The best Hikvision ColorVu camera is the one that matches your site's cable run, light range and mounting surface: coax (HD-TVI/PoC) or PoE IP, 20 m or 30 m of supplementary white light, and a turret or bullet that suits the wall or soffit. Generation (G2 or G3) matters less than getting those three right, and no published test shows a G2-to-G3 improvement, so treat any claim of one with caution. Settle signal type first, then form factor, then lens (2.8, 3.6 or 6 mm), and the model choice usually becomes obvious.
Which Hikvision ColorVu camera suits your site?
Pick the signal type first (coax HD-TVI/PoC or PoE IP), then the form factor, then the lens. The four turrets in the table below differ mainly in cabling, night range and whether you need sound. We also list a separate Hikvision 4K ColorVu PoC Fixed Mini Bullet Camera, so check its own product page if you want a bullet.
| Your site |
Choose |
Why |
| Existing coax and an HD-TVI/AHD/CVI DVR |
Hikvision ColorVu Camera 5MP |
20 m warm white light, IP67, 2.8 mm lens |
| Coax, with the most resolution |
4K ColorVu Turret Camera 8MP PoC |
8MP over HD-TVI coax, IP67 |
| Audio alongside colour night video |
Hikvision ColorVu 3K Turret with built-in mic |
F1.0 aperture, 20 m white light, IP67 |
| New network install, PoE cabling |
Hikvision 2MP ColorVu Turret PoE IP67 |
30 m white light, mic, powered and recorded over one network cable |
Of the four turrets, only the 5MP has a stated lens: 2.8 mm. For the others, and for the mini bullet, read the product page before you commit to a mounting position.
The 8MP turret listing quotes 40 m of infrared, the longest reach of the four turrets. Check its page for how it behaves at night before relying on it for colour at distance.
Confirm the recorder before ordering. Coax cameras need a compatible DVR, and the PoE camera needs an NVR or PoE switch with enough spare ports. Your own installer fits the kit, and each product page links to its datasheet.
ColorVu G2 vs G3: what's documented, and does it record colour at night?
Yes, ColorVu cameras are designed to record colour at night, but this relies on an F1.0 aperture, an advanced sensor and, on many models, supplemental white light, as the Hikvision ColorVu technology page describes. Check whether a specific model has the white light, because that changes how it behaves in a dark yard.
The G2 reference point
The DS-2CD2387G2-L(U) datasheet gives a concrete baseline. It lists a 1/1.2″ progressive scan CMOS sensor at 3840 × 2160, colour minimum illumination of 0.0005 lux at F1.0 with AGC on, and a white supplement light with a range of up to 30 m. It also lists smart supplement light and 24/7 colour imaging.
Our Hikvision 2MP ColorVu Turret Camera PoE IP67 is listed with the same 30 m white light range.
What Hikvision documents beyond the G2 baseline
Hikvision's ColorVu technology page names a large aperture, adjustable lighting modes and Smart Hybrid Light as newer refinements. It says Smart Hybrid Light lets users get sharply focused HD images in colour or black and white, even in total darkness.
Adjustable lighting modes may help where a constantly lit camera could bother neighbours. Which modes a given camera offers is model-dependent, so check its own datasheet.
The sources cited here describe these as features, not a measured low-light gain, and give no lux comparison between generations, so compare each model's datasheet minimum illumination rather than assuming a newer generation beats G2.
Turret or bullet: which wins on a UK low-light site?
Turrets are the better-documented choice for ColorVu in low light; a bullet may suit a longer target, but check its own product page for light range and lens options.
The turret case
The DS-2CD2387G2-L(U) datasheet lists pan 0° to 360°, tilt 0° to 75° and rotate 0° to 360°. That is a wide adjustment range for one network turret, so check the datasheet of whichever model you buy.
Our own turrets quote 20 m of white light on the 5MP and 3K models, and 30 m on the 2MP PoE turret. All three are IP67.
The bullet case
The 4K ColorVu mini bullet is a separate PoC fixed mini bullet listed in our 8MP category. If the target is a long drive or yard, compare its white-light range and lens options on its product page against the turret figures above before you choose.
