Product SKU: P3228-LVE
Product Overview
For outdoor installations where 4K detail and flexible framing matter, the AXIS P3228-LVE is a fixed dome camera built to handle real-world deployment challenges. Its 3.5-10mm varifocal lens supports remote zoom and focus adjustment, meaning installers can precisely frame a scene from ground level without returning to the camera head after mounting. Equipped with Forensic WDR, Lightfinder technology, and built-in IR illumination with OptimizedIR, the P3228-LVE maintains usable image quality across scenes with strong contrast, fading daylight, or complete darkness. Axis Zipstream technology integrated into the H.264 stream reduces storage and bandwidth demands without sacrificing detail in moving scenes. The housing carries IP66, NEMA 4X, and IK10 ratings, making it suitable for exposed outdoor positions including building facades, entry canopies, car parks, and perimeter walkways. PoE powers the unit via a single Cat5e or Cat6 cable run.
Key Capabilities
4K Full Frame Rate Capture
The 1/2.5″ progressive scan CMOS sensor delivers 3840×2160 resolution at full frame rate, providing the image detail needed to identify individuals, read number plates, or review fine spatial information across wide outdoor scenes.
Remote Zoom and Focus
The 3.5-10mm varifocal lens allows zoom and focus to be set remotely via the camera interface once mounted. This removes the need for a second technician at the camera head and speeds up commissioning on multi-camera installations at height.
Forensic WDR for Contrast-Heavy Scenes
Forensic WDR processes scenes where bright backgrounds such as open sky or sunlit surfaces compete with shadowed foreground subjects, preserving detail in both zones simultaneously. This is particularly useful at building entrances, covered walkways, and loading dock openings.
Lightfinder and OptimizedIR
Lightfinder technology extends the camera’s sensitivity in low-ambient-light conditions, while OptimizedIR adjusts the built-in IR illumination pattern to match the current zoom level, avoiding overexposed foregrounds at wide angle or dark edges at telephoto.
Axis Zipstream Bandwidth Savings
Zipstream technology embedded in the H.264 stream dynamically reduces bitrate in low-activity areas of the frame while retaining full detail where motion or forensic interest is detected, cutting storage and network load across long-term deployments.
IP66, NEMA 4X, and IK10 Housing
The dome enclosure is rated IP66 for dust ingress and water jet resistance, NEMA 4X for outdoor and corrosive environments, and IK10 for resistance to direct impact. This combination covers exposed facade, canopy, and car park mounting positions.
Best For
- Outdoor Facade and Entry Monitoring: The IP66 and IK10 ratings combined with Forensic WDR make the P3228-LVE well suited to building entry canopies and facade positions where lighting contrast and exposure are a constant challenge.
- Car Park and Perimeter Coverage: The 4K sensor and adjustable field of view from 100 degrees down to 38 degrees horizontal allow precise framing of lanes, bays, and access points without needing a separate wide-angle or telephoto camera.
- Multi-Camera Commercial Installations: Remote zoom and focus capability reduces commissioning time per camera, which is a practical advantage on large-scale projects where access to elevated mounting positions is time-consuming.
- Storage-Conscious Deployments: Sites running extended recording windows benefit from Zipstream’s bitrate management, which reduces storage consumption without downgrading the resolution or frame rate of captured footage.
Why Choose the AXIS P3228-LVE
The AXIS P3228-LVE occupies a specific position in the outdoor fixed dome category: a 4K varifocal camera with a professional-grade imaging stack that covers demanding outdoor conditions without requiring manual physical tuning after installation. Forensic WDR, Lightfinder, and OptimizedIR together address the three most common outdoor imaging problems, which are high contrast, low ambient light, and uneven IR coverage at different zoom levels. The 3.5-10mm lens range covers roughly 38 to 100 degrees horizontal, giving installers room to narrow or widen coverage after the bracket is fixed. Zipstream integration is a practical long-term advantage for any site running local storage or capped cloud recording plans. The P3228-LVE is available through Security Wholesalers as part of the Axis Communications outdoor dome range, and pairs with Axis network video recorders for a fully integrated system.
Buyer Decision Tips
Superseded Model: The AXIS P3228-LVE has been replaced by the AXIS P3268-LVE. If you are specifying this model for a new installation, check availability and consider whether the replacement model better suits current project requirements before ordering.
Varifocal Lens and FOV Planning: The 3.5-10mm lens provides a horizontal field of view between 100 and 38 degrees. Before mounting, estimate the required coverage width at the target distance to confirm whether the wide end or telephoto end of the zoom range suits the position. Remote focus allows fine adjustment after mounting, but the physical bracket position still determines the general coverage direction.
