The AXIS P3738-PLE Panoramic Camera is a multidirectional, high-resolution surveillance device designed for wide-area monitoring with excellent detail, even under challenging lighting. It integrates four sensors in one unit, with powerful analytics and robust physical design.
Key Features & Specifications
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Image / Sensors: Four channels, each providing 4K resolution (3840×2160) at up to 15 frames per second per channel.
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Optics: Varifocal lenses with focal lengths approx. 3.18-8.12 mm. Horizontal field of view covers full 360°; vertical FoV ranges roughly from 55.3° down to 21.8° (depending on sensor/lens orientation).
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Low Light / Night Performance: Day/night functionality with removable IR-cut filter. Has built-in IR illumination covering 360°, using individually controllable LEDs. Capable of zero lux (black & white with IR) in darkness.
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Dynamic Range & Image Quality: Forensic WDR ensures clarity in scenes with both bright and dark areas. High sensitivity (color: ~0.19 lux).
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Compression & Streaming: Supports H.264 (Baseline, Main, High profiles) and H.265. Includes Axis Zipstream to reduce bandwidth and storage use.
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Analytics & Intelligence: Includes AXIS Object Analytics and Scene Metadata. Can detect and classify people and vehicles. Allows defining areas or lines for detection, counting, or alerts. Also supports Video Motion Detection. Built on a deep learning processing unit (DLPU) with ARTPEC-8, plus support for ACAP version 4 for custom/third-party edge apps.
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Physical / Environmental:
• Rated for outdoor use: IP66 / IP67 weather protection.
• Vandal resistant: IK09 rating.
• Operating temperature from about -30 °C to +50 °C.
• Casing allows individual sensor heads to be moved/rotated to tailor the directions of view. Flexible mounting: recessed ceiling, ceiling mount, outdoor wall, corners (providing ~270° when wall mounted with two faces), etc.
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Other Features:
• Remote zoom and remote focus on each of the camera heads.
• Built-in local storage (memory card slot).
• Optimized IR (to reduce reflection or over-illumination).
• Designed for lower power consumption compared to multiple single-sensor cameras when doing equivalent coverage.
• Security features include signed OS, secure boot, edge vault (hardware-based security) to protect against tampering or unauthorised access.
Use Cases
These are environments or situations where the P3738-PLE is especially suitable:
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Large Indoor and Semi-enclosed Spaces
For example, train station halls, large lobbies, atriums, warehouses. One unit can cover multiple angles simultaneously, reducing the number of devices needed.
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Transport and Platform Monitoring
Platforms in metro or train stations, bus terminals: helps cover platform edge, waiting areas, walkway exits, etc., simultaneously.
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Perimeter / Outdoor Areas
Outdoor walls, building corners, plazas, parking lots, or building perimeters where 360° or near 360° coverage is needed at night, with IR support.
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Retail / Complex Commercial Spaces
Shopping centres and large retail stores where customer flow, shoplifting, or incident detection across many directions are important.
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Critical Infrastructure / Security Sensitive Sites
Places requiring strong evidence with high image fidelity, tamper detection, reliable security (both physical and cyber), like power plants, data centres, municipal infrastructure.
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Edge Intelligence Scenarios
Where you want analytics to run on the device rather than sending everything to a server — e.g. counting people entering areas, triggering alerts, scene metadata, doing forensic search on recorded video, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
| Question |
Answer |
| What does “multidirectional” mean in this context? |
It means the camera unit has four separate sensor heads, each with its own lens, that can be aimed/rotated individually. You can configure them to cover different directions, or have overlapping views (e.g. one wide view, one zoomed-in view). |
| How well does it perform at night or in dark conditions? |
It has day/night mode with a removable IR-cut filter, and full 360° IR illumination with individually controllable LEDs. In darkness, it can deliver black-and-white video (zero lux) using IR. |
| How is image clarity maintained in scenes with both bright and dark areas? |
It uses forensic WDR (Wide Dynamic Range), which balances exposure in contrasting light/dark regions, helping to preserve detail in both shadows and highlights. |
| What are the bandwidth and storage requirements? |
Four channels of 4K @ ~15 fps generate large amounts of data. Compression via H.264 or H.265 helps, and Axis Zipstream reduces bandwidth/storage needs significantly. Still, depending on configuration, network and storage infrastructure need to be sized appropriately. |
| Can analytics run on the camera itself? |
Yes. The device includes a deep learning processing unit (DLPU) and supports AXIS Object Analytics, scene metadata, motion detection. Also supports ACAP version 4, allowing custom analytics or partner apps to run at the edge. |
| How flexible is mounting and field of view adjustment? |
Quite flexible. The sensor heads can be moved and rotated so you can adjust direction per head. Mounting options include recessed ceiling, ceiling mount, wall / corner mounting (allowing ~270° view when appropriate). The casing is weather-protected and vandal resistant. |
| What about power / environment? |
Operating temperature range from -30 °C to +50 °C. IP66/IP67 for weather protection. IK09 for vandal resistance. Local storage support. Remote focus and zoom reduce need for manual adjustments. |
| Is IR illumination always on? |
No. The IR LEDs are individually controllable, so you can manage how much IR is used, depending on lighting and the risk of reflections or unwanted illumination. |
| What security features help protect the device and the video? |
It has signed operating system, secure boot, edge vault (hardware-based protection), encryption or protection of data, etc. These help protect against tampering and unauthorised access. |
The AXIS P3737-PLE Panoramic Camera is a high-performance, four-sensor (multidirectional) camera designed for wide-area surveillance with exceptional image quality, even in challenging lighting conditions.
