i-PRO S4156A vs i-PRO S4556LMA: Specification Comparison
Both the i-PRO WV-S4156A and WV-S4556LMA are 5MP fisheye IP cameras sharing the same 186° horizontal and vertical field of view, Ambarella CV22 SoC, and AI analytics suite. The comparison is relevant for installers choosing between an indoor ceiling-mount deployment and an outdoor-rated perimeter installation. Key differentiators include environmental hardening, IR illumination, power requirements, connector type, and low-light sensitivity — all of which directly affect site suitability and total installation cost.
In This Guide
How do the imaging specs compare?
Both cameras use an approximately 1/3-type 5MP CMOS sensor, a 0.84 mm focal length fisheye lens at f/2.4, and deliver 186° horizontal and vertical angular coverage at up to 2192×2192 resolution and 30 fps. Dynamic range is identical at a maximum of 120 dB (Super Dynamic On, level 31), and both support H.265/H.264 with CBR/VBR. Digital zoom offers three levels (1×, 2×, 4×) on both units.
Low-light performance diverges significantly. The S4156A specifies minimum illumination of 0.15 lx (color) and 0.10 lx (B&W) with no built-in IR illumination, making it dependent on ambient light. The S4556LMA specifies 0.15 lx (color) and 0.02 lx (B&W), and adds a built-in IR LED rated to 14 m (45 ft) with automatic color/B&W switching via ICR — providing usable imaging in near-zero-lux conditions. Coverage geometry at 3 m mount height is identical: Detect 38 m, Observe 13.2 m for both models.
What about installation and environment?
The S4156A is rated for indoor use only, operating from −10 °C to +50 °C at 10–90% humidity (no condensation). Its housing is ABS resin, it weighs approximately 390 g, and it uses a standard RJ45 network connector. Power is DC 12V at 520 mA or PoE 802.3af (6.2 W). No IP or IK rating is listed in the provided specifications.
The S4556LMA is engineered for outdoor deployment with IP66 (IEC 60529), Type 4X (UL50), and NEMA 4X water/dust resistance, IK10 (IEC 62262) impact resistance rated at 50 J, and wind resistance up to 40 m/s (≈89 mph). It operates from −40 °C to +60 °C at 10–100% humidity and includes a Rosahl anti-condensation element. The housing is aluminum die-cast, stainless steel, and polycarbonate, weighing approximately 870 g with the attachment plate. Its network connector is M12 rather than RJ45 — relevant for conduit-sealed installations. It also carries EN45545 and EN50155-TX railway compliance and EN50498/ECE-R10 certifications not listed for the S4156A. Power is DC 12V at 1.03 A or PoE (IEEE 802.3af), drawing up to 12.5 W per the datasheet field.
Which fits your VMS and analytics better?
Both cameras support ONVIF Profiles G, M, S, and T, and are compatible with iOS and Android mobile clients. The AI analytics suite is identical as specified: AI-VMD, AI People Counting for 360° fisheye, AI Privacy Guard for 360° fisheye, and AI Scene Change Detection — all processed on the Ambarella CV22 SoC without an external server. Both support on-board microSD storage, VMD (4 areas), SCD (1 area), audio detection, and three alarm inputs with one alarm output plus one AUX output.
Audio handling differs in one detail. The S4156A specifies a built-in nondirectional electret condenser microphone in addition to the 3.5 mm stereo mini jack input (plug-in power), and names four specific AI Sound Classification categories: gunshot, yell, vehicle horn, and glass break. The S4556LMA lists 'AI Sound Classification' without enumerating specific sound classes in the provided specifications, and its audio input impedance is listed as 2 kΩ with no built-in microphone noted. The S4556LMA additionally specifies Smart Coding (GOP control, Auto VIQS) and audio compression codecs (G.726 ADPCM 16/32 kbps, G.711 64 kbps) not listed in the S4156A specifications, though absence in specs does not confirm absence in firmware. Both carry a 5-year warranty.
Which should you choose: the S4156A or the S4556LMA?
