AXIS M4227-LVE Dome Camera - User manual

The following video shows an example of how you can install your Axis camera with the weathershield.

For complete instructions on all installation scenarios, as well as important safety information, see the installation guide on axis.com

Preview mode is ideal for installers when fine tuning the camera view during the installation. No login is required to access the camera view in preview mode. It is available only in factory defaulted state for a limited time from powering up the device.

To find Axis devices on the network and assign them IP addresses in Windows®, use AXIS IP Utility or AXIS Device Manager. Both applications are free and can be downloaded from axis.com/support.

For more information about how to find and assign IP addresses, go to How to assign an IP address and access your device.

You can use the device with the following browsers:

✓: Recommended
*: Supported with limitations

1. Open a browser and type the IP address or host name of the Axis device.

   If you don’t know the IP address, use AXIS IP Utility or AXIS Device Manager to find the device on the network.

2. Type the username and password. If you access the device for the first time, you must create an administrator account. See Create an administrator account.

For descriptions of all features and settings in the web interface of devices with AXIS OS, see AXIS OS web interface help.

The first time you log in to your device, you must create an administrator account.

1. Enter a username.

2. Enter a password. See Secure passwords.

3. Re-enter the password.

4. Accept the license agreement.

5. Click Add account.

The device password is the primary protection for your data and services. Axis devices do not impose a password policy as they may be used in various types of installations.

To protect your data we strongly recommend that you:

• Use a password with at least 8 characters, preferably created by a password generator.

• Don’t expose the password.

• Change the password at a recurring interval, at least once a year.

1. To make sure that the device has its original AXIS OS, or to take full control of the device after a security attack:

2. Reset to factory default settings. See Reset to factory default settings.

   After the reset, secure boot guarantees the state of the device.

3. Configure and install the device.

This section covers all the important configurations that an installer needs to do to get the product up and running after the hardware installation has been completed.

Set the mounting position

1. Go to Video > Installation > Mounting position.

2. Click Change.

3. Select a mounting position and click Save and restart.

Set the power line frequency

1. Go to Video > Installation > Power line frequency.

2. Select a power line frequency and click Save and restart.

Set the orientation

1. Go to Video > Installation > Rotate.

2. Select 0 , 90, 180 or 270 degrees.

   See also Monitor long and narrow areas.

This section includes instructions about configuring your device. If you want to learn more about how certain features work, go to Learn more.

1. To adjust the view in relation to a reference area or an object, use the level grid in combination with a mechanical adjustment of the camera.

2. Go to Video > Image > and click .

3. Click to show the level grid.

4. Adjust the camera mechanically until the position of the reference area or the object is aligned with the level grid.

1. To adjust the zoom:

2. Go to Video > Installation and adjust the zoom slider.

1. To adjust the focus:

2. Click to show the autofocus area.

3. Adjust the autofocus area to cover the part of the image that you want to be in focus.

   If you don’t select an autofocus area, the camera focuses on the entire scene. We recommend that you focus on a static object.

4. Click Autofocus.

5. To fine tune the focus, adjust the focus slider.

To improve image quality for specific surveillance scenes, use exposure modes. Exposure modes lets you control aperture, shutter speed, and gain. Go to Video > Image > Exposure and select between the following exposure modes:

• For most use cases, select Automatic exposure.

• For environments with certain artificial lighting, for example fluorescent lighting, select Flicker-free.

  Select the same frequency as the power line frequency.

• For environments with certain artificial light and bright light, for example outdoors with fluorescent lighting at night and sun during daytime, select Flicker-reduced.

  Select the same frequency as the power line frequency.

• To lock the current exposure settings, select Hold current.

Your camera uses visible light to deliver color images during the day. But as the visible light diminishes, color images become less bright and clear. If you switch to night mode when this happens, the camera uses both visible and near-infrared light to deliver bright and detailed black-and-white images instead. You can set the camera to switch to night mode automatically.

1. Go to Video > Image > Day-night mode, and make sure that the IR-cut filter is set to Auto.

2. To set at what light level you want the camera to switch to night mode, move the Threshold slider toward Bright or Dark.

