Hikvision IP Cameras: Features, Prices & Buying Guide for 2026

Hikvision is likely the most used CCTV brand on the planet. JVSG's 2025 global brand ratings put it at 25.7% worldwide share, ahead of every other camera manufacturer. Walk into almost any UK school, warehouse, retail unit, or modern home with a camera system and there is a good chance Hikvision IP camera systems are running it.

But being popular does not make the buying decision easy. The product range is huge. The model names are strings of letters and numbers. The technology terms sound technical even when the ideas behind them are simple.

We have been specifying and supplying Hikvision IP camera systems from our Bolton showroom for years. We have seen what works, what installers ask for, and where buyers go wrong. This guide shares all of that.

TL:DR

• Hikvision IP cameras send HD video and power over one ethernet cable using PoE technology.
• The four core technologies are ColorVu (colour at night), AcuSense (AI that stops false alarms), Smart Hybrid (combines both), and DarkFighter (ultra-low light with no visible flash).
• HiLook is Hikvision's own budget brand. Same technology platform, lower price point.
• Prices at ADK Security Ltd start from £48 and go up to £96+ for 4K ColorVu models.
• A camera alone records nothing. You also need an NVR, a PoE switch, and a hard drive.

What Is a Hikvision IP Camera

An IP camera (also called a network camera) sends compressed digital video over a standard ethernet cable rather than a coaxial cable like older analogue CCTV systems used.

What makes this worth caring about is the combination of things that one cable does. A CAT5e or CAT6 ethernet cable carries video, audio, data, and power all at once through PoE (Power over Ethernet). No separate power adapter needed at the camera. No second cable run. One connection does everything.

Older analogue systems needed a separate video cable and a separate power cable per camera. Signal quality dropped over long cable runs. Resolution was limited to the equivalent of 0.4 megapixels in the original analogue standard. Hikvision IP cameras start at 2MP and go well beyond 4K.

FACT.MR's 2026 CCTV market research estimates that IP-based camera systems now account for around 60% of the total CCTV market. For new installations, IP is the standard. Analogue upgrade systems still have a place (more on that later), but if you are starting from scratch, IP is where you start.

HiLook vs Hikvision: Which Brand Do You Need

This is the first question most buyers ask and most guides do not answer it clearly. Here is the honest version.

HiLook by Hikvision is Hikvision's own budget sub-brand. It runs on the same Hik-Connect app, uses the same core sensor technology, and records to the same Hikvision NVRs. The hardware is simpler, the range of models is narrower, and the price is lower. For residential installs, small businesses, and any job where budget is the priority, HiLook performs well above its price point.

Hikvision (the main range) is the professional tier. You get deeper AI functionality, more sensor and resolution options, higher vandal-resistance ratings, and a wider choice of specialist models including motorised zoom, thermal, and active deterrence variants.

Both brands are compatible on the same NVR and the same app. It is very common to spec main-brand Hikvision cameras for high-risk areas and HiLook cameras elsewhere on the same system to control costs without compromising where it matters.

The Four Core Technologies Explained

This is the section most other guides rush through or get wrong. Getting this right is the difference between buying a camera that does its job and buying one that frustrates you every night.

ColorVu: Full Colour in the Dark

Standard night vision cameras switch to black and white when it gets dark. That removes useful detail. You cannot identify the colour of a car, clothing, or hair. Colour is evidence, and infrared throws it away.

ColorVu cameras use three things together to capture full colour video at night:

• A large F1.0 aperture lens that lets in significantly more light than a standard camera lens.
• A high-sensitivity image sensor optimised for low-light conditions.
• A built-in warm white supplement LED that provides ambient light for the sensor to work with.

The latest ColorVu 3.0 generation achieves 0.0001 lux light sensitivity. For context, a clear moonlit night is around 0.01 lux. This technology produces usable colour images in conditions where the human eye sees almost nothing.

The supplement light is always active at low intensity when it is dark. For driveways and building entrances, this is not usually a problem. For wildlife-sensitive areas or sites where neighbours are nearby, the Smart Hybrid option below is often the better fit.

Best used for: driveways, car parks, building entrances, retail frontages, and any location where colour detail at night could matter as evidence.

AcuSense: AI That Filters Out the Noise

The most common complaint about CCTV motion detection is false alarms. Traditional cameras alert on anything that moves. Cats, foxes, passing headlights, a flag in the wind, rain on the lens. Most people disable phone notifications within a week because of this.

AcuSense uses deep learning algorithms trained on millions of images to classify what the camera is actually seeing. It distinguishes between:

• Humans
• Vehicles
• Animals and other movement

It only sends an alert when a human or vehicle is detected. Everything else is filtered out. The camera is still recording, but you are not being disturbed by it.

