Seeing colour in the dark

SMART Surveillance 2023 Surveillance

Hikvision has enhanced its ColorVu high quality full-colour technology, with Super Confocal and Smart Hybrid Light technologies. These enhanced ColorVu offerings provide even sharper imaging, made possible with precise focusing in ultra-low light and flexible hybrid lighting modes to fit the scenario.

“By upgrading ColorVu technology, we aim to elevate our customers’ night vision experience in any setting with always-sharply-focused imaging and versatile lighting options,” says Rubio Hong, the Product Director at Hikvision, “We are very proud of our ultra-low-light technology, which eliminates the headache of darkness and unclear footage.”

Improved low-light imaging performance

Hikvision’s ColorVu technology provides full-colour footage 24 hours a day, so users see the same sharply rendered images at night as they would see in broad daylight. Now boosted by Super Confocal Technology, ColorVu’s performance in low lighting gets even more stable and precise.

As infrared light focuses differently than visible light, it’s very difficult for dual-light cameras to create sharp images in low light. Given that cameras with ColorVu are equipped with large-aperture, high-resolution lenses, the focus depth is too small for the frame, which makes infrared imaging even more difficult.

To solve this problem, Hikvision has infused Super Confocal Technology. This is a high-calibre-lens design which reduces optical light dispersion to ensure that the point of focus on the sensor for the infrared light is virtually the same as that of the visible light (thus, ‘con’-focal). Focusing both types of light at the same spot helps prevent blur and improves the user’s viewing experience by rendering clear, vivid images both in colour and black-and-white. Achieving confocal imaging with F1.0 super aperture is also an industry-first.

Smart Hybrid Light technology

Hikvision’s Smart Hybrid Light technology can automatically switch from IR light to visible white (supplemental) lighting at night. Equipped with this technology, cameras offer three supplemental lighting options to suit a user’s unique night-time scenario, depending on the need. The white or visible light mode establishes colour imaging; the IR mode (invisible to humans) enables continual black-and-white imaging at night with no light pollution; and the ‘smart’ mode enables the light to automatically change between the two modes based on perimeter events.

With the smart mode turned on, the camera maintains infrared illumination at night until an event triggers colour imaging to capture critical details. This means that once human or vehicle motion is detected by the camera, it switches to regular lights and turns to full colour. This helps in two critical ways: first, the camera’s colour imaging captures better footage that can be used to identify the intruder. Secondly, the triggered light acts as a deterrent to would-be trespassers who might potentially get startled and flee the scene.


Indoor and outdoor applications

Recording ‘no action’ footage at night or in poorly lit areas with infrared mode, the cameras’ location won’t be given away, and the chance of a camera being seen and vandalised by intruders is vastly reduced. On the other hand, a bright light triggered by a security event and flooding the area helps deter intruders while recording with the same vibrant, colourful images as in daylight.

Therefore, cameras with ColorVu are ideal for both indoor and outdoor scenarios, such as warehouses, retail stores, public parks, and residential settings, where little or no movement is expected at night, but discretion is desired for security cameras. Smart, automated lighting options combined with extremely accurate and sharply focused details creates a camera that goes above and beyond current security industry expectations and performances.


Credit(s)




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Smart cities and the role of video security
Surveillance Integrated Solutions
As cities around the world continue to embrace smart technology, including IoT that not only connects to people, but also the surrounding activity, the integration of advanced video security systems is crucial to ensure safety and efficiency in environments.

Read more...
How intrusion protection helps secure O&G operations
Surveillance Perimeter Security, Alarms & Intruder Detection Industrial (Industry)
For O&G operators in Africa, physical security remains one of the biggest considerations, particularly when it comes to perimeter protection and the ability to mitigate intruder-related incidents.

Read more...
Axis secures the Waterfront
Surveillance Entertainment and Hospitality (Industry) Retail (Industry)
Axis Communications shares insight into its longstanding partnership with the V&A Waterfront, one of Africa’s premier retail and mixed-use precincts, through its latest, updated customer success story.

Read more...
Advanced surveillance storage from ASBIS
Infrastructure Surveillance Products & Solutions
From a video storage solutions perspective, SkyHawk drives, designed for DVRs and NVRs, offer high capacity, optimised firmware, and a reliability workload rating of hundreds of terabytes per year.

Read more...
Open and collaborative logistics systems
Hikvision South Africa Surveillance Logistics (Industry) AI & Data Analytics
E-commerce and other high-volume logistics operations need open and collaborative technology ecosystems that drive efficiencies, throughput and digital transformation. Hikvision discusses the benefits of harnessing open and collaborative systems in the logistics market.

Read more...
4K HDR camera for mobility
Surveillance Transport (Industry)
e-con Systems has introduced a 4K HDR front-view camera, engineered to deliver reliable, long-range imaging for mobility applications such as delivery robots, autonomous vehicles, and off-road vehicles.

Read more...
The future of the surveillance channel
Duxbury Networking Technews Publishing Elvey Security Technologies SMART Security Solutions Surveillance
The video surveillance market has evolved from camera-based specifications to integrated solutions that solve customers’ problems. Moreover, the growth of AI and cloud has changed the channel even more, with more to come.

Read more...
The benefits of offsite control rooms
Astrosec Surveillance Integrated Solutions
As the security landscape grows more intricate, control rooms – the crucial hub of security operations – need to adapt. With escalating costs, mounting threats, and a heightened demand for immediate responses, many organisations are reassessing the operations of their control rooms.

Read more...
CCTV control room operator job description
Leaderware Editor's Choice Surveillance Training & Education
Control room operators are still critical components of security operations and will remain so for the foreseeable future, despite the advances of AI, which serves as a vital enhancement to the human operator.

Read more...
Hikvision launches latest range of cameras
Hikvision South Africa Surveillance AI & Data Analytics
Hikvision has launched its latest network cameras with ColorVu 3.0 technology and EasyIP 4.0 Plus, which elevate video security by delivering improved image quality, enhanced intelligent functions, superior audio capabilities, and a refined product design and materials.

Read more...