Our take: The S4156A is the stronger choice when the deployment is entirely indoors and audio classification of specific threat sounds — gunshot, yell, vehicle horn, glass break — is a primary requirement. The S4556LMA is the correct selection for any outdoor or harsh-environment installation: it adds 14 m IR illumination that reduces the B&W minimum illumination from 0.10 lx (S4156A) to 0.02 lx, extends the operating temperature floor from −10 °C to −40 °C, and provides IP66/NEMA 4X weatherproofing plus IK10 impact resistance at 50 J — none of which are present on the S4156A. The M12 connector on the S4556LMA suits conduit-sealed exterior runs. Both cameras deliver identical AI analytics and ONVIF coverage; the decision reduces to environment rating and IR capability versus the S4156A's confirmed built-in microphone and lighter indoor form factor.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Spec-for-spec, from manufacturer data.
| Specification | i-PRO S4156A | i-PRO S4556LMA |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 5MP | 5MP |
| Image Sensor | Approx. 1/3-type 5MP CMOS | Approx. 1/3-type 5MP CMOS |
| Focal Length / Aperture | 0.84 mm / f2.4 | 0.84 mm / f2.4 |
| Angular Field of View | 186° H × 186° V | 186° H × 186° V |
| Min. Illumination (Color / B&W) | 0.15 lx / 0.10 lx | 0.15 lx / 0.02 lx |
| IR Illumination | None specified | 14 m (45 ft) built-in IR LED |
| Day/Night (ICR) | Electrical (Day/Night Off/Auto) | Color/BW via ICR with IR light control |
| Max Dynamic Range | 120 dB | 120 dB |
| Max Frame Rate | 30 fps | 30 fps |
| Video Compression | H.265 / H.264 CBR/VBR | H.265 / H.264 CBR/VBR |
| IP / Ingress Rating | Not specified (Indoor only) | IP66, NEMA 4X, Type 4X |
| IK / Impact Rating | Not specified | IK10 (50 J, IEC 60068-2-75) |
| Operating Temperature | −10 °C to +50 °C | −40 °C to +60 °C |
| Power Input | DC 12V 520 mA / PoE 802.3af (6.2 W) | DC 12V 1.03 A / PoE 802.3af (12.5 W per datasheet) |
| Network Connector | RJ45 | M12 |
| Audio Input / Built-in Mic | 3.5 mm jack + built-in mic | 3.5 mm jack (2 kΩ); no built-in mic noted in specs |
| AI Sound Classification | Gunshot, Yell, Vehicle horn, Glass break | Listed as supported; specific categories not specified |
| ONVIF Profiles | G / M / S / T | G / M / S / T |
| Edge Storage | microSD | microSD |
| Housing Material | ABS resin | Aluminum die-cast, stainless steel, polycarbonate |
| Weight | Approx. 390 g (0.86 lbs) | Approx. 870 g with attachment plate (1.92 lbs) |
| Environment Rating | Indoor | Outdoor |
| Warranty | 5-Year | 5-Year |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should you choose: the S4156A or the S4556LMA?
The S4156A is the stronger choice when the deployment is entirely indoors and audio classification of specific threat sounds — gunshot, yell, vehicle horn, glass break — is a primary requirement. The S4556LMA is the correct selection for any outdoor or harsh-environment installation: it adds 14 m IR illumination that reduces the B&W minimum illumination from 0.10 lx (S4156A) to 0.02 lx, extends the operating temperature floor from −10 °C to −40 °C, and provides IP66/NEMA 4X weatherproofing plus IK10 impact resistance at 50 J — none of which are present on the S4156A. The M12 connector on the S4556LMA suits conduit-sealed exterior runs. Both cameras deliver identical AI analytics and ONVIF coverage; the decision reduces to environment rating and IR capability versus the S4156A's confirmed built-in microphone and lighter indoor form factor.
Is the S4156A or S4556LMA better for low-light performance?
The S4556LMA is substantially better in low light. It includes built-in IR LEDs rated to 14 m (45 ft) and achieves 0.02 lx minimum illumination in B&W mode with automatic ICR switching. The S4156A has no IR illumination and a B&W minimum illumination of 0.10 lx, making it dependent on ambient light sources. For any environment that goes dark, the S4556LMA is the appropriate choice.
Can the S4156A be installed outdoors?
Based on the provided specifications, no. The S4156A carries no IP or IK rating and is listed as an indoor camera with an operating temperature range of −10 °C to +50 °C and a maximum humidity of 90% (no condensation). The S4556LMA is rated IP66, NEMA 4X, IK10, and operates from −40 °C to +60 °C at up to 100% humidity with a built-in anti-condensation element.
Do both cameras support the same AI analytics and VMS integration?
Yes, based on the provided specifications. Both run AI-VMD, AI People Counting, AI Privacy Guard, and AI Scene Change Detection on the same Ambarella CV22 SoC and support ONVIF Profiles G, M, S, and T. The S4156A explicitly names four AI Sound Classification categories (gunshot, yell, vehicle horn, glass break) and confirms a built-in microphone; the S4556LMA lists AI Sound Classification without specifying categories and does not note a built-in microphone in the provided specs.
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