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Making sense of the Axis camera naming convention
As the manufacturer of the first network camera, Axis have had a long time to get their naming convention right.
With a wide product range, they’ve adapted their naming for different sets of devices. For example, covert cameras numbering has a different meaning to their full-sized cousins.
Let’s dive into what those letters and numbers mean…
IP cameras
This is the biggest section for Axis, who have a vast range of products from static indoor, to bispectral cameras. The Axis product number are some of the shortest and are usually in the following format: X1234-XXX.
To help explain what each one means, let’s use M3106-LVE Mk II as an example:
| Model # | Meaning |
|---|---|
| M | Product line M = Affordable P = Versatile Q = Advanced V = Live stream |
| 3 | 1 or 2 = Box, bullet or thermal camera 3 or 4 = Dome camera 5 or 6 = PTZ 8 = Positioning 9 = Specialty |
| 1 | Series number (1-9) |
| 0 | Running number (0-9) |
| 6 | Resolution 1 = VGA – 640 x 480 2 = 4CIF – 704 x 576 3 = SVGA – 800 x 600 4 = HD 750p 5 = HD 1080p 6 = 3 – 5mp 7 = 5 – 8mp 8 = 8 – 15mp 9 = 15mp or more |
| -LVE | C = Climate controlled E = Enclosure therefore outdoor ready L = LED P = Panoramic S = Stainless steel R = Rugged V = Vandal-resistant W = Wireless |
| Mk II | Version |
|
0 1 2 |
208 x 156 384 x 288 640 x 480 |
Therefore, the Q2901-E an outdoor ready bullet camera with 384 x 288 resolution.
Series naming
Together, the first three numbers and letters form the series name. for example – M50, P32 or Q16. The series name is used frequently by both us and Axis, as they are a ‘family’ of products.
Modular (covert) cameras
These unconventional devices, with a separate body and sensors, also have a separate naming convention. The product names have a slightly different meaning depending on if you’re talking about a complete camera or separate units.
If you’re interested in learning more about these products, read our top 5 reasons to choose a modular camera blog.
Base unit naming
The base unit is where footage processing happens and is therefore the brain of the device. Despite this they have a pretty simple naming convention:
| FA | F = Flexible FA = Next generation |
| 5 | Level |
| 4 | Number of sensors supported (1 or 4) |
So, the FA54 unit is a next generation model with four sensors.
Sensor unit
As the lens of the camera, sensors have more parameters than base units and therefore more variety with their naming.
| FA | Product line – F or FA |
| 1 | 1 = Standard 3 = Eyeball 4 = Dome 8 = Stereo |
| 0 | Series # |
| 0 | Lens 0 = Static 1 = Varifocal 2 = Pinhole 3 = Fisheye |
| 5 | Resolution 4 = HD 720p 5 = HD 1080p |
| -L | E = Outdoor L = LED illumination |
This makes the FA 1005-L a standard static view sensor with HD 1080p resolution and LED illumination.
Base and sensor in one
Rather than purchasing separate units, Axis also provide “all in one” units, with base and sensor provided together. To differentiate them from the ‘separates’ they start with a different letter:
| P | Modular base and sensor |
| 1 | 1 = Fixed modular camera |
| 2 | Series |
| 1 | Running number |
| 4 | Resolution 0 = 208 x 156 (thermal only) 4 = HD 720p 5 = HD 1080p9 |
| -E | E = Outdoor ready |
The P1214, for example is a fixed lens, discreet camera with HD 720 resolution.
NB. The letters after a dash in the product name have the same meaning across the entire camera range.
To conclude
Hopefully now Axis products make more sense to you. They’re one of the most understandable brands in terms of product naming, making it possible to understand the features of a device before you’ve even landed on the product page.
This guide has covered only popular varieties of network cameras. If you want to understand the entire naming convention, take a look at Axis naming guide (PDF).
When you look at Axis cameras on this site, the main features of the product are included in the title. If you’d like any help choosing the right camera for you, get in touch.