3. To use the built-in IR light when the camera is in night mode, turn on Allow illumination and Synchronize illumination.

4. Note

   If you set the switch to night mode to occur when it’s brighter, the image remains sharper as there is less low-light noise. If you set the switch to occur when it’s darker, the image colors are maintained for longer, but there is more image blur due to low-light noise.

Depending on the installation environment and the conditions around the camera, for example external light sources in the scene, you can sometimes improve the image quality if you manually adjust the intensity of the LEDs. If you have problems with reflections from the LEDs, you can try to reduce the intensity.

1. Go to Video > Image > Day-night mode.

2. Turn on Allow illumination.

3. Click in the live view and select Manual.

4. Adjust the intensity.

To reduce noise in low-light conditions, you can adjust one or more of the following settings:

• Adjust the trade-off between noise and motion blur. Go to Video > Image > Exposure and move the Blur-noise trade-off slider toward Low noise.

• Set the exposure mode to automatic.

• Note

  A high max shutter value can result in motion blur.

• To slow down the shutter speed, set max shutter to the highest possible value.

• Note

  When you reduce the max gain, the image can become darker.

• Set the max gain to a lower value.

• If there is an Aperture slider, move it towards Open.

• Reduce sharpness in the image, under Video > Image > Appearance.

• To reduce motion blur in low-light conditions, adjust one or more of the following settings in Video > Image > Exposure:
• Note

  When you increase the gain, image noise also increases.

• Set Max shutter to a shorter time, and Max gain to a higher value.

• If you still have problems with motion blur:

• Increase the light level in the scene.

• Mount the camera so that objects move toward it or away from it rather than sideways.

• Go to Video > Stream > General and set the compression as low as possible.

• Below the live view image, click and in Video format, select MJPEG.

• Go to Video > Stream > Zipstream and select Off.

Dynamic range is the difference in light levels in an image. In some cases the difference between the darkest and the brightest areas can be significant. The result is often an image where either the dark or the bright areas are visible. Wide dynamic range (WDR) makes both dark and bright areas of the image visible.

1. Go to Video > Image > Wide dynamic range.

2. Turn on WDR.

3. If you still have problems, go to Exposure and adjust the Exposure zone to cover the area of interest.

Find out more about WDR and how to use it at axis.com/web-articles/wdr.

Use corridor format to better utilize the full field of view in a long and narrow area, for example a staircase, hallway, road, or tunnel.

1. Depending on your device, turn the camera or the 3-axis lens in the camera 90° or 270°.

2. If the device doesn’t have automatic rotation of the view, go to Video > Installation.

3. Rotate the view 90° or 270°.

To verify that a defined part of the image contains enough pixels to, for example, recognize license plates, you can use the pixel counter.

1. Go to Video > Image.

2. Click .

3. Click for Pixel counter.

4. In the camera’s live view, adjust the size and position of the rectangle around the area of interest, for example where you expect license plates to appear.

5. You can see the number of pixels for each of the rectangle’s sides, and decide if the values are enough for your needs.

You can create one or several privacy masks to hide parts of the image.

1. Go to Video > Privacy masks.

2. Click .

3. Click the new mask and type a name.

4. Adjust the size and placement of the privacy mask according to your needs.

5. To change the color for all privacy masks, click Privacy masks and select a color.

See also Privacy masks

You can add an image as an overlay in the video stream.

1. Go to Video > Overlays.

2. Click Manage images.

3. Upload or drag and drop an image.

4. Click Upload.

5. Select Image from the drop-down list and click .

6. Select the image and a position. You can also drag the overlay image in the live view to change the position.

You can add a text field as an overlay in the video stream. This is useful for example when you want to display the date, time or a company name in the video stream.

1. Go to Video > Overlays.

2. Select Text and click .

3. Type the text you want to display, or select modifiers to show for example the current date.

4. Select a position. You can also click-and-drag the overlay in the live view to change the position.

This section includes instructions about configuring your device. To learn more about how streaming and storage works, go to Streaming and storage.

