Compatibility: The P1388-LE ships as a camera unit requiring a compatible mounting bracket and, in most outdoor deployments, a protective housing or sunshield appropriate to the installation position. Confirm bracket and housing accessory compatibility with the specific mounting surface, pole, or gantry before ordering. The CS-mount lens supplied with the unit is the motorised varifocal 3.9-10 mm, so no additional lens purchase is needed unless a different focal range is required for the site.
Power Supply Requirements: The camera accepts PoE Class 4 or 10-28 V DC. If the installation relies on PoE, confirm the switch or injector is rated to Class 4 (up to 15.4 W). In industrial environments where a separate DC power supply is preferred for circuit isolation or cable run length, the 10-28 V DC input provides an alternative without requiring a PoE-capable network switch at the field device location.
Key Features & Technical Specifications
| Model |
AXIS P1388-LE |
| Resolution |
8 MP (4K, 3840 x 2160) |
| Sensor |
1/1.8-inch progressive-scan RGB CMOS, 2.0 µm pixels |
| Max Frame Rate |
Up to 60 fps at 4K resolution |
| Lens Type |
Motorised varifocal CS-mount, 3.9-10 mm, f/1.5, P-Iris |
| Field of View (Horizontal) |
Approximately 122 degrees (wide) to 46 degrees (tele) |
| Field of View (Vertical) |
Approximately 64 degrees (wide) to 26 degrees (tele) |
| Low-Light Sensitivity (Colour) |
Approximately 0.13 lux at 25/30 fps; 0.3 lux at 50/60 fps (Lightfinder 2.0) |
| IR Illumination Range |
Approximately 50 m (Optimized IR) |
| Wide Dynamic Range |
Forensic WDR, up to 120 dB |
| Processor |
ARTPEC-8 with integrated deep learning processing unit |
| On-Edge Analytics |
AXIS Object Analytics (human and vehicle detection, classification, tracking); compatible with AXIS Perimeter Defender and License Plate Verifier |
| Video Compression |
H.264, H.265, MJPEG with Axis Zipstream |
| Video Streams |
Up to 20 configurable streams; VBR, ABR, MBR, low-latency modes |
| Edge Storage |
Encrypted microSD; NAS support |
| Power |
PoE Class 4; 10-28 V DC |
| Environmental Rating |
IP66, IP67, IK10, NEMA 4X |
| Operating Temperature |
-40 to +60 degrees Celsius; humidity to 100% |
| Wind Resistance |
Sustained winds up to 55 m/s (123 mph) |
| Cybersecurity |
Axis Edge Vault, secure boot, signed firmware, CC-EAL6+ certified secure keystore |
| Protocols and Integration |
ONVIF Profiles G/M/S/T, VAPIX API, ACAP |
| Additional Features |
Electronic image stabilization, integrated front heater, auto IR-cut filter, barrel distortion correction, defog, corridor mode, privacy masks, pixel counter, digital PTZ, customizable scene profiles |
Ideal Use Cases
Utility and Infrastructure Perimeters
Substations, water treatment facilities, and communications infrastructure require cameras that operate continuously in harsh outdoor conditions. The P1388-LE’s IP67, NEMA 4X, and IK10 ratings alongside its -40 to +60 degree operating range directly address the exposure requirements of these sites.
Traffic Lane and Vehicle Entry Monitoring
The motorised varifocal lens can be remotely zoomed to focus precisely on a traffic lane or gate entry point, and the ARTPEC-8 processor supports the AXIS License Plate Verifier application. At 60 fps in 4K, fast-moving vehicles are captured without motion blur.
Port and Logistics Facility Monitoring
Large logistics and port environments involve wide open areas, variable lighting, and continuous vehicle and pedestrian movement. Forensic WDR at 120 dB handles the contrast between dock lighting and open yard darkness, while on-edge AXIS Object Analytics classifies humans and vehicles without a server dependency.
Industrial Yards in Cold or Humid Climates
Mining, cold-chain, and manufacturing environments expose cameras to temperature extremes, condensation, and vibration. The integrated front heater prevents lens icing and fogging, and electronic image stabilization compensates for mechanical vibration at industrial installations without any additional hardware.
