Hikvision ColorVu Camera Tested

By: Rob Kilpatrick, Published on Jun 24, 2019

Hikvision says their new ColorVu line captures "vivid chromatic images in darkness", with unconventional white light illuminations whereas most cameras use infrared.

To see how these new models perform, we bought and tested the DS-2CD2347G1-L, examining:

How good are details using the white light LED in the dark?
How do details compare without the LED?
Does it overexpose people in the scene?
Can it replace an outdoor light?
How does bandwidth compare to typical Hikvision turrets?

*******

*********'* ******* ******** ***** details *** **** ***** fidelity ** ***** **** the ********** ***** ***** on ** ***** ***** (~15-30') **** ******* ******* lighting.

************, ** ****** ** supplemental ********, *********** * low **** *** *****, much **** ********* **** adding **** ******* ******** and ******* **** ****** a ********** *** *****. Those **** ****** ** no ******* ******** ** seeking ** ***** **** spots *** **** **** especially ******.

*******, *******'* ***** ***** suffers **** *** ***********:

************ ******:** ***** **-**' *** nearer ** *** ******, subjects **** *********** ** our *****, ********* ** a ******** **** ** facial *******.
****** ************:*******'* ************ *** **** weaker ** *** ***** of *** *** **** the ******, ******** ****** and ***** ******** ** these *****.
**** ** ************ ** longer *****:*******'* ************ ***** **** a ******** ~* *** at ~**' ******** (***** default ********) ** *.* at ~**' *** ~*.* at **', *** **** to ******** ********** ********.

*** ***** ******* ** accept ** **** ****** these ******, ******* ** an *********** *********** ** typical ********** ** ****** which ******* **** ********** images ** ***** ****.

*******

*** ********* ******* ****** (DS-2CD2345FWD-I), ******~$*** *** ****** is ~$** **** ********* than *** ********** ** version (**-**********-*) ***** ***** for ~$***.

Size **********

*** ******** ******* ****** is ********** ****** **** Hikvision's ******* ** ****** camera, *** **-**********-*, *** much ****** *** **** noticeable **** * ******* Dahua ***** **** ******.

Camera Size Comparison

Physical ********

*** ******* ****** ** similar ** ***** ******* in **** ******, *** uses * ******* ***** light *** ******* ** the ****** ** *** below *** ****.

ColorVu White LEDs Standard IR LED opsi2

***** **** **** *** its ****** ****, ************ of *** **** ** similar ** *********'* ***** turrets, **** *** **** mounting ******* *** ***** whip.

White ***** ************ ****

** *** ***** ***** we **** *** ******* of *** ******'* ***** light *********** ** * near-0 *** *****. *** white ***** ******* *********** details ** ***** ***** while *** ****** ** almost ******* ***** ******* illumination. ** **** *****, illumination ***** ********* *************, but *** ******* ** still ****** ******** ** up ** ~***' **** it *******.

Bright ***** ****** ** **** ***** / ** ****** ** ***

** *** *****, *** ColorVu ****** ******** ****** color ****** ** ***** at **** ***** (~**' distance/~60 *** *****), **** recognizable ******* ******* **** the ***** ***** *** on, **** ******* **** images ******* *** ***.

Strong Color Images At Near Range

****** ******** ****** **** in **** ****** **** using *** ***** ***** LEDs, ****** **** **** differences *** ****, **** as *** **** ** the *** ***, *********** between ****** ****** *** green, *** **** **** shades. *******, ****** *** much ******* **** ******* using *** ****, ***** they *** ********* *****************.

Nighttime Colors True With LED On

Colors **** ** *** ***** *** ******

*******, ** ****** *****, the ***** ***** ***'* power ** ******, **** subject ******* *** ****** lost ** ~**'/~** ***, shown *****, **** ***** noticeably *********. *******, ******* the ***** ***** ***********, even ********* ******* **** difficult, **** ** ******* details ** **** *********.

. Details And Colors Weaker At Longer Range 1 lux

Weak **** ************

***** *** ******* *** illuminates **** ** ******* range ** *** ****** of *** ***** ** view, ************ ** ******, with *** ***** ************* darker.

White Light Illumination Uneven

**** ******* ** ******* reduced ******* ** ******** near *** **** *** to ****** ***** *** light *** ******* *****. Additionally, ****** *** *********** lost.

Color Fidelity And Details Weak At Edges Of FOV

Near ***** ************

************, ******** ****** **-**' of *** ****** **** often ** ***********, ****** all ****** *******. ***** issues ******** ********** ** whether *** ***** *** set ** **** ** manual *** ******* "***** Supplemental ********" *** ******* or ***.

Slow ******* ******* (*/***)

**** **** ****** **** Hikvision ******, ******* ********* to */*** ******** ********* in ********** ********, *** present ** */***.

slow-shutter-default-causes-ghosting

** ******, ** ****** with */*** ******* *****, except *** *** ***** above ** **** *** tradeoffs ** *** ******* 1/12s *******.

