IS DistributionsEnquire
Home / Hikvision / Series & technology guides

How to choose a Hikvision camera

Choosing a Hikvision camera comes down to a few decisions: network or coaxial, which series tier, resolution and lens, how the camera sees at night, and which analytics the site needs. This guide walks through those choices and points to the series pages for detail.

What this range covers

  • Network (DS-2CD) versus TurboHD analog (DS-2CE)
  • Value, Pro and Ultra Series tiers and what separates them
  • Resolution and lens choices for each distance
  • Night imaging: IR, ColorVu, Smart Hybrid Light, DarkFighter
  • Analytics: AcuSense, Live Guard, DeepinView

Typical applications

  • Homes and shops planning a first system
  • Offices and factories replacing an older system
  • Installers preparing a bill of materials
  • Consultants writing a specification

Key capabilities

  • Step-by-step questions that lead to a series and a suffix
  • Explanation of the common suffix letters
  • Pointers to the recorder generation that matches the cameras
  • Links to every series guide on this site

Functions vary by model and firmware; see each model page.

Selection questions

  • Is network cable available, or is coaxial cable already installed?
  • How far away is the subject, and how wide is the scene?
  • What is the light level at night, and is white light acceptable?
  • Which events must the camera detect by itself?

Prepare an enquiry

ISD in Kuching, Sarawak handles Hikvision camera selection enquiries for projects in Sarawak and Malaysia. Send the full model code and quantity, or describe the site. Supply only; ISD confirms the model separately.

Describe your requirement

Frequently asked questions

Where do I start when choosing a camera?

Decide the cable type first (network or coaxial), then the series tier, then resolution and lens, then night imaging, then analytics. Each step narrows the model code.

What do the common suffix letters mean?

-I marks AcuSense, -L ColorVu, -LI Smart Hybrid Light, -U a microphone, -S audio alarm, -Z a motorised lens and /SL strobe and speaker. See the model naming guide for the full pattern.

Can ISD help pick a model?

Describe the site, cable and scene, and ISD in Kuching will suggest model codes for enquiry. Supply only; the installer confirms the final choice.

Related guides and categories

Official reference

Series names follow Hikvision's public 2026 project-product guide; confirm models on the official Hikvision website. Written by ISD, checked 2026-11-01.