Product SKU: P3738-PLE
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Product Overview
Wide-area monitoring across transport stations, campuses, warehouses, and large commercial sites often demands four separate camera positions, four cable runs, four network ports, and four VMS licences. The AXIS P3738-PLE addresses this by combining four 4K camera heads into one multidirectional unit, delivering up to 360° combined horizontal coverage from a single installation point. Each head features a 3.18-8.12mm varifocal lens with remote zoom and remote focus, allowing per-channel framing adjustments without on-site lens access. Equipped with 360° IR illumination using individually controlled LEDs, Lightfinder, and Forensic WDR, it supports detailed coverage across daylight, low light, and complete darkness. Built on ARTPEC-8 with a built-in deep learning processing unit, it runs AXIS Object Analytics on the edge for people and vehicle detection. IP66/IP67 weather protection, IK09 vandal resistance, and Axis Edge Vault cybersecurity make it suited to demanding outdoor and indoor professional installations.
Key Capabilities
Four Independent 4K Channels
Four 4K camera heads in one unit deliver up to 3840 x 2160 resolution per channel. Each head operates independently, giving installers four detailed views from one device while using one cable run, one network port, one IP address, and typically one VMS licence.
Remote Varifocal Adjustment Per Head
Each camera head uses a 3.18-8.12mm varifocal lens with remote zoom and remote focus. Installers can fine-tune the field of view per channel from the VMS or web interface without returning to the camera, which is especially useful for multi-storey or hard-to-access mounting positions.
360° IR with Individually Controlled LEDs
Built-in 360° IR illumination supports usable black-and-white footage down to 0 lux. Individually controlled LEDs allow illumination to be optimised across each monitored direction, reducing overexposure or uneven lighting across the four channels in varied outdoor environments.
On-Edge Deep Learning Analytics
The ARTPEC-8 processor includes a dedicated deep learning processing unit running AXIS Object Analytics directly on the camera. People and vehicle detection runs without a server-side analytics licence, supporting smarter event triggers, object counting in defined zones, and more targeted forensic search.
Zipstream Bandwidth Management
Axis Zipstream with H.264 and H.265 compression reduces storage and bandwidth requirements across all four channels simultaneously. For a multidirectional 4K camera generating four concurrent high-resolution streams, this compression is important for managing network load and recorder storage capacity.
Hardened Construction and Cybersecurity
IP66/IP67 weather protection and IK09 vandal resistance support outdoor deployment in exposed commercial and public-space environments. Axis Edge Vault, signed OS, and secure boot provide hardware-based cybersecurity designed for professional infrastructure where device integrity is a project requirement.
Best For
- Infrastructure Reduction on Large Sites: The four-in-one design reduces cabling, switch ports, mounting hardware, and VMS licence count compared with installing four separate cameras to achieve the same directional coverage.
- Hard-to-Access or Elevated Mounting Positions: Remote zoom and remote focus per channel mean lens adjustments and coverage fine-tuning can be done remotely after installation, reducing the need to revisit ceiling-mounted, pendant-mounted, or elevated positions.
- Around-the-Clock Outdoor Coverage: 360° IR illumination, Lightfinder, Forensic WDR, and an operating range of -30 °C to 50 °C support continuous surveillance across varied conditions in transport, commercial, campus, and perimeter environments.
- Sites Requiring On-Edge Analytics: With AXIS Object Analytics running on the ARTPEC-8 processor, people and vehicle detection works without additional server resources, making it suitable for distributed sites where edge processing reduces central infrastructure requirements.
- Professional Installations with Cybersecurity Requirements: Axis Edge Vault, secure boot, and signed OS align with procurement specifications on government, transport, education, and corporate projects that require hardware-based security measures on networked devices.
Why Choose the AXIS P3738-PLE
The AXIS P3738-PLE addresses a specific challenge in wide-area surveillance: delivering four-direction 4K coverage without multiplying installation infrastructure. Where a site would otherwise require four separate cameras, four cable runs, four PoE ports, and four VMS licences, this single multidirectional unit consolidates those resources into one mounting point. The 3.18-8.12mm varifocal range per head allows each sensor to be tailored to its specific zone, and remote zoom and focus make post-installation adjustments practical at height or in constrained locations. The ARTPEC-8 processor with its deep learning unit means AXIS Object Analytics runs on the camera itself, not on a separate server, which matters for distributed deployments. Available through Security Wholesalers, the P3738-PLE is suited to transport, retail, campus, and industrial projects where site coverage efficiency and infrastructure cost are central to the design brief.
Key Features & Technical Specifications
| Model |
AXIS P3738-PLE |
| Product Type |
Multidirectional Panoramic Network Camera |
| Sensor Configuration |
4 x 4K camera channels |
| Image Sensor |
4 x 1/2.8″ CMOS |
| Maximum Resolution |
3840 x 2160 per channel |
| Maximum Frame Rate |
12.5/15 fps per channel |
| Lens |
3.18-8.12mm varifocal per head |
| Remote Zoom / Remote Focus |
Yes, per channel |
| Horizontal Field of View |
Up to 360° combined |
| Vertical Field of View |
55.3° – 21.8° |
| Minimum Illumination |
0.19 lux colour / 0 lux black and white |
| Low-Light Technology |
Axis Lightfinder |
| Wide Dynamic Range |
Forensic WDR |
| IR Illumination |
360° IR with individually controlled LEDs |
| Day/Night |
Yes, with removable IR cut filter |
| Compression |
H.264, H.265, Axis Zipstream |
| Analytics |
AXIS Object Analytics, AXIS Scene Metadata, AXIS Video Motion Detection |
| Deep Learning Processor |
Built-in deep learning processing unit (ARTPEC-8) |
| Power |
Power over Ethernet (PoE) |
| Local Storage |
Memory card slot supported |
| IP Rating |
IP66, IP67 |
| Vandal Rating |
IK09 |
| Operating Temperature |
-30 °C to 50 °C |
| Cybersecurity |
Axis Edge Vault, signed OS, secure boot |
| Sustainability |
BFR/CFR free, PVC free |
Ideal Use Cases
Transport Stations and Platforms
Platforms, concourses, ticketing areas, and pedestrian flows demand multi-directional coverage from fixed mounting positions. The four independently adjustable 4K heads allow each channel to be aimed at a different zone, while 360° IR supports clear footage after hours and in artificially lit environments with varying contrast.