Stabilisation, glare and mounting
We hold no data on "stabilisation", so judge each camera by its adjustment range and where its light sits. The points below are general installer guidance, not test results:
- Mount with clear space in front of the lens, because the camera's own light may bounce off a nearby wall or soffit.
- Insects and spiders may be drawn to the light, so choose a position you can reach for cleaning.
ROI per camera
Cost per covered zone = (camera price + cable/PSU + customer's installer time) ÷ zones covered
Installer time is your own electrician's or installer's, since we sell the equipment and do not fit it. A camera that covers two zones can beat a cheaper one that covers one.
Which lens: 2.8, 3.6 or 6 mm?
Pick the focal length from the distance you need to cover, then confirm that distance falls inside the camera's white-light range. A longer lens only narrows the view. It does nothing to extend the light, and ColorVu needs that light to keep colour at night.
As general optics, a shorter focal length gives a wider view with less reach, and a longer one gives a tighter view that resolves more detail far away. I haven't quoted field-of-view angles because they vary by model and sensor. Use the FOV and DORI tables in the datasheet. Hikvision's DS-2CD2387G2-L(U) datasheet lays out both, next to a white-light range of up to 30 m.
Light range differs from model to model. Our 5MP ColorVu turret has a 2.8 mm lens and 20 m of white light, while our 2MP PoE turret is listed at 30 m.
What's on offer:
- 5MP turret: 2.8 mm lens, as above.
- 4K mini bullet (DS-2CE12UF3T-E, £71.19): check its product page for lens options and light range before you order.
- 3K, 2MP PoE and 4K turrets: check each product page for the lens fitted.
Suggested pairings (guidance, not test results):
- 2.8 mm: entrances and corridors, where width matters more than distance.
- 3.6 mm: driveways.
- 6 mm: longer, narrower views. Check each product page to see which models offer it.
Power, cabling and fitting: PoC, PoE or 12 V?
The 4K ColorVu bullet and turret are PoC cameras on HD-TVI coax, while the 2MP ColorVu turret is a PoE IP camera for NVR systems. Match the camera type to your recorder before you compare resolutions.
Which camera goes with which system
For the 5MP and 3K turrets, check the power requirement on each product page before ordering.
Recorder compatibility
The DS-2CE12UF3T-E supports multiple video output formats, including HD-TVI, AHD, CVI and CVBS. That suits a range of DVRs and upgrades from legacy analogue installations. Confirm your recorder's supported signal types in its datasheet, and check how a PoC camera will be powered on your system.
Fitting and resetting
CCTV Master sells equipment but doesn't fit it, so your own installer or electrician does the install. Point them to the product datasheet or installation guide. For a reset, follow the manufacturer's manual for your exact model rather than a generic procedure.
Compliance
This is general guidance, not legal advice. If a camera views business premises or anywhere the public can be seen, UK GDPR and the ICO's CCTV guidance apply, including signage.
On whether Hikvision is allowed in the UK, check current government guidance and any policy at the client's site before specifying. Shop at cctvmaster.co.uk or ask about trade pricing.
Related products from our own range:
- Hikvision ColorVu Camera 5MP – Full Colour at Night — 5MP ColorVu camera giving full-colour video at night via a 20m warm white light, sharper than 1080p. IP67, 2.8mm lens, works with HD-TVI/AHD/CVI DVRs.
- Hikvision ColorVu 3K Turret Camera with Built-in Mic — ColorVu shows colour at night, not grey: this 3K turret camera has an F1.0 aperture, 20m white light, built-in mic and IP67 weather rating.
- Hikvision 2MP ColorVu Turret Camera PoE IP67 — 2MP Hikvision ColorVu turret camera with 24/7 full-colour imaging, 30m white light, PoE power, built-in mic and IP67 weatherproofing for outdoor surveillance.
- 4K ColorVu Turret Camera 8MP PoC | Hikvision — 8MP 4K turret camera with 24/7 ColorVu imaging, 40m infrared, IP67 weatherproof. HD-TVI coaxial cable transmission for residential and commercial surveillance.
