Technologies
A modern camera does much more than record video. This page explains what newer cameras can do and when they are useful. The examples come from the Hikvision range; Dahua, Hanwha Vision and AXIS offer similar solutions.
What new cameras can do
Hikvision TandemVu
The overview and the detail in one camera
Two cameras share one housing. A wide-angle or panoramic camera sees the whole area while a PTZ camera zooms in on the details. When the camera detects a person or vehicle, the PTZ camera turns there by itself and follows it. The video shows the overview and the zoomed PTZ image at the same time.
- 3D positioning: mark an area on screen and the camera turns and zooms there by itself.
- The overview stays on screen even while the PTZ camera zooms in.
- One camera and one mounting point instead of two.
Good for: large yards, car parks, storage areas, construction sites and industrial premises.
Hikvision ColorVu
Colour images even at night
A regular camera shows a black-and-white image at night. A ColorVu camera has a large-aperture lens and a light-sensitive sensor that give a colour image even at dusk. When there is too little light, a soft supplementary light switches on.
- At night you can see the colour of a car or clothing, which helps identify a person or vehicle later.
- Newer models (ColorVu 3.0) keep the image clear even when bright light and deep shadow are in the frame at the same time.
- The white light also signals that the area is under surveillance.
Good for: yards, car parks, entrances and premises with little light at night.
Hikvision G3 series
A new camera generation: clearer night images and two-way audio
In G3 series cameras, artificial intelligence processes the image (HikAI-ISP), so pictures in the dark are clearer with less noise. Smart hybrid light combines infrared and white light: the camera normally uses infrared and switches on white light when a person or vehicle is in view. The panoramic models see 180° with up to 16 MP resolution.
- Two microphones and a speaker: you can talk to someone on site, and a flashing light and sound alarm deter intruders.
- Three lighting modes: infrared, white light or smart hybrid light that switches between them by itself.
- A corrosion-resistant housing (NEMA 4X) suits coastal sites and industry.
Good for: entrances, yards, car parks, shops and loading areas. A panoramic model covers with one camera an area that would otherwise need two or three.
Hikvision AcuSense
Alarms only when there is a reason
The camera tells people and vehicles apart from animals, leaves, rain and shadows. You get an alarm when a person crosses the fence or a car drives into the yard, not every time the wind moves a bush.
- The camera can warn an intruder itself with a flashing light and a sound signal.
- The alert reaches your phone with a picture, so you see right away what is happening.
- You can search recordings for people or vehicles only, which saves hours.
Good for: private houses, storage yards, perimeter fences and any site guarded at night.
Hikvision AcuSeek
Search video with an ordinary sentence
No more scrolling through hours of recordings. Type or say what you are looking for, such as “red car that left through the gate last night” or “man in a black jacket with a backpack”, and the system finds matching clips in seconds. The search runs on Hikvision’s large AI model and understands everyday language.
- You can also search by image: the system finds similar people or vehicles and ranks them by similarity.
- Works on AcuSeek recorders, in the Hik-Connect 6 app (including on your phone) and in HikCentral Professional.
- Hik-Connect 6 understands more than 30 languages.
Good for: shops, warehouses, apartment associations and any site where you need to find out quickly what happened.
Number plate recognition (ANPR)
The camera reads the number plate
An ANPR camera reads a vehicle’s number plate and checks it against a list. It works at night and in the rain, as the camera has its own infrared lighting. What you can do with it:
- The barrier or gate opens by itself for authorised vehicles, without a remote or a card.
- Every entry and exit is saved with the time, plate number and a picture. You can search by plate number later.
- If an unknown or banned vehicle enters the yard, you get an alert on your phone.
- Guests and suppliers can be given temporary access that is valid only at set times.
- In a car park you can see how long a vehicle stayed and which vehicles are still on site.
- At factories, farms and construction sites you get a log of truck movements to compare with delivery notes and weighing.
Good for: apartment association car parks, company yards, factories, farms and construction sites. A number plate is personal data, so we also help you set up the notice sign and decide how long the data is kept.
Hikvision PanoVu
One camera instead of several
A multi-lens panoramic camera sees 180 or 360 degrees and stitches the image into one. On a large site one panoramic camera replaces several regular ones and leaves no blind spots. Some models also include a PTZ camera for the details.
Good for: squares, car parks, logistics yards and large halls.
People counting
Know how many people visited
A camera above the door counts people coming in and going out. You see how many visitors came during the day, the busiest hours and how many people are inside right now. The camera counts people but does not identify them.
Good for: shops, restaurants and cafés, sports and cultural venues, and libraries.
More solutions
Thermal cameras
A thermal camera sees heat, not light. People and vehicles stand out in total darkness, fog and smoke, and at distances of hundreds of metres. Temperature-measuring models warn you when something in a warehouse, waste facility or electrical cabinet starts to overheat.
Alarm systems (AX PRO and Ajax)
Wireless alarm systems with sensors, a siren and a phone app. Installation is quick because no cables need to be run. When a sensor triggers, you can check the camera right away to see what is happening.
Door phones and door entry
A visitor calls your phone or the panel in your flat, and you can open the door from the app. In older buildings a 2-wire system reuses the existing cable.
Access control and time tracking
Doors and gates open with a card, code or phone. The same system records when employees arrive and leave and produces a report. We recommend cards or phones, as face recognition is biometric data and needs a separate justification.
Video software (Milestone XProtect)
If you have many cameras or several sites, we bring everything together in one software. Milestone supports thousands of camera models from different manufacturers, so existing equipment can stay in use.
Example devices
Some of the devices we use these technologies with. The full selection is on the equipment page.
Manufacturers we work with
We choose equipment to suit the site and the budget. If a site requires that no Chinese-made equipment is used, we offer a Hanwha Vision or AXIS solution.
Hikvision
Platinum partner. Cameras, recorders, number plate recognition and AX PRO alarm systems.
AXIS
Authorised partner. Cameras from the Swedish manufacturer for sites with high requirements.
Hanwha Vision
South Korean manufacturer, formerly Samsung Techwin. Also suitable for government sites where equipment from Chinese manufacturers is not allowed.
Dahua
Cameras and recorders with good value for money.
Milestone
Danish XProtect video software for larger systems and multi-site setups.
Ajax
Wireless alarm systems and sensors you can manage from your phone.
Not sure what suits your site?
Tell us what you want to protect. We will survey the site and suggest a solution that fits your needs and budget.
