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.

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.

HiLook Colour Night Vision Cameras

Q: Is HiLook the same as Hikvision?

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.

Q: 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.

Zenith Security Co. · Authorised Hikvision partner · Updated 8 September 2026

In short: HiLook is Hikvision's own value brand, and its ColorVu cameras record in full colour after dark rather than black-and-white infrared — from around £53. This page covers what you get, what you give up against the professional range, and which one to choose.

On this page: HiLook vs Hikvision · ColorVu vs ColorVu 3.0 · Which model · Active deterrence · Colour on coax · What you'll need · FAQs

HiLook and Hikvision — what is the difference?

HiLook is made by Hikvision, using the same image sensors, the same H.265+ compression and the same app platform. What differs is positioning: a simpler line-up, lighter housings, fewer analytics options and a considerably lower price. The cameras plug straight into Hikvision recorders because they speak the same protocol.

The honest trade-off: at the very edge of the light range, and in scenes with harsh mixed lighting, the professional Hikvision ColorVu range holds detail better and its analytics are more capable. For a house, a shop or a small unit, HiLook does the job for roughly half the outlay.

A note on pricing: HiLook is our retail range, so prices are shown openly on every product page. Hikvision is our trade range — register a free account and sign in to see Hikvision pricing.

ColorVu and ColorVu 3.0

Two generations are on sale and the difference matters more than the price gap between them:

HiLook ColorVu (HA series) — white light only. The LED is on whenever it is dark, so you always get colour but the camera is always visibly lit. Strong deterrent; less welcome directly 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 LEDs and three modes: infrared only (no visible light), white light only, or smart, where it sits on infrared and switches to white light when something is detected. This is the one to buy unless budget is very tight.

Which HiLook colour night vision camera?

Best 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 recommend most.
Same, in a bullet	IPC-B149HAA-LU — 4MP, £65.40. Longer narrow view down a passage or drive, and a more visible deterrent.
Indoors or reachable	IPC-D149HAA-LU — 4MP dome, £77.40. Hides the lens direction 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 shop interiors.
Detail at distance	IPC-T2120HAP-LUF/SL 12MP turret £128.76 or IPC-B1120HAP-LUF/SL bullet £133.32 — UHD with AcuSense person and vehicle filtering.

A note on resolution: more megapixels is not automatically better. An 8MP camera spreads its pixels across a wider view, so a 4MP camera aimed at a narrower area often gives more usable detail on the thing that matters. Work out what each camera must cover first, then choose.

When you want the camera to do more than watch

Active-deterrence models add a strobe and a speaker, so an intruder is challenged rather than quietly filmed:

IPC-T280HA-LUF/SL — 8MP 4K ColorVu turret with mic and speaker, £84.84
IPC-B180HA-LUF/SL — the 8MP 4K bullet equivalent, £84.84

These suit rear gardens, side passages, yards and anywhere a passive camera has not been enough. Both light and sound are configured separately, so you can run light-only if neighbours are close.

Colour at night on existing coax

If the property already has RG59 from an older analogue system, you do not need to rewire. HiLook's ColorVu Lite HD-TVI cameras give colour night vision down 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 audio over coax, £24.96

Pair them with a HiLook HD-TVI DVR; on "/T" and U-series models audio travels down the coax too.

What you'll need

A PoE NVR — the NVR-104H-D/4P (4 channel) or NVR-108H-D/8P (8 channel) powers the cameras and records to its own drive. See which HiLook NVR do I need?
A surveillance-grade hard drive — colour footage uses more storage than monochrome. Fitted and formatted before dispatch.
Cat5e or Cat6 cable, up to 100m per run, or a PoE switch beyond that.
Signage. If your cameras capture anything beyond your boundary you are a data controller under UK GDPR and must display a notice.

Browse the full HiLook by Hikvision range, all IP cameras, or complete CCTV kits.

Frequently asked questions

Is HiLook the same as Hikvision?

HiLook is Hikvision's own value brand — same maker, same sensors and app, simpler range and lighter build. The cameras work with Hikvision recorders.

Why can I see HiLook prices but not Hikvision prices?

HiLook is our retail range and is priced openly. Hikvision is our trade range, so prices show once you have registered and signed in. Registration is free.

What does ColorVu 3.0 add?

Smart Hybrid Light — infrared and white LEDs with three modes, so you can stay on discreet infrared and only trigger white light on an event, instead of a permanently lit camera.

Which should I buy?

For most homes and small shops, the 4MP IPC-T249HAA-LU at £72.84. Drop to 2MP for small areas, or go 12MP with deterrence for yards and drives.

Will they work with my Hikvision NVR?

Yes, provided the recorder supports the resolution. They also support ONVIF for third-party NVRs.

Can I see them working first?

Yes — our Wolverhampton showroom runs cameras live so you can compare infrared against colour. Monday to Friday 9am–5pm, Saturday 9am–4pm.

Buying from Zenith Security Co

We are a UK trade distributor and authorised Hikvision partner in Wolverhampton, stocking the full HiLook range at the prices shown, with fast UK delivery or collection. Trade accounts for installers. Contact us or call 01902 902251.

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