Hikvision ColorVu Cameras: Full Colour CCTV at Night
Zenith Security Co. · Authorised Hikvision partner · Updated 8 September 2026
In short: ColorVu is Hikvision's low-light technology — a wide F1.0 lens, a more sensitive sensor and a built-in white light so the camera records in full colour after dark rather than switching to black-and-white infrared. That is the difference between "someone in a dark jacket" and "a man in a red jacket getting into a blue Astra". This page explains how it works, what has changed in ColorVu 3.0, and which model suits your site.
Hikvision is our trade range. Prices are shown to registered account holders only — create a free account or sign in to see live trade pricing on every model below. Looking for a retail-priced alternative? The HiLook colour night vision range is priced openly on site.
On this page: How ColorVu works · ColorVu vs Smart Hybrid Light vs ColorVu 3.0 · 4MP, 5MP or 8MP? · Turret, bullet, dome or panoramic · Deterrence, solar and 4G · ColorVu kits · What you'll need · FAQs
How Hikvision ColorVu works
A standard CCTV camera gives up on colour in low light. It drops an infrared filter, switches on IR LEDs and records in monochrome. You get an image, but you lose the single most useful identifying detail a witness can give: colour.
ColorVu keeps colour by attacking the problem three ways. The lens opens wider — typically F1.0 against F1.6 or F2.0 on a standard camera — letting in several times more light. The sensor is physically larger and more sensitive. And a warm white LED fills in whatever is still missing. The result is usable colour footage down to very low light levels, and full colour with the light active.
The practical gain is identification. Infrared tells you a person was there and roughly what size they were. Colour tells you what they were wearing, what they were carrying, and the colour and often the make of the vehicle they left in. If footage may need to go to the police or an insurer, that difference matters.
ColorVu, Smart Hybrid Light and ColorVu 3.0
Three generations are on the market and the names are easy to confuse:
- ColorVu (white light only) — the original. The white LED comes on whenever it is dark, so the camera always records colour but is always visibly lit. Excellent deterrent, less popular directly outside a bedroom window. Example: the DS-2CD2087G2-LU 8MP bullet.
- Smart Hybrid Light — infrared and white LEDs in one camera, with three modes: infrared only, white light only, or smart (infrared until an event, then white light). This is the flexible choice for homes. Example: the DS-2CD2387G2H-LISU/SL 8MP turret.
- ColorVu 3.0 — the latest G3 generation, with improved low-light performance and refined hybrid light control. Example: the DS-2CD2347G3-LI(2U)Y 4MP turret.
If you want colour at night without a permanently lit camera, choose Smart Hybrid Light or ColorVu 3.0 rather than the original white-light-only models.
4MP, 5MP or 8MP?
| 4MP | The sensible default for homes, shops and offices. Enough detail to identify a face at a door or read a plate on a normal drive. Moderate storage. Example: DS-2CD2047G3-LI2UY mini bullet. |
| 5MP | Mostly found on the HD-TVI/Turbo HD coax side, including the ColorVu dome kits below. A useful step up if you are upgrading an existing coax system rather than going IP. |
| 8MP / 4K | For wide areas, car parks, yards and long driveways where you need identification at distance. Roughly double the storage of 4MP, and the recorder must support 8MP per channel. Example: DS-2CD2087G3-LI2UY. |
More megapixels is not automatically better. An 8MP camera spreads its pixels over a wider view, so a 4MP camera pointed at a narrower area can give you more usable detail on the thing you care about. Decide by the area each camera must cover, then pick the resolution.
Turret, bullet, dome or panoramic
- Turret — the general-purpose choice. Easy to aim, no housing for spiders' webs to catch IR glare. DS-2CD2387G2-LU 8MP with built-in mic.
- Bullet — visible deterrent, good for long narrow views down a passage or drive. DS-2CD2047G2H-LIU 4MP mini bullet.
- Dome — discreet and tamper-resistant, for interiors and reachable positions. DS-2CD2547G2-LS 4MP mini dome, or the ColorVu 3.0 DS-2CD2147G3-LIS2UY.
