ACTi A42 vs ACTi B43: Specification Comparison
The ACTi A42 and ACTi B43 are both outdoor-rated 5MP zoom bullet cameras from ACTi, positioned for perimeter and wide-area surveillance. Both share IP66/IK10 housings and motorized varifocal lenses, making them natural cross-shop candidates for installers evaluating fixed zoom bullets at the same resolution tier. The comparison centers on zoom range, PoE class, low-light performance, audio configuration, on-board storage, and edge analytics depth — all of which differ meaningfully between the two models.
In This Guide
How do the imaging specs compare?
Both cameras resolve 5MP, but their lens ranges diverge sharply. The A42 covers 3.6–10mm with 2.8x optical zoom (one spec field states 8x, creating an internal inconsistency in the provided data; the 2.8x figure appears in the Lens field while 8x appears in the focal-length field — buyers should verify with ACTi directly). The B43 offers a 4.5–135mm motorized lens delivering 30x optical zoom, a dramatic reach advantage for long-distance forensic detail. The A42 carries a 1/1.8" sensor spec with a documented minimum illumination of 0.003 lux color / 0.002 lux B/W at F1.5 and a 30m IR range at 850nm. The B43 lists adaptive IR with Day/Night switching but does not provide a minimum lux figure, IR wavelength, or IR throw distance in the supplied specifications.
WDR is listed for both cameras. The A42 specifies 122dB WDR, a quantified figure useful for high-contrast scenes. The B43 lists WDR without a dB value in the provided specs. The A42 supports H.265, H.264, and MJPEG compression at up to 30fps at 2592×1944 or 60fps at 1280×720. The B43 supports H.265 and H.264 only, with a documented max of 30fps at 1080p — no higher-resolution frame rate is provided in the specs.
What about installation and environment?
Both cameras carry IP66 and IK10 ratings, confirming dust-tight, rain-resistant, and impact-resistant enclosures suitable for exposed outdoor mounting. The A42 adds NEMA 4X certification, relevant for US industrial and coastal deployments requiring hose-down resistance documentation. Operating temperature for the A42 is specified as −30°C to +50°C (−22°F to +122°F); no operating temperature range is provided in the B43's supplied specifications.
Power input is a meaningful differentiator. The A42 accepts DC 12V or PoE Class 3 (IEEE 802.3af), and separately lists PoE+ (802.3at) Class 3 — buyers should confirm which standard applies with ACTi, as the specs contain both references. The B43 is specified at PoE 802.3af only, which caps injector/switch port budget at 15.4W. Mounting options differ as well: the A42 supports pole and rack mounting; the B43 supports wall and pole mounting. The B43 includes onboard MicroSDHC/MicroSDXC storage; the A42 does not list local storage in the provided specs. The A42 weight is documented at 812.5g (1.791 lb); no weight is provided for the B43.
Which fits your VMS and analytics better?
The A42 is ONVIF Profile S, Profile T, and Profile Q compliant — three profiles providing broad VMS compatibility including metadata streaming (Profile T) and device discovery (Profile Q). The B43 is listed as ONVIF-compliant but no specific profiles are enumerated in the provided specifications, which limits integration certainty for VMSes that gate on profile level.
For edge analytics, the A42 includes VMD, People Counting, and Smoke Detection per the provided specs. The B43 lists Motion Detection, Line Crossing, and Intrusion Alerts. The A42 offers a three-port audio configuration (mic-in, line-in, line-out), enabling two-way audio or external microphone connection. The B43 provides a built-in microphone only — no line-in or line-out is specified. The B43 includes onboard MicroSDHC/MicroSDXC edge storage for local recording or buffering; the A42 does not list any onboard storage in the provided specifications. The A42 carries a documented 3-year warranty; no warranty term is provided for the B43.
Which should you choose: the A42 or the B43?