Key Features & Technical Specifications
| Model |
AXIS P3228-LVE |
| Image Sensor |
1/2.5″ progressive scan RGB CMOS |
| Maximum Resolution |
3840 x 2160 (4K) |
| Resolution Range |
3840 x 2160 to 160 x 90 |
| Lens Type |
Varifocal, 3.5-10mm, F1.7 |
| Horizontal Field of View |
100 – 38 degrees |
| Vertical Field of View |
51 – 22 degrees |
| Remote Zoom and Focus |
Yes |
| IR Illumination |
Built-in IR with OptimizedIR |
| WDR Technology |
Forensic WDR |
| Low-Light Technology |
Lightfinder |
| Video Compression |
H.264 with Axis Zipstream |
| Ingress Protection |
IP66, NEMA 4X |
| Impact Rating |
IK10 |
| Power |
PoE IEEE 802.3af / 802.3at |
| Maximum Power Consumption |
11.5W |
| Memory |
1GB RAM, 512MB flash |
Ideal Use Cases
Building Entry Canopies
Forensic WDR handles the brightness differential between an open outdoor background and a shaded canopy foreground, keeping faces and clothing visible in both zones without manual exposure overrides.
Outdoor Car Parks
The varifocal range and 4K resolution allow a single camera to cover a lane entry or bay row in enough detail for post-incident review, with OptimizedIR maintaining even illumination as the zoom level changes between day and night.
Commercial Facade Monitoring
The IK10 and IP66 ratings make the dome suitable for direct outdoor facade mounting, where the camera may be exposed to weather, dust, and occasional deliberate impact without housing degradation affecting image quality.
Perimeter Walkways and Access Paths
Lightfinder and built-in IR extend coverage into low-light conditions on perimeter paths where ambient lighting is minimal, providing usable footage through the night without relying on external lighting infrastructure.
Large-Scale Multi-Camera Projects
Remote zoom and focus reduces the number of technician trips to each elevated mounting point during commissioning, and Zipstream lowers the per-camera storage footprint across large channel counts running continuous recording.
Choosing the Right Model
- Choose this model if: You require a 4K outdoor fixed dome with a varifocal lens that can be tuned remotely after installation, and your site involves mixed lighting conditions that demand Forensic WDR, Lightfinder, and IR together in a single housing.
- Choose a different model if: You need a current-production camera for a new project. The AXIS P3228-LVE has been superseded and availability may be limited. Consider the replacement AXIS P3268-LVE, which carries updated specifications for new installations.
- Choose a different model if: Your site requires PTZ movement, motorised pan and tilt, or wide-area panoramic coverage beyond what a single fixed varifocal dome can provide. A PTZ or multi-sensor camera would be more appropriate in those scenarios.
FAQs
- What does remote zoom and focus mean on the AXIS P3228-LVE?
Once the camera is physically mounted, the zoom and focus of the 3.5-10mm varifocal lens can be adjusted through the camera’s web interface without physically touching the lens or returning to the mounting point. This is useful for cameras installed at height or in locations that are difficult to access repeatedly during commissioning.
- What is the field of view coverage range?
The 3.5-10mm lens provides a horizontal field of view between 100 degrees at the wide end and 38 degrees at the telephoto end, with a corresponding vertical range of 51 to 22 degrees. This allows the camera to cover a broad entry area or narrow down to a specific lane or doorway depending on the scene requirement.
- How does OptimizedIR work with the varifocal lens?
OptimizedIR adjusts the IR illumination beam to match the current zoom position of the lens. At wide angle, the IR pattern spreads to cover the broader field of view. As the lens zooms in, the IR narrows to maintain even illumination across the smaller framed area, preventing the overexposed foreground or dark edges that can occur with fixed IR on varifocal lenses.
- Is the AXIS P3228-LVE still in production?
No. The AXIS P3228-LVE has been superseded by the AXIS P3268-LVE. Stock of the P3228-LVE may still be available through Security Wholesalers, but for new project specifications it is worth confirming current availability before committing to this model across a large installation.
- What power supply does the AXIS P3228-LVE require?
The camera is powered via Power over Ethernet, supporting both IEEE 802.3af and IEEE 802.3at standards. Maximum power consumption is 11.5W. A PoE switch or injector with at least 15.4W output per port will support the camera through a standard Cat5e or Cat6 cable run.
- Can Zipstream be used without reducing image quality?
Yes. Axis Zipstream works within the H.264 stream by reducing bitrate in areas of the frame where there is little activity or forensic interest, while preserving full detail in areas where motion or important objects are detected. The recorded resolution remains 4K and the frame rate is not reduced. The practical effect is lower average bitrate and reduced storage consumption over time without discarding relevant detail.
Additional Information