- Panoramic — two lenses in one body covering 180°, so one camera and one channel replace two. DS-2CD2387G2P-LSU/SL turret or the DS-2CD2T87G2P-LSU/SL bullet.
- Motorised PTRZ — pan, tilt, rotate and zoom set remotely, so you aim it from the recorder instead of up a ladder. DS-2CD2787G2H-LIPTRZS2U/SL 8MP.
Deterrence, solar and 4G
Some ColorVu models add a strobe and a speaker, so the camera challenges an intruder rather than quietly filming them — the DS-2CD2387G3-LIS2UY/SL 8MP ColorVu 3.0 turret with strobe and audible warning is the current pick for yards and rear gardens.
Where there is no cable and no mains, the DS-2XS6A87G1-LS/4G 8MP ColorVu 4G camera runs over a mobile connection, and solar-powered kits are available for fields, sites and remote gates.
Browse everything: IP cameras · 4MP · 8MP/4K · turret · bullet · dome · the full Hikvision range.
Hikvision ColorVu kits
If you want a complete system rather than individual cameras, our Turbo HD ColorVu dome kits pair a 4K-capable DVR with 5MP ColorVu dome cameras and 20m range — a straightforward option where coax cabling already exists:
Kits run from 2 to 8 cameras on 4- or 8-channel recorders. Buy the 8-channel version if you may add cameras later. See all CCTV kits.
What you'll need with ColorVu cameras
- A recorder that matches the resolution — an 8MP camera needs an NVR supporting 8MP per channel. Our guide choosing a recorder covers channels, PoE and storage.
- A surveillance-grade hard drive — colour footage at 4MP or 8MP uses more storage than monochrome 1080p. We fit and format the drive before dispatch or collection.
- Cat5e or Cat6 cable for IP cameras, up to 100m per run, or a PoE switch beyond that. For coax systems, RG59 and 12V power.
- Signage. If your cameras capture anything beyond your boundary you are a data controller under UK GDPR and must display a notice. The ICO's CCTV guidance is worth ten minutes before installation.
Frequently asked questions
What is Hikvision ColorVu?
Low-light camera technology combining an F1.0 lens, a larger sensor and a white LED so footage stays in full colour after dark instead of switching to black-and-white infrared.
What is the difference between ColorVu and Smart Hybrid Light?
Original ColorVu uses white light only and is lit whenever dark. Smart Hybrid Light has both infrared and white LEDs with selectable modes, so you can stay discreet and only trigger white light on an event. ColorVu 3.0 is the newest generation of that.
Do ColorVu cameras need a light on all night?
Only the white-light-only models. Smart Hybrid Light and ColorVu 3.0 can run infrared with no visible light and switch on white light only when something happens.
Is 4MP or 8MP better?
4MP suits most homes and shops. Choose 8MP for wide areas and identification at distance, allowing for roughly double the storage and a recorder that supports it.
Will they work with my existing Hikvision NVR?
Yes if the NVR supports the resolution. ColorVu IP cameras use the standard Hikvision protocol and also support ONVIF. HD-TVI ColorVu models are available for coax systems.
How do I see Hikvision prices?
Hikvision is our trade range, so pricing is shown to registered account holders only. Create a free account and sign in to see live trade prices. If you would rather buy at retail with prices shown openly, see the HiLook range.
Can I see them working before buying?
Yes — our Wolverhampton showroom has cameras running live so you can compare infrared against colour night vision. Open Monday to Friday 9am–5pm and Saturday 9am–4pm.
Buying Hikvision ColorVu from Zenith Security Co
We are an authorised Hikvision partner and UK trade distributor based in Wolverhampton. Genuine UK-spec stock, trade pricing on every line, hard drives fitted and formatted to order, and help specifying the system before you buy. Register for an account to see prices, or apply for a trade account. Contact us or call 01902 902251.
Related reading: HiLook colour night vision — the retail-priced alternative · HiLook ColorVu 3.0 explained · Turret vs bullet vs dome · Which recorder do I need?