1. Go to Video > Stream.

2. Click in the live view.

3. Select Video format AV1 if your device supports it. Otherwise select H.264.

4. Go to Video > Stream > General and increase Compression.

5. Go to Video > Stream > Zipstream and do one or more of the following:

6. • Note

     The Zipstream settings are used for all video encodings except MJPEG.

   • Select the Zipstream Strength that you want to use.

   • Turn on Optimize for storage. This can only be used if the video management software supports B-frames.

   • Turn on Dynamic FPS.

   • Turn on Dynamic GOP and set a high Upper limit GOP length value.

1. To store recordings on the network, you need to set up your network storage.

2. Go to System > Storage.

3. Click Add network storage under Network storage.

4. Type the IP address of the host server.

5. Type the name of the shared location on the host server under Network share.

6. Type the username and password.

7. Select the SMB version or leave it on Auto.

8. Select Add share without testing if you experience temporary connection issues, or if the share is not yet configured.

9. Click Add.

1. Record video directly from the camera

2. Go to Video > Stream.

3. To start a recording, click .

   If you haven’t set up any storage, click and . For instructions on how to set up network storage, see Set up network storage

4. To stop recording, click again.

1. Watch video

2. Go to Recordings.

3. Click for your recording in the list.

With signed video, you can make sure that no one has tampered with the video recorded by the camera.

1. Go to Video > Stream > General and turn on Signed video.

2. Use AXIS Camera Station (5.46 or later) or another compatible video management software to record video. For instructions, see the AXIS Camera Station user manual.

3. Export the recorded video.

4. Use AXIS File Player to play the video. Download AXIS File Player.

   indicates that no one has tampered with the video.

You can create rules to make your device perform an action when certain events occur. A rule consists of conditions and actions. The conditions can be used to trigger the actions. For example, the device can start a recording or send an email when it detects motion, or show an overlay text while the device is recording.

To learn more, see Get started with rules for events.

1. Go to System > Events and add a rule. The rule defines when the device will perform certain actions. You can set up rules as scheduled, recurring, or manually triggered.

2. Enter a Name.

3. Select the Condition that must be met to trigger the action. If you specify more than one condition for the rule, all of the conditions must be met to trigger the action.

4. Select which Action to perform when the conditions are met.

This example explains how to set up the camera to start recording to the SD card when the camera detects an object. The recording will include five seconds before detection and one minute after detection ends.

Before you start:

• Make sure you have an SD card installed.

1. Make sure that AXIS Object Analytics is running:

2. Go to Apps > AXIS Object Analytics.

3. Start the application if it is not already running.

4. Make sure you have set up the application according to your needs.

1. Create a rule:

2. Go to System > Events and add a rule.

3. Type a name for the rule.

4. In the list of conditions, under Application, select Object Analytics.

5. In the list of actions, under Recordings, select Record video while the rule is active.

6. In the list of storage options, select SD_DISK.

7. Select a camera and a stream profile.

8. Set the prebuffer time to 5 seconds.

9. Set the postbuffer time to 1 minute.

10. Click Save.

This example explains how to display the text “Motion detected” when the device detects an object.

1. Make sure that AXIS Object Analytics is running:

2. Go to Apps > AXIS Object Analytics.

3. Start the application if it is not already running.

4. Make sure you have set up the application according to your needs.

1. Add the overlay text:

2. Go to Video > Overlays.

3. Under Overlays, select Text and click .

4. Enter #D in the text field.

5. Choose text size and appearance.

6. To position the text overlay, click and select an option.

1. Create a rule:

2. Go to System > Events and add a rule.

3. Type a name for the rule.

4. In the list of conditions, under Application, select Object Analytics.

5. In the list of actions, under Overlay text, select Use overlay text.

6. Select a video channel.

7. In Text, type “Motion detected”.

8. Set the duration.

9. Click Save.

This example explains how to set up a rule in the camera’s web interface that sends an email when the image has been blocked for more than 40 seconds, for example by a spray painted lens.

