i-PRO S4156A vs i-PRO S4556LA: Specification Comparison
Both the i-PRO WV-S4156A and WV-S4556LA are 5MP 360-degree AI fisheye cameras built on the same Ambarella CV22 SoC, sharing an identical 0.84mm f/2.4 lens, 186°×186° field of view, and the same suite of edge AI analytics. The meaningful differences lie in deployment environment: the S4156A is an indoor-only unit without IR illumination, while the S4556LA is hardened for outdoor and harsh environments with 14m IR, IP66/IK10 ratings, and a wider thermal operating range. Buyers cross-shopping these two are typically choosing between an indoor hub and an outdoor perimeter node.
In This Guide
How do the imaging specs compare?
Both cameras share the same imaging foundation: an approximately 1/3-type 5MP CMOS sensor, 0.84mm focal length, f/2.4 maximum aperture, 186°×186° angular field of view, and an identical 2192×2192 ceiling-mount fisheye resolution. Maximum dynamic range is specified at 120dB on both units (Super Dynamic level 31), and both support digital zoom at 1×, 2×, and 4× levels. Frame rate is 30fps on both. Coverage geometry from a 3m mount height is identical: detect radius 38m, observe 13.2m, recognize 4.3m.
Low-light performance diverges at the sensor level and then further with illumination hardware. The S4156A specifies minimum illumination of 0.15 lx color / 0.10 lx B&W and operates as a day/night electrical (no ICR) camera with no built-in IR. The S4556LA specifies 0.15 lx color / 0.02 lx B&W—a five-fold improvement in B&W sensitivity—and adds a mechanical ICR filter plus 14m (45ft) IR LED illumination with selectable power. For any scene with sub-0.10 lx ambient light, the S4556LA has a substantial hardware advantage; the S4156A is reliant on existing scene illumination.
What about installation and environment?
The S4156A is rated for indoor use only: no IP ingress rating is specified, operating temperature is –10°C to +50°C, and operating humidity is 10–90% (no condensation). It is constructed primarily of ABS resin, weighs approximately 390g, and measures ø150mm × 50.5mm. Power draw is 6.2W via PoE 802.3af or DC 12V 520mA.
The S4556LA is engineered for outdoor deployment. It carries IP66 (IEC 60529), Type 4X / NEMA 4X water and dust resistance, and IK10 (IEC 62262) impact resistance rated at 50J. Operating temperature extends to –40°C to +60°C and humidity to 10–100% (no condensation). An integrated Rosahl anti-condensation element and wind resistance up to 40m/s (≈89mph) are specified. Railway compliance per EN50155-TX is also listed. The housing is aluminum, stainless steel, and polycarbonate; weight is 870g (with plate) or 1.3kg (with bracket). Power draw is 12.4–12.5W via PoE 802.3af or DC 12V 1.03A—approximately double the S4156A's draw despite sharing the same PoE class (802.3af).
Which fits your VMS and analytics better?
Both cameras carry ONVIF Profiles G, M, S, and T, and both list mobile compatibility with iPad/iPhone and Android terminals. The AI analytics payload is identical across both SKUs: AI-VMD, AI People Counting for 360° fisheye, AI Privacy Guard for 360° fisheye, AI Scene Change Detection, audio detection, and AI sound classification covering gunshot, yell, vehicle horn, and glass break. Privacy zone, VMD (4 areas), and SCD (1 area) are shared. Both support microSD on-board storage and both carry signed firmware and HTTPS encryption.
One integration difference is that the S4556LA explicitly lists Smart Coding (GOP control and Auto VIQS) and audio compression formats (G.726 ADPCM at 16/32kbps, G.711 at 64kbps) and a maximum concurrent access count of up to 14 users—these details are absent from the S4156A spec sheet as provided. The S4156A spec sheet explicitly names all nine supported GUI languages (English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese); the S4556LA sheet states only '9 languages.' Both units include 3.5mm stereo audio input with plug-in power, a built-in non-directional electret condenser microphone (S4156A spec; not explicitly listed on S4556LA), and 3.5mm audio output at 600Ω. External I/O is 3× alarm in, 1× alarm out, 1× aux out on both.
Which should you choose: the S4156A or the S4556LA?
