ACTi A86 vs ACTi A912: Specification Comparison
Both the ACTi A86 and ACTi A912 are 5MP, single-channel IP cameras sharing the same resolution class, PoE Class 3 power, H.265/H.264/MJPEG compression, and two-way audio — making them legitimate cross-shop candidates. The comparison pivots on deployment context: the A86 is a motorized-zoom outdoor dome engineered for perimeter surveillance in harsh environments, while the A912 is a fixed-lens indoor mini hemispheric dome designed for wide-area fisheye coverage in controlled interior spaces.
In This Guide
How do the imaging specs compare?
Both cameras deliver 5MP at 30 fps, but their sensor and lens architectures serve different coverage strategies. The A86 uses a 1/2.8" sensor with a 2.7–13.5mm motorized varifocal lens providing 5x optical zoom, enabling narrow-angle detail capture at range — IR illumination reaches 30m. The A912 uses a 1/2.7" sensor paired with a fixed f1.05mm ultra-wide fisheye lens, producing a 180° panoramic field with ePTZ dewarping at up to 2048×1152 and a fisheye native resolution of 2560×1920; IR range is shorter at 20m.
On WDR, the A912 edges out the A86 numerically: 130dB versus 125dB Extreme WDR. Minimum illumination is nearly identical — the A86 reaches 0.018 lux in color (0 lux with IR on), while the A912 reaches 0.017 lux in color at F2.25 with AGC on (0 lux B/W with IR on). The A86 supports adaptive IR LED; the A912 specifies 850nm IR LEDs. Neither spec sheet documents optical sensor frame rate modes beyond 30 fps.
What about installation and environment?
The A86 is rated IP66 and IK10, meaning it is fully dust-tight, protected against powerful water jets, and impact-resistant to 20-joule strikes — appropriate for exposed outdoor mounting. Its operating temperature spans -40°C to +50°C (-40°F to +122°F), covering extreme cold-weather deployments. Mounting options include wall, pole, pendant, corner, and rack via optional accessories, and the camera ships with a 2m pigtail RJ-45 cable (10/100 Base-T). Dimensions are 139.38mm × 129.75mm (Ø × H).
The A912 carries no published IP or IK rating per the provided specifications, limiting it to indoor, environmentally controlled locations. Its operating range is -10°C to +50°C (-14°F to +122°F), which is narrower on the cold end by 30°C compared to the A86. Mounting options are wall and pendant. The A912 connects via a standard RJ-45 connector (not a pigtail) and weighs 320g (0.7 lb). Both cameras draw PoE Class 3 power (802.3af); the A86 is rated at 13W and the A912 at 12.95W maximum.
Which fits your VMS and analytics better?
The A86 supports ONVIF Profile S, G, T, and Q — four profiles — while the A912 supports Profile S, G, and T only; Profile Q (quick installation/auto-configuration) is absent on the A912. Both cameras provide two-way audio: the A86 via mic-in, line-in, and line-out; the A912 via a built-in microphone plus line-in and line-out. Neither spec sheet documents onboard SD card or edge storage capability for either model.
Edge analytics differ by deployment focus. The A86 offers Video Motion Detection, People Counting, and Smoke Detection. The A912 offers VMD, Heat Map, and Tampering Detection — the heat map function is particularly suited to indoor traffic-flow analysis enabled by its fisheye dewarping. The A912 also explicitly documents cybersecurity features (IP address filtering, HTTPS encryption, password-protected user levels), whereas the A86 spec sheet does not enumerate equivalent cybersecurity capabilities. Both cameras support DC 12V auxiliary power in addition to PoE.
Which should you choose: the A86 or the A912?
Our take: The A86 is the stronger choice when the deployment is outdoors, requires optical zoom for perimeter or entry-point detail, or must survive temperature extremes and physical impact. Its IK10/IP66 housing and -40°C cold-end rating address environments the A912 cannot serve, and its 5x motorized zoom (2.7–13.5mm) allows post-installation field-of-view adjustment without a second camera. The A912 is the stronger choice for indoor wide-area coverage where a single fisheye sensor must replace multiple fixed cameras: its 180° panoramic field with ePTZ dewarping, 130dB WDR (5dB above the A86), and Heat Map analytics are purpose-built for lobbies, open floors, and retail interiors. Installers running ONVIF Profile Q-dependent auto-discovery workflows should note that only the A86 supports that profile. Neither spec sheet confirms onboard edge storage.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Spec-for-spec, from manufacturer data.