For trade installers, this is one of the strongest arguments for recommending an IP system over a basic analogue upgrade. Fewer false alarms means fewer client call-backs. It also means clients actually leave their alerts turned on, which is the whole point of having the system.

Best used for: everywhere. False alarms affect residential and commercial sites equally. AcuSense is the solution either way.

Smart Hybrid ColorVu with Motion 2.0: The Practical Middle Ground

Smart Hybrid is the option that most residential installers reach for in 2026 because it combines the benefits of both ColorVu and infrared without the drawback of permanent white light output.

Here is how it works in practice. The camera runs in infrared mode by default. The night vision is good, the range is long, and there is no visible light output. When Motion 2.0 detects a human or vehicle, the camera switches on its white light and captures a full colour image of that event specifically. Then it returns to infrared.

The result is colour evidence exactly when something happens, without lighting up the property all night. It is a genuinely useful feature that most budget camera systems do not offer.

Best used for: residential front doors and driveways, retail entrances, and any location where permanent white light output at night is not appropriate.

DarkFighter: Maximum Sensitivity Without Any Light Output

Where ColorVu adds its own light, DarkFighter takes the opposite approach. It uses a physically larger image sensor with bigger individual pixels that gather more of the ambient light already present in the environment. No supplement LED. No visible output. Nothing to indicate to a subject that they are being monitored.

Hikvision's DarkFighter cameras can produce colour images down to 0.002 lux and monochrome images at 0.0002 lux. A full moon produces around 0.01 lux. DarkFighter works comfortably below that.

The DarkFighter Lite variant pairs this sensor with AcuSense AI, which is the combination you find in the Hikvision DS-2CD2346G2-IU series stocked at ADK Security Ltd.

Best used for: car parks with ambient street lighting, server rooms, corridors, and anywhere that requires maximum sensitivity without any camera-generated light output.

Technology Comparison at a Glance

Resolution Guide: 2MP vs 5MP vs 4K

Resolution is measured in megapixels. More pixels means more detail in the image, and more detail means better chances of identifying a face, reading a number plate, or using footage as evidence.

2MP (1080p Full HD) is the entry point. Adequate for general monitoring where specific identification is not the priority. A practical choice for budget installs or internal areas with limited risk.

4MP and 5MP is the sweet spot for most professional installs in 2026. At 5MP (around 2560 × 1920 pixels) you get noticeably sharper detail, faces are more identifiable at distance, and number plates are readable further away. Most of the HiLook range at ADK Security Ltd sits at 5MP.

4K (8MP) delivers four times the pixel count of 1080p. The difference in image quality is real and noticeable. For high-evidence locations like jewellers, banks, vehicle forecourts, and large retail units, the investment pays off. The HiLook 4K 8MP ColorVu turret dome at ADK Security Ltd is £96.

One practical note: higher resolution means larger file sizes. A 4K camera fills a hard drive approximately four times faster than a 2MP camera at the same frame rate. Factor this into your storage planning.

IP Camera Prices at ADK Security Ltd in 2026

All prices below are based on the ADK Security Ltd IP camera collection and they can change in future.

HiLook by Hikvision

Hikvision Main Range (Trade Pricing)

The main Hikvision range at ADK Security Ltd includes:

• DS-2CD2346G2-IU — AcuSense DarkFighter Lite 4MP turret dome with built-in microphone. Available in white, grey, and black.
• DS-2CD2346G2-ISU/SL — AcuSense DarkFighter 4MP with microphone, speaker, and alarm output for active deterrence. Available in white and grey.
• DS-2CD2347G2H-LIU — Smart Hybrid ColorVu 4MP 40m turret dome with microphone. Available in white and black.
• DS-2CD2347G2H-LISU/SL — Smart Hybrid ColorVu 4MP with microphone, speaker, and alarm for active deterrence setups.

Trade pricing is available for registered installer accounts. Register at ADK Security Ltd to access trade rates across the full range.

What Else You Need to Complete the System

A camera on its own records nothing. Every IP camera installation needs a few additional components, and getting these right is just as important as choosing the right camera.

NVR Recorder

The Network Video Recorder receives video from all cameras, stores it to a hard drive, and lets you review footage live or historically. Hikvision NVRs are optimised for both Hikvision and HiLook cameras. Most models include built-in PoE ports, so smaller systems can connect cameras directly without a separate switch. ADK Security Ltd stocks a full range of IP NVR recorders from 4-channel units to 32-channel commercial models.

