Hikvision 5MP CCTV Bullet Camera, Audio, 2.8 mm, IR 40 m DS-2CE17H0T-IT3FS(2.8mm)

What this bullet camera is for

Plenty of premises still have good coaxial cable in the walls. This Hikvision camera gives those systems a 5 MP picture and sound without a move to a network camera.

It suits a homeowner or small business with a DVR (digital video recorder), and the installer upgrading one camera position at a time. 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

• Night vision: its IR (infrared) light gives a black and white picture when it gets dark. Smart IR is among its functions, a feature generally used to stop close objects looking washed out.
• Digital WDR: software that balances bright and dark parts of a picture. Do not compare it with a stated true WDR camera.
• 2D DNR: noise reduction that works within a frame to remove grain.
• BLC and HLC: backlight compensation lifts a subject against a bright background. Highlight compensation tames glare such as car headlights.
• TVI, AHD, CVI and CVBS: four ways of sending video down coaxial cable. CVBS is the older standard-definition signal, and the other three carry HD.

Where to use it

The IP67 rating and the -40 °C to 60 °C range cover outdoor walls and soffits in UK weather, and it works just as well indoors. Common spots are entrances, side passages and yards.

The 2.8 mm lens has a wide view, so it covers the area close to the camera better than anything far away.

What the figures mean in practice

• 5 MP needs the right signal: TVI and AHD carry 5 MP @ 20 fps. CVI tops out at 4 MP @ 30 fps or 25 fps, so choose the signal your recorder records at the highest resolution.
• IR up to 40 m: this is how far the camera's light reaches. Recognising someone needs them to be far closer than that.
• 0.01 Lux @ (F1.2, AGC ON): lux measures light falling on a scene, and this is a low figure. Real results vary with AGC, the camera's automatic gain, and the scene.
• Colour or black and white: the day/night mode can be left on auto, or set to colour or black and white.

Installing it

• Video cable: one coaxial run carries both picture and sound to the recorder, so an existing run can often be reused if it is in good condition.
• Power: the camera takes a separate 12 VDC supply, so run one to each position.
• Aiming: the three-axis bracket lets you level the picture on a sloped soffit or a side wall.
• Cable joints: As a rule, keep joints out of the weather. A junction box gives them a dry home, and the optional DS-1280ZJ-XS is one choice.

Planning your system

To record the built-in mic, the recorder must also accept audio over coaxial cable, so read its specification first. For the full picture, it also needs to record 5 MP on the signal you choose.

If this is a new job with no coaxial cable yet, it is worth reading how an NVR system compares before you buy.

Ratings explained

• IP67: dust tight, and protected against temporary immersion in water.
• PAL and NTSC: the two older regional video systems. PAL is the UK one.