Campus Courtyards and Building Intersections
Outdoor courtyards and building intersections on school, university, and corporate campuses often require monitoring of multiple approach paths from one central point. The P3738-PLE’s 360° combined coverage and IK09 vandal resistance make it suited to these shared outdoor spaces where coverage breadth and durability matter.
Retail Centres and Large Shopping Floors
Wide retail floors, food courts, escalator banks, and multi-entrance zones benefit from four independent 4K views from one ceiling mounting point. AXIS Object Analytics supports people counting and zone monitoring, which has practical applications for retail operations beyond security coverage alone.
Warehouses and Distribution Facilities
Loading docks, internal floor intersections, staging areas, and yard entries in warehouse environments require coverage across multiple directions from elevated ceiling or pendant mounting positions. Remote zoom and focus per channel allow adjustments without platform access after the initial installation is complete.
Car Parks and Outdoor Perimeters
Entry points, perimeter corners, and open car park centres expose cameras to weather, temperature variation, and potential physical interference. IP66/IP67 protection, IK09 resistance, 360° IR illumination, and operation from -30 °C to 50 °C address the conditions common to these outdoor commercial environments.
Choosing the Right Model
- Choose this model if: Your site requires four-direction 4K coverage from one mounting point and you want to reduce cable runs, PoE ports, IP addresses, and VMS licence count. The remote varifocal adjustment per head and on-edge deep learning analytics make it suited to professional installations where framing flexibility and edge processing are project requirements.
- Choose a different model if: Your site needs smooth continuous pan, tilt, and zoom tracking of moving subjects across a wide area, as the P3738-PLE uses fixed adjustable heads rather than motorised PTZ movement. If full 30fps per channel is required for fast-motion capture, a single-sensor camera with a higher frame rate will be more appropriate, as each channel on this unit is capped at 15fps.
- Choose a different model if: Your coverage requirement is a single direction or two directions only. A multidirectional 4-channel unit represents more infrastructure than a standard fixed or varifocal camera where a single well-placed sensor would cover the target zone adequately.
- Consider fisheye panoramic cameras if: You need a single continuous 360° dewarped view rather than four independent streams, and your VMS supports fisheye dewarping natively. The P3738-PLE’s four separate channels suit operators who need four individually managed views, not a single panoramic image.
FAQs
- How does the AXIS P3738-PLE differ from a fisheye panoramic camera?
A fisheye camera uses a single wide-angle lens to capture one continuous 360° image that is dewarped in software. The P3738-PLE uses four separate 4K camera heads, each with its own varifocal lens, producing four independent video channels. This means each head can be individually aimed, zoomed, and focused for targeted coverage, rather than relying on dewarping a single distorted image across the full scene.
- What is the maximum frame rate per channel?
Each of the four camera channels on the AXIS P3738-PLE supports a maximum of 12.5 or 15 fps depending on regional power frequency. This is sufficient for general surveillance and identification use cases, but sites that require smooth high-frame-rate capture of fast-moving subjects should factor this into their camera selection process before specifying the unit.
- Can the camera heads be repositioned after installation?
Yes, each of the four heads on the AXIS P3738-PLE can be physically repositioned and individually adjusted for zoom and focus remotely via the camera’s web interface or compatible VMS. This makes it practical to refine coverage after installation without returning to the mounting position, which is particularly useful for ceiling-mounted or elevated installations.
- How does Axis Zipstream affect storage across four channels?
Axis Zipstream reduces bandwidth and storage requirements by dynamically lowering the bitrate in areas of low activity while preserving detail in motion-relevant zones. For a camera generating four simultaneous 4K streams, this compression approach has a meaningful impact on total storage consumption and network load, making it an important factor in recorder and switch sizing for projects using the P3738-PLE.
- Does the AXIS P3738-PLE require a separate analytics server?
No. The P3738-PLE is built on the ARTPEC-8 chip, which includes a dedicated deep learning processing unit. AXIS Object Analytics runs directly on the camera, supporting people and vehicle detection and object counting without requiring a separate analytics server or additional processing licence. This on-edge approach is suitable for distributed sites where server-side analytics would add infrastructure complexity.
- Is the P3738-PLE suitable for installation in Australia’s outdoor climate conditions?
Yes. With IP66 and IP67 weather protection, IK09 vandal resistance, and an operating temperature range of -30 °C to 50 °C, the P3738-PLE is rated for outdoor deployment in exposed commercial, transport, industrial, and public-space environments. The P3738-PLE is part of the Security Wholesalers range and is suited to Australian installations where summer heat, humidity, and occasional physical interference are considerations.
- What VMS licence implications does a multidirectional camera have?
Licensing depends on the VMS platform, but many systems licence by channel. Because the P3738-PLE delivers four 4K views, some VMS platforms may count it as 4 licences. However, compared with installing 4 physically separate cameras with their own individual VMS connections, the consolidation of infrastructure, cabling, and physical maintenance points still represents a meaningful saving in total project cost. Confirm VMS channel counting with your specific platform before specifying.
Additional Information
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