Hikvision 2 MP AcuSense Bullet Camera, Motorised Varifocal 2.8 to 12 mm DS-2CD2626G2-IZS(2.8-12mm)(D)

What this varifocal camera is for

A fixed lens commits you to one view on the day of fitting. This Hikvision camera has a motorised lens, so a driveway shot can become a gate shot later without changing the camera.

It can suit a business watching a yard or entrance, and an installer who wants to adjust the view after fitting. A bullet camera has a long, tube-shaped body on a bracket, so it is plainly visible from a distance.

How the camera's technology works

• AcuSense: Hikvision's name for deep learning that sorts movement into people and vehicles. Alarms can then be limited to those targets, at the camera or at the recorder.
• Powered-by-DarkFighter: Hikvision's label for this model's low-light performance. It works with the wide F1.4 aperture, which lets more light reach the sensor.
• Smart supplement light: the IR, at 850 nm, gives a black and white picture at night. Smart supplement light is a feature of this model.
• H.265+: a compression method that needs less bandwidth and storage than older formats for a similar picture.

Where to use it

The IP66 and IK10 ratings and the -30 °C to 60 °C working range cover exposed walls and reachable positions in UK weather. It has no specific anti-corrosion protection, so keep it away from the coast and chemical sites.

Audio line in and line out suit a separate microphone or speaker. A built-in one is not among its features.

What the figures mean in practice

• DORI distances: these stand for detect, observe, recognise and identify. To identify a stranger, plan on 4.4 m at the wide end and 13.8 m at the tele end.
• Wide against tele: the 2.8 mm end sees the whole frontage, while 12 mm narrows the view and reaches further. You trade width for distance on the same camera.
• 1920 × 1080: full HD is enough for a clear overview, and the zoom is what brings detail. It also keeps files and bandwidth modest.
• Lux and AGC: lux measures light falling on a scene, and AGC is the camera's automatic gain. Real results vary with the scene.

Installing it

• Power budget: a PoE switch port must supply Class 4, one of the PoE power levels. Allow max. 15 W for this camera when adding up the load.
• Alarm wiring: the alarm output handles max. 24 VDC/24 VAC, 1 A, so it can switch a small external device such as a light relay.
• Pendant option: the options also include the DS-2251ZJ pendant mount, for a ceiling or soffit drop.
• First set-up: use plug-in free live view in Chrome 57.0+ or Firefox 52.0+, or the iVMS-4200 client.

Planning your system

Small jobs can save to a microSD card or a NAS (network attached storage) drive. Auto Network Replenishment can refill gaps in the recording after a network drop, once the link returns.

For longer retention, add a network video recorder that shares one of the profiles below, plus hard drives sized for how many days you want to keep.

Standards and ratings explained

• IP66: dust tight, and protected against powerful water jets.
• IK10: the top of the common impact scale, showing how well the housing resists being struck.
• Profiles S, G and T: parts of the Open Network Video Interface standard. Profile S covers streaming, G covers on-device recording and T covers advanced video such as H.265.
• EN 50130-4: an immunity standard for alarm equipment, covering electrical interference.