ColorVu Cameras

ColorVu is Hikvision's full-colour night vision technology. Standard IR cameras switch to black and white in low light, losing useful detail like the colour of a car or what someone was wearing. ColorVu cameras keep recording in full colour around the clock, so your night-time footage is just as useful as your daytime footage.

They do this using a large aperture lens that pulls in as much available light as possible, backed up by a built-in warm white light for darker scenes. You will see a faint glow from the camera at night, similar in brightness to the torch on a mobile phone, so it's noticeable without being intrusive in most homes and businesses. It's worth thinking about where it points, though, as you won't want it shining into a neighbour's window or your own bedroom. ColorVu cameras are available in turret and bullet styles from Hikvision and HiLook.

We stock ColorVu and ColorVu Lite models. Both use white light only, with no IR mode, and record in full colour 24 hours a day. ColorVu Lite uses a less powerful light, making it a more subtle option for homes. If you'd rather have a camera that uses IR by default and only switches to white light when it detects a person or vehicle, take a look at our Smart Hybrid Light cameras instead. Our night vision guide explains the differences in more detail.

A simple way to decide is to think about where the camera is going and what you need from the footage.

ColorVu suits places where you want colour all night and a soft glow isn't a problem, like driveways, car parks and business premises. It gives you the most useful evidence, as you'll always see colours of cars and clothing.

Smart Hybrid Light is the middle ground. It stays in black and white IR until someone walks into view, then lights up and switches to colour. That means no constant glow, and the sudden light acts as a deterrent too, so it's a popular choice for homes.

Standard IR is best where you don't want any visible light at all, such as a bedroom-facing side of the house or anywhere covert. It's also the better choice indoors, especially if your premises has large windows. A white light coming on inside after hours can light up the whole room, giving anyone outside a clear view of what's in there. You'll lose colour at night, but you'll still get clear detail in total darkness.

Whichever you choose, match the camera to your system. If you have a DVR you'll need HD over Coax cameras, and for an NVR or a standalone camera you'll need IP. Planning a new system? Use Find My System to find a kit with the night vision you want.