Hikvision ColorVu + 4K (DS-2CD2087G2-L)

[Night-Owl]

I can see the value of a siren and flashing lights such as on Dahua active defence cameras. However, I equally see these as a niche rather than a mainstream product. The flashing coloured led degrades the picture and ruins recognition. Clear led's better in this regard but not sure how much they really add to the overall picture vs quality. I see this feature as more something like you'd see on a Ring ie best activated by it sending a notification to your phone and you manually viewing the video and then trigering the light / siren or alternatively activated after a longer period of activity when you've already got the money shots. Having it activate on detection or 5 sec thereafter is detrimental to the picture and whilst it might stop an attack dead, it can also ruin the evidence.

My personal use for one of these cameras would be as a rear yard defence tool as then any activation means you've probably a) already got them on other cameras and b) you actively want to scare them out of there, or as a backup camera to another camera where the delay is such that the other camera gets the money shot and this one scares them off, or as suggested manually activated.

I certainly wouldn't want even a clear led on all night. I'm trying to cut my electricity bill not increase it and as mentioned the downside is you're potentially considerably shortening the life of the camera runnign leds for long periods becasue eventually they will fail like any light source.

Valid points and yes, picture quality is the most important thing

 

[spammenotinoz]

I see LED's as a gimmick and something designed to help manufacturers claim better night performance than a camera actually has. They use a significant amount of electricity comapred to the camera overall and add in a component to the camera that will eventually fail. Just ask yourslef, how many people have actually got the eg. 14,000 hours promised out of an led light bulb? Generally they last a long time, but I've replaced quite a few within a couple of years. You don't want to be junking a perfectly good cameras because an led which is on up to 12 hours a night depending on the time of year, has died.

In my opinion, Hik made a step in the right direction with this camera in upping the sensor size and left Dahua reeling. The sheer populartiy of this camera shows what the market wants - large sensors not led gimmicks. This may have an led as well, but hopefully if everyone feed backs to Dahua / Hikvision we might see LED's fade out and even larger more sensitive sensors creep in.

I have the LED turn on when it detects a person, when the LED goes on, people seem to look directly at the camera for just a brief instant which enables a clear shot of the face. Not magic just an extra active deterrent.

 

[Parley]

For my situation the only "LED'S" that I have on are for cameras getting license plate numbers. I find that the light tends to wash out the face of the person. Now for my LED security lights I use the "daylight" color and that seems to work out quite well. As stated above I really like these 4K cameras with the 1/1.2" sensor. From now on I will not get anything smaller except maybe a 1/1.8" sensor for a license plate camera.

When I first got into these IP cameras back in 2015 I hired someone to help me pull the cable and get me started. Started off with an 8 port Hikvision NVR and small bullet cameras. Those all had the 1/3" sensors. Then I graduated to cameras with the 1/2.8" sensors. Then I really made a leap to the 1/18" sensors. Now the way things stand the 1/1.8" sensors and larger is the way to go. I will have two PTZ's with the 4/3" sensor. I am surprised that Dahua has not done more with the 4/3" sensors in their camera line up.

 

[hiklinux]

Hi All,

My new DS-2CD2087G2-LU Just arrived with V5.5.154 build 200928 factory firmware.
I can't find the "Lens Distortion Correction" setting, which my other DS-2CD2085G1-I cameras have.
If this camera doesn't have this option, any suggestion how to do such correction some other way.

Thank you!

 

[pozzello]

did you get the 2.8 or 4mm version? "Lens Distortion Correction" is really only useful on the 2.8's that have significant distortion/stretching around the edges, and it works (mostly) by cropping the image somewhat. So you might as well just get the right lens in the first place...

 

[gtj]

I see.
You've been thoroughly helpful. Thanks!

May I also ask something?
If supposedly one operates both the Colorvu and the 5442 side by side with their IRs switched off, which one is going to perform better in low light scenario?
Is it going to be purely that one with the larger image sensor? Is the sensor the basic factor determining low light performance or is there anything else we should be looking at?

 

[wittaj]

May I also ask something?
If supposedly one operates both the Colorvu and the 5442 side by side with their IRs switched off, which one is going to perform better in low light scenario?
Is it going to be purely that one with the larger image sensor? Is the sensor the basic factor determining low light performance or is there anything else we should be looking at?

