ACTi E96 vs i-PRO S4556LA: Specification Comparison
Both the ACTi E96 and i-PRO WV-S4556LA are 5MP fixed-lens fisheye dome cameras designed for single-point 360°-class coverage, placing them squarely in the same resolution class and camera type. The E96 is positioned as a cost-efficient indoor-only solution, while the S4556LA adds outdoor hardening, IR illumination, and on-board AI analytics. This comparison examines imaging capability, installation requirements, and platform integration to help installers and IT buyers determine which model fits their deployment scenario.
In This Guide
How do the imaging specs compare?
Both cameras deliver 5MP resolution with a fixed fisheye lens. The ACTi E96 offers a 170–190° field of view per spec, uses a fixed fisheye lens, and relies solely on DNR for image quality enhancement — no IR LEDs, no WDR figure, and no minimum illumination value is provided in the supplied specifications. The i-PRO WV-S4556LA specifies a 0.84mm focal length at f/2.4 aperture, a 186° horizontal and 186° vertical field of view, a minimum illumination of 0.15 lx (Color) / 0.02 lx (B&W), and a maximum dynamic range of 120 dB with Super Dynamic enabled at level 31. The S4556LA also supports digital zoom at ×1, ×2, and ×4 levels; the E96 spec does not list digital zoom capability.
The S4556LA includes 14m (45 ft) IR illumination with selectable power, an ICR (day/night) filter, and image compensation features including adaptive black stretch, BLC, fog compensation, HLC, and DNR. The E96 spec lists DNR only and explicitly notes no IR LEDs and no IR range, making it dependent on ambient light. No sensor size or minimum illumination figure is provided for the E96. For low-light or mixed-lighting environments, the S4556LA's published illumination floor of 0.02 lx (B&W) and 14m IR provide a measurable, documentable performance baseline; the E96's low-light performance cannot be spec-verified from the data provided.
What about installation and environment?
The ACTi E96 is rated for indoor use only; no IP or IK rating is listed in the supplied specifications, and no ambient operating temperature range is provided. It supports ceiling and wall mounting and is powered by PoE 802.3af at approximately 13W maximum. The i-PRO WV-S4556LA carries IP66 (IEC60529) and NEMA 4X water and dust resistance, IK10 impact resistance (IEC 62262), 50J shock resistance (IEC 60068-2-75), and wind resistance rated to 40 m/s (~89 mph). Its ambient operating temperature range is −40°C to +60°C, and it also supports a Rosahl anti-condensation element. The S4556LA is PoE 802.3af at 12.4–12.5W (or DC 12V 1.03A), and it is listed at PoE Class 0. Its mass is approximately 870g with plate or 1.3kg with bracket.
The S4556LA holds additional environmental certifications including EN50155-TX for railway applications, FCC Part 15 Class A, ICES-003 Class A, CE, UL62368-1, c-UL CSA C22.2 No.62368-1, and IEC62368-1. None of these certifications are listed for the E96. Mounting options for the S4556LA include wall, ceiling, and rack; the E96 supports ceiling and wall. For any outdoor, perimeter, industrial, transit, or harsh-environment installation, only the S4556LA provides the necessary rated ingress protection and impact resistance from the specs provided.
Which fits your VMS and analytics better?
The ACTi E96 is described as ONVIF-compatible (noted as assumed standard IP camera in the supplied spec). The i-PRO WV-S4556LA specifies ONVIF Profiles G, M, S, and T — a broader and explicitly documented profile set that covers recording (G), metadata (M), streaming (S), and PTZ/advanced media (T). The S4556LA supports up to 14 concurrent users, H.265/H.264 with CBR/VBR and unicast/multicast, GOP control, and Auto VIQS smart coding. The E96's compression format is not specified in the provided data.
The S4556LA includes on-board AI analytics: AI-VMD, AI People Counting (360° fisheye), AI Privacy Guard (360° fisheye), and AI Scene Change Detection. It also supports AI Sound Classification for gunshot, yell, vehicle horn, and glass break events. Additional detection features include Video Motion Detection (4 areas), Scene Change Detection (1 area), and audio detection. It provides 3× alarm inputs, 1× alarm output, 1× aux output, audio input (3.5mm stereo mini jack with plug-in power), audio output (3.5mm stereo jack, 600Ω), up to 8 privacy zones, and microSD on-board storage. The E96 spec lists none of these analytics, alarm I/O, audio I/O, or on-board storage capabilities. For deployments requiring edge analytics, alarm integration, or audio without a server-side VMS license, the S4556LA provides a substantially richer feature set per the available specifications.
Which should you choose: the E96 or the S4556LA?