Key Specifications:
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Resolution / Sensors: Four channels, each 5 MP, up to 20 fps (50/60 Hz) per channel.
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Lens / Field of View: Varifocal lenses (3.2-8.1 mm, F1.9-3.2). Horizontal FoV 99°–37°, vertical 70°–28°, diagonal 134°–47°.
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Light Handling: Day/night with IR-cut filter. Color mode at 0.19 lux; black & white with IR on = 0 lux. IR illumination 360°, individually controlled LEDs.
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Dynamic Range / Noise Reduction: Forensic WDR up to 120 dB depending on scene. Spatial (2D) and temporal (3D) noise reduction.
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Video Formats / Streaming: H.264, H.265, Motion JPEG. Multiple streams supported, with configurable bitrates. Axis Zipstream included to reduce bandwidth/storage.
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Analytics: Axis Object Analytics detects and classifies humans, vehicles, and supports behaviour-based rules (line crossing, objects in area, occupancy, etc.). Up to 8 scenarios can run simultaneously.
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Cybersecurity: Axis Edge Vault with secure boot, signed OS updates, tamper protection, secure keystore, signed video, TLS and IEEE 802.1X network security.
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Build Quality: Rugged IP66/IP67, IK09, NEMA 4X housing. Operates between –30 °C and +50 °C. Polycarbonate dome, aluminum/plastic housing.
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Power & Connectivity: PoE (IEEE 802.3at Type 2 Class 4). IR illumination increases power draw. Network via shielded RJ-45 Gigabit port. Storage via microSD card or NAS.
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Installation Options: Recessed ceiling mount, surface mount, pendant kits, smoked/clear domes. Highly flexible mounting solutions.
Use Cases
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Large Indoor Spaces
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Airports, train stations, shopping malls, hotel lobbies, or atriums. Provides near 360° coverage from a central position with fewer cameras required.
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Outdoor Public Areas / Perimeter Monitoring
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Parks, plazas, stadium surroundings, or other outdoor spaces where wide coverage and night-time performance are essential.
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Retail and Commercial Spaces
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Supermarkets, showrooms, large retail environments. Useful for monitoring customer flow, theft deterrence, and people-counting analytics.
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Transport Hubs
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Industrial / Utilities
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Critical Infrastructure
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Government, military, or high-security facilities that demand cybersecure, tamper-resistant cameras with evidence-grade footage.
Advantages & Considerations
Advantages:
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Wide coverage with fewer devices → reduced installation and maintenance costs.
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Excellent low-light and IR performance.
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Built-in analytics reduce reliance on external software.
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Strong cybersecurity features for secure deployments.
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Rugged build ensures reliability in demanding conditions.
Considerations:
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Resolution per channel may not capture fine detail at long distances (dedicated zoom cameras may still be needed).
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Bandwidth and storage requirements can be high with 4 x 5 MP streams at full frame rate.
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IR range, while effective, is still scene-dependent.
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Mounting and setup may require more planning than standard single-sensor cameras.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What does “multidirectional” mean?
A: The camera has four separate sensors and lenses, each covering a different angle. Together, they provide up to 360° coverage from one central mount point.
Q: How does the IR illumination work?
A: The camera has a 360° IR lighting system with individually controlled LEDs. This ensures clear black-and-white imaging in complete darkness.
Q: What are the bandwidth and storage demands?
A: With four 5 MP channels streaming simultaneously, data usage can be significant. Axis Zipstream helps reduce bandwidth and storage needs by up to 50% without losing forensic detail.
Q: Is this camera suitable for outdoor installations?
A: Yes. It is IP66/IP67 rated for dust and water protection, IK09 impact resistant, and functions in temperatures from –30 °C to +50 °C.
Q: How secure is the device?
A: It features Axis Edge Vault with secure boot, signed OS, encrypted storage, signed video, and advanced network security protocols, ensuring both data and hardware integrity.
Q: Can it detect people and vehicles automatically?
A: Yes. Axis Object Analytics is built in, offering detection, classification, and behavioural triggers such as line crossing and occupancy monitoring.
Q: What mounting options are available?
A: The camera can be surface-mounted, recessed into ceilings, installed with pendant kits, or fitted with smoked or clear domes for specific applications.
Q: How is it powered?
A: Power is delivered via PoE (IEEE 802.3at Type 2 Class 4). Power draw increases if the IR illumination is active.
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