Our take: The S4156A is the stronger choice when the deployment environment is a climate-controlled interior and budget or PoE switch capacity is constrained. The S4556LA is the required choice for any outdoor, semi-outdoor, or environmentally challenged installation. Three concrete spec deltas drive the decision: (1) IR illumination—the S4556LA provides 14m built-in IR versus none on the S4156A, enabling operation at 0.02 lx B&W versus 0.10 lx B&W; (2) environmental hardening—IP66/IK10/NEMA 4X with a –40°C to +60°C range versus no rated ingress protection and –10°C to +50°C; (3) power draw—12.4–12.5W versus 6.2W, which may require upgrading PoE switch port budgets even though both are nominally 802.3af class. Where both cameras are equally matched—SoC, lens, resolution, AI analytics, ONVIF profiles, and audio—the deployment environment and illumination requirement are the sole determinants.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Spec-for-spec, from manufacturer data.
| Specification | i-PRO S4156A | i-PRO S4556LA |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 5MP | 5MP |
| Image Sensor | Approx. 1/3-type 5MP CMOS | Approx. 1/3-type 5MP CMOS |
| Lens / Focal Length | 0.84mm, f/2.4, 186°×186° FOV | 0.84mm, f/2.4, 186°×186° FOV |
| Min. Illumination (Color / B&W) | 0.15 lx / 0.10 lx | 0.15 lx / 0.02 lx |
| IR Illumination | — | 14m (45ft), selectable power |
| Day/Night Mode | Electrical (no ICR) | ICR (Off/On/Auto with IR modes) |
| Max Dynamic Range (WDR) | 120dB (Super Dynamic On, level 31) | 120dB (Super Dynamic On, level 31) |
| Max Frame Rate | 30fps | 30fps |
| Video Compression | H.265 / H.264, CBR/VBR | H.265 / H.264, CBR/VBR |
| IP / Dust & Water Rating | — | IP66, NEMA 4X (Type 4X) |
| Impact / Vandal Rating | — | IK10 (50J, IEC 60068-2-75) |
| Operating Temperature | –10°C to +50°C | –40°C to +60°C |
| Power Input / Consumption | PoE 802.3af or DC 12V 520mA; 6.2W | PoE 802.3af or DC 12V 1.03A; 12.4–12.5W |
| ONVIF Profiles | G / M / S / T | G / M / S / T |
| Edge Storage | microSD | microSD |
| Audio I/O | 3.5mm in (plug-in power) + built-in mic; 3.5mm out 600Ω | 3.5mm in (plug-in power); 3.5mm out 600Ω |
| Dimensions | ø150mm × 50.5mm (H) | Not specified in provided specs |
| Weight | Approx. 390g | 870g (with plate) / 1.3kg (with bracket) |
| Environment Rating | Indoor only | Outdoor (IP66, IK10, NEMA 4X) |
| Warranty | 5-Year | 5-Year |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should you choose: the S4156A or the S4556LA?
The S4156A is the stronger choice when the deployment environment is a climate-controlled interior and budget or PoE switch capacity is constrained. The S4556LA is the required choice for any outdoor, semi-outdoor, or environmentally challenged installation. Three concrete spec deltas drive the decision: (1) IR illumination—the S4556LA provides 14m built-in IR versus none on the S4156A, enabling operation at 0.02 lx B&W versus 0.10 lx B&W; (2) environmental hardening—IP66/IK10/NEMA 4X with a –40°C to +60°C range versus no rated ingress protection and –10°C to +50°C; (3) power draw—12.4–12.5W versus 6.2W, which may require upgrading PoE switch port budgets even though both are nominally 802.3af class. Where both cameras are equally matched—SoC, lens, resolution, AI analytics, ONVIF profiles, and audio—the deployment environment and illumination requirement are the sole determinants.
Is the S4156A or S4556LA better for low-light performance?
The S4556LA is better for low light on two counts. First, its specified minimum illumination in B&W mode is 0.02 lx versus 0.10 lx on the S4156A—a five-fold difference. Second, the S4556LA adds 14m IR LED illumination with selectable power and a mechanical ICR filter, so it can produce usable images in complete darkness. The S4156A has no IR emitter and must rely on ambient lighting; it is not rated for dark environments.
Can the S4156A be used outdoors?
No. The S4156A carries no IP ingress protection rating per the provided specifications and is described as an indoor camera with an operating temperature of –10°C to +50°C and humidity limited to 10–90% non-condensing. The S4556LA is the outdoor-rated model, carrying IP66, NEMA 4X, IK10, and a –40°C to +60°C operating range.
Do both cameras support the same AI analytics and VMS integration?
Yes, on the AI and VMS side both cameras are identical. Both run AI-VMD, AI People Counting, AI Privacy Guard, and AI Scene Change Detection on the same Ambarella CV22 SoC. Both support ONVIF Profiles G, M, S, and T; both carry microSD edge storage, signed firmware, and HTTPS encryption. Audio classification (gunshot, yell, vehicle horn, glass break) and the 3× alarm input / 1× alarm output terminal layout are also shared.
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