PoE Switch

When your camera count exceeds the PoE ports on your NVR, or when you prefer to keep the network infrastructure separate, a PoE switch is what you need. ADK Security Ltd's PoE switch range covers small unmanaged units for domestic installs through to managed 24-port switches for commercial sites.

Surveillance Hard Drive

Standard desktop drives are not built for the continuous write cycles of CCTV recording. They fail early in this application. A surveillance-rated hard drive from a manufacturer like Seagate or Western Digital is designed for 24/7 operation and is what every system at ADK Security Ltd ships with or recommends. See the hard drive range at ADK Security Ltd.

IP CCTV Kits

If you want cameras, NVR, and storage bundled together with compatibility already sorted, IP CCTV kits from ADK Security Ltd are the straightforward option. Useful for first installs and for trade customers who want to move quickly.

IP vs HD Turbo TVI: A Quick Comparison

For a new installation with no existing infrastructure, IP is the right choice. For an upgrade where coax is already in place and the budget for a full rewire is not there, ADK Security Ltd's Turbo TVI range is worth considering.

How to Choose the Right Hikvision IP Camera

Start with your camera locations. For each position, ask:

• What does it look like at night? Is there street lighting, or is it completely dark?
• Does the camera need to blend in, or is visibility a deterrent in itself?
• How important is colour detail at night for this specific location?
• Is false alarm sensitivity likely to be a problem here?

From there, the technology choice follows naturally. Dark location, colour evidence needed, neighbours nearby: Smart Hybrid. Commercial site with a false alarm problem: AcuSense. High-security entrance needing the best night colour regardless of light output: ColorVu. Low-light site where no visible output is acceptable: DarkFighter.

On resolution, 5MP is the right default for most installs. It is sharp enough to matter without putting unnecessary pressure on storage and bandwidth. Go to 4K for high-evidence locations. Use 2MP for budget interior monitoring.

On form factor, turret domes suit the majority of locations and are straightforward to aim on installation. Vandal domes are the right call for public-facing areas where physical tampering is a risk. Bullet cameras cover longer distances along eaves and perimeters.

Browse the Full Range at ADK Security Ltd

ADK Security Ltd stocks the complete Hikvision and HiLook IP camera range alongside everything needed to complete the system.

Same-day dispatch on orders before 3pm. Free shipping over £200. Our Bolton showroom is open for walk-in visits and product demonstrations. We also run Hikvision installer training for engineers who want hands-on certification on the platform. Contact our team for advice on any install before you order.

The Four Core Technologies Explained

This is the section most other guides rush through or get wrong. Getting this right is the difference between buying a camera that does its job and buying one that frustrates you every night.

ColorVu: Full Colour in the Dark

Standard night vision cameras switch to black and white when it gets dark. That removes useful detail. You cannot identify the colour of a car, clothing, or hair. Colour is evidence, and infrared throws it away.

ColorVu cameras use three things together to capture full colour video at night:

• A large F1.0 aperture lens that lets in significantly more light than a standard camera lens.
• A high-sensitivity image sensor optimised for low-light conditions.
• A built-in warm white supplement LED that provides ambient light for the sensor to work with.

The latest ColorVu 3.0 generation achieves 0.0001 lux light sensitivity. For context, a clear moonlit night is around 0.01 lux. This technology produces usable colour images in conditions where the human eye sees almost nothing.

The supplement light is always active at low intensity when it is dark. For driveways and building entrances, this is not usually a problem. For wildlife-sensitive areas or sites where neighbours are nearby, the Smart Hybrid option below is often the better fit.

Best used for: driveways, car parks, building entrances, retail frontages, and any location where colour detail at night could matter as evidence.

AcuSense: AI That Filters Out the Noise

The most common complaint about CCTV motion detection is false alarms. Traditional cameras alert on anything that moves. Cats, foxes, passing headlights, a flag in the wind, rain on the lens. Most people disable phone notifications within a week because of this.

AcuSense uses deep learning algorithms trained on millions of images to classify what the camera is actually seeing. It distinguishes between:

• Humans
• Vehicles
• Animals and other movement

It only sends an alert when a human or vehicle is detected. Everything else is filtered out. The camera is still recording, but you are not being disturbed by it.

For trade installers, this is one of the strongest arguments for recommending an IP system over a basic analogue upgrade. Fewer false alarms means fewer client call-backs. It also means clients actually leave their alerts turned on, which is the whole point of having the system.

Best used for: everywhere. False alarms affect residential and commercial sites equally. AcuSense is the solution either way.

