Hikvision 4MP 15x PTZ Speed Dome Camera, 100 m IR, AcuSense DS-2DE4415IW-DE(T5)

What this speed dome is for

A single camera can show a whole road or one number plate, but not both at once. A PTZ camera deals with that by moving and zooming, one view at a time.

This Hikvision dome suits commercial sites and public spaces with someone able to use its controls, or with routes set up in advance.

How does this PTZ camera work?

Motors turn the head and tip it up and down, while the lens zooms. You can steer it live, or store positions and let it run on its own.

• AcuSense: Hikvision's name for deep learning that picks out people and vehicles. Alarms can be limited to those targets.
• DarkFighter: Hikvision's low-light technology. It keeps a colour picture down to 0.005Lux @ (F1.6, AGC ON), before IR is needed.
• 3D positioning: on a screen, click or draw around a spot and the camera moves and zooms to it.

Where to use it

It is an outdoor camera. The IP66 housing and the -30 °C to 65 °C range handle hard UK weather, and a heater and demist feature help keep the view clear.

Keep it away from salt air and chemical plants, as those sites call for higher anti-corrosion levels.

What the figures mean in practice

• 15× optical zoom: the lens runs from 5 mm to 75 mm, so the view closes from a wide 55° to a tight 4°. At full zoom you see detail, but only a small slice of the scene.
• 16× digital zoom: this enlarges the image in software and adds no real detail.
• 132 m to identify: DORI stands for detect, observe, recognise and identify, and these are calculated at full zoom. Real results depend on light, weather and how steady the mount is. See how far cameras can see.
• IR up to 100 m: on an unlit site the camera's own light sets the limit, so plan night coverage to that distance.
• Patrols and pattern scans: the camera can walk a route of stored views while nobody watches. Anything outside the current view is missed, so add fixed cameras where you need full-time coverage.

Installing it

• Power budget: the PoE port needs 802.3at, sometimes called PoE+, which is a higher class than the 802.3af many older switches give.
• Weight and height: the camera is about 2 kg and 290 mm tall, so choose a solid fixing point.
• Accessories by code: options include the DS-1602ZJ, the DS-1604ZJ-corner, the DS-1604ZJ-pole and the DS-1619ZJ. Check that each code suits your surface.
• Surge: TVS 6000V lightning protection helps absorb voltage spikes on the unit itself. Consider protection on long outdoor runs.

Planning your system

Plan for a network video recorder, or a video management system such as HikCentral Pro, and an 802.3at switch or 12 VDC supply. The alarm input and output can link to other equipment, so check the ratings in the camera's manual before wiring.

Line crossing and intrusion events can trigger a PTZ action, such as a preset.

Standards and ratings explained

• IP66: dust tight, and protected against powerful jets of water.
• ONVIF: short for Open Network Video Interface, a shared standard that lets network cameras and recorders from different makers work together. The profile letters show which functions are covered.
• ISAPI, SDK and ISUP: Hikvision's own routes for connecting software and platforms to the camera.
• CE-EMC and CE-LVD: European product approvals covering electrical interference and electrical safety.