White ***** ******

*******'* ************ *** *** very ******, ********* **** ~2 *** ** ~**' distance, ** *** ****** of *** ***, ***** default ********* ***** ********, though ******** **** (*.*.,******* ****** ***), **** ** ~*.* lux ** **' *** only ~*.* ** **'. The ***** ***** *** also ** ******** **********, which ******* ** ~** the ***** ****** ** maximum, ***** ** *** chart *****, *** **** increased *** ******** ** overexposure (*****).

***** ************ **** **** in * ***** **** background ************ ** *.** lux ******* *** ******'* white ***** ************.

Low **** *** ********

******* *******'* ***** ****** are ****** ** ** night (** *** ** a *****), ** *** be **** ** * substitute *** ** ******* light. **** *** ** especially ********** ** ***** with ****** ** ** exterior ********. ************, *** is ********* **** ********* to ******** *** ******* than **** ******* ********** wiring, ****** ************ **** versus ****** * *****.

*******, *******'* **** *** small *** ********** *****, appearing **** **** *** light ** * ********** than ******, **** ********* lighting ******* ***** *** accustomed **.

*** *******, *** ***** below ***** *** ******* camera (*****) ******* ~**-**' away **** ** ******** building ***** (****). *** standard ***** ** ****** and ****** **** *****, but ** ******** ********** the **** ****** **** ColorVu, **** *** ****** of *** **** ***** it ****** *******, ***** details ** *** **** around *** ******* ****** are ********* ** ***.

******* ******* ******** ** also ********* ******** *** more *******. *** *******, the ***** ***** ******** ColorVu ** * ******* outdoor ***** **********. *** ColorVu ****** ** ****** directly ** ***** ** it, *** ***** ** the **** ** *** FOV *** ****. ** contrast, *** ***** ********** bulb *********** ******** ** front ** **, **** harshly **** *******, *** also *********** **** ** the **** ** *** room, **** ***** ** the **** ** *** camera ********** ***, ******* the ******* **** ** ColorVu.

ColorVu Vs Standard Lighting

******* ** ***** ******, those **** ****** ** no ******* ******** *** find ******* ******. *******, those **** ********* ***** by ** ********* ******** may ** ****** *** with ******** ******** *** cameras ******* ** *******

Higher ********* **** ******* ********* ******

*******'* ********* ******** **** higher **** ******* *** 4MP ****** ** **** tests, ****** * **/* at ***** **** ***** light **, ******** ** 1-2 **/* ** **** tests ** ** ******. Daytime ******** **** ******* to ***** ******.

**** **** ******* ********* with ***** ***** ****** off, *** *** ** much ****** ******, **** few ****** ******* ********* at **** ***** *****.

Bitrate Comparison1

Country ** ******

*** **-*********-* *** ************ in *****.

ColorVu Made In China

Test **********

******* **** ****** ***** default ******** **** **** changes:

*.***+/*.***+ **** *******
******* ******** *** *** to */*** ******* ** the ******* */***
*** ***** ***** ******** were ***** ***** ******* settings (*********) *** ***** Supplemental ***** *******

*** ********* ******** ******** were ****, *** ****** available ** *** **** of *******:

**-*********-*:*.*.**

Comments (21)

Matthew Del Salto

BLACKBOX USA
06/24/19 04:12pm

**** *** *** ***** light ***** ** * deterent ** ****?

Undisclosed #1

06/24/19 04:18pm

****

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 06/24/19 04:45pm

**, * ****** ***** those. ***** ********** * *** *, now, ** ****.

** ******* **** **** ONVIF **********, *'* ** interested ** **.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Ethan Ace | 06/24/19 05:10pm

***** ********** * *** *, now, ** ****.

******* **** ******** **** range, *** *** *** bunny **** *** * dead ********.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

06/25/19 09:22am

**** ***** *** ********* of ***** ***** *** attracting ***** *** ********* spider ****? **** *** white ***** **** ** this ******?

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 06/26/19 11:39pm

** *****'* ****** **** specifically *** * ***** think *** ***** ***** would ***** ******* **** at *****, ***** ***** then ******* *******.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

06/26/19 06:43pm

**'** **** *** *** version *** ***** * month ** ** *** found *** ******* ** be ********** **** ***; especially **** ******* ******* comparable ****-**** ******** */ "Matrix ** " ** poor ******* **********.

******** ***'** **** * screenshot ** (*) ****-***** compared ** (*) **/* color *** ** *** same *** ***** ** the **** **** (~* AM) **** ***** * rainstorm **** **** ******* lighting.

*********** ** *** **** the ********* ******* *** a *** **** ******* available ** ** ******* to *********** *** ******** of *** *** ****** within *** ***...****** ****. Don't ****** *** *** versions ****** ***** ********.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 06/27/19 12:13am

...**** ***** * ********* with **** ******* ********.

*** *** **** **** ambient*****, *****?

Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 06/27/19 02:30pm

???

*** **** **** *** are *********; **** ********** dealership ****** ***** *** lighting ** **** * PM, ** ***** **** light ******** ** *** cam ******, **'* ****** much ***** ***** *** there.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 06/27/19 02:34pm

#* ** ******** ** the ***** ** *** background ** *** *****.

