Hikvision DS-2CD23126G3-I2UY 12MP AcuSense Fixed Turret Camera

The Hikvision DS-2CD23126G3-I2UY is a 12MP turret — and it answers the question every 4MP camera raises: does more resolution actually let you identify someone further away?

Yes — and here is the number

The DORI standard (EN 62676-4) measures what a camera can genuinely do at distance. Compare this camera with the 4MP models in the same range:

Identification distance roughly doubles. On a 4MP camera you identify a stranger at under seven metres; here it is eleven at the wide setting and fourteen at 4mm.

That is the difference between a camera that must sit directly over a door and one that can cover a forecourt or car park entrance and still produce evidence. On a site where you cannot put the camera close to where people pass, this is the honest answer.

The sensor is doing the work, not just the pixel count

It uses a 1/1.8" CMOS — physically much larger than the 1/3" sensor in the 4MP models. A bigger sensor gathers more light per pixel, which is why the low-light figure is 0.0008 lux, better than the 4MP cameras despite carrying three times the pixels. Powered-by-DarkFighter holds colour further into dusk, and 30m infrared takes over after that.

Two things to plan around

12MP records at 20fps, not 25. Step down to 4K and you get a full 25 or 30fps. For most surveillance 20fps is perfectly smooth, but for a till or a fast doorway 4K at 25fps may be the better record.

The minimum focus distance is 2.9 metres at 2.8mm, or 3.5 metres at 4mm. Anything closer than that will be soft. This is not a camera to mount directly above a doorway at head height — it wants a few metres of standoff, which suits its longer identification range anyway.

Fixed lens — choose before you order

There is no Z in the model number, so the lens is fixed rather than motorised:

• 2.8mm — 94.2° horizontal, identification to 11m. Wider coverage
• 4mm — 73.1° horizontal, identification to 14m. More reach, narrower view

Specification

• Sensor: 1/1.8" progressive scan CMOS, 4608 × 2592 (12MP)
• Lens: fixed 2.8mm or 4mm, F1.6
• Low light: 0.0008 lux colour, 0 lux with IR
• IR range: up to 30m, 850nm, Smart Supplement Light
• WDR: 130 dB, plus BLC, HLC, 3D DNR, defog and distortion correction
• Frame rate: 20 fps at 12MP · 25/30 fps at 4K, 4MP, 1080p
• Bit rate: 32 Kbps to 24 Mbps
• Audio: 2 built-in microphones with noise filtering
• Storage: microSD to 512GB with ANR, plus NAS
• Analytics: line crossing, intrusion, region entrance and exit, face capture, human and vehicle classification
• Network: RJ45 10/100, ONVIF Profile S, G and T, 802.1X with EAP-TLS, TLS 1.3, MAC host authentication
• Power: 12V DC (8.5W) or PoE 802.3af Class 3 (max 10.5W)
• Housing: metal cover and body, IP67 and NEMA 4X, −30°C to +60°C
• Dimensions: Ø138.3 × 115.4 mm, approx. 750g

What you'll need with it

• An NVR that handles 12MP. Not every recorder does — check before ordering, and see our NVR buying guide.
• Storage, and more of it. At up to 24 Mbps this generates roughly three times the data of a 4MP camera. Size it with our storage calculator.
• A memory card for ANR protection against network drops.

Frequently asked questions

Is 12MP worth it over 4MP?

If you need identification at distance, yes — 11 metres against 6.7, or 14 against 7.9 at the longer focal length. If your camera sits over a door anyway, 4MP is cheaper and uses far less storage.

Why does it record at 20fps?

12MP is a lot of data. Drop to 4K and you get 25 or 30fps. For general surveillance 20fps looks smooth.

How close can it focus?

2.9 metres at 2.8mm, 3.5 metres at 4mm. Closer than that and the image will be soft, so give it some standoff.

Does it need a special recorder?

It needs one that supports 12MP. Many older NVRs top out at 8MP — ask us and we will confirm compatibility.

Which lens should I choose?

2.8mm for a wider view and identification to 11m; 4mm for more reach and identification to 14m. It is fixed, so decide before ordering.

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