ColorVu, Starlight, Full Color, etc. are marketing terms.

Sensor size, F number, MP, quality of the lens and sensor and software running the cameras are the real determining factors. And then obviously dial each cameras specific software settings to optimize the image and video. A brightness of 50 for example will look different between two different brands, or even the same brand but different cameras.

In theory one could go by the the smaller the lux number the better the low light performance and that is true to some extent, but manufacturers can play with that as well - it that a static image or motion video for example - I can make a cheap camera look like noon at midnight, but the motion quality will be crap...

 

[bigredfish]

May I also ask something?
If supposedly one operates both the Colorvu and the 5442 side by side with their IRs switched off, which one is going to perform better in low light scenario?
Is it going to be purely that one with the larger image sensor? Is the sensor the basic factor determining low light performance or is there anything else we should be looking at?

I'd like to see that too and may buy one of these just to find out.

When comparing though, (and few seem to know about or own one because everyone is enamoured with turrets), we should be comparing the true best NI bullet version of the 5442. not the regular turret AS.
Review: OEM IPC-B5442T-ASE-NI 4MP Pro AI Starlight Full-color Fixed Bullet

 

[Parley]

May I also ask something?
If supposedly one operates both the Colorvu and the 5442 side by side with their IRs switched off, which one is going to perform better in low light scenario?
Is it going to be purely that one with the larger image sensor? Is the sensor the basic factor determining low light performance or is there anything else we should be looking at?

I have had both in the same location. I can honestly say that the Colorvu performs better at night. Here are a couple of pictures of my backyard. Top picture is from a 5442E-ZE. Bottom picture as you have seen posted before is from the Colorvu 6MM.

 

[Night-Owl]

Hi, I have HFW5442E-Z4E for long range and the Hik's for anything else. The Hik's are giving a better picture side by side at same range but obviously if you need a range the Hik's cannot get or a closer picture etc then the 5442E's optical versions I would recommend. The other good point about the optical's is if you do find your spec changes to what you want to view you don't have to go a buy a new camera.

I keep the 5442's in forced colour now also. The above model of Dahua you can get from Andy for about same price as Hik's so it really is down to what you are trying to view at what distance.

 

[spammenotinoz]

I

Stills mean very little, I can get a good night picture with any cam. I have a 2.8 ColorVu as an overview and 3 overlapping Dahua varifocals. When on maximum zoom, really disappointed with the Dahua night performance, should have gone fixed focus. Guess that is another lesson.
The other takeaway is the Hik provides a much cleaner picture with less noise, and for myself this uses a LOT less bandwidth and even when both are on VBR the Hik just sips away at the disk, meaning I can retain a lot more footage,

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

Stills mean very little, I can get a good night picture with any cam. I have a 2.8 ColorVu as an overview and 3 overlapping Dahua varifocals. When on maximum zoom, really disappointed with the Dahua night performance, should have gone fixed focus. Guess that is another lesson.
The other takeaway is the Hik provides a much cleaner picture with less noise, and for myself this uses a LOT less bandwidth and even when both are on VBR the Hik just sips away at the disk, meaning I can retain a lot more footage,

which dahua model you are using for the motorized lens?
Here is the B5442E-Z4E for watching a 140ft mailbox in the full dark night, zoom in and out.

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

Hi Craig, if you have been following the thread then you will have a good idea if this camera will work for your environment and if you say you have street lights then even better. The trouble is no where has stock of this model as yet but should be back in stock in the next few weeks. I would certainly consider buying from a UK Authorised Seller.

Where about in the UK are you?

From my news, the 4K chips extremly shortage, right now the NEW Stocks booking time for this colorvu 4K need around (12weeks )2.5-3 months . I booked some at early March, new delivery time is Middle May, Same on dahua 4K models too , and Price also keep increasing.

 

[spammenotinoz]

which dahua model you are using for the motorized lens?
Here is the B5442E-Z4E for watching a 140ft mailbox in the full dark night, zoom in and out.

