Hikvision TandemVu Explained: Wide View and Zoom in One Camera

Hikvision TandemVu cameras combine two cameras in one: a fixed lens that always watches the whole scene, and a zoom lens or PTZ that closes in on what's happening, so you never lose the big picture while zooming in. Hikvision launched TandemVu PTZ cameras in February 2022 and extended the idea to DeepinView bullet cameras in July 2022. Here's how TandemVu works and where it saves you a second camera.

The problem with a normal PTZ

A PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) camera is brilliant for following an incident, but while it's zoomed in on one corner, it isn't watching the rest of the site. That's why many sites mount a fixed camera next to every PTZ. TandemVu puts both in one housing.

TandemVu PTZ cameras (2022)

• No blind spots: the bullet unit keeps recording the wide view while the PTZ zooms in.
• Two 4MP lenses with a 180° view and no edge distortion on the panoramic models.
• ColorVu on the wide unit for colour day and night, and DarkFighter on the PTZ, which Hikvision says gives colour images down to 0.0005 lux.
• AI that ignores leaves, rain and animals, and can automatically send the PTZ to follow a person or vehicle. Deep-learning options include ANPR, face recognition and multi-target detection.
• Live Guard light and sound alarms to warn intruders off.

Hikvision offered two families: the top-end SF8C with two bullet lenses, a 180° panorama and 42x optical zoom (for motorways, airports, stations and infrastructure), and the SE7C with one bullet lens and up to 32x zoom (for streets, industrial parks, farmland and car parks).

TandemVu DeepinView bullets (2022)

The bullet versions stack two lenses: a fixed top lens for the overview and a motorised bottom lens (8–32mm on the 8A46, 10–50mm on the 8A86) for detail.

• 4MP ColorVu on the overview lens and up to 4K DarkFighter on the detail lens, which Hikvision says works in colour down to 0.0003 lux.
• "Fusion light": infrared normally, switching to white light when an intruder or vehicle enters a defined area, for colour evidence and deterrence.
• Four switchable AI algorithms: perimeter protection, face recognition, ANPR and multi-target detection.
• A window heater to stop ice and fogging.
• One IP channel and one VMS licence for two views.

What TandemVu can do for you

• Save a camera: one unit, one cable, one mount, one channel, rather than two cameras.
• Better evidence: the wide shot shows what happened; the zoom shows who did it or the number plate.
• Faster response: operators can follow an incident without losing sight of the rest of the site.

It suits car parks, yards, industrial estates, perimeters, entrances and farmland.

TandemVu cameras we stock

• iDS-2CD8A46G0-XZHSY 4MP DeepinView multi-sensor bullet (8–32mm), the TandemVu bullet design described above.
• HiLook PTZ-N2D400M-DE/14 4MP TandemVu pan-tilt camera, a compact, budget-friendly dual-lens option with auto-tracking.

Browse our PTZ cameras and read the Hikvision PTZ camera guide. For larger TandemVu PTZ models, contact us.

Our take

TandemVu solves one of the oldest problems in CCTV, the PTZ that's looking the wrong way when it matters, by simply putting the fixed camera in the same box. For any site where you'd otherwise mount a PTZ and a bullet side by side, it's worth pricing up.

Need help choosing? Call 01902 902251. As an authorised Hikvision partner, we ship nationally to England, Scotland and Wales.

Quick questions

What is Hikvision TandemVu?
A camera design with two lenses in one unit, a fixed wide view plus a zoom or PTZ view, so you see the whole scene and the detail at the same time.

Does a TandemVu camera use two channels?
Hikvision says the TandemVu bullet uses one IP channel and needs only one VMS licence.

Can TandemVu read number plates?
The DeepinView TandemVu bullets and higher-end PTZ models offer ANPR as one of their AI algorithms.

What is the difference between SF8C and SE7C?
SF8C has two bullet lenses, a 180° view and 42x zoom; SE7C has one bullet lens and up to 32x zoom.

Sources: Hikvision UK newsroom, 17 February 2022 and 22 July 2022.