• Before you start:

• Create an email recipient in the camera’s web interface.

1. In AXIS Image Health Analytics:

2. Turn on Blocked image.

3. Set Validation period to 40 seconds.

4. In the camera’s web interface:

5. Go to System > Events and add a rule.

6. Type a name for the rule.

7. In the list of conditions, under Applications, select Image Health Analytics – Block.

8. In the list of actions, under Notifications, select Send notification to email.

9. Select the recipient from the list.

10. Type a subject and message for the email.

11. Click Save.

To read about all the features and settings available in the web interface of devices with AXIS OS, go to AXIS OS web interface help.

A view area is a cropped part of the full view. You can stream and store view areas instead of the full view to minimize bandwidth and storage needs. If you enable PTZ for a view area, you can pan, tilt and zoom within it. By using view areas you can remove parts of the full view, for example, the sky.

When you set up a view area, we recommend you to set the video stream resolution to the same size as or smaller than the view area size. If you set the video stream resolution larger than the view area size it implies digitally scaled up video after sensor capture, which requires more bandwidth without adding image information.

The remote focus and zoom functionality allows you to make focus and zoom adjustments to your camera from a computer. It is a convenient way to ensure that the scene’s focus, viewing angle and resolution are optimized without having to visit the camera’s installation location.

A privacy mask is a user-defined area that prevents users from viewing a part of the monitored area. In the video stream, privacy masks appear as blocks of solid color.

You’ll see the privacy mask on all snapshots, recorded video, and live streams.

You can use the VAPIX® application programming interface (API) to hide the privacy masks.

You can create several privacy masks. Each mask can have 3 to 10 anchor points.

Overlays are superimposed over the video stream. They are used to provide extra information during recordings, such as a timestamp, or during product installation and configuration. You can add either text or an image.

The acoustic sensor doesn’t stream or record any audio. It detects and measures sound waves and converts the sound waves into digital data for analysis.

The sensor analyzes the data through AXIS Audio Analytics and produce metadata, such as sound levels and audio classifications, without streaming audio. ​To read more about how AXIS Audio Analytics works, see the user manual on axis.com.

Decide which compression method to use based on your viewing requirements, and on the properties of your network. The available options are:

Motion JPEG

Motion JPEG, or MJPEG, is a digital video sequence that is made up of a series of individual JPEG images. These images are then displayed and updated at a rate sufficient to create a stream that shows constantly updated motion. For the viewer to perceive motion video the rate must be at least 16 image frames per second. Full motion video is perceived at 30 (NTSC) or 25 (PAL) frames per second.

The Motion JPEG stream uses considerable amounts of bandwidth, but provides excellent image quality and access to every image contained in the stream.

H.264 or MPEG-4 Part 10/AVC

H.264 can, without compromising image quality, reduce the size of a digital video file by more than 80% compared to the Motion JPEG format and by as much as 50% compared to older MPEG formats. This means that less network bandwidth and storage space are required for a video file. Or seen another way, higher video quality can be achieved for a given bitrate.

H.265 or MPEG-H Part 2/HEVC

H.265 can, without compromising image quality, reduce the size of a digital video file by more than 25% compared to H.264.

The Image tab contains camera settings that affect all video streams from the product. If you change something in this tab, it immediately affects all video streams and recordings.

The Stream tab contains settings for video streams. You get these settings if you request a video stream from the product and don’t specify for example resolution, or frame rate. When you change the settings in the Stream tab, it doesn’t affect ongoing streams, but it will take effect when you start a new stream.

The Stream profiles settings override the settings from the Stream tab. If you request a stream with a specific stream profile, the stream contains the settings of that profile. If you request a stream without specifying a stream profile, or request a stream profile that doesn't exist in the product, the stream contains the settings from the Stream tab.

Bitrate control helps you to manage the bandwidth consumption of your video stream.

Variable bitrate (VBR)
Variable bitrate allows the bandwidth consumption to vary depending on the level of activity in the scene. The more activity, the more bandwidth you need. With variable bitrate you are guaranteed constant image quality, but you need to make sure you have storage margins.

