Hikvision 8MP ColorVu Bullet Camera, Smart Hybrid Light, Strobe and Two-Way Audio, 2.8 mm, Black DS-2CD2087G2H-LIU/SL(2.8mm)(eF)(Black)

What this Hikvision ColorVu camera is for

Infrared night footage loses the colour that helps describe a car or a coat. This camera is built to keep that colour after dark, and to deter as well as record.

It suits a homeowner or small business covering a drive, yard or entrance, and an installer who wants one network camera that can also warn and talk. It sits in the range of Hikvision bullet cameras, with a black finish for dark walls and fascias.

How do ColorVu and Smart Hybrid Light work?

• ColorVu: an F1.0 aperture collects more light, so the picture can stay in colour in dim scenes. The ColorVu guide explains where it suits a site.
• Smart Hybrid Light: the camera carries two kinds of light. IR at 850 nm gives night vision without a bright visible beam, while white light keeps the picture in colour.
• Strobe and audio alarm: when a chosen rule triggers, the camera can flash its strobe light and sound an audible warning.
• Deep learning: software trained on examples sorts movement into people and vehicles, so alarms can be limited to those targets.

Where to use it

The metal body, IP67 rating and -30 °C to 60 °C working range suit outdoor walls and soffits. It has no specific anti-corrosion protection, so keep it away from coastlines and chemical sites.

The 2.8 mm lens gives a wide 104° view, which suits areas a few metres from the camera. The guide to where to position CCTV cameras covers the common spots.

What the figures mean in practice

• DORI distances: DORI stands for detect, observe, recognise and identify. Plan on 9 m where a stranger must be identified, and treat 91 m only as seeing that something moved.
• Close limit: focus holds from 3.4 m outwards, so do not expect sharp faces right under the camera.
• 95 dB speaker: that level is measured at 10 cm, so treat it as a close-range warning, not a replacement for a siren.
• Up to 16 Mbps: higher bit rates hold more detail but fill storage faster, so set the rate with the recorder's drive in mind.

Installing it

• Power: a PoE switch port needs to supply Class 3. On 12 VDC, the Ø 5.5 mm plug has reverse polarity protection, which guards the camera if the supply is wired the wrong way round.
• Fixings by code: optional mounts are the DS-1275ZJ-SUS vertical pole mount, the DS-1276ZJ-SUS corner mount and the DS-1280ZJ-XS junction box. This camera is black, so check each mount's finish on its own page.
• Set-up: use a web browser or the iVMS-4200 client. Hik-Connect gives remote viewing.

Planning your system

For longer retention, add a network video recorder that supports one of the profiles below, or record to a microSD card. Every camera brings legal duties, and audio recording needs extra care, so read the CCTV rules before going live.

Building the network side is covered in the guide to a secure PoE CCTV system.

Standards and ratings explained

• IP67: dust tight, and protected against temporary immersion in water.
• Profile S, Profile G, Profile T: shared standards that let network cameras and recorders from different makers work together. S covers streaming, G covers recording on the device and T covers advanced video features.
• EN 50130-4: an immunity standard for alarm equipment, covering electrical interference.