| Specification | ACTi A86 | ACTi A912 |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 5MP (2592×1944) | 5MP (2560×1920 fisheye; 2048×1152 dewarped) |
| Image Sensor Size | 1/2.8" | 1/2.7" |
| Lens / Focal Length | 2.7–13.5mm motorized zoom (5x optical) | Fixed f1.05mm fisheye |
| Field of View | — | 180° panoramic (fisheye); ePTZ dewarping |
| Min Illumination | 0.018 lux color; 0 lux (IR on) | 0.017 lux color (F2.25, AGC on); 0 lux B/W (IR on) |
| IR Range | 30m | 20m |
| IR Wavelength | Adaptive IR LED | 850nm IR LED |
| WDR | 125dB Extreme WDR | 130dB Extreme WDR |
| Max Frame Rate | 30 fps | 30 fps |
| Video Compression | H.265; H.264; MJPEG | H.265; H.264; MJPEG |
| IP Rating | IP66 | — |
| IK / Impact Rating | IK10 | — |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +50°C | -10°C to +50°C |
| Power Input / PoE Class | PoE 802.3af Class 3 (13W); DC 12V | PoE 802.3af Class 3 (12.95W max); DC 12V |
| ONVIF Profiles | S, G, T, Q | S, G, T |
| Edge Analytics | VMD; People Counting; Smoke Detection | VMD; Heat Map; Tampering Detection |
| Audio | Mic-in; Line-in; Line-out (two-way) | Built-in mic; Line-in; Line-out (two-way) |
| Mount Types | Wall; Pole; Pendant; Corner; Rack | Wall; Pendant |
| Application Environment | Outdoor | Indoor |
| Certifications | CE Class A; FCC Class A; EAC; IP66; IK10 | CE Class A; FCC Class A |
| Dimensions | Ø139.38mm × H129.75mm | — |
| Weight | — | 320g (0.7 lb) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should you choose: the A86 or the A912?
The A86 is the stronger choice when the deployment is outdoors, requires optical zoom for perimeter or entry-point detail, or must survive temperature extremes and physical impact. Its IK10/IP66 housing and -40°C cold-end rating address environments the A912 cannot serve, and its 5x motorized zoom (2.7–13.5mm) allows post-installation field-of-view adjustment without a second camera. The A912 is the stronger choice for indoor wide-area coverage where a single fisheye sensor must replace multiple fixed cameras: its 180° panoramic field with ePTZ dewarping, 130dB WDR (5dB above the A86), and Heat Map analytics are purpose-built for lobbies, open floors, and retail interiors. Installers running ONVIF Profile Q-dependent auto-discovery workflows should note that only the A86 supports that profile. Neither spec sheet confirms onboard edge storage.
Is the A86 or A912 better for low-light performance?
Both cameras are nearly equivalent on minimum illumination — the A86 reaches 0.018 lux in color and 0 lux with IR on; the A912 reaches 0.017 lux in color (F2.25, AGC on) and 0 lux in B/W with IR on. The practical difference is IR range: the A86's adaptive IR covers 30m versus the A912's 20m, so the A86 has an advantage in larger or longer outdoor spaces. The A912's shorter range is consistent with its indoor, shorter-distance fisheye use case.
Can the A912 be used outdoors instead of the A86?
No — not based on the provided specifications. The A912 carries no IP or IK rating in its spec sheet and has a minimum operating temperature of -10°C, making it unsuitable for exposed outdoor installation. The A86 is rated IP66 (dust-tight, jet-water resistant) and IK10 (impact-resistant), and operates down to -40°C, which qualifies it for outdoor and harsh-environment use.
Which camera covers a wider area — the A86 or the A912?
The A912 covers a wider area per camera. Its fixed f1.05mm fisheye lens delivers a 180° panoramic field of view with ePTZ dewarping, meaning a single unit can monitor an entire room or wide corridor. The A86's 2.7–13.5mm motorized zoom lens narrows the field of view as zoom increases, trading coverage width for subject detail at range. If reducing camera count per zone in an indoor environment is the priority, the A912's fisheye design is more efficient; if identifying detail at a specific entry point or perimeter segment is the priority, the A86's optical zoom is more appropriate.
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