Government and Compliance-Mandated Installations
Sites where cybersecurity standards are mandated benefit from Axis Edge Vault’s CC-EAL6+ certified keystore, secure boot, and signed firmware. These hardware-level protections support compliance requirements that cannot be addressed through software configuration alone.
Choosing the Right Model
- Choose this model if: The installation requires 4K resolution at up to 60 fps, remote lens adjustment after mounting, on-edge deep learning analytics via ARTPEC-8, and a housing that operates from -40 to +60 degrees Celsius with an integrated heater and NEMA 4X rating.
- Choose a different model if: The site is a straightforward indoor or light-duty outdoor location where a fixed-lens turret or dome camera provides sufficient coverage. The box camera form factor and CS-mount lens require more involved mounting, housing, and commissioning than a self-contained fixed-lens camera, and the additional capability is not always warranted for simpler applications.
- Choose a different model if: True pan, tilt, and zoom repositioning is required after installation. The P1388-LE’s motorised varifocal lens adjusts zoom and focus remotely but does not physically pan or tilt the camera. A PTZ camera is required if the coverage direction must change without physical remounting.
FAQs
- What does the motorised varifocal lens on the P1388-LE actually allow an installer to do?
The 3.9-10 mm CS-mount lens with P-Iris control lets the installer adjust zoom and focus remotely through the camera’s web interface or management software after the camera has been physically mounted. This avoids the need to return to an elevated or difficult-to-access position to manually refocus the lens if the coverage zone changes or was not precisely set during initial installation.
- Can the AXIS P1388-LE run analytics without connecting to a server?
Yes. The ARTPEC-8 processor includes a dedicated deep learning processing unit that runs AXIS Object Analytics directly on the camera. Human and vehicle classification, line-crossing detection, and scene metadata generation all occur on-edge. AXIS Perimeter Defender and License Plate Verifier are also supported as on-camera applications, reducing the dependency on centralised server resources.
- How does the integrated front heater differ from buying a heated camera housing separately?
The front heater is built into the P1388-LE’s enclosure and activates automatically to prevent the lens window from fogging or icing in cold or high-humidity conditions. A separately purchased heated housing adds cost, bulk, and an additional component to maintain. For installations in cold climates, the built-in heater simplifies the deployment and eliminates a potential point of failure.
- What is the minimum light level required to maintain colour video on the P1388-LE?
With Lightfinder 2.0 active, colour video is achievable at approximately 0.13 lux when running at 25 or 30 fps, and approximately 0.3 lux at 50 or 60 fps. When light levels fall below the colour threshold, the camera switches to monochrome and Optimized IR illumination extends usable footage to approximately 50 m in complete darkness.
- What does Axis Edge Vault provide and why does it matter for high-security installations?
Axis Edge Vault is a hardware-based cybersecurity platform that includes a CC-EAL6+ certified secure keystore, secure boot, and signed firmware. These features protect device identity, prevent unauthorised firmware from loading, and encrypt stored credentials. For installations at critical infrastructure, government sites, or environments subject to network security audits, this hardware-level protection goes beyond what software configuration can provide.
- What power options are available for the P1388-LE, and does it require a high-power PoE switch?
The P1388-LE accepts PoE at IEEE 802.3at Class 4, which requires a switch or injector capable of delivering up to 15.4 W per port. It also accepts 10-28 V DC as an alternative, which is useful when powering the camera from a local industrial DC supply or when PoE cable run limits are a constraint. Confirm your switch port supports Class 4 PoE before ordering if using PoE.
- Is the P1388-LE compatible with third-party VMS platforms?
Yes. The camera supports ONVIF Profiles G, M, S, and T, as well as the VAPIX API and the Axis Camera Application Platform (ACAP). ONVIF Profile S and T cover live and recorded video integration with a broad range of third-party video management systems. VAPIX provides deeper integration for Axis-native platforms. Confirm your VMS supports the required ONVIF profile before deployment. The P1388-LE is available through Security Wholesalers for integrators working across multiple VMS environments.
Additional Information