Maximum bitrate (MBR)
Maximum bitrate lets you set a target bitrate to handle bitrate limitations in your system. You might see a decline in image quality or frame rate as the instantaneous bitrate is kept below the specified target bitrate. You can choose to prioritize either image quality or frame rate. We recommend that you configure the target bitrate to a higher value than the expected bitrate. This gives you a margin in case there is a high level of activity in the scene.

Average bitrate (ABR)
With average bitrate, the bitrate is automatically adjusted over a longer period of time. This is so you can meet the specified target and provide the best video quality based on your available storage. Bitrate is higher in scenes with a lot of activity, compared to static scenes. You are more likely to get better image quality when in scenes with a lot of activity if you use the average bitrate option. You can define the total storage required to store the video stream for a specified amount of time (retention time) when image quality is adjusted to meet the specified target bitrate. Specify the average bitrate settings in one of the following ways:

• To calculate the estimated storage need, set the target bitrate and the retention time.

• To calculate the average bitrate, based on available storage and required retention time, use the target bitrate calculator.

• 1. Target bitrate
  2. Actual average bitrate
• You can also turn on maximum bitrate and specify a target bitrate within the average bitrate option.
• 1. Target bitrate
  2. Actual average bitrate

With analytics and apps you can get more out of your Axis device. AXIS Camera Application Platform (ACAP) is an open platform that makes it possible for third parties to develop analytics and other apps for Axis devices. Apps can be preinstalled on the device, available for download for free, or for a license fee.

To find the user manuals for Axis analytics and apps, go to help.axis.com.

AXIS Object Analytics is an analytic application that comes preinstalled on the camera. It detects objects that move in the scene and classifies them as, for example, humans or vehicles. You can set up the application to send alarms for different types of objects. To find out more about how the application works, see AXIS Object Analytics user manual.

AXIS Image Health Analytics is an AI-based application that can be used to detect image degradations or tampering attempts. The application analyzes and learns the behavior of the scene to detect blurriness or underexposure in the image, or to detect an obstructed or redirected view. You can set up the application to send events for any of these detections, and trigger actions through the camera’s event system or third-party software.

To find out more about how the application works, see AXIS Image Health Analytics user manual.

AXIS Audio Analytics detects sudden increases in sound volume and specific types of sounds such as screams or shouts within range of the device it’s installed on. These detections can be configured to trigger a response, such as recording video, playing an audio message, or alerting security staff. To find out more about how the application works, see AXIS Audio Analytics user manual.

Analytics metadata is available for moving objects in the scene. Supported object classes are visualized in the video stream through a bounding box surrounding the object, along with information about the object type and confidence level of the classification. To learn more about how to configure and consume analytics metadata, see AXIS Scene Metadata integration guide.

For product-specific information about cybersecurity, see the product's datasheet at axis.com.

For in-depth information about cybersecurity in AXIS OS, read the AXIS OS Hardening guide.

Axis provides a notification service with information about vulnerability and other security related matters for Axis devices. To receive notifications, you can subscribe at axis.com/security-notification-service.

To minimize customers' risk of exposure, Axis, as a Common Vulnerability and Exposures (CVE) numbering authority (CNA), follows industry standards to manage and respond to discovered vulnerabilities in our devices, software, and services. For more information about Axis vulnerability management policy, how to report vulnerabilities, already disclosed vulnerabilities, and corresponding security advisories, see axis.com/vulnerability-management.

Axis devices with factory default settings are pre-configured with secure default protection mechanisms. We recommend using more security configuration when installing the device. To learn more about Axis' approach to cybersecurity, including best practices, resources, and guidelines for securing your devices, go to axis.com/about-axis/cybersecurity.

This device supports microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC cards.

For SD card recommendations, see axis.com.

microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC Logos are trademarks of SD-3C LLC. microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC are trademarks or registered trademarks of SD-3C, LLC in the United States, other countries or both.

• The control button is used for:

• Resetting the product to factory default settings. See Reset to factory default settings.