Smart Hybrid ColorVu with Motion 2.0: The Practical Middle Ground

Smart Hybrid is the option that most residential installers reach for in 2026 because it combines the benefits of both ColorVu and infrared without the drawback of permanent white light output.

Here is how it works in practice. The camera runs in infrared mode by default. The night vision is good, the range is long, and there is no visible light output. When Motion 2.0 detects a human or vehicle, the camera switches on its white light and captures a full colour image of that event specifically. Then it returns to infrared.

The result is colour evidence exactly when something happens, without lighting up the property all night. It is a genuinely useful feature that most budget camera systems do not offer.

Best used for: residential front doors, driveways, retail entrances, and any location where permanent white light output at night is not appropriate.

DarkFighter: Maximum Sensitivity Without Any Light Output

Where ColorVu adds its own light, DarkFighter takes the opposite approach. It uses a physically larger image sensor with bigger individual pixels that gather more of the ambient light already present in the environment. No supplement LED. No visible output. Nothing to indicate to a subject that they are being monitored.

Hikvision's DarkFighter cameras can produce colour images down to 0.002 lux and monochrome images at 0.0002 lux. A full moon produces around 0.01 lux. DarkFighter works comfortably below that.

The DarkFighter Lite variant pairs this sensor with AcuSense AI, which is the combination you find in the Hikvision DS-2CD2346G2-IU series stocked at ADK Security Ltd.

Best used for: car parks with ambient street lighting, server rooms, corridors, and anywhere that requires maximum sensitivity without any camera-generated light output.

Technology Comparison at a Glance

Resolution Guide: 2MP vs 5MP vs 4K

Resolution is measured in megapixels. More pixels means more detail in the image, and more detail means better chances of identifying a face, reading a number plate, or using footage as evidence.

2MP (1080p Full HD) is the entry point. Adequate for general monitoring where specific identification is not the priority. A practical choice for budget installs or internal areas with limited risk.

4MP and 5MP is the sweet spot for most professional installs in 2026. At 5MP (around 2560 × 1920 pixels) you get noticeably sharper detail, faces are more identifiable at distance, and number plates are readable further away. Most of the HiLook range at ADK Security Ltd sits at 5MP.

4K (8MP) delivers four times the pixel count of 1080p. The difference in image quality is real and noticeable. For high-evidence locations like jewellers, banks, vehicle forecourts, and large retail units, the investment pays off. The HiLook 4K 8MP ColorVu turret dome at ADK Security Ltd is £96.

One practical note: higher resolution means larger file sizes. A 4K camera fills a hard drive approximately four times faster than a 2MP camera at the same frame rate. Factor this into your storage planning.

IP Camera Prices at ADK Security Ltd in 2026

All prices below are based on the ADK Security Ltd IP camera collection and they can change in future.

HiLook by Hikvision

Hikvision Main Range (Trade Pricing)

The main Hikvision range at ADK Security Ltd includes:

• DS-2CD2346G2-IU — AcuSense DarkFighter Lite 4MP turret dome with built-in microphone. Available in white, grey and black.
• DS-2CD2346G2-ISU/SL — AcuSense DarkFighter 4MP with microphone, speaker and alarm output for active deterrence. Available in white and grey.
• DS-2CD2347G2H-LIU — Smart Hybrid ColorVu 4MP 40m turret dome with microphone. Available in white and black.
• DS-2CD2347G2H-LISU/SL — Smart Hybrid ColorVu 4MP with microphone, speaker and alarm for active deterrence setups.

Trade pricing is available for registered installer accounts. Register at ADK Security Ltd to access trade rates across the full range.

What Else You Need to Complete the System

A camera on its own records nothing. Every IP camera installation needs a few additional components, and getting these right is just as important as choosing the right camera.

NVR Recorder

The Network Video Recorder receives video from all cameras, stores it to a hard drive, and lets you review footage live or historically. Hikvision NVRs are optimised for both Hikvision and HiLook cameras. Most models include built-in PoE ports, so smaller systems can connect cameras directly without a separate switch. ADK Security Ltd stocks a full range of IP NVR recorders from 4-channel units to 32-channel commercial models.

PoE Switch

When your camera count exceeds the PoE ports on your NVR, or when you prefer to keep the network infrastructure separate, a PoE switch is what you need. ADK Security Ltd's PoE switch range covers small unmanaged units for domestic installs through to managed 24-port switches for commercial sites.

Surveillance Hard Drive

Standard desktop drives are not built for the continuous write cycles of CCTV recording. They fail early in this application. A surveillance-rated hard drive from a manufacturer like Seagate or Western Digital is designed for 24/7 operation and is what every system at ADK Security Ltd ships with or recommends. See the hard drive range at ADK Security Ltd.