I have a few different ones, but specifically comparing to the IPC-HDW5442T-ZE. IPC-HDW5442T-ZE stills look picture perfect, but get any motion and there is no detail. Tried auto and the various manual modes and tips from the threads here for this specific camera, but I am disappointed with all my motion grabs.
If I walk really slowly, sure it's fine.

 

[gtj]

ColorVu, Starlight, Full Color, etc. are marketing terms.

Sensor size, F number, MP, quality of the lens and sensor and software running the cameras are the real determining factors. And then obviously dial each cameras specific software settings to optimize the image and video. A brightness of 50 for example will look different between two different brands, or even the same brand but different cameras.

In theory one could go by the the smaller the lux number the better the low light performance and that is true to some extent, but manufacturers can play with that as well - it that a static image or motion video for example - I can make a cheap camera look like noon at midnight, but the motion quality will be crap...

Thank you once again for the invaluable info and help. I think everything is clarified now.

I have had both in the same location. I can honestly say that the Colorvu performs better at night. Here are a couple of pictures of my backyard. Top picture is from a 5442E-ZE. Bottom picture as you have seen posted before is from the Colorvu 6MM.

View attachment 85901

View attachment 85902

Oh, that's very helpful. Literally, it's like night and day difference.
The 5442 looks like it has its IRs on though.

I'd like to see that too and may buy one of these just to find out.

When comparing though, (and few seem to know about or own one because everyone is enamoured with turrets), we should be comparing the true best NI bullet version of the 5442. not the regular turret AS.
Review: OEM IPC-B5442T-ASE-NI 4MP Pro AI Starlight Full-color Fixed Bullet

I also got the ''best' 5442 bullet one - got it from Andy.

Hi, I have HFW5442E-Z4E for long range and the Hik's for anything else. The Hik's are giving a better picture side by side at same range but obviously if you need a range the Hik's cannot get or a closer picture etc then the 5442E's optical versions I would recommend. The other good point about the optical's is if you do find your spec changes to what you want to view you don't have to go a buy a new camera.

I keep the 5442's in forced colour now also. The above model of Dahua you can get from Andy for about same price as Hik's so it really is down to what you are trying to view at what distance.

Yeah, it appears the varifocal feature is not something I will ever use as both my outside cameras are mounted at a set point with a standard 7-8 metres distance from the area of interest. That won't change unless I move house of course. Therefore, I'm more interested in low light performance and the ColorVu looks like it performs superior in the dark and in true colour mode. It's also substantially smaller in size and probably consumes less power too.

 

[hiklinux]

did you get the 2.8 or 4mm version? "Lens Distortion Correction" is really only useful on the 2.8's that have significant distortion/stretching around the edges, and it works (mostly) by cropping the image somewhat.

Yes, I have 2.8" lens, as I need the widest view angle in my place.
I suppose that camera DSP should implement some Correction Algorithm (from Wiki). What I can see the DS-2CD2085G1-I camera fulfill not mostly image crop, but more smart real-time image processing.

 

[bigredfish]

I have had both in the same location. I can honestly say that the Colorvu performs better at night. Here are a couple of pictures of my backyard. Top picture is from a 5442E-ZE. Bottom picture as you have seen posted before is from the Colorvu 6MM.

View attachment 85901

View attachment 85902

So is that this model @Parley ?

DS-2CD2087G2-L(U)

Hikvision DS-2CD2087G2-L(U) 4 K ColorVu Fixed Bullet Network Camera

www.hikvision.com

And you have the white LEDs turned on correct?
Is that the only immediate light source on the porch?

 

[ljw2k]

From my news, the 4K chips extremly shortage, right now the NEW Stocks booking time for this colorvu 4K need around (12weeks )2.5-3 months . I booked some at early March, new delivery time is Middle May, Same on dahua 4K models too , and Price also keep increasing.

According to the main Hikvision distributor here in the UK 19th April in stock so a few weeks wait. Some companies have stock but a little more expensive. They run out of stock just after I purchased mine in late January so maybe first to get New Stock in UK.

 

[kouma]

What are people using as junction box for these cameras?

 

[ljw2k]

What are people using as junction box for these cameras?

I use the recommended box
HIKVISION DS-1280ZJ-S