Our take: The i-PRO WV-S4556LA is the stronger choice when the deployment requires outdoor installation, low-light performance, or edge analytics, while the ACTi E96 may suit simple, well-lit indoor-only applications where cost and minimal infrastructure are the primary drivers. Concretely: the S4556LA is rated IP66/NEMA 4X and IK10 versus no IP or IK rating for the E96; it specifies a minimum illumination of 0.02 lx (B&W) with 14m IR versus no illumination figure and no IR for the E96; and it documents ONVIF Profiles G/M/S/T plus on-board AI-VMD, people counting, sound classification, alarm I/O, and audio I/O versus ONVIF compatibility only (assumed) and no listed analytics or I/O for the E96. The S4556LA also carries a stated 5-year warranty; no warranty term is listed for the E96. If the installation is strictly an ambient-light indoor environment with no analytics or I/O requirements, the E96 remains a viable option — but that scenario should be confirmed against the E96's full datasheet, as several key specs are absent from the data provided.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Spec-for-spec, from manufacturer data.
| Specification | ACTi E96 | i-PRO S4556LA |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 5MP | 5MP |
| Image Sensor | — (not specified) | Approx. 1/3 type 5MP CMOS |
| Lens / Focal Length | Fixed fisheye | 0.84mm fixed, f/2.4 aperture |
| Field of View | 170–190° (fisheye) | 186° H × 186° V |
| Min. Illumination | — (not specified) | 0.15 lx (Color) / 0.02 lx (B&W) |
| IR Illumination / Range | None (no IR LEDs) | Yes, 14m (45 ft), selectable power |
| Dynamic Range / WDR | — (not specified) | Max. 120 dB (Super Dynamic On, level 31) |
| Max. Frame Rate | — (not specified) | 30 fps |
| Video Compression | — (not specified) | H.265 / H.264, CBR/VBR, unicast/multicast |
| IP / Ingress Rating | — (indoor only, not rated) | IP66 (IEC60529), NEMA 4X |
| IK / Impact Rating | — (not specified) | IK10 (IEC 62262), 50J shock |
| Operating Temperature | — (not specified) | −40°C to +60°C |
| Power Input / PoE Class | PoE 802.3af, ~13W max | PoE 802.3af 12.4–12.5W / DC 12V 1.03A, PoE Class 0 |
| Edge Storage | — (not specified) | microSD |
| Audio I/O | — (not specified) | 3.5mm stereo mic input; 3.5mm stereo 600Ω output |
| Alarm I/O | — (not specified) | 3× alarm in, 1× alarm out, 1× aux out |
| ONVIF Profile | ONVIF-compatible (assumed) | Profiles G, M, S, T |
| Edge Analytics | — (not specified) | AI-VMD, AI People Counting, AI Privacy Guard, AI Scene Change Detection, AI Sound Classification |
| Environment | Indoor only | Outdoor, −40°C to +60°C, IP66, NEMA 4X, IK10 |
| Warranty | — (not specified) | 5-Year |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should you choose: the E96 or the S4556LA?
The i-PRO WV-S4556LA is the stronger choice when the deployment requires outdoor installation, low-light performance, or edge analytics, while the ACTi E96 may suit simple, well-lit indoor-only applications where cost and minimal infrastructure are the primary drivers. Concretely: the S4556LA is rated IP66/NEMA 4X and IK10 versus no IP or IK rating for the E96; it specifies a minimum illumination of 0.02 lx (B&W) with 14m IR versus no illumination figure and no IR for the E96; and it documents ONVIF Profiles G/M/S/T plus on-board AI-VMD, people counting, sound classification, alarm I/O, and audio I/O versus ONVIF compatibility only (assumed) and no listed analytics or I/O for the E96. The S4556LA also carries a stated 5-year warranty; no warranty term is listed for the E96. If the installation is strictly an ambient-light indoor environment with no analytics or I/O requirements, the E96 remains a viable option — but that scenario should be confirmed against the E96's full datasheet, as several key specs are absent from the data provided.
Is the E96 or WV-S4556LA better for low-light and night coverage?
Based on the supplied specifications, the i-PRO WV-S4556LA is the only model with a documented low-light rating — 0.15 lx in color and 0.02 lx in black-and-white — plus 14m IR illumination and a day/night ICR filter. The ACTi E96 spec provides no minimum illumination figure and explicitly notes no IR LEDs, making it unsuitable for low-light or nighttime use without supplemental lighting. If low-light performance matters, the S4556LA is the spec-supported choice.
Can the WV-S4556LA be installed outdoors while the E96 cannot?
Correct per the provided specifications. The i-PRO WV-S4556LA carries IP66 and NEMA 4X ingress protection, IK10 impact resistance, a −40°C to +60°C operating temperature range, and wind resistance to 40 m/s. The ACTi E96 is specified as an indoor-only camera with no IP rating, no IK rating, and no operating temperature range listed. Only the S4556LA is spec-rated for outdoor, perimeter, or harsh-environment deployment.
Does either camera support edge analytics without a separate VMS license?
Only the i-PRO WV-S4556LA lists on-board edge analytics in the supplied specifications: AI-VMD, AI People Counting for 360° fisheye, AI Privacy Guard, AI Scene Change Detection, and AI Sound Classification (gunshot, yell, vehicle horn, glass break). It also provides hardware alarm I/O (3× alarm in, 1× alarm out) and audio I/O. The ACTi E96 spec lists no analytics, alarm terminals, or audio capability. Deployments that require edge-based detection, counting, or audio classification should specify the S4556LA.
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