* ** **** **'* dark ***** ***, *** camera ********, ** ***** a ********** ** *** lux ***** ** *.* or *.* ** * or *, ***. *******, all ** **** *** subjectively ** ********* ** dark ***, ** * camera, ** *** **** a ******** ********** ** performance.

**** ********** ********** ****** leave *** ******** ** past * **

*** *** ******* ****? If **** ********** ****** leave *** ********* **, how ** ** ******* to ***** *** ***** light ************ ** *** camera **? ** * missing ********* ****?

Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to John Honovich | 06/27/19 03:16pm

#* ** ******** ** the ***** ** *** background ** *** *****.
* ** **** **'* dark ***** ***, *** camera ********, ** ***** a ********** ** *** lux ***** ** *.* or *.* ** * or *, ***. *******, all ** **** *** subjectively ** ********* ** dark ***, ** * camera, ** *** **** a ******** ********** ** performance.

***, ** ******...****'* ****** someone ***** **** ***** that ******* *********** ** literally ;) *** ***, obviously "***** ** *** background" **** **** *** camera ***; *** ***** cams **********. ** **** every ********* *** ******** lots ********* ******* ** least ****** **** ******** to **** **** *******...****'* primarily **** * *** referring ** ** *** typical ****** ** "*******" light. ** **** ******** though, **** ************* ***'* possible.

*** *** ******* ****? If **** ********** ****** leave *** ********* **, how ** ** ******* to ***** *** ***** light ************ ** *** camera **? ** * missing ********* ****?

******** **** * ******* of ******* ** **** less **** *** ***+ lumen **** ****** **** previously *********** *** ****** lot. ***** * *** amendment ** **** ****, this ********** ********** ** no ****** ******* ** produce * "********" ***** of ********...******* *** ****** powered **** **** **** under **** *********.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 06/27/19 03:39pm

...** ***** **** ***** provided ** *** *** itself, **'* ****** **** pitch ***** *** *****.

*** *****, (** *** **** remote ****** *** ***’** motivated), turnoff *** *** *** a ****** *** **** a ********. ** ***** is ** ******** ************ the *** ****** *** that **** *** ***, then ** ****** ***** see *** **** ** distant ****** *** * black ******* ***.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 06/28/19 03:36am

** *********, *** *** GUI **** *** ******* access ** ******** ******* the ***.

* ******* ** ******* a *** ********* *********** at ******* ******* ****** though (***** ****'* ** helpful) **** */** ***** the **** ******* *******...**** taken ** ~**:** **.

1/12

1/250

1/500

1/1000

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 06/28/19 05:15am

** *********, *** *** GUI **** *** ******* access ** ******** ******* the ***.

******* *** *** **** set (***********) *** ******* image ******** ** ** the **** ** *** night, *** **** ***** daytime.

********, *** ***** **** have ** ******** *** effect ** *** ** CUT ******, *** * would ****** **’* *** switchable ******, *** ****** on, ****** *’* *** positive.

@*****, **** ** *** think ***** *** ** CUT ******, ****** ** or?

Sean Nelson

Nelly's Security
08/12/19 06:04pm

** **** *** ***** in *** * **** been ******* **** *** they *** ******. **** impressed **** *** *** light *******. **** ** my ******** ** ******** with ********** ** ******** other **** *** **** light. *******, *** ****** a **** **** *** this ** *****! (**** is **** *** ************ light ****** ***)

Undisclosed #4

In reply to Sean Nelson | 08/12/19 06:19pm

"*** **** *** ****"

******* **** ****:)

******* **** ** ****** for *** **** * month

*** ***** ***%

**** *** ******

Sean Nelson

Nelly's Security
In reply to Undisclosed #4 | 08/16/19 06:46pm

*** ***** **** **** these ** ***** *** can **** *** ***** turn ** **** ** event *******? ** *** they *** * ** missing *********?

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Sean Nelson | 08/16/19 07:17pm

*** ******** **** *** models**** * ****** *** audio ***** ***** *** can ******** ** *****. We **** *** ** these ** *****, *** it's ****** ****** ** ship. * ****** ** test ** ** *********.

***** *** **** **** models ******** **** **** and *** ******, *** not **** ** ****'** coming ** *** ** or ***. ***** ****:

Sean Nelson

Nelly's Security
In reply to Ethan Ace | 08/16/19 07:21pm

****** *****. *** *** Accusense **** ** ****. pretty ****. ******** *** only * ****** *****.

**** ***** ** **** on *** *******'* ** if *** ***** ****** it **** * ****** activated *****.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Sean Nelson | 10/04/19 09:56pm

**** ***** ** **** on *** *******'* ** if *** ***** ****** it **** * ****** activated *****.

*** ***** ** ****** the ****** ** *** dark?

Ethan Ace

IPVM | 10/16/19 06:00pm

**'** ***** * **** video ** *** ****** more ******* ******* *** effects ** *** ***** light *********** ***** ****** on *** *** ** a ****** ***** **** scene (~*.**-*.** ***):

ColorVu White Light Demo Video

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