HiLook ColorVu 3.0 Explained: Colour Night Vision Without the Compromises
By Zenith Security Co · UK trade distributor and authorised Hikvision partner · Updated 5 September 2026
Colour pictures at night, with a discreet option when you want one.
Most cameras switch to black-and-white infrared (IR) at night. HiLook ColorVu 3.0 cameras keep recording in full colour. Unlike the first ColorVu cameras, they also have IR lights.
So you choose: invisible IR, colour all night, or a smart mode that switches to colour only when something happens. There are five models. Not sure? The IPC-T249HAA-LU 4MP turret suits most jobs.
Black-and-white footage shows that someone was there. But the details that identify a person or vehicle are lost: the colour of a jacket, a car or a bag. ColorVu is Hikvision's answer. ColorVu 3.0 is the version in HiLook's current HAA-series cameras.
How does ColorVu see in colour at night?
A ColorVu camera has a wide-aperture lens, typically F1.0. That lets in around four times the light of a standard F2.0 CCTV lens. It pairs this with a sensor that is very sensitive to light.
Under street lights or moonlight, that alone keeps the picture in colour. When it gets truly dark, a built-in warm white light comes on. The camera keeps recording in colour at full quality, up to 30m on the HiLook HAA range.
What does ColorVu 3.0 add?
The first ColorVu cameras had white light only. You got colour footage, but the light was always on at night. Some customers and neighbours don't like that, and there was no discreet option.
ColorVu 3.0 adds Smart Hybrid Light: both infrared and white LEDs in one camera. You choose how they behave:
Smart mode: the camera stays on invisible IR until it detects an event. Then it switches to white light and records in colour while the event lasts. The sudden light also helps put people off.
White light mode: always colour at night, like the original ColorVu.
IR mode: traditional black-and-white night vision, with no visible light.
Most installers set Smart mode and leave it. Nothing else changes: same 2.8mm lens, same H.265+ compression (smaller files), same PoE power, same HiLookVision / Hik-Connect app.
For 4K with a light and siren to scare people off, see the IPC-T280HA-LUF/SL.
Should I choose 2MP or 4MP?
2MP (1080p) is still the most common CCTV resolution. It's fine for a general view at short range.
4MP records roughly twice the detail. That lets you zoom into a recording and still read a number plate at the end of a drive, or recognise a face across a shop.
The T249HAA costs only a little more than the T229HAA. If you'll ever check footage for detail, not just to see what happened, go 4MP.
Turret, bullet or dome?
All three 4MP models have the same sensor, lens and night vision. The choice is about where it's mounted and how it looks.
Turret: compact, easy to aim, sits neatly under eaves.
Bullet: easy to spot, which helps put people off. Suits long views along a boundary.
Dome: hides where the lens points and protects it in public or easy-to-reach places.
Every HAA camera is PoE: one Cat5e or Cat6 network cable from a PoE NVR carries both power and picture.
The HiLook NVR-104H-D/4P (4 channel) and NVR-108H-D/8P (8 channel) power the cameras directly and record 4K. They won't hold back these cameras, or any 5MP/8MP ones you add later.
Add a surveillance-grade hard drive (2TB is a sensible start for four 4MP cameras). Connect the NVR to your router. The free HiLookVision or Hik-Connect app then gives you live view, playback and alerts on your phone. See which HiLook NVR to choose for the full comparison.
Questions
What is HiLook ColorVu 3.0?
ColorVu 3.0 is the version of Hikvision's colour night-vision technology fitted to HiLook's HAA-series cameras. It combines a large-aperture lens and high-sensitivity sensor with Smart Hybrid Light: both infrared and white LEDs in one camera, so you can choose discreet IR, always-on colour, or a smart mode that switches to colour only when an event is detected.
Is ColorVu 3.0 the same as Hikvision ColorVu?
Same technology, same parent company. Hikvision's professional ColorVu range adds features such as AcuSense analytics, higher frame rates and longer illumination distances; HiLook ColorVu 3.0 gives you the core benefit - colour at night with a hybrid IR option - at a lower price.
Will the white light annoy neighbours?
Use Smart mode so the light only comes on during an event, aim the camera into your own property, and adjust the brightness in the camera menu. In IR mode nothing visible is emitted at all.
Do HiLook ColorVu 3.0 cameras work with an existing Hikvision NVR?
Yes. HiLook cameras use the same protocol as Hikvision and plug straight in. They also support ONVIF for other brands of recorder.
Can I mix ColorVu 3.0 cameras with ordinary IR cameras on one system?
Yes. Any mix of HiLook or Hikvision IP cameras can share an NVR. Many customers fit ColorVu on the front and IR on less critical views to manage cost.
Should I buy the 2MP or 4MP HiLook ColorVu 3.0 camera?
2MP (IPC-T229HAA-LU, IPC-B129HAA-LU) is fine for overview footage at short range such as a porch or garage. 4MP (IPC-T249HAA-LU, IPC-B149HAA-LU, IPC-D149HAA-LU) records roughly twice the detail, so you can zoom into footage and still read a number plate or recognise a face. If you will ever review footage for detail, choose 4MP.
