In video security, color matters. Yet capturing clear, color images in lowlight conditions remains a daunting challenge. In this regard, Hikvision’s ColorVu technology fulfills the user’s 24/7 color-capturing need.
In video security, color matters. Yet capturing clear, color images in lowlight conditions remains a daunting challenge. In this regard,
Hikvision’s ColorVu technology fulfills the user’s 24/7 color-capturing need.
The challenge
Needless to say, color plays an important role in video security. It provides key visual information, such as the color of clothes a suspect was wearing. Should a security event occur, this information can be extremely helpful.
While capturing color may not be a problem during daytime, doing so at night, when security events are more likely to happen, can be a daunting challenge. Important color details may be lost when capturing in near 0 Lux conditions. Conventional cameras with infrared lighting aren’t helping, either.
“They only provide black and white images for night monitoring. As a result, people, vehicles or other important objects can easily be blurry and blend into the background, which makes it difficult to distinguish critical elements,” said Rubio Hong, Director of Analog Products at Hikvision.
What Hikvision offers
Being an IoT solution provider with video as its core competence, Hikvision has long committed itself to delivering cutting-edge lowlight color capturing. In 2018, the company launched ColorVu technology, which immediately became a sensation. Since then, Hikvision has kept innovating the ColorVu technology, rolling out new products to suit customers’ 24/7 color capturing needs.
“Since 2018 when we introduced the ColorVu technology to the market, cameras with ColorVu have been one of our best selling products. The demand for low-light cameras continues to increase in the security industry, and we’re glad to see that our new ColorVu offerings can bring even more vivid imaging experience to our customers,” Hong said.
What makes cameras with ColorVu unique
According to Hong, ColorVu technology’s capability comes primary from two breakthroughs in hardware technologies: advanced lenses and high-performance sensors.
In terms of lenses, they come with the industry-leading F1.0 super-aperture design, allowing four times more light to enter the lens than cameras with F2.0. “Focusing of high definition cameras with the large F1.0 aperture is a big technical challenge for the industry, which requires outstanding focusing technology and a highly accurate manufacturing process. Hikvision has applied its advanced active alignment (AA) technology in the production of cameras with ColorVu to bring the adjustment accuracy to within 4 pixels, which is less than a 1/30 of a hair diameter,” Hong said.
Meanwhile, optimized sensors allow cameras’ nighttime color imaging to be rendered more brightly than conventional cameras. A new 3D dynamic noise reduction (DNR) algorithm also helps the cameras record additional remote details clearly and deliver sharper images.
These hardware breakthroughs enable cameras with ColorVu technology to capture color details clearly even in extremely lowlight conditions. “With an F1.0 super-aperture and an advanced sensor, cameras with ColorVu can provide colorful and sharp images right down to the lowest light level of 0.0003 lux,” Hong said. “Should light levels fall to zero, a built-in warm supplemental lighting ensures the camera can still capture vivid color images within up-to 40 meters range.”
Now with 4K and varifocal
The latest product range with ColorVu feature covers both Turbo HD and Network products. In particular, Hikvision has included 4K and varifocal cameras with ColorVu technology in its portfolio. This brings even more benefits to users who need lowlight monitoring.
“With better image quality and richer detail, 4K cameras with ColorVu technology can be applied across an even wider range of scenarios where clear and high-resolution images are necessary,” Hong said. “In addition, Hikvision has also added varifocal cameras (the DF8T-Z series) to the new models to create 24/7 color imaging in all focal lengths. With 2.8-12 mm motorized lenses, varifocal cameras with ColorVu technology will allow users to zoom in on colorful images at night.”
Integrate with AcuSense technology
Furthermore, cameras with ColorVu can leverage Hikvision’s AcuSense technology to help users focus only on events that matter to security. The technology can distinguish people and vehicles from other moving objects such as raindrops, leaves and animals. Alarms will only be triggered when the pre-set intrusion type takes place. Also with this solution, video clips are sorted by human and vehicle categories to vastly improve search efficiency. To take things one step further, some cameras with AcuSense can flash to make the intruder go away, or even allow security operators to give a warning through the built-in speaker.
Verticals targeted
Cameras with ColorVu technology can benefit a range of end user entities where users need lowlight capturing. These include the following.
Residential: Residential buildings often have several lowlight spots such as walkways, stairwells and other outdoor areas that are vulnerable. Cameras with ColorVu technology provide unmatched security where incidents or accidents occur.
Small businesses: Users can monitor entrances and exits as well as dimly-lit interior and exterior areas where security events are likely to occur. These include dark hallways and walkways, dumpster areas, and loading docks.
Parking lots: Parking lots are harder to protect. But ColorVu make parking areas easier to secure with sophisticated supplemental lighting which does not interfere with a driver’s vision, as opposed to harsh, bright, or discolored lights.
Parks: Strategically placed cameras with ColorVu technology illuminate areas with limited lighting that pose risks for accidents or other incidents such as walkways, play areas, entrances to restrooms, and exercise areas.
Seeing your true colors
In the future, Hikvision will continue to expand the product range with ColorVu technology to meet end user requirements for lowlight color capturing. “Low light imaging has been a trend in the market, and the demand for cameras to deliver colorful images 24/7 continues to increase in the security industry. We will for sure to enrich our product offerings to further expand their application scenarios, and to meet different needs of customers,” Hong said.
There’s a famous song with the line: “I see your true colors shining through.” Likewise, Hikvision cameras with ColorVu technology capture objects’ true colors, even in extremely lowlight conditions. In this sense, ColorVu gives greater peace of mind to users, who can rest assured that no color details will be missed, regardless the time of the day.