IP CCTV Kits

If you want cameras, NVR and storage bundled together with compatibility already sorted, IP CCTV kits from ADK Security Ltd are the straightforward option. Useful for first installs and for trade customers who want to move quickly.

IP vs HD Turbo TVI: A Quick Comparison

For a new installation with no existing infrastructure, IP is the right choice. For an upgrade where coax is already in place and the budget for a full rewire is not there, ADK Security Ltd's Turbo TVI range is worth considering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Hikvision IP cameras need an internet connection to record?

No. Hikvision IP cameras record directly to an NVR over your local network. An internet connection is only required for remote viewing through the Hik-Connect app or receiving mobile notifications. Recording continues even if the internet connection is unavailable.

What is the difference between an NVR and a DVR?

An NVR (Network Video Recorder) works with IP cameras connected via Ethernet, while a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) is designed for analogue or HD Turbo TVI cameras using coaxial cables. Hikvision IP camera systems require an NVR. Browse the full Hikvision NVR range.

Can I mix HiLook and Hikvision cameras on the same NVR?

Yes. HiLook and Hikvision cameras are fully compatible with Hikvision NVRs and the Hik-Connect app. Many installations combine both brands on the same recording system without any compatibility issues.

How much storage do I need for a Hikvision IP camera system?

Storage depends on the number of cameras, recording quality, frame rate and retention period. As a guide, a four-camera 5MP system recording continuously for around two weeks generally requires between 1TB and 2TB of storage. Browse the surveillance-rated hard drives to choose the right capacity for your system.

Are Hikvision cameras legal to install in the UK?

Yes. Hikvision cameras are legal to buy and install in the UK. If your cameras record public areas or neighbouring properties, you should comply with UK GDPR and follow the ICO's CCTV guidance regarding signage, data storage and privacy.

How to Choose the Right Hikvision IP Camera

Start with your camera locations. For each position, ask:

• What does it look like at night? Is there street lighting, or is it completely dark?
• Does the camera need to blend in, or is visibility a deterrent in itself?
• How important is colour detail at night for this specific location?
• Is false alarm sensitivity likely to be a problem here?

From there, the technology choice follows naturally. Dark location, colour evidence needed, neighbours nearby: Smart Hybrid. Commercial site with a false alarm problem: AcuSense. High-security entrance needing the best night colour regardless of light output: ColorVu. Low-light site where no visible output is acceptable: DarkFighter.

On resolution, 5MP is the right default for most installs. It is sharp enough to matter without putting unnecessary pressure on storage and bandwidth. Go to 4K for high-evidence locations. Use 2MP for budget interior monitoring.

On form factor, turret domes suit the majority of locations and are straightforward to aim on installation. Vandal domes are the right call for public-facing areas where physical tampering is a risk. Bullet cameras cover longer distances along eaves and perimeters.

Browse the Full Range at ADK Security Ltd

ADK Security Ltd stocks the complete Hikvision and HiLook IP camera range alongside everything needed to complete the system.

Same-day dispatch on orders before 3pm. Free shipping over £200. Our Bolton showroom is open for walk-in visits and product demonstrations. We also run Hikvision installer training for engineers who want hands-on certification on the platform. Contact our team for advice on any install before you order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Hikvision IP cameras need an internet connection to record?

No. Hikvision IP cameras record directly to an NVR over your local network. An internet connection is only required for remote viewing through the Hik-Connect app or receiving mobile notifications. Recording continues even if the internet connection is unavailable.

What is the difference between an NVR and a DVR?

An NVR (Network Video Recorder) works with IP cameras connected via Ethernet, while a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) is designed for analogue or HD Turbo TVI cameras using coaxial cables. Hikvision IP camera systems require an NVR. Browse the full Hikvision NVR range.

Can I mix HiLook and Hikvision cameras on the same NVR?

Yes. HiLook and Hikvision cameras are fully compatible with Hikvision NVRs and the Hik-Connect app. Many installations combine both brands on the same recording system without any compatibility issues.

How much storage do I need for a Hikvision IP camera system?

Storage depends on the number of cameras, recording quality, frame rate and retention period. As a guide, a four-camera 5MP system recording continuously for around two weeks generally requires between 1TB and 2TB of storage. Browse the surveillance-rated hard drives to choose the right capacity for your system.

Are Hikvision cameras legal to install in the UK?

Yes. Hikvision cameras are legal to buy and install in the UK. If your cameras record public areas or neighbouring properties, you should comply with UK GDPR and follow the ICO's CCTV guidance regarding signage, data storage and privacy.