Hikvision 8MP Panoramic Camera, 180° ColorVu Turret, Strobe and Audio Alarm, Black DS-2CD2387G3P-LIS2UY/SL(180)B

What this Hikvision panoramic camera is for

Covering a wide yard or frontage usually takes two or three ordinary cameras, each with its own blind edges. A panoramic camera joins the scene into one picture instead, so you follow a person from one side to the other without switching views.

This Hikvision turret does that across 180°, from a single black housing. It suits business owners who want one camera on a long wall, and installers who want fewer cable runs.

How the camera's technology works

• One wide image: the camera delivers a single wide stream of 4256 × 1888 pixels, and distortion correction can straighten the picture.
• ColorVu 3.0: Hikvision's name for its colour-at-night approach. A very wide F1.0 aperture lets in plenty of light, and white light fills the gap when it is fully dark.
• Smart Hybrid Light: you can choose white light, IR or the Smart Hybrid Light mode to suit the site and its neighbours.
• Deep learning: software trained on examples sorts people and vehicles from other movement, so line crossing and intrusion alarms focus on real targets.

Where to use it

The IP67 metal body and -30 °C to 60 °C working range suit exposed outdoor walls. Its moderate anti-corrosion level also covers sites affected by acid rain.

Detail drops off quickly with distance across such a wide view, so it is less suited to watching the far end of a long drive.

What the figures mean in practice

• DORI: stands for detect, observe, recognise and identify. Plan on 6 m where you need to identify a stranger, and treat 62 m only as seeing that something moved.
• 20fps: the main stream runs at 20 frames a second at full resolution, so set the recorder to match.
• 110 dB speaker: the warning sound reaches a max. sound pressure level of 110 dB at 10 cm, loud close up and quieter across a yard.
• 1 A alarm relay: the alarm output is rated max. 24 VDC/24 VAC, 1 A, so check the load of anything connected stays within it.

Installing it

• Power budget: this camera needs an 802.3at (PoE+) port. Allow max. 24 W per camera when adding up the switch's load.
• Aiming: pan 0° to 360°, tilt 0° to 75° and rotate 0° to 360° let you level the panoramic picture after fixing.
• Privacy: up to four shaped masks can hide a neighbour's window or garden from the picture.

Planning your system

The camera can record to a microSD card or a NAS drive, which is enough for a small site. For longer retention, add a network video recorder that supports the camera's ONVIF profile and resolution, plus hard drives sized for how many days you want to keep.

Black brackets and junction boxes keep the finish consistent; check the colour of each mount before ordering.

Standards and ratings explained

• IP67: dust tight, and protected against temporary immersion in water.
• NEMA 4X: an enclosure rating under NEMA 250 that includes resistance to corrosion.
• EN 50130-4: an immunity standard for alarm equipment, covering electrical interference.