Our take: The B43 is the stronger choice when long-range identification is the primary requirement: its 30x optical zoom (4.5–135mm) far outreaches the A42's 2.8x zoom (3.6–10mm), and onboard MicroSDHC/MicroSDXC storage adds resilience without NVR dependency. However, the A42 holds concrete advantages in three areas: it documents a minimum illumination of 0.003 lux color with a specified 30m IR range at 850nm (the B43 provides neither figure), it certifies 122dB WDR versus an unquantified WDR claim on the B43, and it delivers full ONVIF Profile S/T/Q compliance versus an unspecified ONVIF level on the B43. The A42 also adds NEMA 4X certification and a −30°C floor for cold-climate sites. Choose the B43 for wide-area or perimeter scenes requiring forensic zoom reach and local storage; choose the A42 where low-light performance, quantified WDR, deep VMS ONVIF profile support, or verified cold-weather ratings are non-negotiable.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Spec-for-spec, from manufacturer data.
| Specification | ACTi A42 | ACTi B43 |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 5MP | 5MP |
| Sensor Size | 1/1.8" | — |
| Lens / Focal Length | 3.6–10mm motorized (2.8x optical zoom; 8x stated separately — verify with ACTi) | 4.5–135mm motorized (30x optical zoom) |
| Min. Illumination | Color: 0.003 lux @ F1.5; B/W: 0.002 lux @ F1.5 | — |
| IR Range | 30m @ 850nm | — (adaptive IR; distance not specified) |
| WDR | 122dB | WDR (dB not specified) |
| Max Frame Rate | 30fps @ 2592×1944; 60fps @ 1280×720 | 30fps @ 1080p |
| Video Compression | H.265; H.264; MJPEG | H.265; H.264 |
| IP Rating | IP66 / NEMA 4X | IP66 |
| IK / Impact Rating | IK10 | IK10 |
| Operating Temperature | −30°C to +50°C (−22°F to +122°F) | — |
| Power Input / PoE Class | DC 12V; PoE 802.3af / PoE+ 802.3at Class 3 (verify with ACTi) | PoE 802.3af |
| Edge Storage | — | MicroSDHC / MicroSDXC |
| Audio | Mic-in; Line-in; Line-out | Built-in microphone only |
| ONVIF Profiles | Profile S; Profile T; Profile Q | ONVIF-compliant (profiles not specified) |
| Edge Analytics | VMD; People Counting; Smoke Detection | Motion Detection; Line Crossing; Intrusion Alerts |
| Mount Type | Pole; Rack | Wall; Pole |
| Weight | 812.5g (1.791 lb) | — |
| Warranty | 3 years | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should you choose: the A42 or the B43?
The B43 is the stronger choice when long-range identification is the primary requirement: its 30x optical zoom (4.5–135mm) far outreaches the A42's 2.8x zoom (3.6–10mm), and onboard MicroSDHC/MicroSDXC storage adds resilience without NVR dependency. However, the A42 holds concrete advantages in three areas: it documents a minimum illumination of 0.003 lux color with a specified 30m IR range at 850nm (the B43 provides neither figure), it certifies 122dB WDR versus an unquantified WDR claim on the B43, and it delivers full ONVIF Profile S/T/Q compliance versus an unspecified ONVIF level on the B43. The A42 also adds NEMA 4X certification and a −30°C floor for cold-climate sites. Choose the B43 for wide-area or perimeter scenes requiring forensic zoom reach and local storage; choose the A42 where low-light performance, quantified WDR, deep VMS ONVIF profile support, or verified cold-weather ratings are non-negotiable.
Is the A42 or B43 better for low-light performance?
Based on the provided specifications, the A42 is better documented for low light: it lists a minimum illumination of 0.003 lux color / 0.002 lux B/W at F1.5 and an 850nm IR range of 30 meters. The B43 lists adaptive IR with Day/Night switching but does not provide a minimum lux value or IR throw distance in its supplied specs — making a direct low-light comparison impossible from spec sheets alone. Buyers who need verified low-light figures should request B43 test data from ACTi before committing.
Which camera is better for long-distance surveillance?
The B43 is clearly superior for long-distance work. Its 4.5–135mm motorized lens delivers 30x optical zoom, enabling forensic-level detail at range without repositioning the camera. The A42's lens tops out at 10mm with 2.8x optical zoom (noting the internal spec inconsistency of 8x in one field), which is suited for close- to mid-range perimeter coverage rather than extended standoff distances.
Can either camera record locally without a VMS or NVR?
Only the B43 lists onboard storage in the provided specifications — it supports MicroSDHC and MicroSDXC cards for edge recording. The A42's specifications do not include any local storage option, meaning it requires a connected NVR or VMS to retain footage. If standalone or failover local recording is a project requirement, the B43 has that capability per spec; the A42 does not.
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