Hikvision 5MP Ultra Low Light Turret Camera, 2.8 mm DS-2CE78H8T-IT3F(2.8MM)

What this turret camera is for

Plenty of premises still have good coaxial cable in the walls. This Hikvision camera gives those systems a sharper picture 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 position at a time. A turret camera has a ball-style lens unit in a base, with no dome cover over it.

How the camera's technology works

• Ultra-low light: the maker's name for how the sensor copes in dim scenes. The day/night mode can be set to Auto, Color or BW (black and white).
• EXIR 2.0: Hikvision's name for its infrared light design. IR lights the scene at night, and the picture is then black and white.
• Smart IR: a function that helps stop close subjects washing out under the camera's own light.
• 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.

The 2.8 mm lens has a wide view, so it covers the area close to the camera better than anything far away. Long IR reach does not change that.

What the figures mean in practice

• 5 MP@20fps: the top resolution on TVI and AHD. Dropping to 4 MP gives 25 or 30 fps, for smoother movement, and CVI tops out at 4 MP.
• IR up to 60 m: this is how far the camera's light reaches. Being able to identify a person needs them to be far closer than that.
• WDR and lux: WDR balances bright and dark parts of a picture, which helps where a doorway faces a bright street. Lux measures light falling on a scene, and AGC is the camera's automatic gain.
• Masks and motion areas: four of each let you hide a neighbour's window and limit motion detection to the parts of the view that matter.

Installing it

• Video cable: one coaxial run carries the picture to the recorder. 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.
• Fixings by code: Hikvision also offers the DS-1276ZJ-SUS corner mount and the DS-1281ZJ-S inclined ceiling mount. Check each one's finish on its own page.
• Set-up: the OSD (on-screen display) menu can be reached up the coax on TVI, so settings can be changed from the recorder end where it supports HIKVISION-C.

Planning your system

Recording happens at the recorder. For the full picture, the recorder must take 5 MP on the signal you choose.

As a rule, allow coaxial cable for each camera, and hard drives sized for the days of footage you want to keep.

Ratings explained

• IP67: dust tight, and protected against temporary immersion in water.
• PAL and NTSC: the two older regional video systems, which set the CVBS signal and shutter time ranges.