IP (network) cameras send video over a standard Ethernet cable and are powered by the same cable using PoE, so a single run from the recorder does everything. They give you higher resolutions than analogue — from 2MP right up to 12MP — plus remote viewing on your phone, motion alerts and, on ColorVu models, full-colour footage at night. Zenith Security Co stocks one of the largest ranges of IP cameras in the UK from Hikvision, HiLook by Hikvision, Dahua and Honeywell, at trade prices with fast UK delivery.
Start with our buying guide
Choosing a camera is mostly about matching resolution, lens and distance to what you actually need to see. Our Hikvision IP camera buying guide explains every series, decodes the model number suffixes, and covers pixels per metre — the calculation that decides whether you get a usable face or just a grey shape, and the reason a 4K camera on a wide lens still will not identify anyone across a car park.
The camera series explained
Hikvision's range is split into technology families, and the names tell you what problem each one solves. Most people only need one or two of them.
- AcuSense — the camera classifies what it sees and separates people and vehicles from rain, foliage, shadows and animals. This is the single biggest reduction in false alarms you can buy, and it is why most sites should start here. It also matters for your recorder: AcuSearch and AcuSeek on an NVR only work with AcuSense cameras that have the function enabled — see our Hikvision NVR buying guide.
- ColorVu — full-colour images in near darkness, using a very wide f/1.0 lens and a discreet warm supplement light. Colour matters when the description is "grey hoodie, red car" rather than a grey shape. Best where there is some ambient light: forecourts, car parks, entrances.
- Smart Hybrid Light — infrared by default, switching to white light when something is detected. A middle path: unobtrusive most of the night, colour when it counts. Suits residential streets where a permanently lit camera would annoy neighbours.
- ColorHunter — HiLook's equivalent of ColorVu, on the value range. Same idea, lower cost.
- LightHunter — low-light performance using a larger sensor rather than added light. For dark scenes where you cannot add illumination.
- DarkFighter and DarkFighterX — the specialist low-light tier. DarkFighterX uses two sensors, one for detail and one for colour, and combines them. Expensive, and the right answer only where light is genuinely poor and image quality is critical.
- Active Deterrence — strobe light and a spoken or siren warning triggered by the analytics. The camera intervenes rather than just recording. Well suited to yards, compounds and forecourts after hours.
- PanoVu — several sensors in one housing giving a seamless wide or 180° view from a single cable and licence. For large open areas where multiple cameras would otherwise be needed.
Reading the model number
Hikvision codes a lot into the suffix, and it is worth knowing before you compare quotes:
- G2, G3 — the generation. A G3 is newer than a G2 of the same model and usually improves the sensor, analytics or low-light behaviour.
- Bracketed letters such as (C), (D), (E), (eF) — the hardware revision. These are not cosmetic. On some products a revision change alters resolution support, storage limits or which analytics are included. Always check which revision a quote refers to; we state it on every product page.
- /SL — includes the strobe light and audio alarm (Active Deterrence).
- U or IU — includes a built-in microphone.
- Z or IZ — motorised varifocal lens, adjustable remotely rather than up a ladder.
- /BLACK, /GREY — the housing colour, not a different camera.
- Numbers such as 2.8mm or 2.8-12mm — the lens: a single figure is fixed, a range is varifocal.
How to choose an IP camera
- Resolution — 2MP for overview, 4MP for faces and plates at normal distances, 5MP–8MP where you need to zoom into footage. Higher resolution needs more hard-drive space and more recorder bandwidth.
- Night vision — infrared (black and white) is standard; ColorVu and Smart Hybrid Light cameras record in colour after dark.
- Form factor — turrets are easy to aim and discreet under eaves; bullets are visible deterrents for long views; domes protect the lens in public or vandal-prone areas; PTZ cameras pan, tilt and zoom to follow activity across a large site.
- Lens — 2.8mm for a wide view, 4mm or motorised varifocal to look further down a narrower area.
Every camera here works with a HiLook or Hikvision PoE NVR and supports ONVIF for other recorders. Choosing the recorder too? Our Hikvision NVR buying guide covers channels, PoE budgets, bandwidth per camera and storage. Need help specifying a system? Our team can put a camera and recorder list together for your site.
