What's the difference between HiLook and Hikvision?
HiLook is made by Hikvision. It uses the same image sensors, the same H.265+ compression (which keeps files small) and the same app.
The difference is the range: fewer models, lighter housings, fewer smart detection options and a much lower price. The cameras plug straight into Hikvision recorders, because they use the same protocol.
To be fair about it: in very low light, or harsh mixed lighting, the professional Hikvision ColorVu range keeps more detail. Its smart detection is more capable too. For a house, a shop or a small unit, HiLook does the job for roughly half the cost.
About prices: HiLook is our retail range, so prices are shown on every product page. Hikvision is our trade range. Register a free account and sign in to see Hikvision prices.
Should I choose ColorVu or ColorVu 3.0?
Two generations are on sale. The difference between them matters more than the price gap.
HiLook ColorVu (HA series): white light only. The light is on whenever it's dark, so you always get colour, but the camera is always lit up. It puts people off, but you may not want it under a bedroom window. From £53.16 for the 2MP IPC-T229HA-LU turret.
HiLook ColorVu 3.0 (HAA series): Smart Hybrid Light, with infrared and white lights. It has three modes: infrared only (no visible light), white light only, or smart. In smart mode it stays on infrared and switches to white light when it detects something. Choose this one unless your budget is very tight.
Which HiLook colour night vision camera should I buy?
All-rounder
IPC-T249HAA-LU: 4MP ColorVu 3.0 turret, 30m, £72.84. Enough detail for a face at a door or a plate on a drive. The one we suggest most.
Same, in a bullet
IPC-B149HAA-LU: 4MP, £65.40. A longer, narrower view down a passage or drive, and easier to spot.
Indoors or within reach
IPC-D149HAA-LU: 4MP dome, £77.40. Hides where the lens points and resists tampering.
Tighter budget
IPC-T229HAA-LU turret or IPC-B129HAA-LU bullet: 2MP ColorVu 3.0, £55.92 each. Fine for porches, small yards and inside shops.
Detail at distance
IPC-T2120HAP-LUF/SL 12MP turret £128.76 or IPC-B1120HAP-LUF/SL bullet £133.32. UHD, with AcuSense (it tells people and vehicles apart from other movement).
Tip: more megapixels isn't always better. An 8MP camera spreads its pixels over a wider view. A 4MP camera aimed at a narrower area often shows more useful detail where it matters. Work out what each camera needs to cover first, then choose.
Can the camera challenge intruders?
Yes. Active-deterrence models add a flashing light and a speaker, so an intruder is challenged, not just filmed.
IPC-T280HA-LUF/SL: 8MP 4K ColorVu turret with mic and speaker, £84.84
They suit back gardens, side passages, yards, and anywhere a normal camera hasn't been enough. You set the light and sound separately, so you can use light only if neighbours are close.
Can I get colour at night on my old coax cable?
Yes. Coax (RG59) is the round cable older CCTV systems use. If you already have it, you don't need to rewire. HiLook's ColorVu Lite HD-TVI cameras give colour night vision over the existing cable.
THC-T159-MS: 3K 5MP ColorVu Lite turret with mic and 20m white light, £37.79
THC-B129-MS: 2MP ColorVu Lite bullet with sound over coax, £24.96
Pair them with a HiLook HD-TVI DVR. On "/T" and U-series models, sound travels down the coax too.
HiLook is Hikvision's own value brand, made by Hikvision using the same sensors, compression and app. The range is simpler and the build is lighter than the professional Hikvision line, but the picture technology is shared. HiLook cameras plug straight into Hikvision recorders.
Why can I see HiLook prices but not Hikvision prices?
HiLook is our retail range, so prices are shown openly to everyone. Hikvision is our trade range and pricing is available to registered account holders once signed in. Registration is free and takes a couple of minutes.
What does ColorVu 3.0 add over standard HiLook ColorVu?
Standard HiLook ColorVu uses white light only, so the LED is on whenever it is dark. ColorVu 3.0 adds Smart Hybrid Light: infrared and white LEDs in one camera with three modes, so you can run discreet infrared normally and trigger white light only when an event is detected.
Which HiLook colour night vision camera should I buy?
For most homes and small shops the 4MP IPC-T249HAA-LU ColorVu 3.0 turret at around £72 is the best balance of detail, night performance and price. Choose 2MP to save money on smaller areas, 8MP or 12MP with active deterrence for yards and driveways, or a bullet for long narrow views.
Its current price is £72.84.
Do HiLook ColorVu cameras work with a Hikvision NVR?
Yes. HiLook is a Hikvision brand and the cameras use the same protocol, so they work with Hikvision and HiLook NVRs, and support ONVIF for third-party recorders. Check the NVR supports the camera resolution.
Can I see them working first?
Yes. Our Wolverhampton showroom runs cameras live, so you can compare infrared with colour. Monday to Friday 9am–5pm, Saturday 9am–4pm.
Buying from Zenith Security Co
We're a UK trade distributor and authorised Hikvision partner in Wolverhampton. We're a supplier, not an installer, and we stock the full HiLook range at the prices shown.
We deliver to England, Scotland and Wales within 1–2 working days, or you can collect. Installers can open a trade account.