• Connecting to a one-click cloud connection (O3C) service over the internet. To connect, press and release the button, then wait for the status LED to flash green three times.

RJ45 Ethernet connector with Power over Ethernet (PoE).

You can clean your device with lukewarm water and mild, nonabrasive soap.

1. Use a can of compressed air to remove dust and loose dirt from the device.

2. If necessary, clean the device with a soft microfiber cloth dampened with lukewarm water and mild, nonabrasive soap.

3. To avoid stains, dry the device with a clean, nonabrasive cloth.

To reset the product to the factory default settings:

1. Disconnect power from the product.

2. Press and hold the control button while reconnecting power. See Product overview.

3. Keep the control button pressed for 15–30 seconds until the status LED indicator flashes amber.

4. Release the control button. The process is complete when the status LED indicator turns green. If no DHCP server is available on the network, the device IP address will default to one of the following:

5. • Devices with AXIS OS 12.0 and later: Obtained from the link-local address subnet (169.254.0.0/16)

   • Devices with AXIS OS 11.11 and earlier: 192.168.0.90/24

6. Use the installation and management software tools to assign an IP address, set the password, and access the device.

   The installation and management software tools are available from the support pages on axis.com/support.

You can also reset parameters to factory default through the device’s web interface. Go to Maintenance > Factory default and click Default.

Axis offers device software management according to either the active track or the long-term support (LTS) tracks. Being on the active track means continuously getting access to all the latest product features, while the LTS tracks provide a fixed platform with periodic releases focused mainly on bug fixes and security updates.

Using AXIS OS from the active track is recommended if you want to access the newest features, or if you use Axis end-to-end system offerings. The LTS tracks are recommended if you use third-party integrations, which are not continuously validated against the latest active track. With LTS, the products can maintain cybersecurity without introducing any significant functional changes or affecting any existing integrations. For more detailed information about Axis device software strategy, go to axis.com/support/device-software.

AXIS OS determines the functionality of our devices. When you troubleshoot a problem, we recommend that you to start by checking the current AXIS OS version. The latest version might contain a correction that fixes your particular problem.

To check the current AXIS OS version:

1. Go to the device’s web interface > Status.

2. Under Device info, see the AXIS OS version.

1. Download the AXIS OS file to your computer, available free of charge at axis.com/support/device-software.

2. Log in to the device as an administrator.

3. Go to Maintenance > AXIS OS upgrade and click Upgrade.

4. When the upgrade has finished, the product restarts automatically.

You can use AXIS Device Manager to upgrade multiple devices at the same time. Find out more at axis.com/products/axis-device-manager.

Problems upgrading AXIS OS

Problems setting the IP address

Problems accessing the device

Problems with streaming

Problems with MQTT

Problems with operating the device

If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, try the troubleshooting section at axis.com/support.

When you set up your system, it’s important to consider how different settings and situations affect performance. Some factors affect bandwidth (bitrate), others affect frame rate, and some affect both.

The most important factors to consider:

• High image resolution or lower compression levels result in images containing more data which in turn affects the bandwidth.

• Rotating the image in the GUI can increase the product's CPU load.

• Access by large numbers of Motion JPEG clients or unicast H.264/H.265/AV1 clients affects the bandwidth.

• Simultaneous viewing of different streams (resolution, compression) by different clients affects both frame rate and bandwidth.

  Use identical streams wherever possible to maintain a high frame rate. Stream profiles can be used to ensure that streams are identical.

• Accessing video streams with different codecs simultaneously affects both frame rate and bandwidth. For optimal performance, use streams with the same codec.

• Heavy usage of event settings affects the product’s CPU load which in turn affects the frame rate.

• Using HTTPS may reduce frame rate, in particular if streaming Motion JPEG.

• Heavy network utilization due to poor infrastructure affects the bandwidth.

• Viewing on poorly performing client computers lowers perceived performance and affects frame rate.

• Running multiple AXIS Camera Application Platform (ACAP) applications simultaneously may affect the frame rate and the general performance.

If you need more help, go to axis.com/support.