IP Cameras
IP (network) cameras send video over a standard Ethernet cable and are powered by the same cable using PoE, so a single run from the recorder does everything. They give you higher resolutions than analogue — from 2MP right up to 12MP — plus remote viewing on your phone, motion alerts and, on ColorVu models, full-colour footage at night. Zenith Security Co stocks one of the largest ranges of IP cameras in the UK from Hikvision, HiLook by Hikvision, Dahua and Honeywell, at trade prices with fast UK delivery.
Start with our buying guide
Choosing a camera is mostly about matching resolution, lens and distance to what you actually need to see. Our Hikvision IP camera buying guide explains every series, decodes the model number suffixes, and covers pixels per metre — the calculation that decides whether you get a usable face or just a grey shape, and the reason a 4K camera on a wide lens still will not identify anyone across a car park.
The camera series explained
Hikvision's range is split into technology families, and the names tell you what problem each one solves. Most people only need one or two of them.
- AcuSense — the camera classifies what it sees and separates people and vehicles from rain, foliage, shadows and animals. This is the single biggest reduction in false alarms you can buy, and it is why most sites should start here. It also matters for your recorder: AcuSearch and AcuSeek on an NVR only work with AcuSense cameras that have the function enabled — see our Hikvision NVR buying guide.
- ColorVu — full-colour images in near darkness, using a very wide f/1.0 lens and a discreet warm supplement light. Colour matters when the description is "grey hoodie, red car" rather than a grey shape. Best where there is some ambient light: forecourts, car parks, entrances.
- Smart Hybrid Light — infrared by default, switching to white light when something is detected. A middle path: unobtrusive most of the night, colour when it counts. Suits residential streets where a permanently lit camera would annoy neighbours.
- ColorHunter — HiLook's equivalent of ColorVu, on the value range. Same idea, lower cost.
- LightHunter — low-light performance using a larger sensor rather than added light. For dark scenes where you cannot add illumination.
- DarkFighter and DarkFighterX — the specialist low-light tier. DarkFighterX uses two sensors, one for detail and one for colour, and combines them. Expensive, and the right answer only where light is genuinely poor and image quality is critical.
- Active Deterrence — strobe light and a spoken or siren warning triggered by the analytics. The camera intervenes rather than just recording. Well suited to yards, compounds and forecourts after hours.
- PanoVu — several sensors in one housing giving a seamless wide or 180° view from a single cable and licence. For large open areas where multiple cameras would otherwise be needed.
Reading the model number
Hikvision codes a lot into the suffix, and it is worth knowing before you compare quotes:
- G2, G3 — the generation. A G3 is newer than a G2 of the same model and usually improves the sensor, analytics or low-light behaviour.
- Bracketed letters such as (C), (D), (E), (eF) — the hardware revision. These are not cosmetic. On some products a revision change alters resolution support, storage limits or which analytics are included. Always check which revision a quote refers to; we state it on every product page.
- /SL — includes the strobe light and audio alarm (Active Deterrence).
- U or IU — includes a built-in microphone.
- Z or IZ — motorised varifocal lens, adjustable remotely rather than up a ladder.
- /BLACK, /GREY — the housing colour, not a different camera.
- Numbers such as 2.8mm or 2.8-12mm — the lens: a single figure is fixed, a range is varifocal.
How to choose an IP camera
- Resolution — 2MP for overview, 4MP for faces and plates at normal distances, 5MP–8MP where you need to zoom into footage. Higher resolution needs more hard-drive space and more recorder bandwidth.
- Night vision — infrared (black and white) is standard; ColorVu and Smart Hybrid Light cameras record in colour after dark.
- Form factor — turrets are easy to aim and discreet under eaves; bullets are visible deterrents for long views; domes protect the lens in public or vandal-prone areas; PTZ cameras pan, tilt and zoom to follow activity across a large site.
- Lens — 2.8mm for a wide view, 4mm or motorised varifocal to look further down a narrower area.
Every camera here works with a HiLook or Hikvision PoE NVR and supports ONVIF for other recorders. Choosing the recorder too? Our Hikvision NVR buying guide covers channels, PoE budgets, bandwidth per camera and storage. Need help specifying a system? Our team can put a camera and recorder list together for your site.
